Love and Pretensions (Published Under PIP)

13.

I was rendered speechless with what she said. Para akong inagawan ng hangin dahil 'tila hindi ako makahinga sa nalamam.

"Unfair, isn't it? Kayo ng kuya mo na mga tunay na anak ay lumaki na hindi 'man lang siya kilala. And meanwhile, here's Kai, who not only grew up with him as his father, but is also inheriting everything that's supposed to be yours and your brother's." she laughed mockingly.

Hindi pa'rin ako makaimik. Hindi maiproseso ng utak ko ang mga sinasabi niya. Parang hindi ko matanggap.

"Kung makuha mo 'man lahat ng meron sila, hindi 'yun pagnanakaw. You're just taking what's yours. Ang yaman nila, ang pera nila. Sa'yo lahat 'yun. Sa inyo ng kuya mo. You're a Gonzales, Avery. Pero inagaw nila 'yun mula sa inyo ng kuya mo."

-

What my mom told me haunted me for days. Iniiwasan ko din si Kai dahil iniisip ko lahat, prino-proseso ko pa lahat sa utak ko.

Kai was the nicest. He was an amazing friend to me. Kaya hindi ko matanggap ang mga nalaman ko. But I know my mom won't lie. She showed me enough proofs for me to believe her.

Hindi ko nga alam kung tama ba na magalit ako kay Kai. Wala naman siyang kinalaman dito eh. Pero sa totoo lang ay hindi ko maiwasang mainggit. Buti pa siya ay lumaki kasama si daddy. Buti pa siya ay lumaking kumpleto ang pamilya.

Kami kasi dapat 'yun eh. Masaya sana kami kung hindi sila dumating ng nanay niya. We could've been a perfect family but they ruined it. His mom ruined it.

Sobrang unfair! And it hurts to even imagine my dad being a father to someone else's son. Paano naman kami ni kuya? Kami ang mga anak niya, bakit hindi niya kami nagawang bisitahin 'man lang sana? O kamustahin? Gano'n ba siya kasaya sa bago niyang pamilya at nagawa niya kaming makalimutan nang tuluyan?

I was too preoccupied with my thoughts when the doorbell rang. I wasn't in the mood to stand up so I chose to ignore it.

I groaned when I heard it again. I lazily stood up and walked towards my door. I looked through the peephole and sighed when I saw Kai outside.

"What are you doing here?" walang emosyon kong tanong nang pagbuksan ko siya ng pintuan.

He pouted and held his chest dramatically. "Are you avoiding me? I missed you, love." maamong sabi niya at kaagad akong yinakap, binaon pa ang ulo sa leeg ko.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat kong maramdaman. Is my hatred for him even valid? Because I can't help but to hate him. Him and his mom stole our dad away from us.

Napabuntong hininga ako at tinulak siya palayo sa'kin. Nakita ko naman ang gulat sa mukha niya.

"May nangyari ba? May nagawa ba akong hindi mo nagustuhan? Why are you acting so weirdly cold?" he asked softly and held my shoulders. He looked so worried, I can't help but feel guilty.

Napayuko ako at naalala ang pagpapanggap ko. I shook my head and looked up at him again. "W-Wala, pagod lang siguro ako, kakauwi ko lang kasi eh." palusot ko at nginitian nalang siya.

He sighed and smiled softly. "Aww, love, are you tiring yourself too much?" masuyo niyang tanong at kaagad na sinalat ang noo ko. I held his wrist and moved it away from me.

"I'm okay, pasok ka." I smiled.

"Oh, by the way, love." aniya at inabot sa'kin ang paper bag na hindi ko napansing hawak niya. "I bought some drinks and a box of donut. Are you up for a movie night?" he grinned.

Napangiti ako at tumatangong kinuha ang paper bag para silipin. "Sure! May popcorn din ako diyan, isalang ko lang saglit sa microwave."

Nauna akong nagpunta sa kusina at linapag ang paper bag sa kitchen counter. I went to my pantry and grabbed a pack of microwave popcorn.

Nang mailagay ko na ay hindi ko maiwasang matulala habang tinitignan 'yun na umiikot sa loob ng microwave. And the next thing I know, I'm in deep thoughts again.

If I continue with our plan, I'll get my life back. Not only that, but I will also avenge my mom, me and kuya. Him and his mom stole our life away. Kung hindi dahil sa kanila ay sana masaya ang pamilya namin ngayon at sana lumaki kami kasama si daddy. Kami dapat ang mga Gonzales at hindi sila.

And I'm not only blaming Kai's mom, but also my own father. Silang dalawa ang puno't dulo ng gulong ito. They cheated on my mother. And cheating is a sin I will never forgive. May anak na siya't lahat pero nagawa niya pa'ring magloko. Nagawa niya pang iwan ang pamilya niya para lang makasama sa kabit niya at sa anak nito.

Nagawa niyang magpaka-ama sa hindi niya kaano-ano habang ang mga anak niya ay nangungulila sa kanya.

And why does it have to be Kai? Bakit sa dami ng mga tao sa mundo ay si Kai pa?

Meanwhile, here's Kai, who not only grew up with him as his father, but is also inheriting everything that's supposed to be yours and your brother's.

Naikuyom ko ang mga kamao ko dahil sa pinaghalong inis, sakit, sama ng loob, at galit. And after a lot of thinking, I have decided. I will take back everything they stole from us.

And yes, I am talking about the Gonzales' companies, properties, and money. Tulad nga ng sabi ni mommy, sa'min naman dapat ni kuya ang lahat ng 'yun, hindi kay Kai. Wala namang masama kung babawiin ko ang dapat na sa'min, 'di ba?

And as for my good for nothing dad? Magsama sila ng kabit at anak niya. I will take everything away from the three of them.

It's like hitting two birds with one stone! I will avenge my mom for the betrayal they've done to her, and we'll be instant rich! Meaning, I will get my old life back. We will have our old life back! Kami na ulit ang pinaka-nakakaangat. And all of that will happen through Kai.

And the plan I have in mind is simple. I just need to earn his thrust, make him fall for me, and slowly but surely, fool him into giving me whatever I want. And I'll take everything away from him, from them.

Everything.