Fear
"Mist, this is your Tita Vienna, my girlfriend." Pakilala ni Marco sa akin.
Naktatakang tingin ang ipinukol ng bata sa akin. Is she wondering why we look almost the same with her mom? Or wondering why her dad has a girlfriend?
"No." Valentina muttered angrily.
Bago pa makalapit sa Val, Marco said something that made Mist look so sad na kahit ako ay napaiwas ng tingin.
"Listen to me. I am not your real Papa-"
"Marco!" Agad na putol ni Val sa kanya at marahas na kinuha sa Mist mula kay Marco.
I saw how Marco stared at Val with pure disgust and anger.
"Tell her or else, I will. And I'll make sure she'll understand how her mom lied to her all this time." He said coldly.
Mist started crying. She's six or maybe seven years old so I think she understands what is happening.
"Hindi ka man lang ba naaawa sa anak mo-"
Hindi pa rin sumusuko. Hindi niya ba talaga kayang tanggapin? Nasa kanya na ang buong atensyon ng mga magulang namin. She's the favorite daughter. Pati ba naman atensyon ni Marco, kukunin niya? (Which will never happen, of course.)
"You're delusional." Marco cut her off. "Leave, or I'll let the guards drag you out. Please Val, nandito si Mist."
Nakita ko ang galit na mga mata ni Val na tumitig sa akin. She's almost crying. Just when she's about to say something, Marco held my hand and blocked me upang hindi ako makita ni Val that stopped her from speaking.
"I know you just loved her because she looked like me! You loved me first Marco! You loved me first!" And now she snapped.
"I didn't. It's just your stupid manipulations that made me stay."
Sinubukan kong umalis sa likod ni Marco upang makita ang kalagayan ni Val but then he stopped me. I don't need protection. Pilit akong umalis sa likod niya at nang nagawa iyon ay agad na lumipat ang galit na mga mata ni Val.
At halos napaatras ako nang lumapit siya with raging eyes that is directed to me.
"Mang-aagaw ka! I will never accept you as my sister! Kaya ayaw sa'yo ni Mom! Everyone hates-"
At bago pa siya tuluyang makalapit, Marco's voice thundered in the whole room that made her stop.
"I said leave!"
Humagulhol na sa iyak si Mist dahil sa gulat. Unti-unting dumalo si Val sa anak niya and without looking back, she left Marco's office with Mist.
For almost a week, iyong ang huling gulo sa buhay ko. I turned my phone off at wala akong balak na gamitin iyon. Not that I expect my parents to call me. Baka nga walang balak ang mga yon na pabalikin ako.
I thought of applying for a job. Wala iyon sa isip ko dahil simula nung nag college ay binibigyan na ako ni Dad ng konting trabaho sa kompanya. Itinatak ko na sa isip ko na ako ang mamamahala sa kompanya dahil ako lang naman ang nag-iisang anak.
But now, there's Val. Alam kong siya ang papaboran so it's better for me to start my own career. And there's Zandra. Hindi ko alam kung anak rin ba siya ni Dad o anak siya ni Mom sa ibang lalake. The latter seems more accurate though.
I stayed in Marco's house for almost a week now. Every other day siyang pumupunta sa opsisina niya and there are times too that he only want to stay at home and work.
People really change huh. Talagang nawala na yung Marco na playboy noon. I never thought he'll be this workaholic. In just three years, he created his own name.
It's Axe birthday later at nag-ayang pupunta kami sa bahay niya for the after party. After four long years, mamaya pa ulit ako makakabalik sa buhay ko noon. I didn't even miss that part of me.
I chuckled softly at that.
"What are you thinking?" Napatingin ako kay Marco na kanina pa pala nakatingin sa akin.
We are sitting on the large leather couch on the living room while watching a movie. Well, not really watching dahil palagi akong nakakapag-isip ng kung ano.
And I'm not really sitting on the couch. Well kind of. I'm sitting sideways in between Marco's parted legs at ang likod koy nakahilig sa arm rest. This man really don't know what personal space is.
"Nothing. I'm just excited for later." I smiled widely.
His left hand snaked on my waist and his other hand is playing my left hand as his expression darkened by what I said.
"Halos hindi ko na matandaan yung huling night out ko!" I added.
"Uh-huh. What else?"
"Nothing else." I smiled.
Matagal niya pa akong tinitigan. Damn it kinikilig ako!
"I invited your friends from Madrid. They'll be here tomorrow at three." He said gently at nag-abang sa reaksyon ko.
My eyes widened at ngumiti sa kanya. I miss Danna and Kevin!
"Really? Like for real?" I asked excitedly.
Medto naguilty nga ako dahil hindi ko sila nasamahan dito. But then naisip ko rin na alone time nila ang pagbakasyon dito sa Pilipinas.
"Cute." He pinched my nose and nodded.
Wearing a black halter and fitted dress, we arrived at Axe's place. Tapos na ang formal party and I heard dito ginaganap taon taon ang after party ni Axe. The lights were dimmed at naiilawan lang ang lugar dahil sa neon lights. Hindi rin halos magkarinigan dahil sa makalaks na music. He's a Montenegro and it's normal for their family to host grand parties.
Nagsidatingan na rin ang ibang mga bisita at dumiretso kami ni Marco kung saan naroon si Axe at ang iba pa niyang mga kaibigan.
I saw Kylene and she smiled at me a bit kaya ibinalik ko ang ngiti sa kanya. When my eyes drifted to the person beside her at nagtagpo ang tingin namin, agad na tumayo si Seth at sinalubong ako.
"Vien! I'm really sorry." Hindi parin siya maka get over sa ginawa niya kahit ilang sabi ko na na hindi iyon ang dahilan ng pag-iyak ko.
He hugged me and Marco's hold on my waist, almost on my stomach tightened. I glanced at him and saw his dark stare at Seth kaya agad akong bumitaw sa yakap.
He greeted Marco too at nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad until we saw Axe with many other men. Tatlong babae lang kaming nandito sa grupo nila!
We greeted Axe again at umupo sa bakanteng couch. I surveyed the whole group, kilala ko ang iba but others were unfamiliar. Nandito rin si Race then I realized who's not here. Giro.
"Can I drink?" Napalingon ako kay Marco na halos angkinin na ang space ko.
One of his hands is on my hip ang the other one is on my thigh. Halos ilagay na rin niya ang baba niya sa balikat ko.
I just nodded at his question. Bakit ba siya nagpapaalam? I smiled inwardly at that.
"Can I drink too?" I asked Marco.
Napakunot ang noo niya at sa huli ay tumango rin. I smiled at him at kumuha ng drink sa table at uminon ng kaunti.
Minutes passed at tumayo ako dahil naiihi ako!
Agad namang umangat ang tingin ni Marco sa akin.
"I'll just go to the powder room." Paalam ko.
"I'll go with you." Sabi niya at agad naman akong umiling.
"Madali lang naman ako." I smiled at wala na siyang nagawa nang umalis na ako doon.
Hindi halos ako makadaan dahil sa dami ng tao. Umaatras pa ako sa tuwing may wild na sumasayaw. Wow. Why am I not enjoying things like this anymore?
Bago paman ako makapasok sa washroom, a man in all black and wearing a cap held my arm. Nanlaki agad ang mata ko nang hinila niya ako!
"Bitawan mo ako! Who are you?!" Sigaw ko at nagpumiglas para makawala sa hawak niya. Shit.
At nang lumingon siya ng kaunti para lumiko ng daan, anger and fear immediately crept in my system.
"Lex! Ano ba?!"
But he didn't listen. Hinila niya ako palapit sa kanya and aggressively held my waist that it almost hurt. Wala akong kilalang Lex na ganito.
"You are mine, Vienna. You are mine." He said in gritted teeth that made me almost tremble at muli akong marahas na hinila palabas.