Mi Familia

Aftermath

One of my readers asked for the Taglish parts since it was tagged as one. I already forgot about it so I've made changes. Please fell free to visit the previous chapter to see the changes that I've made. (nothing major though)

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Tahimik ang loob ng SUV na pagmamay-ari ni VP Bongbong. Karaniwang kasama ito sa convoy sa tuwing may lakad ang huli. Pero sa mga oras na iyon, si Sandro ang may hawak ng manibela at ilang oras na nilang tinatahak ang mahabang daan pauwi ng Ilocos.

Walang kibong nakaupo sa passenger seat si Simon. Nakataas pa ang isang paa nito sa dashboard at nakatingin lang sa dinadaan nila, walang pakialam na halos lumipad na sila sa bilis ng pagpapatakbo ni Sandro. Maybe because his thoughts were somewhere else that he failed to notice that their youngest brother was worriedly looking at them from the back.

Vincent was always the caring one. He wanted to stay with their mom during all the drama. But he chose to go with his brothers, afraid that they might do something that will make their parents more brokenhearted. He was also confused and hurting but seeing his brothers in that state made him forget about himself.

"Maybe, we should stop for gas and eat." Vincent suggested to Sandro and hoped he will listen. He also took a glance at his watch and found out that it was already 8 pm. "It's late and we haven't had our lunch yet."

Sandro nodded and parked at the nearest fast food they saw in La union. They were still hours away from Ilocos Norte.

Vincent took the initiative to order for his brothers. He knew that when they were upset, they couldn't do anything but to stay quiet until they get over it. But he doubted that they will get over it as soon as possible. Sandro yelled at their father and walked out in front of their family.

He had a hard time looking for them when he got their orders because they chose the most hidden part of the fast food where they were only few customers eating. The smell of the food triggered their hunger and Simon started to dig to his chicken and rice. Vincent was still waiting for his kuya to take his first bite before he takes his. But Sandro was just looking at his food. He was hungry but didn't have the appetite. Vincent knew that the food wasn't that appetizing but they haven't eaten anything since they arrived in Pampanga. It was dinner time but they it was technically lunch to them.

"Kuya Sandro, you need to eat," Vincent said while looking at Sandro worriedly. The youngest was always been this caring, he even cook for them when they were abroad, something that the two were silently thankful for.

"Eat," Simon said while eating. "I'll drive. You need all the energy you can muster to face Pa."

"Mama is so sad. They must be so worried about us now." Vincent finally took a bite of his food.

Sandro scoffed. "I doubt it."

"And I bet they're celebrating right now and I wouldn't be surprised if they'll come home with her," Simon added and Sandro looked at him in utter disbelief.

"And you believe that she really is a Marcos? She could be an opportunist the enemies hired to ruin our family for all we know."

"Have you seen Mama's reaction, or even Papa's? Mama Meldy's even fond of her already, she even said she reminded her of Papa when he was younger. If she's from the enemies, they succeeded already."

"And you believe that bullshit?!" Sandro raised his voice but back down a little when some customers looked at their directions.

"Did you even look at her? The resemblance to Mama is uncanny."

Sandro wanted to punch his brother that moment. Pero hindi niya maipagkakaila na magpagkakahawig nga ang babae sa kanilang Ina. Pero hindi pa rin sapat yon upang makumbinsi siya na hindi impostor ang nakaharap nila.

"How can you believe everything that fast? Did you even doubt her?"

"I don't want to believe! I'm just being realistic here. Fake or not, we wouldn't have any say about it. Papa will make us listen to him and force us to accept her like it was okay that they lied. It makes me so mad." Simon banged the table that Vincent was forced to stop eating and faced his brother to say a piece of his mind.

"We just met her and you are fighting already. Can't we just accept her so everything will be alright? I hate to see it when Mama cries," he said. Sandro and Simon looked at him like he grew three heads.

"Vinny, just finish your food." Sandro sighed and the brothers finally ate together in silence.

******

"Dumiretso po sila ng Ilocos, Sir," wika ni Manolo nang tanungin ni VP Bongbong kung bakit hindi nila dinatnan sa bahay nila sa Manila ang tatlong magkakapatid. "Kasalukuyan po silang nasa biyahe ngayon," dagdag pa nito. Mabilis nilang natunton kung nasaan na ang magkakaptid dahil sa tracker na nasa bawat sasakyan ng mga Marcos.

Pagkaalis ng mag-asawang Pangilinan ay dumiretso na ang pamilyang Marcos sa bahay nila sa Manila kasama ni Eliz para doon na magpalipas ng gabi. Pinagitnaan ng mag-asawa ang kanilang anak sa loob ng sasakyan, sabik na sabik na makasama siya. Nais hawakan ni Lisa ang kamay nito ngunit natatakot sya na baka umiwas lang ang kanina pang walang kibong dalaga.

They thought that the brothers went to Manila because that was the original plan. But Bongbong and Lisa got disappointed when the brothers were nowhere to be found.

They ate their dinner together with Eliz for the first time. She was treated like a princess by her mother and father but her still got no reaction from them, not even a single nod.

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"Nasaan ang asawa mo?" Tanong ni Imee sa nakababatang kapatid. Nagtungo sila ng veranda pagkatapos ng hapunan at doon nagkape.

Humigop si Bongbong at napangiwi sa pait ng lasa ng kape. Sinadya niyang ipatimpla ang ganoon katapang upang tulungan siyang mag-isip kung paano maipaliliwanag ang lahat sa kanyang mga anak.

"Pinagpahinga ko na, sinusubukan pa rin nyang makausap si Ferlisa pero pinagsaraduhan lang siya ng pinto," Tumango si Imee at tinapik ang braso ng kapatid.

"Bigyan ninyo ng panahon ang bata. Gulat pa yon sa mga nangyari."

Tumayo naman ang bunsong si Irene mula sa kinauupuan at nilapitan ang kuya. "Galit na galit si Sandro. Ngayon ko lang narinig na sumagot sayo ang bata."

Tumango si Bongbong. "Naiintidihan ko siya."

"Kanina pa daw sila nagtatanong kay Borgy kung bakit kailangan nating dumalo lahat sa graduation na iyon. Matalino sila kaya agad nilang mauunawan kung bakit ninyo ginawa iyon," ani Imee.

"Alas-otso na. Sana tumigil muna sila kahit saan para kumain."

Ngumit si Imee. Kahit hawak na ngayon ng kapatid ang pangalawang mataas na posisyon sa bansa ay hindi parin nito nakakalimutan na maging ama. Hindi na niya mabilang ang ilang beses na pag-iwan o di kaya di pagsipot sa mga pagtitipon kapag may sakit ang isa sa kanila.Walang oras din na hindi ito nag-aalala sa tuwing babalik sa London ang mga ito. Sigurado itong ganun din ang ipapakita niya sa anak na hindi man lang niya nahawakan o nasilayan simula noong isilang.

"Magpahinga na tayong lahat, maaga pa tayo bukas."

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Madaling araw umalis papuntang Ilocos ang pamilya gamit ang private jet na nakalaan para kay VP Bongbong. Nais nilang makauwi agad dala na rin ng pag-aalala nila sa tatlong magkakapatid na kapwa nakapatay ang mga cellphone.

"Nasaan sila?" Agad na tanong ni Lisa sa mayordoma na si Manang Lilian pagdating nila.

"Si Vincent po ay kasama ng kuya Simon niya sa kwarto at kagabi pa po di lumalabas mula nung dumating."

"Si Sandro?"

"Po? Kasama po ba nilang umuwi si Sandro?"

q5_ .