That One Mistake

Chapter 21: Consequence

"Your dad and my twin, Vivian, are lovers. She was your dad's personal secretary. Mahal nila pareho ang isa't-isa lalo na ang daddy mo pero nang malaman nitong buntis ang mommy mo, nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin. Your dad wasn't ready for a family. Nag-uumpisa pa lamang sya sa pagti-take over ng Laren GOC kaya sa halip na tanggapin ang pagbubuntis ni Vivian, iniwan nya ito."

"..."

"Then, Awreca came in the scene. She is the only daughter and heiress of the Arallaga GOC. She fell in love with your father. She was head over heels in love with him. Your dad didn't feel the same but Awreca's family has many connections in the world of business. Your dad has few. Your dad was desperate. Your dad's only choice in order to climb up the ladder is to marry her. The wedding was done months after they met. The wedding date was your date of birth. Your mom, m-my twin, God only knows, but I almost lost myself that day when I came to the hospital and found out she died after delivering her baby. Malaki ang galit ko sa ama mo dahil sa kanya nawalan ako ng kakambal."

"D-dad didn't tell me anything about that. Ang buong akala ko, kasal na sila ni tita Awreca nang pumasok si mommy sa buhay nya."

"Your dad is the biggest liar and most coward man I've ever met, Winey. Hindi nya man lang inako ang responsibilidad nya. Sa halip na yakapin ang kakambal ko ay itinabig nya ito palayo. She was pregnant with his child, but he didn't bother. Ang kompanya nya ang mahalaga sa kanya.

"But he took me .. sa huli, kinuha pa rin nya ako at binuhay bilang anak nya."

"That is because I threatened him! Sinabi ko na kapag hindi ka nya akuin bilang isang Laren, gagawin ko ang lahat mapabagsak lang ang kompanya nya. I am the wife of Rejero Antonio, the man every business person fears of. Hindi ako kayang kalabanin ng ama mo kaya inako ka nya."

"..."

"Sa totoo lang, ayoko namang iwan ka sa ama mo. Mas gugustuhin kong ako na lang ang magpalaki sayo but I found a note left by your mom. She wanted you to live by your father's side. I know everything that is happening to you in that house, Wine. I have eyes looking at you. The maids, I know them."

"..."

"But they do not have the power to go against Awreca. Even your coward father cannot fight against her. Ni wala itong nagawa saiyo."

"..."

"Five years ago, nalaman kong ipinatapon ka kasama ng isang Cofer sa Pilipinas. Dito ka pinag-aral ng ama mo. I took that as a chance para magpakilala saiyo at para na rin ilayo ka sa pananamantala ng madrasta mo, but I got into an accident. Nang magising ako, wala na akong maalala."

"Walang ni isang sinabi si daddy sa akin. For more than two decades, I thought my mother was a mistress, that she had me while my dad is married. Tita Awreca made me feel like I was a mistake. That I shouldn't be breathing the same air with her. N-naguguluhan ako. Hindi ko alam kung paniniwalaan ko po ba ang sinasabi nyo o mas dapat kong paniwalaan ang daddy. Dad has never fought for me, yes, but I know he loves me dearly."

"Your dad loves you because he knew that one day, you could be of use for him."

"Anong ibig nyong sabihin, lola?"

"Hindi ka man lang ba nagtaka na biglang naging okay sa ama mo na magpakasal kay Jeserr? I heard he already kicked you out of his house when he found out about you being 'the other woman' of the grandson of Antonio."

"Y-yes, he did. He kicked me out."

"And later, he took back everything he said and agreed to the wedding, didn't he?"