The Lost Billionaire (MBBC#9) ✅

25

Reeve's POV

I bowed down, surrendering my mind and heart in respect to the woman who gave birth to me. I have nothing inside my mind. It was all blank and blurry.

"Dito ka lang, okay? Babalik ako. Babalikan kita at bibilhin ko ang paborito mong pagkain. Huwag kang sasama sa kahit na sino, okay? Kay Tita Grasya ka lang sumama kung sakaling magdilim na at wala pa ako. Pero pipilitin kong makauwi bago magdilim, okay? I love you, Ranger. Mahal na mahal ka ng Nanay."

My jaw tightened when I remembered my mother's last word. However, I could no longer recall the emotion I had at that time. I can still remember like it was yesterday when she left me. 

At kahit pa sa panaginip ko ay pabalik-balik ang eksenang ito sa akin... ang eksena ng isang batang musmos na iniwan ng ina at hindi na binalikan.

The image of my mother on top of the table was exactly the same as how she was back then, as I remembered. 

She got a fair skin like my father now. But because we were poor, her beauty got tinted. She worked hard to provide for my needs.

Hindi ko na maalala kung anong trabaho ang pinasok ng ina ko. Pero isa lang ang alam ko. . . buhay pa ang totoong ama ko.

"Sana masaya ka Almida kung nasaan ka man. At salamat sa pag-gabay mo lagi sa anak mo. . . Salamat at binalik mo siya sa akin."

Napaigting ang panga ko sa boses ni Mama sa tabi ko, at parang ang hirap huminga sa sandaling ito.

I felt like heavy metal was stuck in my chest, and as time passed, it got heavier each year. It has slowly turned me into an emotionless person. It seems like the barrier in front of me is getting thicker.

After Linus found me on the Island, he and Diego took me out using his private helicopter. Parang bula ako na nawala sa Islang iyon at hindi na nakapagpaalam sa lahat.

I left unconscious. I got sick worse than anyone could imagine. I was lying and sleeping for a week without anything. And the only thing that kept me going at that time was the IV dextrose and other medication that Enzo provided.

Dalawang buwan din na tinago ako ng kapatid ko at ni Diego. They are the only people that knows that I was alive, except for Enzo, of course.

I refused to plan A, and I was stubborn. I chose plan B at that time and wanted to start a new life somewhere in Spain. But when Linus opened up about my parents' history, especially my mother, I became alive.

Noong una ang hirap paniwalaan ng lahat. Pero naliwanagan ako nang si Papa na mismo ang kumausap sa akin.

The DNA was processed because that was what I wanted to believe. And my brother was right. . . We are a relative.

Linus Leone is my first cousin. His father, who I call my father now, is actually my mother's brother. So, in short, my mother is a Mondragon.

I don't know how my mother ended up living a hard life, enduring all the pain until she died. It was the price of love that she chose. . . It was the painful path she took after choosing my father, who abandoned us.

If you come to think of it, I did become what my mother had become. . . I was living in an abandoned love.

"Are you sure you want this path?" Papa patted my shoulder, and I gently nodded.

"Oh well, I can't push you if you don't want to run the business yet. But I have to get you next year whether you like it or not, Reeve."

"Hindi ko puwedeng ibigay lahat sa kapatid mo. Gusto niya na ikaw ang mamalakad sa negosyo sa bandang Italya. And I understand why. . . Study it for now. Aston and Bryce are there for you, son. Keep your distance from Diezel and Morris. I'm not telling you to go against me. But I want you to know your boundary," he reminded me.

"I know, Papa. But you cannot dictate to me to stop seeing them. They are my cousins, Papa. It's not like I will become like them," I smirked.

He shook his head and gave me a wicked smile. "Who knows? I know you. Nagmana ka ng ugali sa ina mo. I hope you will not choose your mother's path, Reeve."

I shook my head. "I will not. And will never be for sure," I gritted my teeth, and my jaw tightened. Huh, I was already there. I have learned my lesson hard and will never return to it. That's for sure.

"That's good to hear, son." He sighs. "By the way. Jade wants to meet you when you get there. Meet her this time, Reeve. She might be of help to you."

"I will see, Papa. I will not promise."

"I'm not forcing you to settle down, son. It's your mother that wants to see you settling down." He smiled, and I shook my head.

Iba nga naman si Mama. Kaya naiintindihan ko kung bakit panay ang ikot ni Linus noon sa buong bahagi ng mundo. At ngayon na okay na si Linus at may apo na siya rito, ay ako na naman ang pinag-iinitan niya.

Tsk, wala pa rin talaga akong kawala.

"Are you sure about it? Are you going to be okay with everything there?" Linus asked beside me, and I gently nodded before drinking my beer.

"I will be okay, bro. And thank you for keeping it all safe for me," I said. He winked, and I shook my head. 

"Always here for you, brother. At huwag mo sanang kalimutan ang habilin ko. Only us knows and the Mondragon boys know that Diego and Cariena are alive. So, don't trust anyone there except for the two crazy cousins of ours." 

"I will keep that in mind, bro. Don't worry."

"And by the way. Here are the documents you wanted." 

Ibinigay niya ang documentong hinintay ko kahapon pa. Napaigting ang panga ko at binuksan ko na ito. 

"As you instructed. I told the two people that live in the mountain to keep an eye on everything. Sila muna ang pansamantalang mamahala sa isla. You now got the whole island, and it was an easy transaction. Mayor Ethan Monteverde was an easy target, Reeve. Masyadon bobo ang taong iyon. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung paano naging Mayor ang walanghiya sa isang maliit na syudad."

I felt the hard beat in my heart when I read about the island itself. It's a damn itchy feeling, and I want to erase it. But somehow, after all these years, this type of feeling gets out of control, and I want my revenge badly. 

"They actually want to meet you, Reeve. Nahihiwagaan ang dalawang taong ito dahil wala silang maisip na dahilan kung bakit malaki ang tiwala mo sa kanila. They don't know that it was you. They're actually asking for help to find you. . . Mabuti nalang at magaling dumiskarte ang inhenyero nating pinsan. It's good to have Glenn, the all-around Engineer of the Mondragon boys." 

"I heard that." 

Sabay kaming napalingon ni Linus sa banda niya, at napailing na ako.

"Sorry. I was a little bit late, bro. Unfortunately, I can't get away from work."

"A little late? Damn, you are two hours late, Glenn. Tapos na ancestral rites ng Mama ni Reeve. Kanina pa!" Iling ni Linus sa kanya.

"Tsk. I missed it again. Sorry again, Reeve. Babawi ako sa susunod na taon."

"No worries, bud," I said, and Linus Leone smirked.

"Ano? Handa ka na ba?" Glenn looked at me.

"Geez, I think it should be you that needs to get ready, Glenn." Linus snorted. 

"Nah, it will be a piece of cake. I can't wait to join the gang," Glenn answered with confidence.

Napailing ako. Ewan ko ba kung ano ang pumasok sa utak ng lalaking ito at bakit gusto sumama sa akin sa Italya. Gustong makipag-bonding sa mga itim na dragon, eh iba naman ang hawak niya.

"You will get smashed, bro. Trust me." Linus added.

"You think so?" Glenn's eyebrows raised as he looked at me. I chuckled.

"A little bit. Don't worry. You will get treated." I said. Linus and I gave him a cheeky smile.

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c.m. louden