Ineffable Euphoria

Kabanata 24

Kabanata 24...
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Both my brothers, as well as Alessandro are all on call right now with someone, pacing in front of me. Attorney Canja and Apollo, on the other hand, are sat before me, looking concerned.

"Are you okay?"

Tango lamang ang nagawa ko.

The Governor and Councilor had already left an hour ago. Emil got a call from his mother, kaya kinailangan n'ya ring umalis.

"Alaia, stop reading that shit." Kuya Jyair glance at me, before shifting his dagger eyes to my phone.

Kahit pa narinig iyon, ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagbasa.

A lot of things were said in the post.

Too many.

It exposed my identity as the sole daughter of the late Mayor, my father, Enrico Bernaldez. The post even involved my father's then accusations, lawsuits, as well as his "failures". Significantly, the writer emphasized my past behaviors on the post. It covered my alleged bullying, bad or rather spoiled attitude, how much of a party girl I am, how I abused my power to become a member of student council for years, and so much more to conclude that I am, an apparently horrible person in general.

Whoever wrote it also added so-called "first-hand experiences" with me.

That being said, whoever this is knows me personally, or possibly just assumed that he or she is included in my circle, because I wouldn't even waste my time back then talking to someone like whoever this is.

How dare this person even include my father... He had suffered enough, and they're still including him in all this bullshit?

This is fucking out of hand.

"Zyair, get her phone." Hindi na napigilan ni Jyair kahit pa may kausap pa sa cellphone.

Hindi na ako nakapalag nang hinablot iyon ni Zyair sa'kin.

"Listen, you have the grounds on this," Attorney Canja says, resting his arm on the table. "Once you find out who posted it, you can sue them for defamation. Libel."

Hindi ko mahanap ang mga tamang salita kaya wala akong nagawa kun'di bahagyang iling.

"What?" His brows furrowed.

"Rad," makahulugang tawag sa kan'ya ni Alessandro.

"Do you have any idea who could've posted this?" Si Jyair na mukang tapos na tumawag kung kani-kanino kaya ngayo'y muling lumapit sa'kin.

Tanging iling lang ulit ang ibinigay ko.

"I had a friend trace its IP address, but all they found was that the post was made on a mall in Quezon City." Zyair explained.

"The sim card used to create the account was also bought recently. It had no useful information. No previous messages, calls, or anything, other than the same location Zyair found." Jyair adds as he places his phone on the table. "They're also attempting to take down the post right now. It can be done any minute now."

"I just don't understand..." mariin akong napapikit. "Dahil lang sa picture namin na nag trending?"

Mabilis kumunot ang noo ni Jyair. "What picture? What about it?"

"Iyong naka-post sa page ni Governor Angeles. The picture from yesterday na s'yang ginamit din d'yan sa post. It got somehow trending earlier, or last night, I'm not sure..."

"Iyon ang tingin mong dahilan bakit may nag post no'n?" Alessandro asked.

Napatingin ang lahat sa kan'ya.