CHANCE ENCOUNTER | Jhoanna Robles

Prologue

Laurelle Quintana's Point of of View

"No because you should've endured Dad's overall personality, kung ginawa mo 'yon edi sana may kahati ako sa lahat ng inheritance. Ayan tuloy wala ka sa last will." I said as I walk around the bustling hallways of the airport, talking to my elder sister on the phone.

It's been a while since the last time I came here sa Pinas. Sa totoo lang wala na din naman akong babalikan dito kung mas pinili kong suportahan ang sarili ko.

But I don't want my father's hard work to go to waste. I know he earned those out of blood, sweat, and tears to provide us a comfortable life. 'Yun nga lang magkaiba sila ng prinsipyo ng panganay kong kapatid kaya ako lang ang nakinabang.

"I love my life now li'l sissy. Walang wala akong pinagsisisihan at sa'yong sa'yo na ang lahat ng kayamanan. I'd rather be broke than spend your father's fortune." she said on the other line.

I rolled my eyes."My father who happens to be your father as well. Seriously Ate Layne, have some respect. Dad died almost a year ago. You didn't even go to his funeral and now you're still talking ill of him?"

"Stop with that bullshit Relle, as if you didn't witness how he disowned me."

I sighed in disbelief. That incident is still haunting Ate Layne. Kahit ako naman ayaw ko din sa ugaling mayro'n ang tatay namin. He's a manipulator trying to use his 'father card' para masunod namin ang gusto niya. He wasn't like this before though. For me and Ate Layne, he was the best Dad in the world until Mom died eleven years ago. Biglang nagbago ang lahat.

"Kasalanan mo din naman. Kung nagpakita ka lang sa kanya at sinampal mo ng success mo, edi sana pinagsisihan niya 'yung pagtakwil niya sa'yo." I joked. "Sorry Dad, I love you." I looked at the sky through the large windows with hopes he could hear my apologies.

"Ewan ko sa'yo Laurelle. Mag-ama nga kayo." Ate Layne scoffed on the other line. "So ano nang plano mo ngayon?" she asked.

I placed my sunglasses up to my head to have a clear vision of the surroundings. Hinubad ko na rin ang jacket ko dahil nafi-feel ko na ang init na madalang kong maramdaman back in Michigan. Nasa Pinas na nga ako.

"Still working on a new story. I actually received an offer for a desk job at Google PH pero I declined. Besides, I don't need an 8-hour job. I already handled all the assets Dad passed on to me and did things my way, if you know what I'm saying."

It took Ate Layne a few moments before she spoke again.

"So you're saying you'll continue to write stories and won't try to find a stable job? Sayang ang degree mo sa Ross. Ba't ka pa do'n nag-aral in the first place? Para mong pinahirapan ang sarili mo."

Undeniably, Ross School of Business under the University of Michigan is one of the best business schools in the world. Maraming opportunity na sa'yo na mismo lalapit when you're a Ross graduate. But I didn't study there for a great job opportunity.

"Kapalit ng kayamanan, of course. Better suffer now and relax later than otherwise. Kung hindi ko sinunod si Daddy na sa Ross mag-aral edi hindi niya din ipinamana sa'kin ang lahat ng ari-arian niya? Mabuti ikaw may talent ka, kayang kaya mo 'yong pagkakitaan. Hindi din naman ako yayaman sa pasulat sulat lang."

My sister is an artist. She owns a gallery in France and it's her way of making a living. That's the main reason why our father disowned her, he thinks painting is a piece of crap with no future ahead.

Kung nabubuhay pa sana si Mommy eh hindi kami hahantong sa ganito. Naging gano'n lang naman ang pagtingin ni Daddy sa art nang mamatay si Mommy which also reminds him of her. Mom loves to paint as well.