Chapter 17
Finding Out
We dated for more than a year now. College na si Gray at ako ay g-graduate na ngayong taon. We celebrated his graduation together with his family. Everything is going well for me. I planned everything with him. Including my future. Magtatapos sa pagiging doctor, magpapakasal, at mag aanak. Well, masyadong advance. My life is just too perfect that I can't wish for more.
It was a bright and sunny day. I woke up ng may good morning text galing kay gray. My lips curved with an uncontrollable smile. I just can't get enough of him.
Narinig ako ng kaonting gulo mula sa baba kaya imbes na magreply kay Gray ay bumaba ako para silipin kung anong nangyayari. I saw my dad on the phone, talking to someone. He seems very frustrated and angry. For some reasons I got bad feelings for this.
"How did that happen, Antonio?! I trusted you. I worked hard for years to build a good company" my dad with a problematic tone. "What are you up to? Sa ginagawa mo parehas tayo lulubog! Hindi lang ako, ikaw din!"
I'm deeply bothered. What's going on? May problema ba sina dad sa company? Now, I noticed that my dad would work almost overnight everyday. Maybe because there's a problem? I don't know much about our real estates company but this doesn't sound good.
"I am telling you hindi kita mapapatawad pag nadamay ang pamilya ko sa katarantaduhan mo!" Parang kulog ang sigaw ni daddy. Q
Dahan dahan akong bumaba ng hagdan para puntahan si dad na nasa sala. His forehead is wrinkled, his eyes were tightly shut. Tingin ko ay may malaking problema si dad. He's a smart person, magaling sa business si dad at sa mga nagdaan na taon tuwing may problema ay hindi niya ito ganun ka dinidibdib. He'll always find a way to solve it. He has his own ways.
Daddy looked at me when he noticed my presence near him. I smiled softly at my dad. Trying to lighten him up.
"Goodmorning daddy!" I kissed him on his cheeks. He only smiled with a tired expression. My heart ached a bit. I'm too busy with something else I forgot about my family. My dad.
"Is there something wrong dad? You look stressed."
He shook his head and hugged me. I hugged him too. I know there is, for sure. But He won't tell us that. Ganun si dad. At ayoko siya pilitin.
"Nothing, Felise. Kumain kana ba? You should eat na anak. May nakahanda nang pagkain sa lamesa. Tawagin mo si manang." Sabi ni Dad habang hinahaplos ang buhok ko.
I hugged him tighter. How blessed am I to have a loving father like him. Kahit anong problema he would always prioritise us. And I admire him for that.
"How about you dad? Have you eaten? Join me for breakfast pls. Pumapayat kana po."
"You should eat anak, I'm alright. I have a lot of things to do. I'll eat my breakfast at the office."
At iyon ang bumabag sa akin buong araw. Sa klase ko ay hindi ako makapakinig ng maayos. Nakatingin ako sa puting pisara at blanko ang aking pagiisip. Bakit ba ganito?
I inhaled and exhaled, don't overthink too much Felise. I'm sure dad can handle everything.
"Miss Hernandez!" Nagulat ako sa malakas na boses ni sir.
"I think you missed my words. I said collect your classmates' homework then pass it to my office before lunch."
"Uh, yes sir. Sorry po."
Matapos kong kolektahin ang mga papel ng kaklase ay tumungo na ako sa office. I shouldn't be overthinking this right? Hinilot ko ang sentido ko at nag patuloy sa paglalakad ng bigla kong nabitawan ang mga hawak kong papel sa gulat ng biglang sumulpot si Gray at muntik pa akong mahulog sa hagdan.
Mabuti na lang at mabilis akong nahawakan ni Gray kaso nawalan din siya ng balanse at sabay kaming natumba. Halos maduling ako sa lapit ng aming mukha. My eyes then went down on his lips.
Agad akong tumayo at inalalayan niya ako. Kumunot ang kanyang noo na tila ba ay may malalim din na iniisip.
"Are you okay? Baby, you are spacing out."
I tried my best to smile naturally. Ayokong alalahanin niya pa ang iniisip ko.
"Yup"I smiled weakly at him.
Hindi siya sumagot, alam ko na hindi siya naniniwala sa sinabi ko. But then, pati ako hindi ko na din alam.
"Have you eaten?" He asked
Umiling lamang ako. I tried so hard to act as if I'm okay when I am actually bothered.
"Idadaan ko lang to sa faculty office then lets eat?" Masigla kong anyaya.
Tumango siya at pinagsalikop ang aming mga kamay. Kinuha niya na din ang mga hawak kong papel at siya na ang nag dala papuntang office.
We had a peaceful lunch. Bumili siya ng aming pagkain. Somehow, having Gray around made me feel at ease. Para bang nakalimutan ko ang problema.
"Wanna have some Ice cream after school?"
As much as I want to, I can't. Gusto ko kausapin si mommy kung may problema nga ba talaga. Kuya seems busy too. Halos walang time sa school and He's always in the main office.
Am I too insensitive? Parang ako lang ang walang alam. Or they don't want me know? Ewan ko. Whatever it is I need to know. Gusto ko makampante.
Napatalon ako sa halik ni Gray sa aking pisngi. Ngumuso siya at may ngiting tinatago.
"Baby, whats up? You are spacing out. Do you have any problem? Did you sleep well last night ?" Sunod sunod niyang tanong.
Sa hindi ko malaman na dahilan niyakap ko siya. I hugged him. Parang sa yakap na yun nawala lahat. He's my safe haven. My comfort. My love. This guy is my everything.
"Pls don't ever leave me. Not in this lifetime." He pleaded like I was going to leave him.
"Of course not. Hinding hindi kita iiwan." I chuckled at his crazy thoughts.
Pumasok na kami sa aming klase. Hinatid niya pa muna ako sa 4th floor Sa aking building bago bumalik sa building niya para sa kanyang klase.
I was getting my books from my locker when my phone rang.
"Mom" I said on the phone. I have so much to ask but I think it is better to ask her personally.
"Felise darling, anong oras ang uwi mo?"
"Around 5pm mom, why? Is there something wrong?" Patibong ang huling katagang sinabi ko.
"Wala naman, the driver will pick you up. Umuwi kana agad after your class" I feel like she wants to say something more but hesitated.
"Mom-"/"take care darling, I love you"
The call ended.
Hindi nakatulong iyon dahil mas lalo lang akong na bother. Hindi ganun si mom, shes not strict. May dahilan bakit siya ganyan. Gulong gulo ang isipan ko na halos wala akong sagot ng nag quiz kami.
Fortunately I had my advance reading during the weekends so I was able to answer the questions kahit di naman ako nakinig sa guro.
The classes ended and I can't wait to go home. Gusto ko na maliwanagan at mawala na ang iniisip. Hinatid ako ni Gray sa aming sasakyan. He was carrying my stuffs for me habang hawak ang aking kamay.
I saw curious eyes around us and I don't care. Why would I? Ang mahalaga ay ang opinyon ko, ni Gray at ng pamilya ko. The rest won't matter.
I heard a girl saying 'ang strong nila, sana all' I'm lucky eh?
Ng dumating na ang aking sundo ay hinalikan ko siya sa pisngi at ngumiti.
"Drive safely pls. Wag ka na din magpagabi. Text me when you're home." I squeezed his hand.
He nodded and kissed me on my forehead. "Call me when you are home. I want to make sure you are alright."
I waved at him and then went inside the car. Wala nanaman si kuya. For sure, He's at the office again. Pano kaya kung pumunta ako sa office at hindi sa bahay? Makukuha ko na ba ang mga sagot sa katanungan ko? Magkakaroon na ba ako ng ideya sa mga nangyayari? Wala naman ang lahat sa bahay.
Should I check on them?
"Manong, sina mommy po ba nakauwi na?" Sinisigurado ko lang bago ako pumunta.
"Ay maam wala po. Pero, ang habilin po sa akin ng mommy niyo ay diretso ko po kayong iuwi sa mansyon." Paliwanag niya.
Wala namang masama kung pumunta ako ng office diba? My family is there so I guess it should be fine.
"Manong, diretso po tayo sa main office." I said
"Pero maam Felise sabi po kase ng mommy niyo sa mansyon daw po" katuwiran ni manong Rene
I smiled to assure him. I understand. Nasunod lang siya at ayaw niya mapagalitan.
"Its okay manong. Andun naman sina daddy at mommy, even kuya Terrence so its fine. I just want to check on them." Kahit may iba akong motibo.
Manong Rene look hesitant but turned the van anyway. Tinatahak ang daan patungo ng office. I opened my phone to text Gray and check on him. I smiled at myself, so clingy
Ako:
I'm on my way home, what are you doing? :))
Home. Sinabi ko iyon dahil ayaw ko na isipin niya pa ang problema ko.
Gray:
Finishing my project proposal. After this, I should propose to you next. 😉
Oh man! How can this guys make my heart flutter so much?
Ako:
Really huh? Gusto mo tamaan sakin?
I laughed. Pagdating talaga kay Gray hindi siya pumapalya pangitiin ako
Gray:
Well, matagal na akong tinamaan sayo
Halos tumili ako sa kilig. Tinakpan ko ang aking mga labi na halos mapunit kakangiti. Kahit isang taon na kami hindi pa rin siya pumapalya sa pagpapakilig sa akin.
"Maam andito na po tayo."
Na pa angat ako ng tingin. Damn, I almost forgot. Inayos ko ang sarili ko. I fixed my hair and my uniform before going inside.
All the employees greeted and smiled at me. Hindi man ako madalas dito ay kilala nila ako dahil tuwing may event ang company ay lagi akong pinapakilala ni daddy. Lagi din akong sinasama ni mommy dito noong bata pa ako and most of all ako ang unica hija ng CEO.
Umakyat ako sa 18th floor kung nasaan ang office ni daddy. Pinaglaruan ko ang strap ng aking bag sa loob ng elevator at ng nakarating na sa office ni daddy ay malapad akong ngumisi.
But my smile faded immediately when I saw that the office is empty. I Turned around when the door opened but was disappointed when I saw my dad's secretary instead.
"Miss Felise, alam po ba ni sir na andito kayo?" I was shocked with her question
Pero agad din na nakabawi. Bakit parang bawal ako dito? My curiosity intensified.
"No, I didn't tell him. What's the matter? Where's dad?" Kunot noo kong tanong.
Huminga lamang ng malalim ang sekretarya ni dad at tumango.
"Miss Felise, your dad is currently in a meeting w-with a c-client at the 7th floor." She was nervous. Am I intimidating? Or is she hiding something from me?
"Kukunan ko na lang po kayo ng makakain. What do you want po? Juice? Sandwich?" She offered.
Hindi ako kakain. Pupunta ako kay dad. Ngunit may pakiramdam ako na pipigilan niya ako kung sasabihin ko iyon, kaya
"Blueberry cheesecake and four seasons." I said, dismissing her.
She sighed heavily and smiled happily. She looked relieved and thankful. Ano bang problema? Ayaw niya akong makausap ni dad?
She left the office and I quickly stormed out of the office too. I went inside the next elevator and pressed the button 7.
My footsteps are quick and I am walking fast as my sweats trickledown my forehead. I need to know what's wrong because I deserve it.
I was in front of the door at the conference room and I heard shouting and loud noise inside. I stayed near the door as I listened to their argument. My chest was booming when I realised what was happening.
I think I know now.