HIDING HIS DAUGHTER (UNDER EDITING)

CHAPTER 34

ALTHEA'S POV

I am outside, waiting for Mommy and Daddy because they are finally coming home today, just as Uncle Anthony promised.

Wala rin dito si Uncle Alvin at si Uncle Adrian, kaya wala tuloy akong matinong kausap. It's so boring when they're not around to play with me or tell me stories. They're usually fun.

Si Mommy La naman saka si Daddy Lo, my grandparents, have their own things to do; they're always busy. The only grown-ups with me right now are Tito Anthony and Tita Xianna peroay binili sila, I want food kasi.

Tita Xianna is Mommy's secretary, but I call her aunt because she's always been so kind and a part of our family. She's really pretty too.

May limang maid akong kasama. Bakit ba kahit saan na lang ako magpunta, nakasunod sila sa akin? It's so annoying and suffocating. I can't even play properly!

Naglakad ako papunta sa kanan. Nang tumingin ako sa likod ko, sumunod sila sa akin. Naglakad ako papunta sa kaliwa, tumingin ulit ako sa likod ko, at sumusunod rin sila sa akin. They're like my shadows, only less cool. They make me feel like I'm being watched all the time, and it's not a pleasant feeling.

I sighed deeply and kept walking, hoping they would eventually get tired and leave me alone, but they never do. They're too dedicated, which is sometimes a disadvantage for me.

"Arf arf!" Napakurap-kurap ako nang may maliit na aso na tahol ng tahol. Aww, ang cute! It was a tiny, fluffy puppy, and its barks were more like adorable squeaks. My heart instantly melted.

"Hello there! Ang cute-cute mo naman!" sabi ko dito, saka ako umupo sa damuhan. I gently reached out and started to pet it, stroking its soft fur. Ang lambing niya rin! It immediately leaned into my touch. Binuhat ko siya at saka ako humarap sa mga maid na nakasunod sa akin. Naglayuan naman sila ng kaunti nang tumahol itong aso ng malakas. Ha! Finally, something that scares them away.

"Shh, don't bark. Are you hungry?" I asked the dog softly, patting its head. But instead of answering, it suddenly squirmed out of my arms and ran away. "Hey! Come back!" I called out, and without a second thought, I chased after it. My new furry friend was far more interesting than being surrounded by maids.

"MA'AM ALTHEA, SAGLIT LANG PO!" Sigaw ng isang maid, but I didn't pay any attention to her. My focus and attention were solely on the playful dog. I just wanted to play with it a little more.

While I was chasing the dog, a white van suddenly stopped right in front of me. Before I could even react, they took me in. They grabbed me so quickly, I barely had time to scream. Why did they take me? What will they do to me? My heart started to pound in my chest, a sudden realization of danger washing over me.

Napakurap-kurap ako sa bilis. Naipasok agad nila ako sa van saka pinaandar ang sasakyan ng mabilis. It all happened so fast, like a scene from action movies.

Ganun lang... No struggle, no shouting. I just found myself inside a moving white van, with total strangers.

"Ang tagapag mana ng Velasquez," said the person next to me, who was wearing a black mask. Everyone inside, including the driver, was wearing a black mask. They quickly tied my hands with a rope, but I didn't resist. What's the point? They're bigger and stronger than me I guess.

Nakatingin lang ako sa kamay ko na tinalian nila, at bahagya akong napanguso. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanila. I tried to look confident, just like Daddy taught me.

"Ano po ang kailangan niyo sa akin?" Kampanteng tanong ko, trying to keep my voice steady. Daddy always says, never show fear to your enemies.

"Ang tapang mo, bata! Wala kang laban sa amin," sabi ng isang lalaki na nasa likuran namin. Wala pa naman akong ginagawa. Paano ako naging matapang? I'm just stating a fact.

"Really, nothing po?" nang-aasar na tanong ko, raising an eyebrow. I always try to push people's buttons to see their reactions.

Naramdaman kong nanigas itong mga katabi ko. Actually, ang baho nila! Naliligo ba ang mga ito? Their scent was a mixture of sweat and cheap cologne, and it was quite nauseating.

"B-bata ba t-talaga 'to?" Nauutal na tanong nitong katabi ko. May mata naman siya, ano ko, matanda? Hindi ba niya nakikita na bata pa 'ko? It's quite obvious.

"Give me a knife, gun, bow, or any weapon, and let's fight," I said softly, but with a clear, firm voice. Alam kong narinig nilang lahat ang sinabi ko. I wanted them to know I wasn't just some helpless kid.

Walang alam si Mommy dito, pero tinuruan ako ni Uncle Anthony na lumaban at gumamit ng iba't ibang armas. He always told me it was for self-defense, but it was always fun practicing with him.

He said that one day many would try to kill me because I am the heir, and si Daddy ay Mafia boss. Marami raw talagang papatay sa 'kin. He made it sound like an exciting adventure, even though I knew it was serious.

Tinanong ko si Uncle Anthony kung bakit alam niya 'yon, pero wala naman siyang sinabi sa akin. He just winked and told me to always be ready.

"Walang duda, Velasquez nga ang batang ito!" Apelyido 'yan ni Daddy.

"Hernandez din po," sagot ko, reminding them that I have two powerful last names. My mother's side is equally formidable.

"Tang*na, manang-mana ka sa tatay mo, pero Hernandez?" Tanong nito, sounding confused. He probably only knew about the Velasquez side.

"Mana po talaga ko sa Daddy ko," I replied proudly. I am Daddy's daughter, so I probably take after him ng sobra.

What's wrong with them? Bakit parang walang laman ang mga utak nila? They seem so clueless.

"Hernandez? Teka, teka, familiar," sabi ng isang lalaki sa likuran, kaya nagtaka naman ako. Could they know about Mommy's side?

"Ano kamo, A?" tanong nitong katabi ko. Bakit 'A'? Letter ang pangalan nila? That's quite a simplistic codename system.

"Z, natatandaan mo 'yung nakalaban ng Rank 1 at Rank 2? Napakatindi ng laban na 'yon. Hindi sila kasama sa Mafia Organization, pero napakalakas nila. Ang namumuno roon ay tatlong Hernandez. Hindi natin sila kilala, pero may mga codename sila. Ang unang Hernandez, siya ay tinatawag na si Dark Phoenix. Ang pangalawang Hernandez ay tinatawag nilang The Silver Fox, at ang pangatlong Hernandez, ang tinatawag nilang The Midnight Sun." The masked man, A, was recounting a story.

"Wow, that's cool!" I said, excited. Kung ako ang magkakaroon ng codename, ano kaya ang magiging pangalan ko? Maybe something unique and appealing, but I won't think about it for now. I need to focus on my current situation.

"Puwede po bang matanong, if naliligo po kayo, tapos nagt-toothbrush? Ang baho po kasi ng hininga niyo, tapos ang baho niyo pa," I said irritably. I couldn't help it; the smell was truly offensive.

Akmang sasampalin ako nitong katabi ko nang inunahan ko siya. Nagsalita na ako ng mabilis, my eyes narrowing.

"Slap me, and you're going to regret it," I said coldly, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. The air in the van suddenly felt heavy.

Go ahead, slap me, at sasabog ng di oras ang sasakyan na ito. I'm not just bluffing; I'm armed with knowledge and strategies from Uncle Anthony. I have contingencies for every situation.

Hayst, Mommy and Daddy are taking so long! But Tito Anthony said they might be making a baby. That thought always makes me smile.

I hope they make my sibling. My birthday is coming up, and I really, really want a baby sister. Daddy said he'll give me a baby sister, so I'm holding him to that promise.

Naisip ko lang, paano ba ginagawa ang baby? It's a mystery to me.

Ako ba, paano nila ako ginawa? Ang nabasa ko sa libro ni Uncle Anthony magkasama ang babae at lalake kapag gagawa ng bata.

Kumain ba si Mommy ng bata? Ah siguro nilagay ako ni Daddy sa tummy niya pero paano ako nagawa anong ingredients ginamit ni Daddy, tapos pinanganak ako ni Mommy?

Ah, never mind.

"What time is it po?" I asked, trying to change the subject and gauge how long I'd been with these smelly people.

"Bata, tumahimik ka na lang pwede?" sabi nitong driver, annoyed.

"May pangalan ako, tanda," masungit na sabi ko, correcting him. I hate being called "bata" by strangers, especially rude ones.

"Tang*na kang bata ka! Hindi pa ko matanda!" he retorted, clearly offended.

"Wag kasing bata, may name po ako," ani ko again.

"Ano bang pangalan mo?" he asked, sounding frustrated.

"Althea," I declared.

"Althea Velasquez, noted. Siya ang susunod na tagapagmana." Kanina pa paulit-ulit. Hindi ba sila naiirita? They keep repeating the same thing.

Ano ba kasing mana 'yan? It sounded like a lot of responsibility and trouble.

I just want to go home. I'll just wait for Daddy and Uncle to pick me up here. They'll know what to do.

Miss ko na si Mommy. Kapag nakawala talaga ako dito, these monkeys will be in trouble. Napangiti na lang ako, imagining all the ways I could get back at them. They clearly underestimated me. I'm Althea Jane, and they're about to learn that.