"YOU TOLD my aunt the truth despite our agreement. Not only that, you have also managed to convince her to give you her shares in my company. I cannot talk her out of it. I guess you're very pleased."
Tumahip ang dibdib ni Charo nang marinig ang tinig ni Iñigo. Hindi niya alam kung paano nito nalaman na naroon siya sa coffee shop na iyon. Hinihintay niya si Julie. Ibig niyang sabihin sa best friend niya ang lahat ng kanyang natuklasan tungkol sa kanyang sarili at magpapasama sana siya rito sa bahay ng kanyang totoong pamilya sa Pelaez.
Kinakabahan siya, natatakot, kahit alam niyang wala na siyang pamilya roon. Hindi niya alam kung bakit. Marahil nangangamba lamang siyang makita at makilala ang totoong pinagmulan niya. At ngayon, sa estado niyang iyon, ay saka biglang sumulpot si Iñigo. Inaasahan na niyang magkikita sila nitong muli para sa isang komprontasyon, ngunit hindi ganito kaaga.
"Please, sit down."
"Why, thank you," anito, naupo sa tapat niya. There he was again, overwhelming her. Naitanong niya sa isip kung nag-away ba ito at si Courtney sa naging rebelasyon niya sa babae. Hindi niya babaguhin ang pangyayari kahit maibalik pa iyon. May malditang bahagi ng personalidad niya ang nakakahanap pa rin ng kaunting kasiyahan sa tuwing maaalala niya ang hitsura ng babae nang sabihin niya ritong may nangyari sa kanilang mag-asawa.
May karapatan siyang gawin iyon. Iyon at higit pa, kung tutuusin. Ngunit hindi ngayon ang tamang panahon. Kailangang malaman ni Iñigo ang katotohanan.
"Alam ko kung ano ang inaakala mong ginawa ni Daddy sa tatay mo. Sinabi sa akin ni Daddy." He did not speak but he stiffened a bit. "Akala mo, siya ang pumatay sa tatay mo."
"Akala?" agad nitong reaksiyon, nabahiran ng galit ang mga mata. "I was there. Do have any idea how it feels to see your own father murdered? Please do not continue. I will not have you mocking his death with your lies."
Bigla siyang napaluha sapagkat nadarama niya ang galit nito, ang sakit. Nauunawaan niya iyon. "But you have to understand. Walang balak si Daddy na patayin siya. Nagpunta siya roon para takutin ang tatay mo at ilayo---"
"But his anger got the better of him and instead of killing him someplace else, he killed him right there."
"No. Malaki ang utang-na-loob ni Daddy sa tatay mo. Daddy said he would've died in an encounter if it weren't for your father. Isang taon na inakala ni Daddy na patay na siya. Bago 'yon, may transaksiyon sila na ipinagkatiwala niya sa tatay mo at doon niya inakalang namatay ang tatay mo. Iyon ang sinabi sa kanya ng kasamahan ng tatay mo. Ang sabi ng tauhan ng tatay mo, rob out case---his men versus the group they were doing business with. Nawala ang mga kargamento, walang nakuhang bayad. After a week, a body was found in Manila Bay. It was wearing your father's clothes. It was unrecognizable. Sirang-sira na ang mukha, parang na-torture, at bloated na ang katawan. Daddy assumed it was your father. He mourned for your father's death, even had a trusted man send your uncle money."
"Funny, I didn't get the notice."
Inignora niya iyon. "After a year, he found out your father's alive. Nalaman niyang nagsumbong sa batas ang tatay mo. He was mad, of course. But he did not want to kill your father, like I said. He also needed him, to get to the bottom of the rob out that happened. But someone shot him. Iyong tauhang kasama niya doon sa rob out. He was the one who killed your father. My father was mad when he realized your father was set up. He shot the man outside your father's hideout."
"And who is this man, I wonder," sarkastikong turan nito.
"Don Bolivar Alarico."
"Well, that's just perfect, isn't it? Blaming a man who couldn't defend himself anymore." Tumayo ito. "Don't you dare do this again or I swear I will not forgive you."
"What d-do you mean couldn't defend himself anymore?"
"Your boyfriend didn't tell you his father died?"
Naitakip niya ang kamay sa bibig. "H-he's dead?"
"Great acting, Wife."
"You have to believe me, Iñigo! Please! Daddy would never kill your father. Your father saved his life the night he... the night he found me in a bag." Napayuko siya. Pinunas niya ang mga luhang nag-unahan sa pagbagsak mula sa kanyang mga mata.
Matagal na hindi ito nagsalita kaya't sinulyapan niya ito. Nakatingin lamang ito sa kanya. Nagkibit siya ng balikat.
"I know now. He told me. It's o-okay. It's not everyday you find out your whole life had been a lie but it's okay. I don't hate Daddy. He treated me as his own daughter and I love him."
Nanatili itong nakatitig sa kanya hanggang sa hawakan nito ang kanyang kamay. God, the warmth of his hand shot through her heart. Ang tanging gusto niya ay yakapin siya nito. Kailangan niya ito sa mga sandaling iyon ngunit batid niyang ang paghawak nito sa kanyang kamay ay higit pa sa dapat nitong ibigay dahil sa sitwasyon. Pinisil nito ang palad niya, saka iyon pinakawalan.
Itinaas nito ang kanyang mukha, saglit na hinaplos ang kanyang pisngi, saka ito tumalikod at lumabas na. He just took her heart with him.
