“And you think he likes you?” she fired back.
She’s trying so hard to look like she wasn’t affected by what I said, but I can see her chest rising up and down, and her face looks like she’s about to cry.
I shrugged. “You better ask him. Hindi naman ako ang makakasagot sa tanong na ‘yan,” sabi ko at tinapat na ang susi sa door knob ng pinto ng unit ko.
I was already holding the door handle when I turned to her again. “And for your information, hindi ako nagpapapansin sa kanya. Hindi ko siya kailangang akitin. I’m not trying to get to his pants because I already did. Six years ago... when he was still my boyfriend.”
Kita ko ang dumaang gulat sa kanyang mukha. Halos maiyak lalo siya. I maintained my poker face. Tuluyan ko nang tinulak ang pinto ng unit ko. Parang kailangan kong magshower ng matagal. Thinking that the cold water will calm me down. Because I may look calm and unbothered on the outside, but I’m actually pissed right now.
Ang ganda na ng mood ko kanina, e. Sinira niya lang. Who wouldn’t be pissed by that?
“Bitch…” she hissed. “Anak ka ng drug lord!”
Doon ako natigilan. Parang tumigil din ang mundo ko sa narinig. Umigting ang panga ko at parang tumaas ang dugo ko sa ulo ko. A fresh swell of rage rose in me. Marahas akong napalingon sa kanya. Hindi ko na nagawang pagtakpan pa ang inis na nararamdaman ko ngayon.
And she saw how my expression changed. It’s like the mask I’m wearing has been removed so now he can clearly see what I’ve been hiding. Kaya ngumisi siya sa akin, tila proud sa sarili dahil sa tingin niya ay napikon na niya ako.
“Anak ng drug lord,” parang batang ulit niya pa habang nakangisi.
I clenched my jaw. A boiling fury swelled inside of me. Mabilis na ang pintig ng puso ko. Ang pisi ng aking pasensya ay parang unti-unting umiikli.
“Your dad was Evan Aluarez, right? ‘Yung adik na artista? ‘Yung mapagpanggap? Plastik at may saltik sa ulo?” Tumawa siya kahit wala namang nakakatawa.
My anger flared. How the fuck did she know that? How the fuck did she know that my father was Evan Aluarez?
I’ve been trying to live a low profile after that incident. At dito sa Cebu, walang nakakakilala sa akin. Kaya kahit paano ay panatag ako rito. I was reassured that no one would dig about my past. Walang mangingialam sa akin. At buong akala ko nakatakas na ako sa bagay na ito.
“And I heard he wasn’t really a good father. May mga napanuod akong interviews about some people who were close to your father. Hindi rin ito alam ng ibang mga tao noon. He has a lot of kabit pala? Tapos may anak pa siya sa naging kabit niya? How old is your half brother now? Twelve? Thirteen? Kasama mo pang lumaki, ah? Magkasundo kaya kayo?” she chuckled like a crazy bitch.
Nagkunwari siyang naaawa habang nakatingin sa akin. Humakbang siya ng isa palapit. She sighed and looked at me. “No wonder why you are thirsty for attention. Hindi ka naman pala mahal ng tatay mo. Pati nanay mo. Kasi kung mahal kayo ni Evan Aluarez, bakit siya maghahanap ng iba ‘di ba?”
Stung by her mockery, I gritted my teeth. This fucking bitch. Ang pasensya ko’y konting-konti na lang. Kaunting kalabit na lang ay masasampal ko na ‘to. Huwag niya akong subukan. Hindi niya ako kilala. I am a fucking retired bitch. Pikunin niya lang ako, makikita niya ang hinahanap niya.
“And I heard… your mother didn’t actually die because she was ill? Suicide, right? She killed herself because she loved your father too much… but poor her, she got betrayed by him… Kawawa naman… nagmahal lang naman siya per—” I slapped her. Real hard.
