Romancing Josh

27th Chapter

XXVII:
Skeletons In The Closet

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JOSH'S POINT OF VIEW

"HERE'S my resignation letter. Basahin mong mabuti. Paki-deduct na lang sa last pay ko ang bayad sa bond paper at print niyan. Bahala ka na sa buhay mo. Vavush!"

Bas went out of my office like a raging dragon. Kitang-kita ko sa mukha niya ang galit at sakit. Honestly, I didn't know if I did the right thing. Maybe I was carried away by my emotions. I might regret my decisions later on. But for now, I think I did the right thing. I didn't know him that much and the fact he hid a very big secret from me made me doubt him.

Ayoko sanang pagbintangan siya pero hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko. Being able to talk to Kuya Rafael after so many years made me say things I never thought I was capable of saying. In short, si Bas ang napagbuntunan ko ng sama ng loob.

Hindi totoo na may lakad ako kasama si Miracle. The truth was, makikipagkita ako kay Kuya Rafael. He texted me the details and made me swear that I would come. Sa totoo lang, hindi ako sigurado kung dapat ba akong makipagkita sa kanya. He was no longer my brother. He was an enemy of our family. Pero hindi ako pwedeng magpadala sa galit ko. I needed to see him and seek for answers.

"I'm glad you're here."

We were inside a private room na nasa isang mamahaling restaurant. Nakaupo na siya nang dumating ako. He was wearing a black suit and he looked different. Wala na ang mabait, mapagmahal at mapang-unawang kuya na nakilala ko. He looked so dark and mysterious. He was more matured now and it felt like I was facing an entirely different person.

"Hindi ako magtatagal," seryoso kong sagot at naupo kaharap niya. Nagtagisan ang mga mata namin. Hindi ito ang inaasahan kong mangyari. Ang akala ko 'pag nagkita kami ay ulit ay magiging masaya ako at sasalubungin siya ng yakap. "Sabihin mo na kung ano ang gusto mong sabihin and let's get this over with."

"Why are you in a hurry?" he gave me a playful smile.

"We both know we're not here to catch up."

"Nag-order na ako para sa'tin since alam ko naman ang mga paborito mo," aniya na parang walang pakialam sa sinabi ko. Mas lalo lang akong nainis. "Let's have dinner first."

"Wala akong gana."

"Hindi ba sinabi ko sa'yo noon, 'wag na 'wag kang magpapagutom? You can work hard to become a good CEO but never forget to take care of yourself."

"Stop acting like you're concerned about my welfare."

Huminga siya ng malalim at tiningnan ako ng seryoso.

"Look, I know you see me as an enemy now. Siguro nga tama ka. Pero hindi mo maaalis sa'kin ang mag-alala para sa'yo. You will always be my brother."

"Are you?"

"Not biologically."

Natigilan ako at parang umikot ang mundo sa sinabi niya. He looked so calm as if he didn't just drop a bomb. I tried to act cold and unaffected but it was so hard.

"What do you mean?"

"Hindi ako isang tunay na Heraldez. I was adopted when I was a child dahil hirap magka-anak ang mga magulang mo."

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa mga sinabi niya. Kahit kailan naman ay hindi ko naisip na baka hindi kami totoong magkapatid. Oo, hindi nga kami magkahawig but it was never an issue to me. He was like a real brother to me. He truly cared for me and helped me in a lot of ways.