Forgotten Child

Forty-ninth Chapter

"I can't believe na may kapatid pala ako." Hinipo ko ang gravestone ng yumao kong older-yet-baby brother.

Sinabi sa'kin ni tita Zie ang location nito — within the Ayala Clan's grave house — at pinuntahan namin 'yun agad ni Kieran. At ngayon nga'y kasama ko siya dito.

Ibig sabihin nito, I'm actually Papa Syl's second child. Tulad ng ancestors namin na talagang nagsimula nitong lahat, nitong brotherhood.

Umiling ako.

"Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam ang dapat na maramdaman ko ngayon, kuya," pag-usap ko dito. "Hindi ko alam kung masaya ba ako o malungkot sa nalaman ko about sa'yo. Tingin mo, kuya, tatanggapin mo ba ako kung nagkataon na nandidito ka? Ituturing mo pa din ba akong kapatid kahit na half-sister mo lang ako?"

"I'm sure he would, mon cœur," sumagot si Kieran. "I'm sure he would be as overprotective as those two brothers, o baka higit pa dahil you'd actually be his half-baby sister at hindi lang pinsan. And I'm sure..."

Tinignan ko siya at nakangisi ito.

"Sure akong mas bantay-sarado ka sa kanya once na malaman niyang kapatid ka niya. You'd have 3 deadly men as a security."

Natawa naman ako at bumaling pabalik sa puntod. 

"That would be fun, won't it kuya?" At hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero may hampas ng hangin ang pumasok sa loob ng grave house, and I felt warm with it. Biglang tumulo ang mga luha ko. "S-Salamat kuya. Kung may kasalanan ka man sa mga nangyayari para mag-lead sa pagkakakilanlan natin, maraming, maraming salamat."

-x-

"Saan tayo punta?" tanong ko kay Manong Driver Kieran.

"I don't know about you, mon amour, but I am starving!"

My stomach grumbled as if on cue. "Ako din daw sabi ng tiyan ko.

Tumawa siya. "I know. Heard it loud and clear."

"Siya nga pala, ano pala ang itatanong mo sa'kin?"

"Later, amour, let's eat first." He grabbed my hand again and hold it until we reached a fancy restaurant.

-x-

"Kieran... Kanina pa tayo naglalakad dito sa park... Ano ba talaga ang itatanong mo?"

"Inip ka na ba o excited lang?"

"Sapakan na lang kaya? Gusto mo?"

"Haha! I think I'll take you up on that." Ngumisi siya. "It would be so arousing to have you on top of me, panting and sweating."

Pinalo ko siya. "Ang bastos mo!"

Tumawa lang ang loko! Tapos bigla kaming tumigil sa paglalakad at hinarap niya ako habang hawak ang mga kamay ko. He brought them to his lips then and kissed them while meeting my eyes.

"Bastos sa'yo." He winked at me.

"Grr!"

"You're sexy when you do that." His pupils became dilated. 

"Casteñeda!" Tumawa na naman siya at mas hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa kamay ko.

"Dame de mon cœur, I want to take you to Paris."

"I'm sorry, what?"

We are walking slowly this time.

"I want to show you where I was born, where I came from, what streets I grew up to. I want you to know all the things about me, even the minor ones. And then, I want to show you off. I want to introduce you to my friends, which are not that many, to my colleagues at work –"

"What exactly is your work again?" 

"I'm a philanthropist here in the Philippines and France. Also, the Chief Executive Officer of my own company, as well as a few companies of my father."

Napanganga ako. We stopped walking and he held both of my hands as he faced me.

"Anyway, most importantly, I want to officially introduce you to my family. To let them know that you are the woman that I want to spend the rest of my second beating heart with. The sole woman who made me this crazy for her without even trying. The only woman I have been in love with since that day my eyes laid upon her. The very woman I want to become my wife."

Dahil hawak ni Kie ang mga kamay ko, kinagat ko na lang ang labi ko as I felt hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Kieran ano ba? Nagtatapat ka talaga ngayon?" Humikbi ako. "Ngayon talaga? Sa dami-daming araw, ngayon talaga kung kailan andaming bombang impormasyon akong nalaman?"

"Je suis désolée mon amour. I really am sorry, but I can't wait any much longer. And yes, nagtatapat ako ngayon, which really shouldn't surprise you 'cause you should know this by now."

Suminghot ako. "Kieran naman eh!"

Pinahid niya ang mga luha ko. "I know I'm going to skip a couple of levels with what I'm gonna ask you, but like I said, I can't wait any much longer."

"Ano na naman ba 'yan Casteñeda?!"

He chuckled before surprising me and my heart again as he went down on one knee and produced a red velvet box.

"Will you let me be your husband?"

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Malapit na nga kasi ang ending. ;A;

-Aks