The Chairman's Secret

21 - Ramon Danures

 
  
  
  
DINALA siya ni Westley sa isang silid kung saan naghihintay ang isang lalaki na hindi niya makita ang mukha dahil nakatalikod ito sa kanya. May kausap ito sa cellphone at tanging ang boses lamang nito ang naririnig niya.

Nasasabik na siyang makita ang mukha ng lalaki. She wanted to see the face of her father.

"I'll make sure of that. She'll be fine here. Don't worry. I'll see you soon then." Ibinaba nito ang cellphone nang matapos ang tawag ngunit hindi pa rin ito humaharap sa kanila.

"Miss Mirielle Danures is here, sir," anunsiyo ni Westley.

She glared at Westley because of the way he call her by the name Mirielle. Hindi na lamang niya iyon bingyang pansin dahil mas interesado siyang makilala ang ama.

Tila tinatambol ng dibdib niya habang tila slow motion ang pagharap ng lalaki sa kanila. Her jaw dropped when she saw that familiar face. Hindi siya madaling makalimot ng mukha kaya alam niyang nakita na niya ang mukhang iyon.

Kung hindi siya nagkakamali, ipinakilala siya sa kanya ng ina ilang linggo bago siya lumayas noon. He was the guy that mom was seeing while her so-called father, Cesar, wasn't around. Akala nga niya other man ito ng ina pero nong ipakilala ito sa kanya bilang dating kaibigan ay hindi na siya naghinala sa ina. Isang beses lamang niyang nakita ito ngunit hindi niya nakalimutan ang mukha nito.

"You're Roman Danures, right?" That's the name her mom told her when she saw them in the mall.

The man in his fifties smile. They have the same smile. He must be her father but how come her mom introduced him as Roman when he's Ramon. Ang gulo!

"No, I'm not. That's my look alike who pretends to be me when I'm out in the public. Siya ang naging daan para mahanap at magkaroon ulit kami ng komunikasyon ni Mira." Mira is her mom. "It's so nice to finally meet you, my child."

Nakangiti itong lumapit sa kanya at niyakap siya ng mahigpit. She doesn't know what to respond kaya tumayo lamang siya doon.

Naalala niya ang sulat na ipinabibigay ng ina. Kinuha niya ito sa bag na dala saka inabot sa lalaki.

"My mom told me to give this to you."

Ramon opened the envelope and he was shocked to see what's inside.

"Finally!" bulaslas nito. "You're finally my daughter. Anak na talaga kita."

Kumunot ang noo niya dahil siya ay naguguluhan. "If you are Ramon Pelaez then you must really be my father. Are you Ramon Pelaez?"

"It's Ramon Danures, my dear. Ramon Pelaez was my name when I met your mom but things changed. I am now a Danures. I was just a common guy when I met your mom, her parents were against us so they locked up your mom. Wala naman akong magawa noon para sa iyong ina dahil wala naman akong laban sa kayang gawin ng iyong lolo. Hanggang sa nalaman ko na lang na ikakasal na siya. Your Lolo came to me and asked me to stay away from your mom in return, they gave me a huge amount of money. Hindi ko tinanggap ang pera pero ipinangako ko sa sarili ko na babalik ako sa iyong ina na hindi na katulad ng dati. I took my chances here in Zurich where your Lolo sent me."

"Lolo sent you here?" she asked.

"Yes. You're Lolo is not bad after all. He just wants the best for his daughter and maybe that time I am not the best for her. So I worked hard here for my dreams. May mga tao na tumulong sa akin at kabilang na doon si Mr. Peter Danures, the owner of Danures Food Incorporation and Danures Group of Companies." May kinuhang litrato sa mesa ang lalaki, tiningnan nito iyon at ngumiti. "Peter was my savior. He saw my potential in business so he adopted me. He has no family so we both became each other's family. He helped me start my own business here. Ten years ago, I introduced Pelures to the world."

Napasinghap siya ng marinig ang pangalang Pelures.

"You own Pelures?!" she asked in disbelief.

Ramon chuckled at her reaction.

"Yes, it's my own products but Peter financed everything until my company could stand alone."

Hindi siya makapaniwala na ama niya ang may-ari ng isa sa kilalang brand ng bag, sapatos, damit at mga pabango. Pelures is one of the most expensive brand of shoes and clothes in Europe and Asia. Only people born with a silver spoon in their mouth can afford that brand. Maswerte na siya dahil mayroon siyang isang bag na Pelures na iniregalo sa kanya ng kanyang lolo.

"You are one hell of a millionaire and you are my father. Should I be happy now?"

Hindi talaga siya makapaniwala sa nalaman. It was like a dream to her. Anak siya ng isang milyonaryo at mas milyonaryo pa sa kinilala niyang ama.

"You should be, dear. But let me correct you in one thing."Naglakad ito palapit sa kanya hawak ang isang maliit na kahon. Pumwesto ito sa likuran niya at binuksan ang hawak na kahon. "We are not a millionaire. We are a billionaire."

Isinuot nito sa leeg niya ang isang gold necklace na may pendant na letrang M na napapalamutian ng maliliit na diamond. Sigurado siyang diamond ang mga iyon sa kinang pa lang na nakikita niya.

"Is this a dream?" Hindi siya makapaniwala sa nangyayari. Manghang-mangha siya sa kwintas na isinuot sa kanya ng ama. "Totoo ba ang lahat ng ito? Ikaw ba talaga ang ama ko?"

May kinuhang papel sa mesa si Ramon at ipinakita sa kanya.

"It says here that I am your biological father."

DNA test result ang ipinakita sa kanya ng ama at nakasaad nga doon na magkadugo sila. She began to asked questions that only her fathee cogive the answer.

"Bakit ngayon ka lang nagparamdam? Bakit hindi mo kami hinanap ni mom? Hindi mo ba alam na nabuhay kami ni Mommy sa takot. Hindi nga kami sinasaktan physically ni Cesar pero araw-araw naman niyang pinaparamdam sa amin na wala kaming kalayaan. I grew up always being told what to say, what to do, what to choose. I never had a chance to decide for myself. Kahit sa lalaking mamahalin ko ay wala akong karapatang pumili." She tried hard not to cracked her voice. Crying is not a good thing to do now.

Ramon cut distance between them and held her hands.

"Sinubukan ko kayong hanapin. God knows how much O spent time and money to find you in the Philippines pero tila may humaharang sa akin noon para makita kayo. Huli na nang malaman ko na ang napangasawa ng mommy mo ang humaharang sa akin. Alam ni Cesar na hinahanap ko kayo kaya mas lalo niya kayong pinaghigpitan. That's when I sent Roman and Westley. Si Roman ang pinadala ko para makausap ko si Mira while Westley did everything to keep you safe during the days and nights of your rebellion to Cesar. Laging naroon si Roman at Westley para sa inyo. Until one day, your mom and I made a plan for you. She secretly processed all the papers that will transfer all your presumed father's right to mine. We secretly did all of these to protect you from Cesar. Pwede ka kasi niyang gamitin laban sa mommy mo."

Muli niyang naalala ang sitwasyon ng ina sa Pilipinas na naiwan sa poder ng kinilalang ama.

"We need to save mom from him. Baka kung anong gawin ni Cesar kay Mommy." Puno ng pag-aalala ang kanyang isipan para sa ina.

Her father squeezed her hands softly, catching her attention to look at him.

"You don't have to worry about your mom. Roman and my people is always around your mom to protect her. I won't let that man hurt my woman."

Ang swerte naman ng mommy niya dahil may isang tao na handang gawin ang lahat para protektahan ito. Sana all. Sumagi sa isipan niya si Ryker at ang ginawa nitong pagsisinungaling.

Somehow, she misses him. His scent, his hugs, his serious face, his kisses and his presence. Hindi ganoon kadali kalimutan ang tulad ni Ryker pero kailangan niyang gawin para sa sarili niya. She needs to move forward.

"And from now on, you will be called Mirielle Danures. Cielo Mari is now dead so as the bad memories of her. Magsimula tayong muli, anak."

Finally,she found the man who will love and protect her no matter what happens. She finally found the guy who will never make her cry. The guy she'd been wishing for is her father, her real father.
  
      
   
   
   
    
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To be continued...