Versailles Series Book 8: The Designer [COMPLETED]

PART II: CHAPTER 38

~ marceline ~

Philip drove to a big mansion after we spent time with Lolo Lito and Lolo Lu in the retirement home. The house looked old and that can be seen in the interiors as well. It's like we have travelled back in time. Alagang alaga ang mga gamit doon kaya marahil kahit luma na ay hindi pa rin ito sira. Many of the decorations looked antique.

"This place is beautiful." Sabi ko kay Philip.

"Nanay Ising tries to keep everything in place."

As if on cue, lumabas ang isang may edad na babae para salubungin kami. Napatigil ito nang makita ako. Looks like Philip doesn't really bring women here based from the woman's shocked face.

"Ako po si Marceline." Nakangiti kong pakilala rito.

"Marceline...napakagandang pangalan."

"Salamat po." Nilingon ko si Philip. He smiled at me before turning towards the lady.

"Handa na ba ang hapunan 'Nay?"

"O-Oo. Nakahain na."

"Sabay na po kayo sa amin." sabi ni Philip.

"Hayaan mo na. Pagkatapos niyo na lang. Halina kayo bago lumamig ang pagkain."

Nang makita ko ang nasa hapag ay napatigil ako. "Bakit parang sampung tao iyung kakain?"

Napatigil si Philip at Nanay Ising sa sinabi ko.

"Kaunti ka lang ba kumain, hija?" Nakita kong pinasadahan ako ng tingin ni Nanay Ising.

Umiling ako. "Magana po ako, Nanay. Nagbibiro lang po ako." Sabi ko. Nagulat lang ako sa dami ng pagkain sa mesa. "Makisalo na po kayo."

Umiling uli ang matanda. "Mamaya na kami, hija."

"Sit, Marceline. Nanay Ising cooks well. Mapaparami ka ng pagkain."

"Huwag kang mahihiya, hija. Kumain ka ng marami."

Natawa ako. "Matakaw po ako. Magugulat po kayo sa dami ng kaya kong kainin."

"O siya, damihan mong kumain. Ihahanda ko lang ang tutulugan niyo."

I sat on one of the chairs and Philip did the same. We ate while talking about Philip's childhood memories here. He told me about how he grew up with his Lolo and not his parents.

"That's my family."

I was looking at some photographs in the living room while he answered a call after dinner. Nabanggit na nito na hindi pumupunta ang mga kamag-anak nito rito madalas dahil mas gusto ng mga ito sa siyudad o ibang bansa. I got a picture of him with his parents. He's young, probably ten. Nakakandong ito sa tatay nito at nakangiti ang buong pamilya. It was different from the complete family picture they have where they have very serious facial expressions like they are in a funeral.

"That's before my grandfather told everyone that I am the sole heir. After that bombshell, my entire family turned against me."

"What did your grandfather do? I don't think Lolo Lito will let his family crumble just like that."

He shook his head. "He won't. But he can't do anything about it too. The only thing he was able to do was stop my family from killing me."

Nakaramdam ako ng kaba sa sinabi nito. Can people actually do that? "What do you mean? Did they want to hurt you?"

He shrugged. "No, but you can't be so sure. He just added a clause in the will that any unnatural causes that might harm me will result in them not having a single penny nor a chance of working at our companies."