Long Lost Daughter

Chapter 28

I𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲

They were all froze when I spoke. So I repeat my question.

"Bakit niyo po ako pa-iimbestigahan?" I asked them calmly, of course I already know why, I just want them to tell it to me.

"A-ah b-belle, a-ano kasi-" Tita Imee replied, stuttering.

𝗜𝗺𝗲𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘀

We're totally in silence. Belle repeated her question and I decided to answer her.

"A-ah b-belle, a-ano kasi-" I hesitantly replied.

"Pwede po bang diretsuhin niyo po ako?" She said directly, now on her authoritatively voice.

"Nagbabakasakali kami na ikaw yung anak ni Irene." Bonget plainly said, we all looked at him.

"Po?" Isabelle replied unbelievably, she raised her eyebrows.

"And what made you think that I am tita Irene's daughter? Tito, hindi po ako si Celestine!" Isabelle said, she raised her voice.

"Isabelle, calm down." I said and I went near to her.

"Tita, hindi ako si Celestine. Why did you even bother on investigating my identity? Wala po kayong mapapala." She told us, I gently rub her back to calm her down.

"Belle, we just try it okay? Nagbabakasakali lang kami." I said softly, trying to make the atmosphere to feel casual as possible.

"Tita, please. Ako na po ang magsasabi sainyo, hindi po ako si Celestine. Wala po kayong mapapala at masasayang lang po yung pera niyo." She firmly utters.

"Money is not the issue here, Isabelle. Don't you want your tita Irene to be happy?" Bonget asked her, he stood up.

"Of course I want her to be happy tito, not just in this way, you're investigating my own identity, you're investigating me!" Isabelle exclaimed, I know that she's confuse.

"Hindi po ako yung anak ni tita Irene at lalong hindi ako si Samantha Celestine, dahil ako? Iniwan ako ng mga magulang ko, siya? Hindi, pinahahanap niyo parin siya kahit ilang taon na yung lumipas hindi parin kayo sumusuko. At Ako? I don't even know if my parents bother on finding me. So please? This is nonsense!" Isabelle affirms, half-shouted.

"Belle, alam kong hinahanap ka ng mga magulang mo ngayon-" I tried to console her.

"Oh shut up tita, wag niyo na po akong paikutin sa ganyan. I've been believing with that, a long time now." She told me, she's now crying.

"Isabelle, listen to me. Walang magulang ang hindi mahal ang kanilang mga anak.." I said, I'm now in tears.

I remember my unica hija, namatay siya nung nasa sinapupunan ko palang siya.

"Well kayo, mahal niyo po yung mga anak niyo. My parents? Nah! Never! Ngayon palang kahit hindi ko sila kilala, alam ko nang hindi nila ako mahal, hindi nga nila ako mahanap diba?" She said then bitterly laughed.

"Isabelle -

"Tita please, pagod na po akong umasa sa mga ganyan. I'm tired of hoping that one day my parents and I will cross our paths again, I'm tired of hoping that one day I'll be able to meet them and that one day I'll be able to experience a mother and father's genuine love. Pero hanggang ngayon, wala diba? Kaya please po, don't bother on telling me that words kasi hindi na po ako naniniwala sa ganyan. I would rather stay in Bahay Kalinga than be with my parents again! I hate them all!" She said and cried hardly, I hugged her and rubbed her back.