Fancying My Father's Bride (Completed)

Phase 27: Gone

•RYOS' POV•

"NAGDIDILIM ang paningin ko sa babae na na 'yan, Ry," anang Mariente na galit na galit sa nangyari ngayon, while he is reading the showbiz section of a newspaper, and while I am scrolling my social media feeds. The media said that I am having an affair with my father's fiancée which is totally true and I have no ill feeling about that issue, but my politician friends are taking it like it is an end of the world for them.

"This will have a bad effect in the upcoming election," si Gov sa mababang boses habang may binabasang mga papeles. "Nagiging mababa ang ratings mo. Cortez is on the top of the poll right now. You have gained ninety percent of the trust of the people but decline by twenty percent. This is really bad. Sanchez will go crazy about this."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Feeling innocent of what he has said, I just shrugged my shoulder off a little. They pushed me to take this political venture, and I am confident that I will not win. Wala pa sa isip ko ang mahalin ang politika dahil nasa panggagamot pa ang puso ko at sa kay Manuel na hindi ko maka-contact hanggang ngayon.

Three days ago, with our last conversation, she has said that she will be in the port. Nakakagulantang. Gusto ko siyang habulin sa pagkakataong iyon ngunit tinawag ako ni Lola para kausapin patungkol sa lagay ni Daddy. Buong gabi niya akong hinarangan sa mga gusto kong gagawin sa mga oras na iyon. Knowing my grandmother, you should honor her with utmost respect and attention. Kinabukasan, hindi ko na napagtuunan ng pansin ang mga inaalala ng nakaraang araw dahil mahabang oras kong inoperahan si Daddy. My father is resting right now with Dresia. Nasa bahay ko sila tumutuloy. Wala pa akong natatanggap na plano galing kay Daddy pagkatapos ng lahat ng ito. Kung babalik ba sila ng Amerika nang mas maaga sa naka-schedule nilang bakasyon o kung tatapusin nila ang bakasyon.

I just send two of Daddy's men in Manuel's place to update me of anything since I have known that she cancelled the wedding. Daddy acts as if he doesn't know she cancelled the wedding. He acts like it is not a problem.

I am just waiting for a positive update.

"That woman is very desperate about you. We didn't see this coming," panay ang pag-uusap ni Mariente at Louie pero ako ay nag-iisip kung tatanggapin ko ba ang solusyon ng problemang ito. The headlines say it all that I am having an affair with my father's bride with a legit evidence from unknown source. Hindi na ako magtatanong kung sino ang source dahil nakalagay doon sa balita ang mga litrato naming dalawa ni Manuel sa hotel at kuha doon sa isla. Dahil alam kong si Thalia iyon. I wanted to talk to her frankly but I can't do it now. Nasa dulo pa ako ng sama ng loob dahil sa kanya at baka masaktan ko lamang siya. My grandmother and my mother are on her side.

And the solution that my friends brought up for this problem is to speak to the public that me and Manuel are just friends and we are collaborating with their wedding. Ridiculous. Pero naiitindihan ko ang mga kaibigan, dahil pinagkakaingatan nila ang pangalan ko para sa darating na eleksyon. They've always thought that Cortez, who runs for Mayor for another party list, is a corrupt-minded politician with a crime syndicate on his hands. My friends are good with secret investigation so they know him and his bad sides. Kaya, kinumbinsi nila akong tumakbo and they are doing their best for me to have a better picture for the public. It's for the people and I don't see anything bad about me running for politics, but I have to risk something, a part of my life.

"Maraming gustong makuha ang testimony mo since this topic is trending nationwide. I'll schedule your interview with my trusted newspaper publisher," napatingin lamang ako kay Mariente.

"Huhupa rin ang issue na ito kagaya ng kay Jonah. People want to have to gossip on. Iyong bang may mapag-uusapan sila at mahuhusgahan. Filipinos are excellent with that. Talento nila iyon. Huwag ka ng magulat, Mariente. Mabuti nga iyon, 'di ba? People will know me, but majority of them will bash me."