His Signs of Affection

Sign No. 20

20

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His POV (Rupell)

To be drowned in all the wonderful things in the world, entertained with all the funniest jokes, and indulged in the fulfillment of my life's desires.

That's what I have always thought of when I think of why I lived in this world. My goal.

I grew up in a well-profiting family. My father is a drunkard but his money always seems to be able to pay our bills due to his multimillion-dollar investments.

Sampung taon palang ako noong mamatay si mama at maiwan ako sa mansyon ni papa.

It was not a shock anymore when my father brought home a new girl, despite the passing of my mother just weeks ago before that.

Still, I'm not a bastard to disrespect him.

Sinubukan kong tratuhin nang maayos ang asawa niya. But that woman immediately revealed her true self, the moment she got a taste of money.

As terrible and sick as her face, my life went directly downhill to hell because of her. My stepmother.

I would remember her locking me in my room without any light and then I would just see myself hugging my knees at the corner, or hiding inside the cabinet.

My father didn't know about the abuses, and even if he did, he'd surely ignore it. Hindi ko na rin sinabi sa kanya dahil sa ayaw ko ring masira ang bago kong pamilya.

'Cause even with all the abuses, I still wanted to feel like I was in a whole family again. I wanted to be part of them so I humbled myself and followed their orders to remain in their shadows as their so-called 'son'.

Vomiting out the last pieces of self-respect I have for myself. I studied harder and did my best to make them proud. Stayed awake the most during late nights to improve myself and become—

The picturesque and smart son of a great businessman.

That's what they should always see.

It has become all direct business. Being their son is like a business that they invested in. And once the value collapses, it will all be over for me.

Affection is the price of this business. Kapalit ng pagsisikap na makita ni papa ay ang pagturing niya sa 'kin bilang anak na matagal kong hinahangad. I wanted to feel like I still have a father... but even before I was able to achieve that-

The bastard died in a car accident.

I can still picture in my mind how I hurriedly ran inside the Hospital after hearing the news.

I was just fourteen at that time. As I arrived, my heart was beating like crazy. The sight of the hospital was being blurred by my tears.

The only person that I had hoped to receive love from, died. That bastard should have lived more to pay for my hard work in making him proud.

I killed myself little by little just to make him see me as his son. And now, he died first.

"Mag-sasampa ng kaso yung mga nadamay niya sa aksidente. Malakas ang laban nila dahil lasing ang asawa niyo misis. Kung mangyari man, maaari kayong pagbayarin ng malaking halaga," rinig kong sambit ng attorney sa asawa ni papa habang nakasilip ako sa pinto ng kuwarto ko.

"And so what attorney? Hindi nga kami kasal diba? At kung alam ko lang na puro utang na rin pala siya eh hindi ko na siya kinasama. Kung may sisingilin sila eh yung palamunin niyang anak dapat. Yun lang naman ang kadugo niya diba??" tugon ni tita.