The Billionaire's Sweet Psycho

Chapter 13

"You need to go down in your position. Just ask for help to Uncle Tan, isa pa ay si Tyler naman nagpapakitang gilas na rin sa kumpanya nila. They will help you. Just open other businesses. Or bumili ng lupa at pagsakahan, makakatulong pa tayo sa mga nasa probinsya. Maraming magsasaka ang mabibigyan ng trabaho at--"

"I thank you for always thinking about me, anak. But, I cannot just leave, sa tingin mo ba ay ganoon kabait ang Uncle Tan mo? He's not like me, he's ruthless when it comes to running a company. Kawawa naman ang mga empleyado ko."

Ugh. Dad and his kindness! Nakuha ko rin naman ito sa kaniya, ang pagmamalasakit sa kapwa pero kasi over-over naman yung kaniya. Kahit may threats na ay wala siyang pakialam.

"Your life is important to them also, dad. Mauunawaan nila kung bababa ka na sa pwesto at magpapahinga."

"Catalina, I am only fifty-five, darling. Masyado pang maaga para mag-retire."

"For a peaceful life, Dad! Iyong walang panganib! Hindi ganito na hinahabol ka ng mga bala a-at hindi mo naman alam kung sino ang kalaban mo," hindi ko na napigilan na magtaas ng boses.

"Okay then, take over the company and I'll stay here in our house at mag-aalaga na lang ako ng mga pusa at aso."

Napangiwi ako sa sinabi niya. He even open his arms and leaned on the sofa.

"I don't have much knowledge about running company. B-Baka bumagsak lang rin sa mga kamay ko."

"You are smart, anak. All of your businesses are doing well. That's why I was eager to make you the CEO—you are a woman with the power to make things flourish in your hands. And I'm not saying this just because you're my daughter. It's because this is how I see you as a businesswoman. It's rare for women to be successful in business, as it's mostly men who succeed."

"Ni hindi ko nga inakala na aalisan mo ang pagmomodelo. I saw you grow up always telling me your dream is to be a famous model internationally and the one day you suddenly told me that you just wanted a peaceful life. Malaman-laman ko na lang na marami ka nang mga negosyo. You are so secretive na naalaman ko 'yon sa isang investor ko."

Ngumiti ako ng tipid. A pain struck my heart. I am a daddy's girl and he knows all of my dreams. Pero hindi niya alam ang dahilan kung bakit ako umalis sa pagmomodelo.

("I can't d-do this, mom. Palagi na lang si Thes ang nakikita nila, eh. I wasn't-there but Thes always took the attention of everyone! And when a famous brand was about to get me, a-at unang endorsement ko sana 'yon na imo-model but it was stopped midway when they learned that Thes is my sister."

Masama na tumingin sa akin si Caitlin pagkasabi niya ng mga 'yon. I was crying too after I received a hard slap from my mother. Ni hindi niya man lang ako tinanong kung bakit umiiyak si Caitlin, sinampal niya ako dahil sa isip niya ay ako ang may kasalanan.

It's me, yes. Pero hindi ko naman alam na ang tinanggap ko na new project ay unang offered sa kaniya.

"How dare you, Therese. Hindi ka na naawa sa kapatid mo," galit na galit na sabi sa akin ng mommy.

I shook my head a few times. Umiiyak. Mas masakit ang kirot sa puso ko kaysa ang lakas ng sampal na natanggap ko sa kaniya.

"I d--didn't know, mom. Hindi ko po talaga alam--"

"Alam mo! You are acting innocent again! Palibhasa, tuwang-tuwa ka sa kasikatan mo! You wanted everyone's attention on you! At ako! Sa tuwing makikita nila ako, alam mo kung sino ang bukambibig? 'How's Therese?', 'Aren't you Therese's sister? Can you help us reach her?' I'm sick of it! I'm so sick of being known just because I'm your sister!"

Napaatras ako nang habang lumalakas ang boses ni Caitlin at hawak siya ng mommy ay mas bumabaon ang masamang tingin ng mom sa akin.

"I-I'm sorry... hindi naman ganoon ang intensyon ko."

"Liar! Liar! Napakasinungaling mo! A-And even Zack, alam mo na may gusto ako kay Zack but what did you do? You seduced him!"

Nang marinig ko 'yon ay napahakbang ako. I didn't expect that. M-Magkaibigan lang kami ni Zack.

"Caitlin, he's just a friend--"

"Leave, Therese."

Napahikbi ako nang marinig ang malamig na boses na 'yon ng mommy. Galit na galit ang mga mata niya na nakatingin sa akin.

"M-Mom, at least here my side. Kahit ngayon lang--"

"Leave! Kung gusto mo na bumalik pa dito at maayos ang pamilya natin ay iwanan mo ang pagmomodelo at hayaan mo na sa kapatid mo!"

I felt like my heart was broken into pieces after what my mother said. Napangiti ako habang umiiyak na nakatingin sa kaniya. Hindi makapaniwala na sa mismong bibig ng magulang ko nanggaling ang mga salitang 'yon.

"Mommy, you k-know this is my dream... t-that I worked hard for this..."

"Caitlin is suffering from anxiety and depression because of you! Sige! Piliin mo iyang pangarap mo kaysa sa kapatid mo!"

Why do I n-need to choose?)

Pero sa huli ay umalis ako nang bahay non, hindi dahil pinili ko ang pangarap ko kung hindi dahil sobra akong nasaktan. I talked to my manager and told her that I will leave my modeling career. He was shock and devastated. Hindi ko sinabi ang totoong dahilan at ang sinabi ko lang ay magbubukas ako ng mga negosyo.

It was hard, at hindi ko akalain na I will struggle mentally dahil sobrang masiyahin ako.I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression after consulting a psychiatrist.

I was so depressed after I let go of my dream--when I was at the peak of my career. Nag-iinom lang ako, hindi ako lumalabas ng bahay ko and when I decided to visit my family na kahit kailan ay hindi man lang ako tinawagan ay nakita ko sila. They're happily having dinner--masayang-masaya kahit wala ako.

That's when everything felt so bad, that even getting up each day was hard.

And who saved me from that? It's Thaliana Tangi. My best friend. Nang malaman niya ang sitwasyon ko ay tumira siya sa bahay ko ng isang buwan at inalagaan ako. T-That time I was crying everyday to her and thanking her f-for making me feel love. Simula rin non ay madalas na akong imbitahan ni Tangi sa kanila, ipinagluluto rin ako palagi ni Tita Tatiana.