Journey With You (Completed)

Chapter 26: Puzzle

Journey With You
Chapter 26: Puzzle

"I will talk to your mother one of these days." Biglang sabi ni Chairman habang kumakain kami. "Hindi ka naman matitiis nun. For some time maybe, but not for long. Until then, you can stay here."

"Salamat po sa thoughtfulness, pero mas kumportable po ako sa apartment. Kaya ko naman po mag-isa doon."

"Bakit mo pa kailangang mag-isa doon kung pwede namang dito ka, kasama kami ng kapatid mo?"

"Eh pano naman po yung Mama ni Nix?" Tanong ko.

"Wala naman si Mommy, Ate." Sabat ni Nix. "Saka kung alam mo lang yung set-up dito sa bahay..." He grinned.

"Set-up?" I raised a brow.

"Sina Mom at Dad... They're not your typical married couple. I swear. And Mom's rarely home. She travels a lot, like 90% of the year, wala siya dito. And even if she is, she wouldn't find it an issue if you stayed here."

"She seems like an open minded person, then." I replied.

"You could say that." Nix grinned again and then resumed eating.

Pagkatapos naming kumain ay hinatid ako ni Nix sa kwartong tutuluyan ko.

"This is your room, Ate. Not just one you'll stay in temporarily but your real room. You may come and go as you like. Actually, pinaayos na to ni Dad the moment we all found out that he had a daughter. Nakakatawa si Dad nun. He wanted to paint the walls pink. Akala mo yung first-time dad na nag-eexpect ng baby girl? Ganun siya."

May kurot sa puso ko na hindi ko maipaliwanag. I'm so happy. But then I want to cry.

"Pahinga ka na, Ate. May en suite toilet and bath din diyan kung gusto mong maligo muna bago matulog. Kung may kailangan ka, tawagan mo lang ako o sabihan mo lang yung mga househelps natin. Ready to help sila lagi."

"Thank you..."

"Ako dapat ang mag-thank you sayo. For allowing me and Dad to experience this. He now has a daughter in this house and I have a big sister. It's all we ever wished for."

"Really? Not money? Or anything? Just... me?" I gave him a "weh di nga" face.

"Meron na kami nun, Ate. And even though we lack in some other areas, like the warmth of a happily married couple that empowers the family, kasi hindi nga ganun sila Mom at Dad, your presence is more than enough to make up for that."

"Ang cheesy, ah!"

"Pero naiiyak ka! Aminin mo! Kumikislap na mata mo eh!" Panunukso niya.

"Tse! Baka ikaw naiiyak!" Sagot ko. "Pero tungkol sa Mom mo. Bakit... ganoon sila ni Chairman?"

Mama thought my father chose this woman and her fortune over Mama and me. And she resented my father since then. How would she feel if she found out that my father isn't really... as happy as she thought he'd be?

"Only child ni Lolo si Mommy, at ayaw niyang ipamana sa mga Tito ko ang Atlas. But he trusted Dad so much, and believed in his skills. Kaya kahit manager pa lang si Dad nun, Lolo set Dad up with Mom."

"Pumayag naman ang Mommy mo? Did she even love him?"

"Hindi ko rin masabi, Ate. After I was born, parang naisip niyang tapos na dun ang role niya. She gave birth to an heir so she's free to do what she wants. To travel. And do art. Masaya naman siya kasi at least kahit ginagawa niya gusto niya, di rin napapabayaan ang Atlas because Dad manages it."