Fortress Island Series 2 Romano: Can't We Try (BOOK 2)

TWELVE

Hell

"Your uncle Bernardo is sick in the head! He's planning to remarry!"

Ito ang sinalubong ni Mama pagpasok namin ni Alejandro sa library ng Salvatore Mansion. My father was sitting behind the office desk, busy with his papers, as always, while my mother kept pacing back and forth with her arms crossed over her chest.

I sat on the end of the large sofa, my elbows on my knees. Hindi na ako nagulat sa sinabi ni Mama. Zandro spoke about his father's plan to us in the group chat, which I, by the way, had no plans interacting. Nabubuhay lang naman ang group chat na iyon kapag may anunsiyo mula sa kani-kanilang buhay. Minsan nga ay hindi ko binubuksan ang thread ng GC. Their main topics would always be about businesses which I had no interest of knowing. Alejandro, most of the time, does not engage but once he did, I would sometimes peek and read his replies.

Out of all my cousins, Ezekiel was the nosiest one. He would call me out every damn chance he got. He accused me of being just a lurker because all I did was to 'seen' their boring conversations and not bother replying even though they kept tagging me. That asshole. It wouldn't hurt their toes if I refused to even say what's up, would it?

Alejandro sat on the other end of the sofa and crossed his legs like he would always do. Looking at him, I could not help but think how opposite we were, literally and figuratively. He's wearing his casual business suit and sleek leather black shoes, while there's me wearing a simple white shirt, cotton shorts and house slippers. I mean, it's been like two weeks since we arrived in Spain at ni isang beses ay hindi man lang ako nagka-interes na lumabas ng bahay. And to tell you frankly, hindi ko pa napupuntahan ang ibang sulok ng ancestral house na ito. Alejandro spent most of his childhood here. Dito rin siya nag-aaral ng kolehiyo. He's planning to take up his master's degree in the US. He's a damn genius and sometimes, I envied him. Sinasama siya palagi ni Papa sa mga business trips and meetings kaya sa murang edad, I was confident he would rule the corporate world someday. Para kay Alejandro, parang isang malaking kasalanan ang uupo lamang sa bahay at walang ginagawa. Don't get me wrong, may ginagawa din naman ako. I had been spending my time in my bedroom composing songs. So far, limang kanta na ang nagagawa ko. And I could not even believe myself that I was able to make such in a short period of time. My keyboard was all I got for now. I was thinking of learning to play guitar so I could have more knowledge in music.

"What are you plans, Leonora?" My father asked. Napaangat ang tingin ko sa kanya. Alejandro and Papa Arturo had almost the same features. From eyebrows, eye color, nose to the jaw. Alejandro was the complete replica of my father. No one will question their similarity. He was my father's mini-me. Ako naman ay walang namana sa aking ama. People would always say that the Alcantara blood was stronger in me. Di ko rin naman sila masisi dahil ilang beses na akong napagkamalan na kapatid nila Zandro. I got my strong features from my mother. I inherited her brown eyes and prominent nose. Kung meron man akong namana kay Papa, siguro ay hugis ng mukha at maalon na buhok.

"I have to go back to the Philippines, Arturo. This will create another scandal in the family! Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa utak ng kapatid kong yun para ilagay sa alanganin ang dangal ng pamilya Alcantara!" My mother was getting hysterical.

"I heard, the woman he's planning to marry is three times younger his age. Zandro said his soon-to-be-stepmother is even younger than him." Alejandro blurted out, lips curling up in mockery. Ako naman ay nagpipigil mapahagalpak sa tawa. What is wrong with our uncle? Surely, he looked younger than his age, but would he be able to satisfy his woman in bed? But then again, my uncle was only a year older than my father, and both did not look like they have past their primes.

"Jesus Christ!" My mother uttered with both annoyance and frustration. "After Marcus, I don't think I can handle another scandal." She planted her fists on her narrow waist.