Crimson Temptation

KABANATA 1

Matthew's Home!

"Shion? Gising na, at may pasok kapa." Ramdam ko ang paghawak ng aking ama sa aking balikat at pilit na ako'y gisingin, feeling exhausted, I tried opening my heavy eyes as soon as I decided to wake up.

"God dad, I'm so tired! Just please... 5 more minutes..." Sabi ko at akto sanang itataas ang malambot na bedsheets, but dad knew better. Kinuha nya yun ulit at pinigilan akong magtalukbo gamit ang malambot na kumot. Sa inis ko ako'y biglang umungol sa inis at galit.

"Dad please! Alam mo na man ata kung anong oras ko nang naka uwi kahapon!? Pagod na pagod talaga ako dad!" Saad ko na may inis sa tuno. "No young man, baka nakalimutan mo? Your favorite big uncle is coming home? At ano? Tutunganga kalang ba riyan at matutulog? Imagine him coming back then ang masasalubong nya ay ang pagmumukha mong yan? Tsk, tsk bumangon kana at maligo, bilis..." Sabi ni dad, sa linya yang yun ay bigla nalamang akong napaahon sa aking pagkakahiga...

Favorite big Uncle...? Is he talking about My step mother's younger brother? Uncle Matthew!?

"At kailan ko naman yun naging favorite dad???" Saad ko na kinakamot pa ang ulo dahil sa inis pero hindi mawala-wala sa isipan ko ngayun ang taong iyon. I wasn't expecting that my dad would talk about him first thing in the morning, especially that he rarely talks about him.

"Tsk, Shion, can't you recall when you were only 3 years old? After your mother passed away? When you met your stepmother's younger brother for the first time, at our wedding, and surprisingly, he was the one you desperately wanted to be around at that moment. You even cried when he didn't notice you, causing you to cry loudly. But then you grew attached to him... Perhaps... You just can't fully remember because... He also left shortly after the wedding, maybe after about 4 days? And then he never came back... Maybe naingayan sa laki ng boses mo, HAHAHA!" Dad said then laughed afterwards making me sit there all frozen, I could feel my face heating up after hearing his laughter echoing inside of my room, oh my god... I can't remember a single thing pero, I still can remember tiny details about him... Talaga bang... Paborito ko siyang tito??? I mean even my Step mom and I aren't that close but Tito Matthew? That sounds a bit wrong... I mean not wrong but rather weird...

"Segi na at bumangon kana, your mom and I will wait for you downstairs." Dad said and gave me a kiss on the forehead, before leaving my room, that's how he is, he's just trying to tell me or show me that even if he's busy with his works... He still loves me and doesn't forget about my existence, of course dapat lang, ako lang naman nag-iisang Shion Vaughn D. Villavicencio! Dapat lang na huwag niya akong kalimutan kasi ako lang ang nag-iisang anak nya. After doing my morning routine, after eating breakfast, I go to school, just like old times, Pero... After having that conversation with my dad earlier parang hindi na ako mapakali simula non...

Time Skip: Time is 8:30 pm...

"Hello son! Welcome home! You're finally here! Hahaha!" Loud laughter was heard inside the living room, where family Di Montivielgo was cheering and talking, rinig na rinig ko ang kanilang hiyawan at halakhakan sa tuwa, halatang masaya habang ako naman ay narito sa garden, Ewan ko ba, wala ako sa mood para pumunta don at makipaghalobilo sa kanila, hindi ako nababagay don, especially when I feel left out because ako lang at si dad ang naiiba, well maybe not dad because he's a famous businessman here in Manila after all, Villavicencio is also a famous surname here in the Philippines, but... Not me..

"Oh son, you've grown so big now! The last time na nakita kita ay hindi pa ganito katangkad! Hahaha! Salamat naman at nandito kana!" Mr. Antonio said, Mr. Antonio S. Di Montivielgo siya lang naman ang ama ni Matthew Allessandro Gabriel S. Di Montivielgo... Ang taas ng pangalan nya, half Italian kasi siya, may dogong pinoy pa, Italian, Spanish at American, grabi apat pa di hamak na napaka gwapo ng lalaking yun, however I couldn't recall his face fully, basta... Ayoko don! I'll stay here outside as much as want! Ayoko don! Remembering the conversation I had earlier with my dad got me shivering with embarassment, talaga bang umiyak ako ng grabi dahil lang sa kadahilanang ayaw akong ikarga ni tito Matthew? I still can't believe that, I could feel my blood rushing up to my ears and neck, I don't want to remember any of that! Nakakahiya! That happened decade ago! 18 na ako ngayun!