Ynoa's POV
"What are you doing here?" madiin kong tanong sa chairman. Nanatili siyang tahimik. Now that he's here in front of me. Seeing him face to face, I noticed how he aged. There were wrinkles aroung his eyes and lines in his forehead. But nevertheless, he's still handsome.
"Ynoa, sino yan?" I heard Annie's footsteps.
Parang nabigla naman siya sa nakita. Pero hindi nagtagal ay tumingin siya sa akin. "Who is he?" inosente niyang tanong.
I just sighed and bit my lip. "Annie, let's drink some other time." ani ko. Tumango siya na para bang naintindihan ang nais kong ipabatid.
Wala akong nagawa kundi ang panuorin ang pagalis ng kaibigan.
"Hindi mo ba ako papapasukin?" He demanded.
With glaring eyes, I opened the door widely so he could enter. Agad siyang pumasok at inilibot ang mata sa loob, hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang mapagmatyag niyang titig. Kita ko ang mangha niya nang makita ang buong detalye.
"It's a house of architect, isn't it?" puna niya. Agad na kumabog ang dibdib ko. How did he know?
"Architect Harry hid you so well. Kung hindi ko pa siya pinamanmanan hindi ko na malalaman kung asan kayo."
What? Hinanap niya kami? Para ano? Para masaktan ulit ang kapatid ko? Para ipagtabuyan ulit ang kapatid ko?
"I.. I am so sorry for everything, Ynoa." He apologized in a low baritone voice.
Agad na nanubig ang mata ko. Bumuhos ang sakit at ala alang matagal ko ng ibinaon sa limot. Parang nanumbalik ang lahat ng sakit. Why did he come? Okay na ako. Okay na kami. Ngayon na kaya kong buhayin si Zeijan ng mag-isa, hindi ko na siya kailangan. I am now financially stable. I don't need him. Zeijan don't need him.
"Y-yeah. It's all in the past. Just leave. We don't need you here." pagtataboy ko.
"Y-ynoa please."
"Okay na kami ng kapatid ko. Kaya ko siyang buhayin, mag-isa. We won't bother you, so please. Just leave."
"I explained everything to my family. They know that he's not your son. Please give me chance to make it up to you both." He pleaded.
Instead of feeling relieved, I felt nothing. Bakit parang wala na akong pakialam kung ano ang tingin nila sa akin? They have judged me so fast and cruel. They uttered words that pierced my heart. Tandang tanda ko pa din ang lahat ng salita nila. Kung paano nila dinurog ang pagkatao ko, kung paano nila tinapakan ng didgnidad ko. I can still remember they way everyone looked at me.
Tapos ngayon nandito siya para humingi ng tawad? Para bumawi?
"You know what? What can your sorry do if the damage is done? Does it change anything?"
"Hindi!" I screamed.
"We are okay! Without you! Ilang taon kaming nabuhay ng wala ka! And it will not be difficult! Sanay na si Zeijan na ako lang. At walang ama." madiin kong sambit.
"Ynoa please. I'm begging you. Zeijan is my son, I have the rights to-"
"Wala! Zeijan Raldovan is his whole name. May de la Vega ba?" I smirked.
"Give me chance please! I will give him my name. Bumalik kayo sa Pilipinas. My family acknowledges him. Tanggap nila ang bata!"
"I don't give a fuck! Just leave!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
"My? Who are you fighting with?"
Parang nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang bumaba si Zeijan mula sa itaas. Agad kong pinunas ang luha at sinalubong siya.
"Baby, it's nothing. Go upstairs." bilin ko. Ngunit hindi niya ako sinunod. Nanatiling naninimbang ang tingin sa akin. Napapikit ako nang maramdaman ang pagsunod ng chairman sa akin.
"Z-zeijan? Anak." He whispered.
Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Zeijan at malamig na tumingin sa matanda.
"I don't have a father." He stated coldly. Kita ko kung paano nanubig ang mata ng chairman.
"Did you make my sister cry?" halos maestatwa ako nang sambitin iyon ni Zeijan. He's still so young but he sounded as if he's protecting me.
"I.. I am here to say so--"
"You're a guy. You shouldn't make girls cry. Especially not my sister."
"Zeijan, he's older than you okay? You should respect him." pangaral ko sa kapatid. Pero hindi siya natinag. Sa halip ay dumaan ang galit sa kanyang mata.
"I remember him. You and your family hurt my sister. In front of all those people, she was treated so bad." napatingin ako sa kapatid. I never expected that he still remember what happened that night! My heart broke when I saw how his small fist closed because of anger.
Hindi ko na napigilan ang yumakap sa kanya. "Zeijan, you still remember that? I told you to forget it." I whispered. I brushed his soft hair.
Hindi siya umimik at hinayaan lang ako na yakapin siya. "Zeijan, can you go upstairs? I have to talk him. I promise I won't get hurt okay? I promise." malambing kong bulong.
He remained silent for a minute then slowly nod.
"I gave you a card." He uttered. Nagtaka naman ako sa sinambit ng kapatid. He's now looking at the chairman.
Chairman's eyes watered and nod. What are they talking about?
"I hope I didn't gave you one." malamig niyang sambit at sinunod ang utos kong umalis.
Nagtataka akong tumingin sa matanda. "What card?" I asked.
He inhaled deeply. "He gave me a birthday card that night."
I bit my lip. "I never thought he still remember that." I whispered.
"He hates me." His voice broke.
Malungkot at pagod ang mata ng chairman na tumingin sa akin. He handed me a calling card.
"I will be waiting for you call." That was his last words before leaving.
Halos mapaupo ako dahil sa sobrang panghihina. I can't believe what just happened. And Zeijan, my poor brother. With his young and frail heart and mind, he still remembers it. Kahit kailan hindi niya ako tinanong, nanatili siyang naging mabuting bata.
Holding a glass of milk and a sandwich, I knocked in front of Zeijan room.
Nang buksan ko ito ay seryosong nakahilig ang kapatid sa headboard ng kama. He's holding a book, I shook my head when I realized the book he's holding is too advanced for him.
"Baby." I uttered and placed the tray in the table beside his bed. Umupo ako sa tabi niya, hindi man lang niya ako sinulyapan.
"Why didn't you tell me? Akala ko nakalimutan mo na." I started to brush his hair. Doon lang niya ako tinignan at ibinaba ang hawak na libro.
"Did that man left?" I only nod in response.
"Baby, I have to tell you something. Listen carefully okay?"
Nanatiling madilim at malamig ng tingin. Napalunok ako. "That man? He's your father."
Agad na nagsalubong ang kilay niya. "Then he's your father too? You're my ate."
Napaiiling ako. I guess I have no choice but to tell him. "I am your half sister, my father died long time ago. Then our mother fell in love with other guy. They had you, baby. "
"Our mother fell in love with that man?" I nod in response.
"But don't think that just because i'm your half sister, hindi na kita mahal ng buo. Ikaw ang pinakamahal at pinakapaborito kong tao sa buong mundo." lumandas ang luha ko.
Agad na naalarma ang kapatid at lumapit para punasan ang luha ko. His fingers felt so soft and warm.
"Ako din ate. Mahal ko ikaw." natawa ako sa sinambit ng kapatid. It felt so strange that he spoke in tagalog. Idagdag mo pa ng seryoso niyang mukha habang sinambit iyon.
"Your tagalog accent is so adorable." puna ko. He glared at me. Kinuha niya ng sandwich at kinagat.
Kinuha ko ang brush at umupo sa likod ng kapatid. Sinimulan kong suklayin ang kanyang buhok.
"Your hair is quite long already."
"I like it this way."
"Hmm. I don't think so. I remember when you were younger you wanted a clean cut."
Hindi siya umimik kaya nagpatuloy ako sa pagsusuklay sa kanya.
"Ayaw mo ba talagang magpagupit?" tanong ko.
He shook his head. "Are you sure?" ulit ko. I wonder why he suddenly let his hair grow. Mula kasi ng dumating kami dito ay ayaw na niyang nagpagupit.
"M-my." He whispered. He knows that I'm his sister but he prefers to call me my. Mas gusto ko din naman. Kahit nay naalala ako tuwing tinatawag niya ako ng ganoon.
"I thought you wanted my hair this way?" kumunot ang noo ko.
"Yes, but you also look handsome when your hair is short."
Napatigil ako nang may mapagtanto. "Zeijan, did you grew you hair because you thought it makes me happy?"
Agad niya akong hinarap. Those pair of eyes broke my heart. "You were so sad. I didn't know how to help you my. Then you look so happy when you're brushing my hair. So I thought I'll just let it grow."
Lumandas ang panibago kong luha. How can he be so good and kind and thoughtful?
"Baby, whatever hair you want. I am fine with it okay? As long as you're with me, I am more than happy." i whispered.
He smiled. His eyes twinkled. "Let's get your hair done." I whispered.
He excitedly nod and smiled.