Midas' Touch [COMPLETED]

Chapter 43

"Kalonice..."

Napatayo si Kalonice at umikot. Huminto sa harap niya si Caedmon, hinihingal. Her lips trembled at agad siyang niyakap. Caedmon hugged her back.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Caedmon. Nagkamali ako. Dapat pinaniwalaan kita. Dapat nakinig ako sa iyo. I'm sorry. Kasalanan ko kung bakit nangyari 'to. Kasalanan ko..."

"You're not wrong. Nagpatawad ka lang. Pinaikot ka niya. Gusto mo lang naman mabuo at maayos ang pamilya niyo. Wala kang kasalanan, okay? Wala."

Sumubsob si Kalonice sa kaniyang dibdib. Hinayaan siya ni Caedmon na ilabas lahat ng sama ng loob niya sa kaniya. He stayed, silent, letting her cry her heart out until she felt good.

Nasa presinto na sila ngayon. Kalonice is now willing to tell all the bad shits her mother has been doing all this time and all the bad shits she put her through when she was younger. Pinoproseso na ito ng mga pulis, at hindi na nila kailangan pang umabot sa korte dahil gusto na talaga nilang mabulok si Rita sa bilangguan. Bakit pa nila patatagalin ang lahat kung wala naman itong maibibigay na pang-depensa? She cad Caedmon by her side. Her siblings are witnesses. Napakalakas ng pruweba nila at hindi na nito magagawang makapag-protesta. Wala nang pag-asa pa si Rita. Buo na ang desisyon ni Kalonice. Ipapakulong na niya ito habangbuhay.

"Where the hell is Midas? Why is he not with you? He should be the one supporting you here, Kalonice. He should be," diin ni Caedmon habang nagmamaneho.

"H-Hindi ko alam... Hindi ko alam, Caedmon. Hindi ko alam kung anong problema niya. Hindi niya sinasagot ang mga tawag ko. Ayaw niya din akong kausapin. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan siya." Tinakpan ni Kalonice ang mukha at hinayaang tumulo ang kaniyang mga luha.

"Have you called Ninong Larry? I will ask him---"

"No! No, Caedmon. Huwag. H-Hayaan mong ayusin naming dalawa 'to. A-Ayokong madawit sila dito. Problema namin ni Midas 'to. Please, let us be. We will...fix this..."

Sinulyapan siya ni Caedmon. Napailing na lamang ito at itinuon ang atensyon sa daan.

Habang papalapit nang papalapit sa kanilang bahay ay napansin nila ang magarang kotse sa tapat ng bahay ni Midas. Sa pag-aakalang bumalik na siya, agad na bumaba si Kalonice at siya'y hinanap. Ngunit si Octavius ang humarap sa kaniya at hindi si Midas.

"T-Tito Octavius? Bakit... Anong... Ano pong ginagawa niyo dito?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong at tumingin sa paligid, hoping na makikita si Midas ngunit hindi. Muli, siya'y nalumbay.

"I am...looking for my daughter, hija," anito na hindi magawang makatingin sa kaniya.

Natigilan si Kalonice.

"B-Bakit po, Tito?" Kumabog ang kaniyang dibdib. May alam na kaya ito sa nangyari? Nagsumbong kaya si Jarrah sa kaniya dahil sa ginawa ni Wych dito kaya nandito ang ama niya?


Napalunok si Octavius. Pinigilan niya ang kaniyang mga luha. Ayaw niyang sabihin kay Kalonice ang nabalitaan. Ayaw niyang malaman nito na nabuntis hindi umano ng kaniyang nobyo ang kaniyang anak. Ayaw niyang makitang masaktan si Kalonice. Pero dapat nitong malaman ang totoo. Ang bigat ng kaniyang dibdib. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman.

Binasag ng isang tunog ang kanilang katahimikan. Napatingin sila kay Caedmon. He excused himself at sinagot ang tawag. Mula ito sa mga pulis.

"Kalonice, the police told me that your mother is attempting to escape!"

"Ha!?"

Nilapitan siya ni Kalonice. Rumehistro ang takot sa mukha nito, takot na baka makatakas nga ang ina.

"P-Puntahan natin siya. Hindi pwedeng makatakas siya! Kailangan niyang magbayad!"

Kalonice stormed out of the room at dinala ang mga kapatid. Tumingin si Octavius kay Caedmon. Nag-sorry ito sa kaniya at agad na sinundan si Kalonice.

Sinundan niya sila sa lanas at pinanood na umalis. He doesn't know what's going on. Pero nagkita na ulit sina Kalonice at ang ina nila? Hindi magandang balita iyon.

Kaya naman napagdesisyunan niyang sundan sila kung saan man sila pupunta.

Iniwan muna nila Kalonice at Caedmon sina Ali at Francis sa kotse at pumasok sa loob. Naabutan nila si Rita na nakaposas pa din ngunit may hawak na baril. Bumaba si Octavius sa kotse at pumasok sa loob.

"MA! Tama na! Sumuko ka na lang!" Sigaw ni Kalonice na hindi magawang makalapit. Caedmon was stopping her. Tumingin sa kaniya si Rita, galit na galit. Ngunit lumambot ang ekspresyon nito at unti-unting nanlaki ang mga mata.

Their hearts skipped a beat.

Breathless, Octavius mumbled, "M-Margaret?"

Napalingon si Kalonice sa kaniya. Nagulat siya nang makita si Octavius. Hindi niya akalaing susundan sila ni Caedmon. Ngunit nagulumihan siya sa itinawag nito sa kaniyang ina.

Margaret.

Hindi siya maaaring magkamali.

Iyon ang pangalan ng katulong na minahal ni Octavius noon!


The police took the chance of Rita's shock and seize her. Hindi maialis ni Rita ang kaniyang tingin kay Octavius. Kahit napakalaki ng kaniyang pinagbago, alam ni Octavius kung sino ang kaniyang kaharap. It was Margaret, his first love.

"She's...your mother?" Bumaling siya kay Kalonice, kinakapos sa hangin. Tumulo ang kaniyang mga luha nang magtama ang kanilang mga mata.

"She's not my real mother po, pero opo," sagot ni Kalonice na naguguluhan.
Umiwas ng tingin si Octavius at natakpan ang mukha saka ito hinilamusan.

"I-I want to talk to her. Can we? With you?" aniya. Nabigla si Kalonice. Tumingin siya kay Caedmon na tumango naman.

"I'll join your siblings. I will protect them," na siya namang pinasalamatan ni Kalonice.

Nauna si Kalonice at sinundan naman siya ni Octavius. Kinausap nila ang Chief ng mga police at sila'y pinayagang makausap ang detainee na si Rita. Dinala sila nito sa interrogation room. Ipinosas nila sa uouan si Rita upang hindi ito makagawa ng kung ano mang mali.

Octavius tap his fingers on the table. Kalonice sits beside him, behave and giving them confused and suspicious stares.

Octavius heave a deep breath.

"Firstly, I want to tell you that I am glad that we meet again," panimula niya at sumandal sa upuan. Rita gaze at him with longing eyes. She couldn't believe that she met the man she loved since then 'til now.

"I can finally have the chance to ask for your forgiveness about what happened in our past. I don't want to continue living with guilt and regret. I want to continue moving forward, and be the perfect husband for Delphine."

"N-Nagtagal kayo?" Basag ang boses ni Rita nang magsalita. Bumalisbis ang mga luha sa kaniyang mga pisngi. "Buong buhay ko, inakala kong hindi kayo magtatagal dahil ako ang mahal mo..."

Namilog ang mga mata ni Kalonice at umawang ang bibig. Kinurot niya ang sarili. Baka ilusyon lang ang mga nangyayari. Baka hindi ito totoo.

But it's reality. She feels bad that Midas was not beside her. Mas maganda kung magkasama silang dalawa. They will both know the truth behind their story.

"I loved you, Margaret. I did. But during the days that I'm with Delphine, my feelings spiralled and ended to her. And I love her. And I want to love her more, but I can't because our past is holding me back. I can't take a step forward. My guilt, my regrets, I am sorry. You may or may not forgive me, but at least I finally had the chance to talk to you, I want you to know that...that I am sorry. I broke you, I hurted you, I know you loathe me because I broke all my promises to you, but Margaret... During the times that we are together, I was truly happy. Thank you. Thank you for everything, but it was Delphine now that I want to live for rest of my life with. Thank you for the memories. Our past taught me, it made me a better man. Margaret, with all my heart, thank you. But you're not my happiness anymore."

Kumuyom ang mga kamao ni Rita. She convulse as her she cried, gritting her teeth in anger and despair. She couldn't accept it. She couldn't bear it. She wants him to take everything he have said back, but it was pointless. She want to hurt him, slap him, but all she could do is scream. She screamed all the pain she was feeling.

Tinakpan ni Kalonice ang kaniyang mga tainga at ngumiwi.

Lahat ng mga ipinangako ng lalaking pinakamamahal niya sa kaniya ay sa iba niya tutuparin. The magic of their pure love was long gone, but she's still holding onto one shattered piece of it. For a long time, it wounds her every time. And Octavius added more insults to her injury, an dnow she's dying inside.

Their love story is never been a fairytale. It never been one. Isa lang siyang hamak na katulong na nagtamasa ng kagandahang buhay kaya inakit ang kaniyang amo. Noon pa man ay puno na ng kasamaan ang kaniyang puso. Hindi niya mahal si Octavius. Lahat ng galit niya ngayon ay dahil sa panghihinayang. Panghihinayang na hindi siya ang babaeng asawa nito, na hindi niya mararanasan na magsuot ng magagarang kasuotan, mamahaling alahas, at magdamagang pagsusugal. The life she's been dreaming of have completely vanished. She's disappointed of her self. Dapat pala ay mas ginalingan niya pa ang pag-arte noon. Iyong hinding-hindi siya makakalimutan ni Octavius.

"There is...one thing I want to know, Margaret. So please, be hoenst with me,"

Octavius glances at Kalonice.

"Ampon mo ba talaga si Kalonice?"

Agad na naibaling ang kaniyang ulo sa katabi. Nagulat siya sa itinanong nito. Sa hindi malamang kadahilanan, nakaramdam siya ng kakaibang kaba. Tumingin siya may Rita. Tumigil ito sa kakasigaw, at ito'y tumawa.

"Ah, iyan ba? 'Yan bang batang' yan?"

Sumandal siya sa kaniyang upuan at nagpatuloy sa paghalakhak.

Bigla siyang huminto. "Hindi."

Parehas silang naestatwa.

Inabot ni Rita ang mukha at kinamot ang noo. "Sa totoo lang, dapat ipapalaglag ko 'yan noon. Kaso, nakaisip ako ng ideya. Magagamit ko ang batang dinadala ko sa iyo. Baka bumalik ka at pakasalan ako para akuin ang responsibilidad. Kaso, noong lumapit ako sa mga magulang mo dala 'yan noong sanggol pa lang, itinaboy ako. Tangina niyong mayayaman kayo. Ang arte-arte niyo. Kaso nga lang napakatigas ng ulo ng batang 'yan. Walang pakinabang sa akin. Walang utang na loob!"


Natakpan ni Kalonice ang bibig dahil sa rebelasyong iyon. Hindi makapaniwala siyang tumingin sa kabuuan ni Rita, na wala lang dito ang lahat ng mga sinabi.

Napayuko si Octavius at napahawak sa dibdib. Umagos ang kaniyang mga luha at malakas na nahampas ang lamesa.

"You... You..."

Kalonice is now seeing her entire life as a lie.

"T...Totoo mo akong a-anak?" Inirapan siya ni Rita.

"Mamahalin lang naman kita kung may pakinabang ka. Kaso, panay takas ka sa mga poreynjer noon. Dagdag pa 'yung dalawang palamunin na 'yon. Malas kayo sa buhay ko!"

Flashback to the day she gave birth to Kalonice, Rita faked the surname she have given to the baby's birth certificate. Ibang pangalan rin ang inilagay niya roon, mga imbentong impormasyon lamang at walang halong katotohanan.

All of it are nothing but lies. Only lies and pretentiousness.

"A-Anak mo ako, pero binaboy mo ako. A-Anong klase kang ina!? Bakit ka nagsinungaling, Ma!? Bakit!? Bakit, bakit, BAKIT!?"

Kalonice attacked Rita. Rumesponde agad si Octavius at mahigpit siyang niyakap. Rita bowed. Hindi siya kumibo. Kalonice break down and fell on the floor. Kinulob ng kaniyang boses ang kwartong kinalalagyan nila. Walang lumabas sa bibig ni Rita at pinakinggan ang kaniyang mga palahaw.

Octavius is seething in anger too but he doesn't want to hurt her. He feel so bad and sorry. He does not know what to say to Kalonice. He's been feeling that Kalonice is somehow related to him, but he's not expecting much. But now, now that they knew the truth, he doesn't know what to do. His daughter lived its life in misery and despair in the hands of her cruel mother. He could not imagine how hopeless Kalonice was during those times, how she feel so dirty as those men touch her skin, as she cry for help but no one could hear, as she crawl for her escape and pray for her safety. For years, she suffered. While him, all he ever did is get rich and be cold to his wife.

"Napakasama mo, Ma! Napakasama mo! Kahit kailan, hinding-hindi kita mapapatawad! Hinding-hindi! Mabulok ka dito sa kulungan! Karmahin ka sana ng napakalaki! Paano mo nagawa sa akin 'to? Anak mo ako! Anak mo ako pero ikaw mismi ang sumira sa buhay ko!" Puno ng paghihinagpis ang puso ni Kalonice. Nawalan siya ng malay dahil sa sobrang pagod at sama ng loob. Octavius hugged her and cried.


Binuhat niya si Kalonice at walang lingon-lingong iniwan ang interrogation room buhat ang anak. Dire-diretso siya sa paglabas hanggang sa makarating siya sa kaniyang kotse. Nakita sila ni Caedmon. Sinenyasan niya ito na sila'y sundan.

"Sir, nakita na po namin si Ma'am Jarrah. Nasa ospital daw po siya, sabi ng guwardiya sa subdivision na tinitir'han ni Sir Midas," pagpapaalam sa kaniya ng kaniyang driver. Lutang ang isipan ni Octavius at tumango na lamang. Umandar ang kotse. Dadalhin siya ng driver sa kinaroroonan ni Jarrah.

Samantala, malakas na sumigaw si Rita. Paulit-ulit siyang sumigaw hanggang sa siya'y mapaos. Hinayaan niyang umagos ang kaniyang mga luha at tumingala sa ilaw na nasa kisame. Nagngitngit ang kaniyang mga ngipin at ngumawa na para bang isang batang iniwan at pinabayaan.

Tapos na. Wala nang kasunod pa ang kwento ng kaniyang buhay.


Jarrah was humming as she peel the apple she was holding. Huminto sa pinto si Octavius at siya'y pinagmasdan. Halos mapatalon sa sobrang pagkakagulat si Jarrah nang siya'y napansin. Ngunit ang kaniyang pagkagulat at agad ring napalitan ng takot.

"D-Dad?"

Octavius stepped inside and stopped beside her. He looked at her with the coldest eyes. He could not care less about her condition. He does not care if she got dislocated bones. He's here not because she was hurt, but because he will be cutting their connections to each other. He had enough. Jarrah have gone way too far.

"Tell me, Jarrah. Where did I ever go wrong?" Even though he tried, his tears still fall.

"I admit, may mga pagkukulang ako sa iyo. Our intimacy as father and daughter was not enough. We are distant to each other. You can't tell your problems to me because I was cold. But you see, ever since then, I've been supporting you, giving you all the things you wanted. When you choose modelling instead of architecture to carry my legacy, I understand you and supported you. Because it's the career that makes you happy. You enjoy walking the runway. I supported your relationship with Midas too before, I gave you everything you need so WHY!? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BE LIKE THIS!? WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS, JARRAH!?"

Jarrah flinched. Halos lumuwa na ang kaniyang mga mata. Siya'y nanginginig at naluluha, ngunit parang naputol ang kaniyang dila ay hindi siya makapagsalita.

"It hurts me whenever I hear people call you names. Whenever they call you in insulting way. They hate you, and even though I want to defend you so bad, I can't because they are right. Your actions makes their accusations sounds true, it justifies their accusations of you. I could not even... They are true. And you know that Midas was happy with Kalonice now. So why seduce him? You're really starting to live by the names they call you? A slut? A hoe? A whore? A bitch? You love being called by those names? You do, don't you?"

"D-Dad... Dad, listen to me. T-They are not true---"

"If they are not, then what is? Jarrah, you hold no truths. You're the greatest liar I ever known. And the greatest fake."

Jarrah was absolutely hurt. She cried, but Octavius showed no pity nor care to her.

So he finally decided to announce it once and for all.

"Jarrah, you are not a Lisieux anymore. I'm stripping you out of my family, and out as my heiress! You are now a stranger to me. All the shame you put our name through, all the shame you put the name Yzaguirre through, there's no way you could find to atone them. You're just a girl who carries my blood, just a girl who used to live in the house I built! YOU'RE OUT OF MY FAMILY, JARRAH! STARTING FROM NOW ON, YOU'RE EXILED!"

Kuyom ang mga kamao, isang masamang tingin ang ipinukol niya kay Jarrah bago ito tinalikuran. Jarrah was in state of shock. Her brain failed to process all the words she have heaed. They kept on replaying in her head but she absorbed none of them.

She gripped on the knife she was holding tight.

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME, DAD! NO, YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

Pinagsasaksak niya ang kaniyang hinihigaan. Nagpatuloy sa paglalakad si Octavius, hindi alintana ang mga sigaw ni Jarrah at taas noong umalis ng ospital na para bang dumaan lang siya sa hangin. Pumasok siya sa kaniyang kotse at tinanguhan ang kaniyang driver. He started the car's engine and left. Caedmon tailed the car Kalonice was in.


Octavius pulled Kalonice near him and embraced her tight. He kissed her head and let his tears fall until he have nothing left to cry, until they dry on his cheeks.

He thought he will finally have a perfect family, but he was wrong. Jarrah completely destroyed them and exiling her is the only way he think will preserve their name from collapsing. Hindi niya alam kung paano ito sasabihin kay Delphine, ngunit ipipilit niya ang kaniyang napagdesisyunan at itutuon ang kaniyang atensyon kay Kalonice.

Now that Jarrah is exiled, Kalonice will be his new heir. She is perfect for the role because she have the ability to continue their family's legacy in the field of architecture. Babawi siya sa kaniya, papawiin niya lahat ng mga malulupit na nakaraan nito. Kung kaya niya lamang tanggalin at burahin ang mga iyon upang wala nang gumambala sa janiya ay gagawin niya, makalaya lang si Kalonice sa kaniyang nakaraan at wala nang titingnan pa pabalik.


Durog na durog si Kalonice. Her pieces was broken delicately. And it's impossible to build her again if she's burned down into ashes already.