Vintage Love (Stand-alone Sequel)

Chapter 37: Family Ties

Isang araw ay natagpuan na lamang ni Gillian ang sarili sa pamamahay ng mga Zeleris. Umuwi kasi si Kael sandali doon upang i-celebrate din ang birthday kasama ang pamilya. Linggo iyon. Walang kaso kahit late celebration dahil sa araw lamang na iyon silang lahat bakante. Syempre kahit gaano kabusy, dapat rin na maglaan ng oras para sa pamilya. Mahalaga iyon. Kaya hindi maiwasan ng dalaga ang mas humanga sa katangian ng binata.

"Hi sir. I'm Gillian Mendrez."Nakangiting pakilala ng dalaga sabay lahad ng kamay sa ama ni Kael.

Ngunit sa halip na tanggapin nito iyon ay kumunot ang noo ng ginoo.

"Mendrez? How are you related to Aciel Mendrez?"May pagdududang tanong nito.

"He's my deceased father, sir."

"Mmm. I see."Tumango ito at sa wakas ay tinanggap ang nangangawit na kamay ng dalaga,"Nice to meet you, hija. Come in."

"Thank you, sir."

Nang makapasok na sila ng tuluyan ay tinawag naman ng ginoo ang anak upang kausapin ng pribado. Dahil si Gillian ay likas na chismosa ay lihim na sinundan niya nito ang dalawang lalake. Kanina niya pa kasi napapansin na iba ang tingin sa kanya ng ginoo.

"Fire her."Ang mga salita na unang lumabas sa bibig ng ginoo.

"Dad, no."Tutol naman ni Kael sa utos ng ama.

"Just fire her."Maowtoridad naman na sabi naman ng huli.

At dahil likas na pakialamera itong si Gillian ay hindi nito napigilan ang sariling sumali sa usapan.

"Excuse me? Why do you want me to be fired?"

"Where are your manners? You're meddling in the middle of our discussion!"Wika ng ginoo sa galit na boses.

"I should ask you the same question, sir. Where are your manners for asking your son to fire me for no obvious reason?"

"You're a Mendrez. Isn't that obvious?"

"What's so wrong about it?"Manghang tanong ng dalaga.

"Everybody hates Mendrez. Your dad is a cunning, selfish and manipulatative man. He also tried to steal away Eden from me. He tricked many people in the industry. He's a terri—"

"Dad, stop it. You're talking nonsense. Those are the things a loser would say. Trickery is part in business. Let's go, Hill. Let's leave this hell."

Hinila ni Kael ang dalaga palayo sa sariling ama na mapanghusga. Papaalis na sila nang may dumating na sasakyan. Lulan niyon ang ina ng binata. Salungat sa ugali ng ama, ang ina nito'y palangiti at palakaibigan.

"Honey, where are you going?"Nagtatakang tanong ng ginang.

Nagkatinginan sina Kael at Gillian.

"Don't tell me you're about to leave? I just got home,"Himig pagtatampong saad ng ginang. Bumaling ito sa dalaga."Oh, heyyy. Is this Gillian? You've grown into a beautiful lady, hija. It's so nice to meet you, again."

Nakipagbeso ito sa dalaga. Samantalang ang huli ay hindi maikakaila sa mukha ang pagtataka.

"If you don't mind me asking. Have we meet before, maam? Do you know me personally?"

Nagkatinginan si Kael at ang ginang.

"Of course! I know your dad very well. Do you want me to tell some stories about him?"Nakangiting-tanong ng ginang.

Gumanti rin ng ngiti si Gillian tsaka tumango ng sunod-sunod.

"Halika."

"Eh..."Nag-aalangang saad ng dalaga.

"Bakit? Anong problema, hija?"

Sumulyap muna ang dalaga sa binata bago sumagot.

"Ah, eh baka po magalit si Tito..."

"Ay naku! Don't worry about that grumpy old man. I got you."

Naging maayos naman ang pakikitungo ng ginoo sa kanila simula ng dumating ang ginang.

Mukhang under de saya ang lolo mo. Pinigilan ni Gillian ang matawa sa naisip.

Pagkatapos nilang kumain ng hapunan ay nagkwentuhan muna sila. Maya-maya ay nagpaalam ang ama ni Kael na aalis. May urgent meeting daw ito. Si Kael naman ay sinagot ang tawag. Business matter. Sa huli, naiwan si Gillian kasama ang ginang sa balcony.

Kung anu-ano ang naging paksa nila. Hanggang sa umabot sa personal na usapan. Maraming naging tanong ang dalaga na sinagot naman ng ginang ng walang pag-aalinlangan.

"Actually, your dad didn't try to steal anyone. Everybody loves him. And truth be told, I like him a lot. We get along. Loved each other. Then, here comes Rudolf... the boastful stranger... he destroyed everything. And your dad said he would become an asshole if we won't end up together. I was scared he would destroy his life. Something happened... So, I tried so hard to get us back together again. But your mom came. Said she's carrying his child. I stepped out the picture..."

"Are all these true?"Tanong ng dalaga na nahirapan sa pagproseso ng mga narinig.

"There's no point in lying."Kibit-balikat na saad ng ginang."And it's the truth. So that's why my husband Rudolf loathe your dad, I guess. Because he thinks, Aciel stole everything from him. Including me."

"I can't believe it."

"You can ask your mom."

"My mom...she's crazy. I mean she's literally crazy now. She's been like that since dad died. She even tried to kill my siblings.

"Siblings? So you got more siblings, huh?"

"They're siblings from another woman."

"Wow, your dad is quite a lover."

"Medyo po."

Nagtawanan silang dalawa.

"Anyway, thank you for telling me all these things, Tita Eden. And I'm sorry kung di ko po talaga kayo naaalala."Hinging paumanhin ng dalaga sa ginang.

"It's okay. You've been through a lot. I think we've only met once or twice before. So, it's not really surprising if you couldn't remember me."

Huminga ng malalim si Gillian.

"But... I just think... it's impossible for me to forget a person like you, Tita."

"Ay sus! Bolera ka din. Atleast, you remember Kael. You two were bestfriends back then! It's even hard to separate you guys."

"We were that close? Damn, I have no idea."

"Yes, hija. Wait. Are you saying you don't recognized him, too? Did something happen to you?"

Gillian gasped for air. Everything she heard is too much to take in.

"I don't know, Tita. So, Kael knew me all along?"

"I guess so, hija. That if you're the same person with the Gillian I knew before..."Naguguluhan din na saad ng ginang,"But of course, it was you. You're the daughter of Aciel Mendrez."

Gillian pursed her lips.

"He knew all along and he didn't even tell me? Then, the friendship we had was all for nothing but trash. I hate him."

Ikinuyom ng dalaga ang kanyang mga kamao sa inis.

"Wait, hija calm down. I'm sure he has some valid reasons."Malumanay na saad ng ginang.

Sinubukang pakalmahin ng ginang ang dalaga ngunit bigla nalang itong tumayo. Sakto naman sa pagbalik ni Kael.

"Hey, I'm very sorry. The call took so long. You guys done chatting?"Napansin ng binata na nakatayo na si Gillian."Are we leaving?"

Walang sumagot sa naging tanong ng binata. Si Gillian ay naka-straight face lamang samantalang ang ginang ay di mawari ang sasabihin.

"What's the matter? You two look so serious. Mom, what did you tell her? You guys should stop scaring my guest. Let's go--"

Naputol sa pagsasalita si Kael dahil biglang ang walk-out si Gillian.