Behind Her Innocence (Hughes Series)

Chapter 27: More of the Truth

Gwen's POV

Nagliligpit na ako ng mga gamit ko para makauwi na sa bahay. I was putting my laptop inside the bag when my phone rang.

I smiled seeing that it was manang's phone number appeared for I knew who it was already.

"Hi, sweetheart," malambing na sagot ko.

"Mommy, Aunt Trixie and Janna are leaving already. Can they come back again tomorrow?"

Trixie had two kids. Ang panganay niyang babae ay halos ka-edad lang ni Rosetta. Rosetta was just a year older than Janna. Yung bunso naman niya ay lalake and he's only two months old. Magkasundo agad si Janna at Rosetta nung una palang silang magkita kaya nakiusap siya kung pwedeng magplay date silang dalawa. Syempre pumayag naman ako. Besides, Trixie was a good friend of mine. Naputol lang ang connection namin when I decided to leave the country. I decided not to see her baka malaman niya ang pagbubuntis ko dati at sabihin niya ito kay Aaron. I loved her, but it hurts me that time knowing she's also a friend of him. Kaya pati siya ay nadamay. Humingi nga ako ng sorry sa kanya nung magkita kami ulit. She said she did not have any grudges on me.

"Sweetheart, your aunt is busy. They'll come back if they have time, okay?"

"Mommy, I am bored here in the house. Lolo won't even want me to play outside. Can I go to school instead, so I have friends?"

Napaisip ako sa sinabi ng anak ko. Nawala na sa isip ko ang i-enroll si Rosetta sa school sa dami ng nangyari. She's a smart kid at ayaw ko sayangin yun kaya I had to arrange her schooling asap.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. Mommy is going to find the best school for you."

"Yay! Thanks, mommy! I'll see you later."

"Okay, bye baby. Love you."

"Love you! Mwaaah!" She said and I heard the smacking sound of her lips. I laughed and put the phone down saka inayos ang purse ko at ang laptop. I carried all of them in my hands saka naglakad na palabas ng office ko.

"Maam, uuwi na po kayo?" Salubong ni Ines sakin pagkalabas ko ng office room.

I nodded at Ines. "Oo, bakit?"

"Tumawag po si ninong. Sinabi po niya na dumiretso daw po kayo sa office niya."

Napakunot ang noo ko.

Why would dad call just to say that?

I got it na he was still mad at me. Hindi niya kasi ako pinapansin lalo na pag hindi importante. Sa iba din niya pinapadaan pag may gusto siyang sabihin sakin.

"Okay, salamat."

Kahit nagtataka ako kung bakit niya ako pinapatawag ay pumunta parin ako kay daddy. I didn't want to give him more reasons to hate me, so I would do anything to please him.

I knocked when I was in front of his office door. I heard him say to come in, so I opened the door. His serious aura greeted me and that was the coldest feeling ever.

"Hi, dad." I tried to smile at him.

Instead of smiling back, he pushed the folder on top of his desk towards me.

Gets ko na agad kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin kaya naman lumapit ako at dinampot yung folder. I looked at him first before I opened it. It was a blur at first but when I saw what's written on the document, my eyes widened in shock.

My lips quivered and my face turned pale as I looked at him. Parang binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig dahil nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko.

"D-Daddy..." Napalunok ako ng laway.