Unknown Connection (Completed).

Chapter 3.

“Bakit kayo nandito, Tito?”

“Wala naman. I just want to visit my niece and nephew. Bawal ba iyon?”

“No. It’s just, you said that you are in US. We are not expecting you to come here this early. I am very surprise to see you.”

“Oh… btw this is Fiara. My daughter.”

“Your what?!”

Nagising ako nang marinig ang napakalas na sigaw ni Lucas. Ang sarap na sana ng panaginip ko, eh! Ang epal talaga ng lalaking ‘to.

“Omo! She’s awake!” rinig kong masayang ani ng isang babae. Naramdaman kong tatlong presensya sa lumapit sa akin ngunit hindi ko iyon pinansin. I was just staring at the ceiling. “What’s wrong with her?” narinig kong takang yanong ng isang babae.

Narinig kong natawa ang kapatid ko. “Don’t worry about her. She’s just like that when she wake up, Couz.”

Wait… Couz?!

Mabilis akong bumalikwas ng bangon pero pinagsisihan ko rin iyon dahil biglang sumakit ang likod ko kaya napasigaw ako at biglang napahiga ulit. Mabilis naman nila akong inalalayan. Malalaking mata ko na lamang silang tiningnan. Mas lalong nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita si Tito Knox na nakatayo sa gilid ko. Why is he doing here?

“Why are you doing here, Tito? I thought you are in US,” I asked him while forehead creased. Paano ba naman kasi, he said that he cannot come here because he has something to do in US at isa pa, bakit nandoon siya sa school? Don’t tell me na susunduin niya kami roon. I mean, he could have just called us, right?

He chuckled. “Of course, I was in US. But! I want to see you kids that’s why I’m here. I didn’t tell you and even called you because I want to surprise you, but instead I am the one who was surprised. Hindi ko naman akalain na makikita ko kayong sugatan sa school niyo. I thought your school is safe.” Hinilot niya ang kaniyang sintudo saka nagsalita ulit. “And if you are wondering why I was in your school.” Tumingin siya sa babaeng nasa tabi niya. Wait… she is kinda familiar. Saan ko ba siya nakita? “I was enrolling my daughter, Fiara in your school. Pagkatapos no’n ay susundiin sana namin kayo but we suddenly heard a loud thud not so far from us. Babaliwalain na sana namin kasi baka kung ano lang at tanging kami lang ang nakarinig, not until I heard Lucas’ voice. Mabilis naming hinanap kung saan nanggaling iyon and we saw you and Lucas hugging each other and we also saw the unfamiliar creature attacking you. Buti nalang talaga ay nandoon kami at napigilan namin ang kalaban kung hindi, baka wala na kayong buhay.” What?! Anak?! May anak siya?!

Napahinga naman ako ng maluwag nang i-explain ni Tito lahat. Buti na lamang ay nandoon siya, baka napano na kami kung nagkataon. He is always our Savior. Siya lang ang tanging kamag-anak na nakilala namin. Ate Lisha and us isn’t blood related. Parang inutusan lang siya ng mga magulang naming bantayan kami. She’s like our nanny.

By the way, he is our Tito, Knox Ace Crowther. Yes, Crowther. He is the third richest man in the world. He is my mother’s brother. So that means Lucas and I are also a Crowther. Tito Knox is like our father since we didn’t see our father until now. He is always there for us when we need him since we were kids. He always buys us everything we want. Ang akala ko lang ay wala siyang asawa kaya nagulat ako nang sabihin niyang may anak siya. Like, I was really thought he is single and he just want to be alone for the rest of his life. Hindi talaga namin gaanong kilala. Well, I think it’s a good thing, right? May cousin pala kami kaya okay na ‘yon. Para hindi na palaging si Lucas ang kaharap ko. I’m so sick of his face every single day. Paano ba naman kasi, siya nalang palagi kong nakakausap at nakikita. At mang-aasar pa.