Enjoy reading, Sweeties
Alexandro
6 years ago...
I still remember that day.
The air was hot and dry, and the smell of my father's cigarette and cologne filled the room.
I was only six years old, just tall enough to see the edge of the table. But I remember it like it happened yesterday.
Sa musmos ko ay ipinamukha na sa akin na anak ako sa labas at tila ako lamang ang nailabas sa publiko na anak sa labas lalo pa't nasa bahay na 'to ang Ina ko.
Nasa basement...
Isang baliw...
Adam was there—my half-brother.
He looked perfect.
The devil's perfect son.
He smiled easily and stood tall next to our father, wearing his clean and neat school uniform. He didn't have to try hard. He was already everything I wished I could be. He spoke with confidence.
Mayabang at hambong, gano'n ko naman siya ilarawan. Bilang kapatid mula sa katulong inalipusta nila, tila ang pagiging mahirap ay isang sakit at sumpa.
Walang hustisya.
Adam... the legitimate son.
His shoes were always shiny. When he talked to our father, it made the devil smile like he still had a heart.
I stood a little behind them, holding my report card in a brown envelope. My small hands squeezed it tight. My name—Xandro—was written in pencil on the corner. No one really called me Alexandro unless I did something wrong.
Naiintindihan ko na ang kadiliman ng tahanan na 'to. Ang basement kung saan kinakatakutan ng lahat dahil tila may babae raw na nagmumulto roon.
I waited quietly, hoping for just a little attention. Galit ba ako? Hindi ko alam, wala pa akong alam sa mga nangyayari maliban sa anak ako sa labas ay wala namang nagsasabi sa akin ng katotohanan.
"Papa," I said softly, handing him my grades. I was proud—I got all A's. I was at the top of my class. My teacher even gave me a ribbon to show my parents. I really believed, just for a second, that maybe this would be the moment he saw me the way he saw Adam.
Baka magiging proud din sa akin ang Papa ko.
Ang pangarap ko ay maging isang katulad niya... kinakatakutan sa larangan ng pagnenegosyo, maraming pera at may may impluwensiya.
He took the envelope with one hand, holding a glass of whiskey in the other. He looked at the paper for a second.
He's so cold...
No smile.
No hug.
Nothing.
"You did good, Xandro... but not good enough... as expected from someone who's sabit," he said. "But look at my son's scores. He's better at math. He's always been good. You're just starting—don't get too proud."
'You're just starting. Don't get too proud.'
But I'm his son too... I don't know kung kanino but... I'm his son.
"Adam, kapag naging big guy ka na like Daddy... I'll give you the world..."
That's how it always was.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Billionaire's Surrogate
Roman d'amour"I guess my role ends here... Thank you for using me."
