The Fifth Order

2 | The Onslaught

Chapter 2: The Onslaught

"AKALAIN MO 'YON? May bahay at pera ka na!" humalakhak si Chase at mahinang pinalo ang balikat ko. "Ang astig talaga ni Mother Elmira."

Sinamaan ko ito nang tingin. Sa ngayon ay ayaw ko pang patulan ang lalake kaya ipinagpatuloy ko na lang ang pag-aayos ng mga damit.

Although it had been three days since Attorney Ty had delivered Lola Elmira's Last Will and Testament, everything was still vivid in my mind. I never expected Lola to pass and make this property legitimate in my name. We were not even related by blood. Isa lamang akong ulilang ikinupkop ni lola sa kadahilanang nais niyang magkaroon ulit ng anak.

She may have treated me as if I was her own, and I also regarded her as if she was my true mother, but I couldn't get over the unexpected revelation.

'Lola, why?' I asked in my mind.

I knew that I should be grateful instead of questioning her. I just couldn't help myself.

And then, a memory from her children's reaction when Attorney Ty disclosed the new owner of the mansion flashed back in my mind.

"What?! You can't be serious, attorney. Saling-pusa lamang siya sa pamilyang ito!" histerikal na wika ni Emara at mabilis na inagaw muli ang papel na binabasa nito.

I was stunned in my position—mouth partly opened as the attorney's words strived to sink within me.

"Y-You may have missed a spot, attorney?" France uttered in an uncertain tone. Based on his expression, I could say that he, too, couldn't believe on what was written in the testament.

"No!" exclaimed Emara and roughly outstretched her hand, pointing at my direction.

"You . . . you filthy brat! Hindi ka karapat-dapat na manahin ang isa sa kayamanan ng pamilya namin! Inampon ka na nga't lahat pero nagawa mo pang mang-agaw ng ari-arian!" nangangalaiting sigaw nito na siyang nagpamulat sa akin sa reyalidad.

"You are nothing but a gold-digger! You're not even a Divinagracia to begin with!" dagdag pa nito.

I raised my gaze and stared at her blankly, trying not to show any expression that may seem I'm affected, but deep inside, her words struck my whole being.

"M-Mommy's right. Ako dapat ang magmana ng bahay na 'to dahil ako ang mahal ni lola at hindi ikaw. Not a garbage like you!" sabat naman ni Kiara at akmang susugurin ako kung hindi lang humarang si Chase sa aking harapan.

"Oops. Kapag salitaan, word war lang. I don't tolerate catfights, young lady," rinig kong saad ng lalake na nagpaatras sa babae.

"Umalis ka na lang sa bahay na 'to hangga't maaga pa. You were never meant to be here—"

"Emara, tama na," putol ni Tita Eleandra sa sinasabi ng kaniyang kapatid. "You don't have the right to command the owner of the house to leave her house. What's written in the testament is already legalized. It's mama's decision, Emara. Not hers, not ours. Respetuhin na lamang natin ito. Besides, we already received our equal shares of the Divinagracia legacies. Let's be contented."

Sinundan ng nakabibinging katahimikan ang mga salita ni Tita Eleandra. I looked at her, only to see her staring at me with worried eyes. Ngumiti ito sa akin at tumango.

"You're calling that equal, Eleandra? Kaya pala ang laki ng nakuha mong mana kaysa sa amin." Umiling-iling si Emara. "I can't believe this!" huling sigaw nito at naunang lumabas ng bahay kasama si Kiara.

Hindi ko naman inasahan ang paglapit sa akin ni France. Napayuko ako sa pag-aakalang sisigawan at pagsasalitaan din ako nito ng mga masasakit na salita, ngunit isang marahan na tapik sa balikat ang iginawad nito sa akin.