Monasterio Series 8: Nights in Casa Vallejo

Chapter 28

Book signing of Nights In Casa Vallejo on September 15, 2023, at the KPUB Booth on MIBF! See you there. :)

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Chapter 28

I don't know if I should believe her or not. Baka mamaya, dinadaan niya lang ako sa paiyak niya pero hindi naman talaga sinsero.

"Kinailangan ko po lang po kasi talaga ng pera, Miss Priscilla. Aaminin ko pong nasilaw ako kaya ako pumayag." aniya habang nakayuko.

Tears fell down her cheeks. I remained staring at her. Gusto kong makita ang bawat galaw ng mga mata niya. Pakiramdam ko, magagawa kong malaman ang totoo sa ganoong paraan.

At some point, I want to give her the benefit of the doubt. Baka talagang kailangan niya at nasilaw lang siya sa perang inialok ni Ruth sa kaniya

But then I don't want to justify her mistake just for that reason. She could have just told me about her problem regarding financial matters because I'm damn willing to help.

"For fifty thousand, you backstabbed me, Aira. Do you even know the shame I have to go through because of that scandal? Alam mong buntis ako." kalmado kong sabi ngunit naroon ang diin.

Humagulgol siya, hindi na halos makatingin sa akin. Ramdam ko ang paninikip ng dibdib ko habang napapasandal sa swivel chair.

My inner self wanted to yell at her and say so many bad things against her. Nararapat lang 'yon para sa kaniya. Pero ngayong nakikita ko siya na tila totoo naman sa paghingi ng tawad, baka nga nagsisisi naman talaga siya?

"Miss Priscilla, baka naman po puwedeng manatili pa ako dito-"

"No."

Sabay kaming napalingon sa gawi ng pintuan nang pumasok si Terrence at sabihin 'yon. His expression was darker than yesterday. Lips pursed into a thin line and his aura was giving me strict vibes that no one can mess with him.

Bumalatay ang mas matinding takot sa mukha ni Aira pagkakita kay Terrence. I watched him walk towards me. Hindi pa rin niya ako gaano kinakausap. He's still giving me cold treatment and it's already been a day.

Ang sabi ni Dice, twenty four hours lang magiging malamig si Terrence sa akin, hindi ba? Bakit lumagpas pa?

Tumayo siya sa likuran ko, nakatuon ang mga palad sa mismong arm rest sa gilid ko na para bang isang demonyo na nakabantay sa likuran ko. Na kung sakaling magdesisyon akong patawarin si Aira, siya ang unang kokontra.

I could imagine him whispering something evil on my ear with his voice deep and raspy.

"Mr Monasterio, I'm really sorry for what I did-"

"The moment you accepted the offer from them, you should have at least known that showing your face here is already a mistake..." walang kontrol na sabi ni Terrence.

Huminga ako nang malalim at nag-iwas ng tingin kay Aira matapos makita ang pagkapahiya doon. I know how Terrence can be cruel most of the time. I have to admit that hearing him talking to Aira this way frightens me.

Matapos niya mahawakan si Michael kagabi kasama ang mga pinsan niya, pinuwersa nila itong gumawa ng video na naglalaman ng apologies nito at ang katotohanan sa kabila ng scandal na kumalat.

The pictures were already taken down. Kaya lang ay mayroon nang nakapag-screenshot noon kaya imposibleng tuluyan na ngang mawala.

However, what's important is that Michael finally admitted the truth. Si Aira ay ngayon kinakastigo. Meanwhile, Dice asked Michael to never tell Ruth that we knew that she was the mastermind.