Ynoa's POV
"Ang gwapo gwapo naman ng apo ko!" Mom screamed when she saw Zeijan seriously standing on the front door.
Tumakbo papalapit ang ina ni Roemer at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. Zeijan remained stoic and serious. "What's wrong baby?" tanong ko nang makalapit. Nagpaalam naman si mom para tignan kung ayos na daw ba ang lahat.
"Did I do something bad, my?" maliit na boses niya.
"Nothing baby, why? What's upsetting you?" malambot kong sambit at lumuhod ng kaunti para magkalebel ang aming mga mata.
"Si dy lang ang naghahatid sa akin sa school. And you're not visiting me before I sleep. You're not checking on me." Agad kong nahimigan ang pagtatampo sa boses niya. I popped my cheek to prevent from smiling.
"Is it because I want to cut my hair, my?" tanong niya. My heart broke when he looked at me with teary eyes. Kahit nakatakong ay pinilit kong buhatin siya, agad niya akong yinakap at sinandal ang ulo sa balikat ko.
"I wont cut my hair, just don't avoid me." He mumbled. Halos mabasag ang puso ko sa narinig. There's a lot of things happened to me lately the reason why I failed to check on him. I never realized he was feeling this way.
Hinagod ko ang likod niya at hinele. Hinalikan ko ang ulo niya at pinunasan ang iilang luha sa gilid ng kanyang mata. I pouted when I saw how he tried to avoid breaking down but he ended up crying. I sure do love his innocence.
"I'm sorry baby. I was so busy. Please don't feel that way. I love you okay? Let's cut your hair soon, I will be with you." I whispered. His face lit up and kissed my cheeks. Bumaba siya nang makita si Roemer. Agad na ibinalita ang sinabi ko.
Roemer dark hooding eyes met mine. Wearing a black button down long sleeve that was folded up to his forearm, black pants and leather shoes. He looked so dashing and handsome. His hands automatically rested on my waist.
"You look--"
"Pretty?" I cut him off. He smirked.
"No, ugly."
Agad na dumapo ang kamao ko sa dibdib niya. "Damn you." I cursed.
"I was just kidding!" depensa niya nang umalis ako sa pagkakahawak niya.
Naputol ang kulitan namin nang naninag namin ang papasok. Agad na kumuyom ang kamay ko nang makita ang chairman na inaalalayan ang asawa na papasok dito sa mansyon.
"Good evening." Roemer greeted. I faked a smile. Hindi ko napigilan ang hindi umirap nang magtama ang mata namin ng chairman.
Rachna eyed me from head to toe. She looked at me like I'm just a display and not worthy to look at. Nang linagpasan kami ay iginaya ako ni Roemer papasok sa dining hall.
All of them were there including Zeijan. Agad na tumayo ang lahat para magbigay ng galang sa mga bagong dating.
They were talking about business so I remained silent. Ramdam ko din ang tingin ni Rachna sa akin.
"Dad, what's with the sudden visit?" tanong ng ama ni Roemer sa chairman.
Chaiman laughed. "I wanted to see Zeijan." sagot niya at sinulyapan ako.
Humigpit ang hawak ko sa tinidor dahil sa narinig. Napatingin ako sa asawa ng chairman na ngayon ay parang pinapanuod nang masinsinan ang bawat galaw ko.
"I missed you po!" Zeijan answered. Natawa naman ang lahat maliban sa akin at si Rachna.
"Who is this young lady?" mataray na tanong ni Rachna. She's obviously asking about me.
"She's the mother of my son." sagot ni Roemer. I tried so hard not to glare at her attitude.
"Have we met before?" She asked.
"I'm afraid not, maam." I uttered. She chuckled but there's no humor plastered in her face.
"But you look familiar." She insisted.
Really? Of course I do look familiar. I look like my mother, Mariana. The mistress of your husband. Pinigilan ko ang sarili ko na sabihin iyon.
Nanginginig ang bibig kong pinilit na lang na ngumiti.
"I have seen the news. And even the interview. I can't help but to feel disappointed, Roemer." naiiling na sambit niya.
I felt the sudden rising of tension. Dahil maging si Dhelia ay umiba ang timpla. Roemer stopped from eating and clenched his jaw.
"Sa tagal ng panahon bago mo pinakilala ang anak mo sa kanyang ama. Ano na lang ang sinabi nila sayo? Disgrasyada?"
"Rachna!" Chairman's scream echoed in the dining hall. Nanginig ang kamay ko dahil sa sobrang galit. Napatingin ako kay Roemer na parang sasabog na.
I placed my hand over his legs trying to calm him. The bitch laughed sarcastically.
Agad na iniutos ni Rafael ang isang kasambahay para ilayo si Zeijan. Sumunod naman ang bata at pumunta sila sa itaas.
"What was your excuse during the interview?" She scoffed.
That's when I remember what Roemer and I did to calm down the media. ,Scenes flashed on my mind.
"Is everything ready?" Tanong ng baklang sa harap namin. Naayos na din ang mga camera sa harap namin. At kung anu-anu pang mga gamit.
"I am so honored, Mr. de la Vega that you chose to be interviewed by me." the gay smiled cutely. I almost puke, he looked like shit.
In order to save Roemer's reputation from the media regarding the articles about us. At ang mga litrato namin ni Zeijan sa fastfood. Pinaunlakan niya ang isang interviewer na family friend daw nila. It was an exclusive interview with me.
"Did Mr. de la Vega knew about the kid?" tanong ng bakla. Ngumiti ako ng pilit.
"No. Inilihim ko iyon sa kanya." I answered.
"And why?"
"Because I was afraid that he'll reject the kid. I can't disclose the other information, I hope you understand." I lied.
"So what can you say about the issue?" tanong ng bakla.
"I just hope people will stop talking and spreading false accusations about Roemer. We both shared faults, and it's our issue so I hope people will shut their mouths."
After that interview. Unti-unting nawala ang mga articles at sabi-sabi tungkol kay Roemer. That's what we did to save his reputation, or more like the repution of the whole de la Vega.
"Even if you were afraid, you should've told Roemer about the kid."
Parang nanumbalik ako dahil sa sinabi ni Rachna.
She laughed sarcastically. "But anyway, it's done." nanatiling tahimik ang lahat. I clenched my jaw. Even her high picthed voice irritates me.
"What does your family do?" She asked and sipped on her water.
"My parents are both dead." amin ko.
"Then do you have business?"
"Nothing."
"Then what do you do for living?" She asked.
Hindi ako nakasagot. What is she pointing out?
"Walang natirang properties ang magulang mo? Are you even rich?" Insultong tanong niya.
"Rachna stop." awat ng chairman.
"I can't believe Roemer even threw a glance at you! You're a trash!"
"Rachna!!" galit na sigaw ng chairman.
"What? Is this really happening? Desmond? Theriah?" tumingin siya sa mga magulang ni Roemer.
Eto yun? Dahil mahirap ako at mayaman sila? Kaya niya ako iniinsulto? Because I am a trash?
"Don't talk to her that way." malamig at matigas na sambit ni Roemer.
"She's a nice lady." pagtatanggol naman ng ina ni Roemer sa akin.
"Since when did we care about people's status?" sabat ng ama ni Roemer.
Halos mabasag ang puso ko dahil sa pagtatanggol nila sa akin. It hurts me even more knowing that I am fooling them. All of them.
"I have to be honest. I don't like you for my grandson. But I can't do anything now. Nagpabuntis ka na e."
That's it.
"Can I be honest too? I don't like you either." mataray kong sambit.
Halos umusok ang ilong niya dahil sa galit. Kita ko sa gilid ko ang pagngisi ni Rafel. Kita ko din ang pagpipigil ng tawa ni Dhelia.
"Is this how your parents raised you?"
"Rachna. Stop." awat ng chairman.
"Mabuti naman at patay na sila." Doon ako tuluyang napatingin sa kanya. She's a fucking bitch!
"What?"
"What's your name again?" She scoffed.
"My bad, I can't remember people who are irrelevant." She added.
I sipped from my water and looked at her intently. I smirked.
"Ynoa. Ynoa Raldovan." I answered with a sarcastic smile. Agad na nawala ang ngiti sa labi niya.
"Does it ring a bell?" I smirked.
Kita ko ng galit sa mata niya. I know what she's thinking. Marianna Raldovan. Ang kinamumuhian niyang babae. Ang kabit ng pinakamamahal niyang asawa.