Jayjay's
"YOU LEFT YOUR HOUSE?"
Noel almost yelled in my ear. Hindi ko alam kung akala niya ba ay mahina ang pandinig ko kaya kailangan niyang ulitin sa akin ang mga bagay na sinabi ko. Yes, I left the penthouse and I have no plans of returning soon or whatever. I wanted to have time to think alone. Masyadong malaki aty mabigat ang bombong sumabog sa mukha ko. It turns out that she is the blood daughter of the man who raised me, to think that I was painting her image in my brain as a gold digger and a two timer. Maling – mali ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko haharapin ang katotohanang hinanda sa akin ngayon.
"It's better that I do. Hindi rin naman ako makakali kung siya ang aalis. Hindi ko alam kung saan ko siya pupuntahan." I sighed. Pag-alis ko sa penthouse ay sa condo ako ni Nole tumloy. Good thing Cole isn't here. Hindi ko alam kung paano sasagutin ang mga bagay na itatanong niya sa akin. For sure, she will ask questions. She wanted me to break it up with Dindin, isang bagay na hindi ko magagawa. Oh, I love her so much. I would never break up with her. We maybe a lot of things now, we maybe in a lot of trouble, but the one thing will always remain the same and that is my love for her.
I now realize that there are bigger things than what is happening in between the two of us. Hindi ko alam kung paano ipaiintindi sa lahat ang katotohanang matagal nang itinatago at iniingatan ng tatay ko. What will happen if they found out about her? What will my father do? Does he have an inkling about Dindin's existence? Siguro ay wala siyang ideya. Dahil kung mayroon sigurado akong hindi niya hahayaang mabuhay sa ganoon si Dindin. He would've done something.
And there's Kit Sarmiento. Why did he pau for Dindin's mom? Anong kailangan niya kay Dindin? Gusto niya ba si Dindin? Mahal niya bai to? Kung oo, hindi ako makapapayag na maagaw sa akin ang babaeng kay tagal kong hinintay at ngayon ay iniingatan ko.
"Jacobo, hindi kita maintindihan. Are you really willing to sacrifice it al just for that girl?" I looked at Noel and I was reminded why I liked him and befriended him. Ang pamilya ni Noel ay kabilang sa mga NEW MONEY generation. Both Cole and him have no idea who I am, so when I met them, and realized that they don't know my family, I wanted to be friends with them because with them I can show a bit of myself kahit na Jacobo pa ang tawag nila sa akin. I can be me, even just for a little while.
"First of all..." I stared at Nole for a long time after that pause. "That's not my name."
"What?"
"Noel, my name is Jayjay Dela Cruz. I am the adopted son of my father. Ako iyong pamalit na anak sa anak niyang namatay sa isang aksidente noong six years old palang ito. I am not Jacobo. Jacobo died."
"That's... that's fucked up, Jacob." Sabi ni Noel sa akin. "Does anyone else know?"
"Dindin."
"Of course." Napapatango siya.
"Dindin is the real daughter of the man who raised me." Walang kagatol – gatol na wika ko. Halos lumuwa na ang mga mata ni Noel. "That's why I'm here. I couldn't process it. I needed time to think alone but that doesn't mean that I will let her go. I will never do that. Mahal na mahal ko si Dindin."
Napuno ng katahimikan ang pagitan naming dalawa. Maybe Noel is thinking of the right words to say, but I wish he will not say it. I needed silence now. Mas gusto kong matahimik muna at hindi mag – isip.
"What are you gonna do about it now?" He asked again. I shrugged. Ano pa ng aba ang gagawin ko?
"I'll talk to my father. He needs to know."
