THE LOST KING (RUTHLESS SINS SERIES 5)

CHAPTER EIGHT | Fate

If someone disappoints you again and again, thank them for being consistent and walk away, smiling.

RUTHLESS SINS SERIES 5 | THE LOST KING

CHAPTER EIGHT | FATE

PAVEL

Inilayo ko ang telepono sa tainga ko dahil naririndi na ako sa lakas ng boses ni Mommy habang dere-deretsong nagsasalita. It had been two weeks after her event and still she wanted me to find those who gate crashed her precious party.

"It's been two weeks, Pavel. And until now you still haven't found those whores who gate crashed my parties? I am losing clients here. Two of my millionaire clients didn't renew their contracts to my girls."

Ramdam na ramdam ko ang panggigil ni Mommy sa bawat salitang binibitawan niya. Napahinga na lang ako ng malalim at isinandal ang ulo sa headrest ng kotse ko.

"I was in Italy for two weeks, Mom. Remember? Dad asked me to accompany the Rossi's and make sure that the supplies are correct. How can I find those gate crashers if I was away?" Katwiran ko sa kanya. Pero ang mga mata ko ay nakatutok sa gate ng eskuwelahan ni Audrey.

"And I don't care! Wala akong pakialam kahit saang lupalop ka pa ng mundo galing. Importante ang inuutos ko sa iyo. I'll be having another party the next week and I need those names!" Ang lakas ng boses ni Mommy.

Napakamot ako ng ulo at marahang inihilot ang kamay sa batok ko.

"I am doing everything to find them, Mom." Iyon na lang ang nasabi ko. Hindi ko sinasabi sa kanya na matagal ko nang natagpuan si Audrey.

"Apparently, you are not doing enough. Kahit kailan hindi ka talaga maaasahan. No wonder, your father always favored Dmitri over you. Because Dmitri is dependable. He never lets us down. Kayo ni Katarina, kahit kailan puro pagiging pabigat ang alam n'yong ibigay sa pamilya. I need those names! Now! Para magkasilbi ka naman."

Bago pa ako makasagot ay busy tone na ang narinig ko. Napahinga na lang ako ng malalim at tiningnan ang telepono ko at inis na ibinato iyon sa dashboard ng kotse. Ilang beses akong bumuga ng hangin at pilit na kinakalma ang sarili ko.

I didn't want to get mad. I kept on putting in my head that it was normal. I grew up my parents to be like that to me. Wala na akong dahilan para maapektuhan pa. Pero minsan talaga, dumarating ang pagkakataon na napipikon ako. Tulad ngayon. Nanginginig ako sa galit na unti-unting lumulukob sa akin.

Am I not fucking enough?

They didn't see what I did with those Italians? I just doubled the fifty million deal with them. And we got the bigger cut plus other perks that only the Red Odessa could have. Dmitri was happy. He was proud of me. He even picked me up from the airport earlier and told me to spend the whole day with him. But I declined. I needed to report to dad.

And when I told our father the good news, he was not eager to hear it. It was like he just needed to hear it but never proud of what I did. Mas concern pa nga niya na maliit pa daw na na-doble ang deal na iyon. Dapat ipinilit ko pa daw ang mas malaki.

I didn't argue. Nag-uumpisang makipagtalo si Dmitri sa tatay namin at pilit na ipinapaliwanag ang magandang deal na nagawa ko. But sadly, our father was deaf with all the explanations. At the end of the day, what I did for the Red Odessa wasn't enough at all.

Kaya kahit anong pilit ni Dmitri sa akin na umalis kami, lumabas at mag-unwind, tumanggi ako. Sabi ko gusto ko munang magpahinga. Pero ang totoo, gusto ko lang mapuntahan si Audrey.