Status: In a Relationship with a Ghost

PROLOGUE

*Xavier's POV*

Nagmadali akong pumasok sa mansyon dahil late na ako sa pagtitipon namin sa bahay.

"Xavier!" sinalubong ako ng aking lolo habang kitang-kita ko naman ang inis na tingin sa akin ng aking ama.

"Don't you have any sense of time?" mapanuyang tanong ng aking ama.

"Hayaan mo na Harris," pagtanggol sa akin ni lolo, "ang importante, dumating siya."

"He is already twenty-four," giit ni dad, "dapat na siyang magseryoso sa buhay. He shouldn't be in his condo playing those worthless online games. Bakit hindi siya tumulad kay Way–"

"Let me remind you, Harris," agad na sabat ni lolo, "Wayde is not my grandson!"

"Dad, he is legally adopted," I rolled my eyes dahil alam kong mapipilitan akong makinig sa pagtatalo nila.

"Pero hindi ko siya kadugo," pagtanggol ni lolo, "Xavier is my grandson. Bakit naman kasi hindi na lang si Priscilla ang pinakasalan mo."

"Here we go again!" saad ko sa sarili habang napasalampa sa sofa. They are going to fight over the "what-ifs" of our lives. Truth be told, isa akong bastardo, illegitimate child, anak sa labas! Whatever you call it, I am it. My mom was deeply in love with dad, whatever that love is, but to make the long story short, my mom seduced my dad when they are younger. Nilasing niya si dad and something happened to them, three months before my dad is set to marry his girlfriend at that time, tita Aubrey. Talagang sinadya ni mom na gawin iyun sa araw na fertile siya upang masiguro na magbubunga ang pagtatalik nila and I was that bastard. Unfortunately for my mother, and for me, all we get is simply financial support and my right to be called Vanhallen. Apart from that, he was never a father to me.

"Dad, can't you get over what happened in the past?" inis na saad ni dad.

"No!" pagmamatigas ni lolo kaya wala akong ibang nagawa kundi ang hugotin ang cellphone ko mula sa bulsa upang maglaro ng Clash of Clans.

"You are being unreasonable!"

"No! Ikaw ang unreasonable, Harris," galit na saad ni lolo, "bakit mo ipinagpalit ang sarili mong dugo sa batang hindi mo naman ka-ano-ano."

"Wayde is Aubrey's son."

"But he is not your son!"

I rolled my eyes for the nth time. Nalito ba kayo? Don't worry, matagal din bago ko naintindihan ang lahat. Isang disgrasyada si tita Aubrey, meaning, she already had a son when she and my dad met. Absurd right? While my mom is reserved herself for dad, ito namang si dad, mas gusto pala ang isang buy-one-take-one treat. Oh well, dad is a good businessman so a buy-one-take-one is indeed a good bargain. So here it goes. Pinakasalan ni dad si tita Aubrey na may anak nang lalaki habang tinanggihan niya si mommy na ipinagbuntis ako, ang tunay niyang anak. Well everything is blamed to that four-letter-word called LOVE.

"Dad," bumuntong hininga ang aking ama, "Wayde may not be your true grandson but he has done a lot of great things for the company."

"As the owner of the company," tiim bagang saad ni lolo, "Wayde is only an employee. I may give him a little share but the rest will all go to Xavier."

Sasagot pa sana si dad pero tumunog ang kanyang cellphone, "Joyce?" agad niya itong sinagot saka nagmadaling pumunta ng verenda.

Breaking news people! Joyce is dad's secretary but she is more than that. Joyce is dad's current toy. Indeed people, tama ang iniisip niyo. Kirida si Joyce so my dad is a womanizer hashtag sugar-daddy, hashtag Casanova, hashtag manloloko, hashtag cheater. Bakit alam ko? Well just so you know, I am Xavier Vanhallen, the best hacker in town and knowing the details of a person is as easy as a piece of cake.