Quote for this chap : I've honestly tried to let you go. I've honestly tried to forget you. I've honestly tried not to think of you, but I honestly cannot because I honestly don't want too...
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"Olivia?!"
I looked up and saw her face, it was unfamiliar. I frown trying to recall where have I seen her before but I can't seem to fathom why I feel so welcome yet couldn't remember a thing about her.
There's something I couldn't pinpoint but...
"Pardon?" I said with a slightest tone of confusion lingering in the way I said it
"I thought you were dead and kuya---"
"I think you're mistaken. I'm Nina, I knew someone who goes by the name of Olivia but Sino pong Olivia hinahanap nila?"
"Olivia Suarez .. But technically a Fernandez now. She's my--"
"You're related to my father? Nicollo Fernandez?"
"Yes.. He's my kuya .. You must be--?" Her brows were ceased together when she slightly tilted her head, as if trying her best to guess the answer
"Nina, Her daughter"
Wide eyed and giddy, The woman hugged me tightly as she could and stroke my cheek. She was staring at me for quite some time with a smile crept on her face, memorizing every annoying mole and contour of it.
"My... " She said , still a little amaze and awed at the same time. "Carbon copy ni Ate Olivia. I should've known! the whole time I thought iisa lang anak nila Kuya. It turns out you were twins. It's a good thing atleast Papa would have his chance to amend before----"
"Wait-- What?!"
"Silly me.. Di mo pa pala ako kilala" She said smiling at me as she once again exntended her hand for me to reach
"Laura Fernandez-Yuchengco .. Apparently and technically, Your long lost aunt"
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"So you're saying .. All this time, my paternal grandparents were looking for me?!"
We were inside her 4.2 Coupe quattro Audi R8 driving across the highway of Ayala Avenue going to Rustan's
"Yes, Before Mama passed away, Yung Lolo mo promised her na mahahanap niya kayo pero we were pretty much devastated na Kuya Nicollo and ate Olivia died earlier in that dreadful crash and bam. Two years ago lang namin nalaman"
"If you don't mind me asking Tita Lura, Why haven't my father tried to amend his relationship with Lolo. All those years?"
She sighed, still looking at the road ahead of us as she grabbed my hand and said
"Believe me, Kuya tried his best pero ang Lolo mo talaga yung napaka stubborn, yung tipong pag nagbitaw siya ng salita wala ng bawian"
"I really dont get it that much"
"Okay.. So Kuya was engaged to be married to Ate Marilou"
"Marilou?!" Have I heard that somewhere?
"Marilou .. Yung Director of Intersciplinary ng ADMU. I believed she ended up with Kuya Gilbert Enriquez .. Kuya's bestfriend at that time.. Yung isa sa neurologist sa Makati Med"
OMG. So Gerard's mom is actually Dad's ex girlfriend .. No wonder she always has a thing for me..
"Wow! I dont know what to say .. Pang teleserye"
"I know right? But 'di lang yun, We didn't know kuya was going steady with a girl for years na pala, and yes, Nina.. That's where Ate Olivia, your mom, came in the picture"
I nodded trying to put the pieces one by one .. It actually make sense to me now. Everything left unsaid by my parents
"And Papa was even furious when Kuya told him na ayaw niyang magpakasal, and worse when he mentioned about your mom's pregnancy,So it went ugly ever since at dumating sa point where Tinakwil na ni Dad si Kuya and told him to never set foot in our house for eternity"
"And now, Lolo wanted to keep his promise with Lola and amend to whatever is left with us?"
She nodded and held my hand once again
"Do it not only for your Lolo, Nina .. But for us. He's sick at before kunin na siya ng panginoon, I wanted his mind to be at peace.. Will you do it?"
I smiled at her and said "Ofcourse"
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After the few knocks, The door creaked before finally revealing to my sight a bedridden old man. He sat up from his bed and got his specs
"Laura? Is that you? where have you been? You're---"
The sickly old man stopped on whatever he was about to say and just stayed there as he gazed into my eyes, as if he was bewildered on my presence .. Shock and surprised all wrapped into one
He was holding a glass of water when, out of nowhere, he unconsciously dropped the glass and it came shattering on the tiled-floor
"Olivia?!"
Tita Laura immediately run to his side and said
"Pa, it's not Olivia"
I gathered all my strength to take another step inside his room and smiled
"It's Nina, Lolo" Somehow.. The word lolo came out strange in my tongue
Then Tita Laura came behind me
"Pa, I didn't find what you were looking for but .. this is Nina, Apo niyo" She gave me a nod and whispered "Approach the old man"
"Lo.." Sabi ko sabay hablot sa kamay niya at nag mano
He was a little dazed, staring at me with those eyes that were a slightly filled with tears and sorrow
He touched my cheeks and said "You looked exactly like her but your eyes .. It reminds me a lot of Nicollo"
And then he hugged me tightly,
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry hija .. If only there was a way I could turn back time" He repeated over and over again and when I glance back at Tita Lura, she too broke into tears and silent sobs while she covered her mouth with her own shaking hands
"Welcome home, Hija"
And indeed, It felt like home .. At last
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"Aalis ka na talaga?"
I saw Meg leaning from my door frame before sitting beside my bed. She watch my every moment as if weighing what I was about to say
"My Lolo needs me, Meg and I badly need a fresh start as well" I said packing my last pile of clothes from my closet to the luggage
"Besides, Sa Parañaque lang naman yon. You can visit me anytime" I winked
"I would love that! 'Di ba Fernandez are long lines of doctors? For sure .. You'll be living on a manor.. A big one to be exact!"
BINABASA MO ANG
A night with Mr. Arrogant
Romance(Tagalog)Just one night would change it all. Nina had a complete and perfect life-- Thats what she thought until she met the man who captured her heart. Typical isnt it? But unfortunately for Nina, She was with someone else for years now . So h...
