"We're here..." He informed me.
Agad akong sinalubong ni Mommy nang makapasok ako ng bahay. Ganoon din si Savannah. I didn't expect her to be here.
Parehong maga ang mga mata nila.
"When I heard the news, I immediately went here. I'm happy you're okay now." Savannah said.
I hugged her to comfort her. She's been through a lot too. My poor Savvy.
Nagbonding muna kaming lahat to talk things and lighten up the mood. Umuwi din agad si Savannah dahil pinapahanap siya ni Tita Marinela.
Nang kaming tatlo na lang nila mommy, Zeno at George. I have an idea na may alam na sila sa buong pangyayare at pati sa kung sino ang mastermind nito.
"Bakit gusto niya akong ipapatay? I don't understand."
Nagkatinginan silang tatlo. It's George who decided to answer me.
"She's my ex-wife and the mother of Gertrude."
I was taken aback. I thought Ger's mother is long dead.
"We all thought she's already dead. Her friends sent me a letter about her death and we even visited her funeral five years ago. It turned out she only did that to plot her revenge."
I got more confused. "But why me?"
"It's because it had come to her attention that more than half of your stepfather's assets will be under your name. Lahat ng nangyayare sa inyong dalawa ni Gertrude ay alam niya. Sa mata niya, inaagaw mo lahat ng atensyon at mga bagay na para sa anak niya. At hindi niya nagustuhan iyon."
Mas lalong dumami ang tanong sa utak ko.
"Paano ka niya nakilala? Does she have connection to the President?"
"No. But to my organization, yes. We met in a party in Auckland. That's how it started."
Muli akong tumingin kay George. "Why would you give more than half of your assets? Don't you think it's unfair? And without my consent?" I know, I sounded really rude but this wouldn't have happened in the first place if he told me about this.
"We're really sorry, Tanya. We're actually about to tell you this but you went to the Philippines so we decided to postponed it and just tell you kapag nakabalik ka na." Si Mommy.
"Gertude already knew this. Siya mismo ang may gusto na ipangalan sa iyo ang mga negosyo at ibang ari-arian ni George. You have background in business management." She added.
I closed my eyes and composed myself.
"Where is Amore now?"
"She's already dead. She shot herself in the head."
Nakaramdam ako ng hilo. I thought I could take all of it. Hindi pala.
"I need to rest..." I said coldly bago tumayo at iwan sila doon.
Agad na hinabol ako ni Zeno. Tahimik lamang ako habang tinutunton ang kwarto ko.
"Pumasok ba sa isip mo na patayin ako?" Mahinang tanong ko.
"At first. It's my job. I kill people by assignment. I studied you and your background." He answered me. "I was actually annoyed when I learned about your escapades. You think you can wrap the boys around your fingers."
"As time passed by, I realized that what I felt is not hatred but rather jealousy. And that hits me. I want you, Tanya Alcaraz, for myself."
Malamlam ang mga mata kong tumingin sa kanya. Sino bang niloloko ko. Wala namang may gustong mangyare ito.
It's anger who brings the worst of us.
Magdamag akong nagkulong sa kwarto ko. Pinapahatid ko na lang ang mga pagkaen dahil nahihiya akong lumabas. Nahihia ako sa pinakita kong asal kela George ganoon na din kay Mommy.
Si Gertrude. I haven't seen her since I woke up in the hospital. I want to talk to her.
Nagdesisyon akong maligo at bumaba para hanapin siya. Sakto, pagkababa ko ay naabutan ko sya sa kusina habang nagsasalin ng tubig.
Nang makita ako ay agad nagmadali siyang umalis. She's avoiding me.
"Ger!" Tawag ko sa kanya bago pa siya tuluyang makalayo.
Napatigil siya at alanganing lumingon sa akin.
"Can we talk?"
She slowly nodded.
Nagpunta kami sa roof deck para doon makapag-usap at para na rin makalanghap ng sariwang hangin.
Hindi pa man ako nakakapagsalita ay tuluyan nang umiyak siya sa harapan ko.
"I-I'm sorry, Ate Tanya. I'm sorry if I was avoiding you. We just made up and then this happened. I'm sorry...." She bawled.
Agad ko siyang inalo para patahanin. Kailanman ay hindi ko siya sisihin sa nangyare. Kung tutuusin, sa aming dalawa ay ako ang may atraso. I was unconsciously stealing her spotlight. Iyon din siguro ang dahilan kung bakit iyon nagawa ni Amore.
"You don't have to say sorry, Ger. It's actually me who should apologize to you. I'm sorry for your lost."
She must be in pain right now too about what happened to her mother.
"I'm sad about what happened since she's my biological mother but if I were between you and her, I'd rather have you as my sister. Kailanman hindi ko siya naramdaman na tumayong ina sa akin. She only wanted money from dad. Kaya nga sila naghiwalay. I'm glad your mother and my dad met. I'm glad to have you and your mom as part of my family." She smiled genuinely.
"I love you, Ate Tanya." She hugged my arm. Ang laki na ng tiyan niya kaya hindi na ako mayapos.
"I love you too."
Para akong naputulan ng tinik sa lalamunan. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na nagkaayos na kaming dalawa.
Nagkwentuhan pa kami doon. Ang sabi niya ay nagkita na daw silang dalawa ni Savannah at nagkausap. I'm they'll get along.
Nang makababa sa sala, nagulat ako nang makita ang Presidente, ang first lady, si daddy at si Tita Marinela sa sala.
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