Mi Familia

Ferlisa

"Nasaan siya?" VP Marcos asked the University President and the person immediately escorted him and the rest of the family to his office and left the place as soon as his duty was done. The Vice President then commanded his chief security to guard the office and not to let anyone not related to the family in. The office was also checked for any cameras or recording devices.

Isa-isa nang pumasok ang mga Marcos sa loob ng opisina ng pinuno ng Universidad. Inalalayan ng mga apo si Imelda sa malaking upuan sa gitnan ng opisina. Tumabi naman sa knaiya ang kanyang dalawang anak na babae habang tumayo sa likod ang mga magpipinsan. Sinamahan ni Vinny ang kanyang mama na maupo sa silya sa tabi ni Imee at tumayo sa tabi nito.

Nanginig pa rin si Lisa at tila may gustong gawin ngunit hinihintay pa rin nilang unang magsalit ang vise president. Sina Sandro at Simon ay tahimik na nakatayo lamang sa likod ng kanilang ama.

The silence was deafening. Everyone was waiting for the vice president to speak. It took Bongbong all his strength to stop himself from doing something that might cause confusion to his sons.

Wala pang kaalam-alam ang mga ito sa nangyayari at alam nyang litung-lito na ang mga ito.

He knew that telling them last and having them know this way was a bad idea but he made a mental note to deal with whatever reaction they may have later. This moment was important than anything else, it topped the anxiety he felt during his proclamation as vice president.

"Diana, it's been a while," usal niya na pinipigilan ang panginginig ng kanyang boses sa babaeng kaharap.

"Sir Bong, natutuwa po akong makita kayong muli ni Ma'am Lisa," sagot naman nito.

The response made Sandro raise his brow. Who is this lady and why did she called his dad that way? His mom started crying silently that sent Vincent on the verge of panic. Heaven forbid that this lady was his father's mistress or Sandro might do something that he might not regret.

Bigla namang tumayo si Lisa at lumapit sa babaeng tinawag na Diana ni Bongbong. Nagyakap ang dalawa ng mahipit.

Ngumiti si Diana pagkatapos nilang magyakap. Ipinakilala nya ang dalawang kasama niya. Isang lalaki at ang babaeng nakakuha ng pinakamataas na parangal sa katatapos lamang na graduation ang kasama nito. Suot pa nito ang toga at isang kwintas na sampaguita.

"Ito po si Charles, ang aking asawa," wika nito. Kinamayan naman ni Charles ang mag-asawang Marcos at tumango sa lahat ng nasa loob ng opisinang iyon.

"At ito po si Eliz, magpakilala ka, anak."

Kinabahan naman ng husto si Eliz. Bukod sa nasa harap nya ang Vise Presidente ay nakatingin lahat ng tao na naroon sa kanya na waring hinuhusgahan sya. Pero nanaig ang saya na makilala ang taong pinakahinahangaan at tinitangala nya.

"Maganadang tanghali po, Mr. Vice President, it's really my pleasure to meet you. I've been your fan and your supporter since the Bangui Windmills were made."

Napangiti naman sina Imelda at ang kanyang dawalang anak na babae.

"I've been following your political career ever since and I really look forward to meeting you and you're finally here. And oh, I follow you on twitter."

It was the Marcos cousins' turn to chuckle.

"You must really admire my son that much that you forgot to mention your name," Imelda smiled with great fondness. "Ano ang iyong pangalan, iha?"

"Naku, sorry po." Elizabeth smiled embarrassingly. "Kulang po yung pangalan ko na inilagay nila sa program. It's not just Elizabeth Pangilinan. It's Ferlisa Elizabeth Pangilinan pero Eliz nalang po ang itawag nyo sakin. Ikinagagalak ko po kayong makilala."

Patuloy na nagsalita pa si Eliz pero tila wala nang narinig ang mag-asawang Marcos. Tuluyan nang naiyak si Lisa at tumalikod naman si Bongbong upang punasan ang sariling luha.

The three brothers never felt so worried.

"Pasensya na...Your name is F-Ferlisa?" Tanong ni Bongbong kay Eliz pero kay Diana sya nakatingin, waring kinukumpirma kung tama ang kanyang narinig.

"Ah... alam nyo po kasi Mr. Vice President, Diana po ang pangalan ng nanay ko at nagkataon naman po na Charles naman po ang pangalan ng tatay ko. Dahil po kapangalan nila ang Royal couple ng England eh pinangalanan din po nilang William at Harry yung dalawang kong kapatid na lalaki. Wala po kasing anak na babae sina Princess Diana kaya pinangalanan po nila akong Elizabeth, galing po sa Reyna ng England." Napangiti si Eliz habang nagkukuwento. Isa iyon sa paborito niyang ikwento.

"Yung Ferlisa naman po, idinagdag lang po nang nanay ko. Sabi nya kombinasyon daw po yun ng pangalan ng dalawang taong malapit sa puso nya. Pero hindi nya po sinabi sakin kung sino," sabi nya with a hint of disappointment in the end.

"You are one talkative child," Imelda released a hearty laughed. "You remind me of Bongbong when he was your age. It was like talking was his hobby. No one really can stop him until he gets his point delivered."

Eliz smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment, madam."

"It is a compliment, my dear, and please Mama Meldy nalang ang itawag mo sakin, masyado akong pinatatanda ng madam."

Tinignan naman ng walong magpipinsan ang bawat isa. Hindi kasi basta-basta nagpapatawag ng Mama Meldy ang kanilang lola. Tanging silang magpipinsan lang ang tumatawag sa kanya ng ganon. Lima sa kanila ay alam na ang dahilan kung bakit maliban nalang kina Sandro Simon at Vincent.

It was then when Diana answered Bongbong's question to Eliz. "Opo Sir, Bong. Ipinangalan ko po siya sa tunay nyang mga magulang."

"You mean you are not her parents?" hindi naman mapigilang sumabat ni Sandro.

"Hindi nila ako tunay anak." Si Eliz na ang sumagot para sa kanyang nanay. "SImula palang, alam ko nang hindi sila ang tunay kong mga magulang at wala kaming nagging problema dun."

"F-Ferlisa," Bongbong uttered as he took his wife's hand and slowly walked near Eliz.

"I'm F-Ferdinand and this is my wife Louise, you can call her Lisa," wika ni Bongbong na may diin ang pagsambit nya sa pangalan nila ng kanyang asawa. Sa pagkakataong ito hinayaan na niyang bumuhos ang luhang kanina pa niya tinatago.

It was said almost like a whisper but Eliz heard it like every word specially the names like they were amplified. She ignored the weird feeling though and answered, "It's my honor meeting you, Sir Ferdinand and Ma'am..." Eliz then stopped at her words like she realized something and looked at her nanay with questions in her eyes. "F-ferdinand and... Ferdinand and Lisa..."

Kapwa naman ngumiti at tumango sina Charles at Diana.

"Wala kaming itinago sayo ng tatay mo, Eliz, maliban nalang kung ano talaga ang tunay mong pagkatao," sabi ni Diana. "Eliz, anak, ipinakikila kita sa mga tunay mong magulang, sina Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Marcos Jr."