Strings

CHAPTER ONE

Aza is the daughter of the business tycoon Mr. Anton Contez and Mrs. Claudine Lopez-Cortez. They own the famous Cortez Residence Realty Corp. She has 2 other siblings namely: Kaleb and Ysabela. She was the eldest among them so she was expected to manage all of their business when the right time comes but despite the heavy responsibility that is coming for her she was never pressured by her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Cortez is one of the sweetest parents a child could ever ask for. During special occasions they would take time off from work to spend with their family.

AZA'S POV

"Dad?"

"Yes sweetheart?"

"Thank you"

"For what love?"

"For always doing everything to provide us with all our wants and needs. Kayo ni Mom"

"Anak, ikaw, si Kaleb, si Ysabela at ang Mom mo ang buhay ko --- You are everything to me"

"I love you Dad!"

He smiled and pulled me close "I love you so much more, My Princess" and kissed my forehead.

Then Mom, Kaleb and Ysabela came and saw us.

"Ay bakit kayo kayo lang?" Grumpy Kaleb

*sigh* "Halika nga dito! Ikaw talaga bunso" and I smiled

"Ate let's go eat na, I helped Mom to cook our dinner eh" Ysabela being so proud

"You know what? Feeling ko talaga magiging Chef tong si Ysabela eh" sabi ni Mom

"Kaya nga dapat you do good with your studies, Bel para pagtapos ka na magpapatayo ng restaurant for you"

"Talaga, Dad?"

"Of course sweetheart"

"Nako pano ba yan ate, mukhang ikaw talaga mag aasikaso ng ibang business ni Dad kasi magkaka-restaurant nako" Pabiro niyang sabi sakin

I just smiled to them "Kayo talaga. Ano? Kain na tayo?"

Habang kumakain kami ay tinitignan ko silang nagtatawanan habang kumakain. My Mom and Dad loves to listen to all our never ending stories, dreams, and wishes. Kahit gaano sila ka busy hindi nila mamimintis ang hindi kami kumain ng sabay most especially dinner. Seeing their smiles hearing their laughs makes me feel even more grateful sa pamilyang meron ako. Pagkatapos naming kumain at magkwentohan ay nagpa-alam na sina Ysabela at Kaleb na aakyat na sila sa room nila.

"Akyat na po sana kami ni Kaleb, Mom, Dad"

"I'll go with you two"

"Okay Mom"

Napangiti lang ako habang tinitignan sila. Kumuha ako ng glass of wine at pumunta sa table sa poolside.

"You okay, anak?" Napatingin ako sa likod

"Dad! ---- Oo naman. Bakit po?"

"Iniisip mo nanaman ba siya?" Tinignan ko siya na parang hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko "Ako din"

Tears slowly fell down ng hindi ko namamalayan.

"Do you think she's happy now?" I asked

"I hope so. I miss her ---- every day" he smiled at me.

"Me too, Dad" sabay naming tinignan ang mga butuin

"It was never your fault, Aza" he paused wiping my tears "It was an accident and it was never your fault"

I looked at him and smiled at umalis na din siya para pumasok sa bahay.

Hindi ko ba talaga kasalanan ang nangyare sayo, Ate? It's been years but the pain still remains. You were everything to them. Siguro kahit ilang beses pa nila sabihin, hindi ko parin matanggap.

*Phone Rings"

"Hello?"

"Hulaan ko? Nasa labas ka nanaman no? Tinitignan ang mga butuin"

*sigh* "Ikaw talaga, tatawagan mo lang ba ako para manghula ng ginagawa ko?"

I heard him laugh "Aza Catherine Lopez Cortez, alam ko na kasi. Kilalang kilala na kita. Mag-ooverthink ka lang eh"

"Hay nako Ezekiel Matthew Nam"

"O diba at least tumawa ka" I'm grateful to have you Ezekiel

"Tulog ka na Az. Gabi na diyan ah"

"Oo na. Haha. Good morning, Ezekiel. Ingat ka lagi"

"Good night, Aza"

Ezekiel's POV

It's 8:30 AM na dito sa Canada nakitang kong online parin si Aza. Gising pa tong babaeng to. Kasing lalim ng Pacific Ocean nanaman siguro ang iniisip nito.

*Phone Rings"

"Hello?"

"Hulaan ko? Nasa labas ka nanaman no? Tinitignan ang mga butuin"

*sigh* "Ikaw talaga, tatawagan mo lang ba ako para manghula ng ginagawa ko?"

I laughed kasi alam kong tama nanaman ako "Aza Catherine Lopez Cortez, alam ko na kasi. Kilalang kilala na kita. Mag-ooverthink ka lang eh"

"Hay nako Ezekiel Matthew Nam"

"O diba at least tumawa ka" Kung alam mo lang kung gaano ako kasaya dahil nadinig kong tawa mo

"Tulog ka na Az. Gabi na diyan ah"

"Oo na. Haha. Good morning, Ezekiel. Ingat ka lagi"

"Good night, Aza"

Good night, My Aza. Mahal kita --- Kung alam mo lang sana.

Aza and I are best friends mula pa nung bata kami. I was there in her happiest and lowest times at same din siya sakin. Sakin lang ata to hindi nakakatago ng sikreto eh. Alam na alam kong hindi niya pa rin ma let go ang lungkot na nasa puso niya sa pagkawala ng Ate Therese niya.

Hay nako, Ate Therese. Ano ba gagawin ko kay Aza? Tulungan mo naman ako oh. Malakas naman ako sayo diba? Then I smiled kasi alam kong tutulungan niya rin ako