Possessive 7: SECRETS (Completed)

Chapter 2

"Where are you going, Gelier?" natatarantang tanong ni Gavino sa nakatatandang kapatid. Gelier Verratti did not want to be called 'kuya,' kaya naman Gelier lang ang tawag niya rito kahit na tatlong taon ang tanda nito sa kanya. He was twenty-seven and Gelier was thirty.

Pumanaog ito sa engrandeng hagdan. Sa uluhan nila ay mamahaling chandelier na hindi biro ang halaga. They were rich... filthy rich. And for Gelier, who was not a bit interested in luxury and power, their wealth was a curse.

Naiintindihan niya ito. Gelier was already seven, and he was only four, when their mother left. Noong mga panahong iyon ay papabagsak na ang mga negosyo ng ama nila. Their father, Giovanni Verratti, was half-Italian. He chose to invest all his money in the Philippines because he wanted to be with his wife. Sa huli pala, kung kailan kailangang-kailangan ng ama nila ang kanilang ina, ay saka lumisan ang huli.

Their mother, Constancia del Carmen, was also from a rich family. Anak ito ng mahusay na businessman. Constancia was only twenty years old when she met Giovanni Verratti who was already forty at that time. Twenty years ang tanda ng lalaki kay Constancia, but that did not stop him from loving her, and God, it was genuine love.

Nagpakasal si Constancia rito dahil sa pera at hindi dahil mahal nito si Giovanni. Kaya naman nang unti-unti nang bumabagsak ang mga negosyo ni Giovanni ay walang pagdadalawang-isip itong iniwan ni Constancia. She left and ran away with someone rich. Nakilala ng ina nila ang lover nito sa isa sa mga social parties na dinadaluhan nito.

Nakita ni Gelier kung paanong naghinagpis ang ama nila. Giovanni was able to rebuild his empire but the old man became cold and distant. Hanggang sa huling sandali nito sa mundo ay dama nilang magkapatid ang sama ng loob at galit nito para kay Constancia.

Gelier vowed to find and marry a decent woman someday. Iyong hindi mukhang pera. Iyong mamahalin ito hindi dahil isa itong Verratti. Ayaw nitong matulad sa ama.

The members of the board and council of the Verratti Conglomerate wanted Gelier to take the CEO position, but he refused thrice. Mailap din ito sa mga reporters. Gelier was a very private person. Sa ngayon ay siya ang tumatayong CEO ng Verratti. But he knew, deep inside, that Gelier would be the best man for the position. His older brother was wise and brilliant. Not once did he cower and he was oozing with authority.

"Honestly, I do not know yet. You know me, I hate planning my trips ahead. Kapag pinaplanuhan, hindi natutuloy." Kinuha nito ang katamtamang laking backpack at ipinatong sa kama.

"Why don't you use your expensive travel bag? Hindi mo iyon ginagamit, sayang naman." Regalo iyon dito ng isang senador.

Gelier chuckled. "I like my old buddy better," tukoy nito sa lumang itim na bag.

Tinignan niya iyon. Gelier bought it last year, sa ukay-ukay! Imagine his shock when his older brother told him where he got the bag. Market day daw sa binanggit nitong lugar kada Biyernes at naglalatag ng mumurahing mga damit at kagamitan.

"Matibay ba naman iyan? Baka ilang piraso lang ng damit at mabutas na?"

Gelier wrinkled his nose, grinning. "Kapag nabutas, di bibili ulit ng kapareha nito." Binuksan nito ang malaking tokador at kumuha ng ilang pirasong T-shirt. "I hate the labels in these shirts." Isinilid nito iyon sa backpack.

"What, you're only bringing three shirts with you?" hindi makapaniwala niyang tanong.

"Three shirts, two shorts, two briefs."

"Gaano ka katagal sa pupuntahan mo? Isang araw lang?"

"Hindi ko pa alam. A month or two?"

Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata. "Are you nuts? Ganoon ka katagal at iyan lang ang dala mo? You plan to walk around naked most of the time?"