My First Love's Son

Chapter 36

IT WAS A FOUR HOUR RIDE FROM ILOCOS SUR TO ILOCOS NORTE. Derek booked a flight at Laoag International Airport so he, Sapphire and Drake can be on time for the talk show interview.

“Are you sure about this, Derek?” kabadong tanong ni Sapphire habang nakatingala ito sa kanya. Magkatabi silang nakaupo sa backseat ng kanyang limousine, ang sasakyang sumundo sa kanila sa airport at siyang magdadala sa kanila sa set ng show. Habang ang anak nilang si Drake ay tulog sa kabilang gilid niya at nakaunan sa kanyang mga hita.

“Listen, baby. We need to clarify these false rumors. Gusto ko na ring matuldukan ang mga kabaliwang mga balitang patuloy na pinagkakalat ni Kate. That woman, I broke up with her weeks ago. Sinagad niya ang pasensiya ko. Hindi ako naglalabas ng statement tungkol sa break up namin dahil ayokong masira ang reputation niya at maapektuhan ang kaniyang career. Unfortunately, siya ang gumagawa niyon sa akin. She’s telling lies after lies around the media,” pagpapaintindi niya ng sitwasyon sa dalaga. “She’s ruining our relationship with the hopes of me and her getting back together.”

“Naniniwala ako sa iyo. Pasensiya na kung nagpadala ako sa bugso ng aking damdamin kaninang umaga at nasampal kita. I forgot to ask pala if okay lang ang pisngi mong nasampal ko?” Bumangon pa ito nang bahagya sa pagkakaunan sa kanyang balikat upang suriin ang magkabila niyang pisngi.

“Don’t worry about it. Tinapalan ko ng ice bago ako nagluto ng agahan natin,” his voice spoke softly.

Dahan dahan itong sumandal muli sa kanyang balikat at ang mga braso niyang pumulupot sa beywang nito. While his other hand is busy giving support to Drake for him not to fall on the floor.

It didn’t take too long when they reached the building of the Channel 2 station where the talk show will be aired. Kaagad silang sinalubong ng producer at dinala sa VIP room kung saan sila tutuloy saglit at aayusan ng mga stylists. Magkahawak kamay sila ni Sapphire habang naglalakad sa hallways at karga karga naman niya ang tulog pa nilang anak.

Tatlong camera man at isang photographer ang kasamang sumalubong sa kanila ng producer noong papunta sila rito sa VIP room kanina.

Marahan niyang ginising si Drake at si Sapphire naman ay inaayusan na habang kumakain ng nakahandang take out food sa isang restaurant. Kumain silang mag-ama at tahimik lamang ang anak, halatang pagod pa ito sa mahabang biyahe.

Nagpahinga silang saglit na tatlo pagkatapos nilang kumain ng hapunan, maayusan at madamitan. They waited for about two hours bago sila tinawag na sasalang na sila sa show. Marahan niyang ginising ang mag-ina, the two took a nap as they were really tired.

The stylists fixed their hairs and make-up one last time before they were finally introduced by the host, Boy Alvarez.

“Everyone! Tayo po ay nagbabalik para sa huling segment ng ating show. Ako po ay lubos na nagagalak ngayon at ito ay malaking karangalan na makapanayam ko sa aking show ang isa sa mga sought after hottest bachelor sa ating bansa. Isang sikat na personalidad. A billionaire yet down to earth man. Guwapo. Tinitilian ng mga kababaihan. Pinipilahan at ofcourse pinapangarap.” Mahabang introduksiyon ni Mr. Alvarez at tumawa ito saglit, his signature catchy laugh. “Walang iba kundi di Mr. Derek Jad Velasco! The CEO of Velasco ‘86. Kapamilya, let’s all welcome our guest!” Tinawag na siya nito.

Naglakad siya patungong stage habang hawak sa beywang si Sapphire at karga si Drake. The audience who attended the show on the set were all shocked to see him with another woman and not Kate.

“Oh my! Good evening, Sir,” pati si Mr. Alvarez ay bahagyang nagulat. “Good evening din sa iyong mga kasama. What a gorgeous and elegant woman you bring with you tonight.” Papuri nito kay Sapphire na nakaramdam nang hiya. “Oh wow! You also brought a pretty boy here that looks like your mini version,” patuloy sa pagsasalita ito.

Naupo silang tatlo sa couch na nakalaan sa kanila, katabi lamang ng upuan ng host at naka-slant kaunti.

“Good evening din po, Mr. Boy Alvarez,” he first greeted him back. “Hello, kapamilya! Magandang gabi rin ho sa inyong lahat,” pati ang mga manunuod ay naalala niyang batiin, he even waved his hand which made the crowd especially the ladies to squeal.

“So, Mr. Velasco, would you mind introducing us your companions tonight?” hindi na nagpatumpik pa ang host at kaagad na nagtanong.

He smiled and gestured his hands to Sapphire's face. “Everyone I want you to meet Sapphire Arcillo, my real and the only one fiancée of mine. And here in my left side,” nauna niya itong ipinakilala at napuno nang ugong tsismisan ang buong set. Gumawin ang palad niya sa mukha ng anak nila. “And this is our son, Drake Arcillo… Velasco.” Mas lalong lumakas ang mga bulungan mula sa audience. At nasisiguro niyang pati sa online media platforms na nagtrending na sila ngayon. That’s what he planned, and that’s what he wanted. He needs to take down Kate’s false narrative.

“Okay. Wait. Wait. Wait,” tulirong wika ni Mr. Alvarez. Salitan nitong itinuro sina Sapphire at Drake bago ibinaba ang hintuturo nito as he gave him a warning look that he doesn’t want his woman and son to be pointed at like that. “So you said Ms. Sapphire Arcillo here is your real fiancée? And you already have a son? How is everything possible when all we know is that you are engaged to Kate Winslett?” sunud-sunod nitong katanungan.

“Well, Kate is my ex-girlfriend and she’s been spreading lies about our engagement. People should know the truth, I never proposed to her and she knows from the very start as I was clear to her that I will never marry her. I broke up with her weeks ago and I wasn’t able to announce it because I don’t want to ruin her image and career. However, things go bad and she keeps on taking out lies to the public that we are going to marry soon. All of those are not true. I will only marry Sapphire Arcillo,” mahaba niyang litanya. He’s hopeful that this will clear all the allegations and will mark an end to Kate’s lies.

“And how about your son Drake? How old is he? How did he happened when you were known to be in a relationship with some sort of famous actress or model in the past years?” Mr. Alvarez has yet another question to ask.

He looked at Sapphire first to give her an apologetic look. Nais niyang iparating dito na humihingi siya nang paumanhin sa naging prangkang tanong ng host.

“We met in Japan before. She became my girlfriend and it was private that’s why I didn’t announce it to the public. Back then we were both young and had different goals in life. She decided to pursue her career in the fashion industry while I focused on my family’s business. And recently we just met in a reunion which led us to give each other a second chance. Especially that she introduced to me our son Drake. She was so busy and had a lot of things in her mind back then, living in Paris – all the valid reasons she had to not be able to tell me about Drake before.” Sinsero niyang pahayag, kahit na kailangan niyang magsinungaling upang pagtakpan ang hindi magandang pagtatagpo nila ng dalaga at kung paano sila naglaban sa korte para sa kustodiya ng anak nila.

And all other questions continued. The host kept on asking personal concerns, about Sapphire’s career and how we met, her point of views, and ofcourse Mr. Alvarez also talked with Drake.

Kahit hindi niya gaanong nagustuhan ang ilang pagtatanong ng host ay pinalagpas niya iyon dahil ang mahalaga naisakatuparan niya ang plano. Nalinawan na ang lahat patungkol sa estado ng relasyon nila ngayon ng dating nobyang si Kate. He doesn’t give a damn about her anymore. Oh well, except that he was pursuing his defamation case against her and the entertainment company that she had an ally with on spreading those rumors.

KALAT NA SA BUONG SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ang naging panayam ng talk show host na si Boy Alvarez kay Derek kasama pa ang pinakilala nitong tunay na fiancée nitong si Sapphire at anak ng dalawa na si Drake. Kate couldn’t hold back her annoyance! Hindi niya nga alam na nasa Manila na ang tatlo samantalang siya ay naiwan sa cheap hotel na ito rito sa Ilocos Sur.

F*ck her life! She’s running out of funds! Of money to support her life and luxury.

“Argh!” She shouted loudly and took the vase from the bedside table and threw it on the wall. Pinatay niya ang telebesiyon at hindi na tinapos pa ang palabas. Mas lalo lamang siyang napapahiya dahil alam na ng madla na matagal na silang hiwalay ng binata. Siguradong siya ang magiging laman ng mga balita at puputaktehin ng mga bashers.

Hindi pa man siya nakakabawi sa inis at nagpupuyos na damdamin dahil sa kahihiyang natatanggap niya ngayon. Tumunog ang kanyang cellphone at nang sinipat niya ang screen ay nakita niya ang pangalan ng CEO ng modeling agency na kanyang pinagtatrabahuan.

Hinablot niya ang maingay na aparato at sinagot ang incoming call. “Hello, Sir Clarence?” kontrolado ang boses niyang bungad sa caller.

“You are f*cking stup*d, Kate! Nadadamay ang kompanya diyan sa kabalbalan na pinaggagawa mo sa buhay mo! And tell you what?! Mr. Velasco filed a defamation case against you!” panay singhal at bugkaw ng CEO sa kanya mula sa kabilang linya. Muntik na siyang mabingi kung hindi pa niya inilayo ang cellphone sa kanyang tainga.

“I-I am sorry, Sir. Pero may balak po talaga kaming magpakasal ni Derek. It just happened that the news outlets took it out to the news late. Hindi ko naman po kontrolado kung kailan ilalabas ng mga reporters at bloggers ang mga nasasagap nilang tsismis,” nagpalusot siya sa boss niya ng isa pang kasinungalingan.

“Where the hell are you amidst all these downfalls?! See me this morning and I will cut your neck alive!” huling mensahe nito sa nakasigaw pa ring boses at ramdam niya ang matindi nitong inis.

Akala niya siya lamang ang sasalo sa lahat ng kasinungalingan niyang ito, pati pala ang pinagtatrabahuan niya at boss niya ay apektado.

Nanghina ang kanyang katawan at nanlambot ang kanyang mga tuhod dahilan upang bumagsak siyang nakaluhod sa sahig. She’s doomed. Sirang sira na ang buhay na pinaghirapan niyang makamit.