Saavedra Series #1: Until I Found You (Book I)

Simula

SIMULA

PAREHAS NA BASAGULERO ang nanay at tatay ko noon sa Sierra University. Sapak dito, sapak doon. Minsan hampas dito, hampas doon.

Oo, hindi man sukat akalain pero mala-gangster o action movies ang buhay ng mga magulang ko. Those who knew and were classmates or schoolmates with my mom and dad at Sierra University confirmed it to me, as did my aunt's stories about them.

The Lavignes were such an infamous name, that's why my life wasn't easy either. Even if I stayed quiet in a corner and avoided interacting with the big names in various industries, they still recognized my surname which was renowned across the entire industry.

That's the reason why many say I am a fraud. Na hindi raw ako totoong anak ni Mauchallen Velucci—ang aking ama na dating sikat na fashion designer dito at sa ibang bansa na mainly sa Europa. My father's kind was already wiped out, so it's kind of impossible that there is still one left.

Pero syempre, hindi ako naniniwalang ampon ako at anak ng aking ina sa ibang tatay. Lalo na at may DNA test ako na nakapagpruweba na totoo nga niya akong anak. At saka kahit hindi ko na naabutan ang mga magulang ko, at kahit lumaki na ako at nakatira sa pamamahay ng mga Sanford, Tita Cecilia's stories about my family proved that I am literally a Lavigne.

Kahit hindi ko man nakuha ang features nila dahil manang mana ako sa aking ina, I can feel it rushing through my veins.

The danger my bloodline had faced in this lifetime... Their cursed fate... I know I have those too. At mangyayari rin sa akin balang-araw ang nangyari sa kanila noon.

But for now, I am still a mere student whose life is always on the verge of death. Letting me roam around and live a normal life like normal teenagers do.

Maybe I am just a suicidal fool, but I guess it just shows who I truly am. I didn't need their protection unless I stated, and I still am lost since my father died—who was shot at his dear home, fell into a coma, and eventually passed away.

Naibaon man sa limot, but I still remember how naive I was that day. Stepping out of the long gate of my father's house, visiting and playing at the Sanfords' home with my two cousins, Maluwi and Dominic. While I had no slightest idea that my father had already sacrificed so much to protect me.

I don't know much about what truly happened. Bata pa ako noon. Five years old, wala pang masyadong muwang sa mundo. Even Tita Cecilia Velucci Sanford, Dad's cousin and the only Velucci that was left, knew little about the murder of my father. I just know that he was shot in the head by one of my father's enemies from Italy who had fled here to assassinate him. But the details went murky, shrouded in secrecy and fear. All I know is that my father's death left a void that can never be filled.

While my mom, well...  she died when I was still months old. They said she drove drunk in her car, the reason the accident happened, and the reason why her body was found crisp from the fire. She was cremated right after and buried her at peace.

Kaya ito ako ngayon. Iniwan na ako.

Ako nalang talaga mismo ang natitira at hindi ko alam kung matutuwa pa ba ako.

"Ione..."

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at lumingon sa sikat na si Maluwi Haze Sanford na papasok na sa kanyang Ford Fortuner.

"Huwag kang magpapakalikot at dumiretso ka rin ng uwi, ha?" paalala niya sa akin na ikinatango ko at nauna nang naglakad papunta sa kung nasaan ako naka-park.

Sa likod ng Sierra.

Delikado man pumunta roon dahil doon lagi nagaganap ang mga masasahol na away ng mga estudyante sa university, pero wala akong pakialam dahil walang bantay doon para ticket-an ako kung sakali mang lumagpas na ang aking parking hour. At saka kilala ko na pati ang mga tambay doon. Hindi nila ako magagalaw, lalong lalo na ang motor ko.