PGS05: In Fact, You Waited

IFYW09

Do I really deserve this?

"How are the things here, kid? Pretty place. Looks like the place is good for you. A nice change of scenery." Nagpalinga-linga pa ito sa paligid.

After that lukewarm message a few days ago, here's my reminder now in the flesh.  Jeremy was my friend from back home and despite the age gap between us we're close enough for me to trust him. Hindi nga lang sa lebel na pwede akong makipagbiruan sa kaniya.

He's more like an older brother that I never had. My dad trusts him at masaya ako na siya rin ang tagapresenta ng kung ano mang naiwan ni dad sa ibang bansa.

"Did you really board a plane, waited for long hours, and suffered through a traffic just to ask me that?" I asked him boredly while stirring my fruit juice. I'm too jittery to consume coffee today.

Nilibot ko ang paningin sa lugar. It's quite a big cafe located in Mariano. Maraming taong nagkakape mula sa mga taong mukhang officemates na okupado ang group table, mga magkakaibigan na ineenjoy ang weekend, at mga nagdedate na magnobyo.

Tinuon ko ang atensiyon sa harap ko. It's good that I chose this place. Sinadya ko na rin dahil gusto kong marinig ang kung ano mang sasabihin niya bago pa makarating kay Minerva.

Bumuntong-hininga ito, "They're still blaming you for what happened, Morgan. I don't know how to tell you this but their power is quite working."

"Well, that's not a shocker anymore. What's new about the blame game?" Some rich families pass down legacies, riches, and power to their next kin. The Hughes' on the other hand aren't playing when it comes to passing down blame. This whole province escape was made partly or mostly because I was in danger in my own home.

Iisipin ko sana na dala lang ng pagluluksa nila kaya ako ang sinisisi nila sa pagkamatay ni dad, but no, they're more concerned about the company and the properties that dad has left. Who's gonna handle those now? Apparently, not me.

The 20 year old kid who can't be trusted with anything valuable. I can almost hear their bullshit from miles away.

They pretty much disowned my dad when he met Minerva and by extension I was also banned from any family gatherings. Not that I'm sad about it. Sapat na ang mga tao sa bahay namin para mabuo ang kabataan ko.

"They're not filing any serious cases but what I'm about to tell you might be bad news for you."  He's all business now. Gone was the man who tried to lighten up the atmosphere earlier.

"What now?" I scratched my eyebrow waiting for him to tell me about one of my aunt's tantrums, or my grandma's outbursts. But none, ang nakapagpasira ng araw ko ay ang sunod na sinabi niya. It was like a bomb exploded near the premises.

"Unfortunately, they got ahold of all your possesions, Morgan. Including the company and the accounts supporting your school right now. They're all frozen. I did my best to get it out of reach of their claws, but the best I can do is to make it secured until you're ready. Or. . . until what's written in the will is granted. Give it a few months and you can deal with this smoothly. Not now that you're at disadvantage."

"What!? That's absurd!" Napatingin sa'kin ang malapit na table dahil sa pagtaas ng boses ko.

"Calm down." He waved his hands placatingly in front of me, trying to stop me from further outburst.

"It's the best course of action for now. Let them think that they have the power while you're living here. It's for your safety too. They're desperate now, I can't imagine the things they're willing to do without any liabilites."I settled down while seething. It's too fucking unfair. Medyo napapaglagayan ko na ng loob ang sitwasyon na kailangan kong manatili rito para makatapos at makabalik doon.