Limitation of Love

after story: viii

I was agitated while waiting for Tito Christopher in their living room to come downstairs. Yesterday evening he called me to meet him today. He sounded so urgent and serious that I said yes kahit napangakuan ko sila Lauren at Andrea na ililibot sila ngayon sa city.

"Good morning, Karleigh."

Kaagad akong napatayo at tumulong sa pagbaba niya ng hagdan. "Ako na dito." I asked his personal assistant and he gave his hand to me.

"Let's walk in the garden."

Tumango ako at inakay si Papa sa garden. He can walk but he needs some assistance. "The weather today is good. It's the type of warm that makes you feel at ease."

"Maybe." Iyon na lamang ang nasabi ko dahil alam kong may importante siyang sasabihin at sa di malamang dahilan ay kinakabahan ako roon. We sat down in the bench. Napahinga si Papa ng malalim.

"May malaki akong kasalanan sa inyo ng anak ko." He looked at me to find any reactions to my face but I just stared at him confusedly. I don't have any idea on what he's telling me about. "Lalo na kay Edward. He will never forgive me."

"W-What is it, Papa?" kaagad kong tanong dahil kinakain na ako ng takot at kaba sa sasabihin niya. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko ng dalawang kamay niya. "I want you to know that everything I did was for the sake of your family. Kahit ikaw na lang ang maniwala sa akin, Karleigh. All of it was for my son, for you and for my grandson. I can't let anyone ruined my grandson's home."

"When I found out that my son was starting to see that woman again behind your back, I managed to get her family's business went downhill. It was easy for me to pulled some strings because their business was shady in the first place. Pio was my friend but his daughter is messing with my family and I can't just do nothing. That girl needs to stop wrecking your family." He started out and I was left astounded. Binitawan niya ang kamay ko at napatingin siya sa malayo. "You're scared of me."

Napalunok ako. "I am. My father was a businessman but he was not like that." I confessed.

Nangiti lamang si Papa. "You didn't know how powerful money can give to someone. And I just used it for my own good, Karleigh, for the sake of my family. She's a homewrecker and their business were into human trafficking - it's killing two birds with one stone. I was just there to set things straight. I know that my reasons wouldn't justify my deeds but I did what I have to do. I cannot say that your father would do the same thing but he has his own ways. You will never know. You were too young back then."

"Maybe... But Denise went straight to Edward for help, Papa. Your action backfired. It made our situation worst."

"And karma is a bitch after all." Napailing siya at sumandal sa bench. "Pero hindi lang iyon ang ginawa ko, Karleigh."

Napapikit ako ng mariin sa sinabi ni Papa. Parang kung anuman ang sasabihin niya ay ayoko ng marinig pa. This is too much for me. "Why did you have to tell me all of this, Papa? Bakit kailangan ko malaman? Hindi ba pwede na huwag na lang?"

"Because I trust you will do the right thing for me, Karleigh." I shook my head. Tumayo ako at lumayo kay Papa. "Listen to me first, please..."

"No. If you want me to tell what you're going to say to Edward. No. I'm done, Tito. Tama na iyong isang beses na hinayaan ko kayong kontrolin ako. Alam kong ginusto ko rin na masaktan ang anak ninyo pero hanggang ngayon dala ko sa konsensya ko na hinayaan kong paniwalain si Edward na anak niya si Ophelia. I let him believed that she really is his daughter for months! I let him invested in Ophelia just to make him suffer the way I did but as I think of it right now, that's not me. Nagsisisi ako sa ginawa ko, Tito. Kung bakit nyo pinaalam sa akin iyon at wala kayong ginawa sa una pa lang para ipaalam kay Edward na di niya anak si Ophelia ay wala akong alam. I never know your intentions or reason to hurt your own son but I don't want to know. Hindi ko na alam pa kung maniniwala ako sa inyo."