Sweet Obsession

Chapter 29

"I'm fine. I'm fine." I smiled at this man who is staring at me with concern. Sumikip ang dibdib ko ng ilang segundo pero naging maayos nadin naman ang paghinga ko ngayon.

Perhaps it's because I'm shocked? I have no idea, and I have no intention to find out. Sapat na sa'kin na nasa tabi ko si Richard. When he is around, everything is fine.

"I will call tita. That I confessed everything to you." Before he went, he gave me a gentle cheek rub. Once more, his action makes my heart race.

Kaya bago pa ito bumalik, agad ako nagbigay ng magandang balita sa mga bruha.

NEXT LAB LYF. ✨

Doki-doki girl: We are official!

Active naman agad ang mga bruha dahil isa-isa silang nagsisagutan.

NEXT LAB LYF. ✨

MamaTriya: Congrats!

Strangeornot: Mag-jowa na kayo, hindi ba?

Dirty talk for me: Oo nga! Baliw 'yang dalawang 'yan. Huwag kana magtaka pa, Lexy. Tsk.

RumLover: Yeah, congrats (sarcasm) Next love life story, please.

Hindi talaga sila nakakatulong hanggang sa dulo. May utang padin siguro si Richard sa mga ito hanggang ngayon. Hindi ko nalang sila pinansin, as I know that they are secretly happy that I followed their advice.

Naging maayos na ang pakiramdam ko. Lalo na bumalik ulit sa ala-ala ko ang lahat ng sinabi sa'kin ni Richard. It's almost my birthday, yet this is the greatest surprise I've ever received.

It's wonderful to learn your lover's story and realize that it's all about you.

Bumalik agad si Richard na nakataas ang gilid ng labi. Looks like he succeed. My mom is pretty honest, and I know he likes Richard. She is easy going, kaya nya makisabay lagi. Hindi ako nagaalala sa kanya kung si mama ang usapan.

"He-" Niyakap nya ulit ako. Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses kami nagyakapan, but if it helps him, I can offer him my shoulder at any time.

"You don't know how happy I am right now, Mui."

"Hm. I know, because I'm feeling the same, Richard."

"The years I spent going after you were priceless. Now I can give you a hug, pamper you, and even keep you." I just smiled.

"Yes, yes. I'm happy that we are in this situation. You can do all that." I assured him. Spoiling ata ang tawag dito, na hindi ko akalain na gagawin ko sa kanya, shems.

Oh well, he's happy.

"Oh, also, that dead body is actually one of your father's minion, my lady." Napataas ang ulo ko sa kanya. He just beam. "That's the reason why I said those words. The father you describe is far too different. I find him to be aggressive and ambitious. It's not good for you." He tsked.

Nanigas at napatulala nalang ako. Wow, nagsalita pa talaga sya ah? Ano pa kaya ang tawag sa kanya?

But my father...? Greedy? Gusto kong hindi maniwala, pero mukhang nabasa ni Richard ang mukha ko dahil inilabas nya ang sariling phone nya at may pinindot na recorder.

"...ahahahaha! I'm not like that. Honest? Kind? Bleghh. I'm tired of doing it over and over again. Young man, I'm selfish and uncaring."

Si papa. Young man...? Nabaling ang paningin ko sa kaharap ko na may hawak ng phone, binigyan na naman nya ako ng isang inosenteng itsura...but it has a wicked and calculating smile as well. A terrifying grin.

"...I know. I know we are same, young man. We can help each other! Alam ko dyan sa dibdib mo na may bahong nakatago dyan. Sa ngiti mo palang, naamoy ko na."

I silently agreed with my dad. He is always scheming something.

"...Ha? Mui? Ang anak ko?"

Bigla nalang ako napatuod. Narinig ko ang pagtawa ni papa. It's not the same as his laugh when we're together.

"...She is my princess. My one and only princess. I can't wait to have her. Mula nang maipanganak syang asawa ko, ako na ang nag-alaga sa kanya. Ako ang higit na nakakakilala kay Mui. How she smile, laugh, and tug my shirt to express her love at me, ohh...how cute she is. Her adorable puppy eyes are what I want most of all. Kaya nang isang araw na malaman kong aalis sya, I want to make her mine but I endured. Hanggang sa nakagawa ako ng isang kakaibang plano.

"Naghire ako ng mga alagad ko. Pinasunod ko sila sa anak ko. Nire-report nila ang araw-araw nyang pamumuhay kasama ng mga litrato. But then...you! You came! My plan vanish! My incredible plan crumbled because of you!

"Hah! But I still have some memories from my Mui. Mula pagkabata hanggang sa umalis sya ng bahay, tinago ko ang iilan nyang panties. Ilang beses ko itong nagawa hanggang sa maubusan na ako ng dahil pero nagtagumpay padin ako. Kahit nga asawa ko hindi ito alam hanggang ngayon eh! Hahahaha!

"If they find out that their husband, father are having feelings for her daughter, how will they react? Funny right!"

A-Ano...Sya ang dahilan kung bakit ako nakakaramdam ng mga kakaiba sa buong buhay ko? Sya ang rason kung bakit parang may nasunod sa'kin? Sya ang dahilan kung kaya nawawala ang mga gamit ko dati? At pinagnanasaan nya...ako?

Hindi ako makapaniwalang napabaling sa lalaking katabi ko. I am certain that he is my father's talking to, but I wonder whether he is still grinning as he listens to it.

After some hours, I open my mouth. "Nasaan...nasaan sya?"

A dangerous glint form in Richard's eyes before he answered. "I took care of him."

Alam kong napakainosenteng sagot ito pero hindi para sa akin. I'm still in shock, but that's my dad's voice. As long as I have some of my father's memories-happy ones-I can just keep living.

"Richard." I warned him. Gusto ko malaman sa kanya mismo.

"Dead."

Nanlamig ang buo kong katawan. Ang laking impact nito sa puso ko. Kahit napaghandaan ko na, hindi ko parin akalain ang mga nalaman ko. Minsan, nagpapasalamat talaga ako sa genes ni mama. If the voice we need is heard, whether it is painful or not, we can move on.

Madali kaming makamove on. Madali kami maniwala kung sa galing ito mismo sa tinatanungan namin.

Patay na si papa. At si Richard ang dahilan. Kaya pala bigla nalang nawala ang pakiramdam na 'yon, ang kakaiba sa paligid ko. Lahat ng ito ay dahil sa isang lalaki, kay Richard.

Hindi ko man lang magawang tanungin sya kung bakit nya pinatay si papa. Bakit hindi nya hinintay na malaman ko at basta nalang syang pinatay? Tatay ko parin ito eh

Ngunit...wala akong lakas na loob. Mahina ako sa ganto pero...nasa harap ko lang ang rason eh. Halatang-halata ang rason ng mga katanungan ko.

Sa gano'ng dahilan, tama na bang patayin ang isang tao?

"W-Where's dad body?"

"Tita." My mom. Then she already knew.

"...Ano ang reaksyon nya?"

Nagkibit-balikat nalang sya, "Don't have any idea. She already knew all of it and I did all of it." The look in his eyes reveals his happiness and sense of accomplishment.

Wala na akong masabi. Ang magagawa ko nalang ay tanggapin ang lahat ng nalaman at nangyari ngayon. It's unfortunate that I couldn't even see my dad's last smile, but I can handle it.

Beside, Richard is already by my side. "I-I love you." I mumbled at him.

Napapikit nalang ako. Tama ba talaga ang lahat ng 'to? Ito ang nabara sa lalamunan ko. Ngunit may parte sa'kin na para ito sa kapanan ko...para sa aking kaligtasan...

He gently hold my face. He is neither smiling or grinning. As I opened my eyes, his lovely face will be seen in my eyes.

"I will always be here beside you, no matter what. And I love you too."

And I'll be at your side no matter what you've done in the past, present or near future. Please love me even more no matter what I do in the future.