Once His Nanny Book 2

♛Chapter Two♛

♛Chapter Two♛

Zayna:

At the present..

I heard it all.

I just heard everything. All these years, it felt like I was finally whole and fixed. Pero hindi, e.. Sobrang sakit ng nararamdaman ko ngayon.

For my dying mother who had given her last breathe for me? Ramdam ko ang sakit—as my father reiterated it all. At kung paanong wala siyang nagawa..  At ako ang naging bunga ng kanilang kasalanan at dahilan ng pagkamatay ng tunay kung ina..

I was a bit startled when someone served me a cup of tea. “Please drink it, hija.. You seemed cold and not feeling well. Did he hurt you?” I stared at my father as he told me that. His voice filled with an intense warning. Was he referring to Ylejah? Does my father know?

“Who?” Nandito pa rin kami sa kwarto kung saan ako unang nagising. Nakaupo ako sa kama at nakasandal sa headboard. Ramdam ko rin ang pananakit ng ulo ko—yes, I’m not feeling well. Sobrang mabigat ang pakiramdam ko ngayon..

Sa lahat ba naman na narinig ko ngayon? It’s hard to sink it all lalo na kung siya ang nasa isipan ko ngayon..

He must be very mad..cursed me to death..

“Who? Ylejah Ortega.” Kumunot ang noo ng ama ko at bakas ang dis-gusto sa mukha nito. Saka nito ikinuwento kung paanong nahanap at na-komperma ng sariling imbestigador nito na ako nga si Zayna De Villa sa mismong araw ng graduation ko.

Pero naunahan sila ni Ylejah..

“H-He didn’t do anything to me. Ako ang may kasalanan sa kanya.. I..I was about to surrender myself—“

“You didn’t do anything, hija..” My father blocked my words. Lumapit ito sa’kin at kinuha ang isang kamay ko. He might be old as he may look but his supremacy can’t be concealed kahit pa man sakay ito sa wheelchair.

“I was too late to know that you’ve suffered so much—had to work and study at the same time. I’d always thank Maria and Rafael for raising you as their own..” Hindi ko maiwasang ‘di maiyak nang maalala ko sina nanay Maria at tatay Rafael.. Kung paano nila ako itinuring na kanilang sariling anak—utang ko ang buhay ko sa kanila.. Lalo na sa pagtanggap nila sa’kin mula ng ako’y isilang.. Hindi sila nagdalawang-isip..

My father tightened his grip on my cold hand as I silently cried. “I’m so sorry, hija.. I was too late to late to find you—but I’ll promise you I’ll make it up to you this time..” I saw how sincere my father was as his tears fell on his face. Kaagad ko siyang nilapitan at niyakap. Hindi niya kasalanan—it was my fate..

***

 Ylejah:

“De Villa!?” For whatever purpose he may intercepted!? I slammed my fist on my working table as I was in the middle of a conference. “Excuse me.” Completely forgotten my agenda and been out of focus since that night she ran away and I was too late to chase her.

Hell! I don’t know why I had to choose to look for her! Lalo na nung may biglang dumukot sa kaniya. At ngayon nga’y sabi ni Tim ay ang may pakana ay si Martin De Villa!

What the hell’s wrong with that old man!? Wasn’t that enough that he sabotaged my cruise ship’s tour and now he’s totally beyond my limits! This wasn’t just about business, was it? Why does he have to kidnap Zayna?

“Affirmative, sir. Those were De Villa’s men. Ours cannot get a closer surveillance to his mansion since they’ve tightened the security—doubled his men actually.” Ah, damn it!

“What the f**k he want!?” I ought to settle things with Zayna—me and her, alone and now this crazy old man intercepted and added turmoil.

Why? Should I really want to settle things with my late wife’s murderer!? Where’s your f***ing brain, Ylejah! Huh?

“Our men are working on it, sir. Please give them 24 hours. If ever we got Miss Hermosa, what would you want us to do with her?” Well, of course, Tim here finally knew who she was and the danger she might bring to us—to my daughter.

To my f***ing heart!  I gnashed my teeth. “Bring her to me. Alive.” I infuriatingly ended the call. Nasapo ko ang sarili kong noo—this was my f***ing fault.. Because I let her in.. I let her.. And it’s too late to let her go just like that! Ah, f**k! I walked straight to my office. Hindi ako bumalik sa conference room. I asked my secretary to search the directory and connect a call straight to that bastard De Villa.

***

Zayna:

Bandang hapon ay matiyaga akong hinintay ni papa Martin na bumaba ng kwarto. Maitutulad ang mansiyon sa bahay ni Ylejah—hindi ko aakalaing dito rin pala sa bansang ito nakatira ang tunay kong ama.. Sa mismong magkaparehong lugar.

Pababa ako ng hagdanan. Bawat taong naka-uniporme at nakasalubong ko ay puro yuko sa’kin. Anong meron at mukhang busy silang lahat?

Sinipat ko ang hawak kong cellphone na bigay sa’kin ni Ylejah..

H-Hindi niya lang ba ako tatawagan? O wala man lang ba siyang reply sa text ko kagabi? Wala na ba siyang pakialam kung saan man ako ngayon? Sobrang mabigat ang pakiramdam ko ngayon.. Gusto ko siyang makausap.. Gusto kong kausapin si Lana..

“See you later at 8:00 in the evening. You’re invited.” Narinig kong wika ni papa Martin nang makababa ako. Nasa malaki at maluwag na living room ito at mukhang katatapos lang na kausapin ang nasa kabilang linya. “Hija..” Nakangiting tawag sa’kin ni papa. He was tailed by his introduced trusted butler, Mr. Thomas, a 61-year old man. He bowed at me nang makalapit ako. And I don’t like that!

“Papa, I..” May gusto akong bisitahin ngayon. I don’t wanna missed the chance that I was here—in the place where my mother died. I owed my life to her.. “I want to visit my mother’s  grave.” He was taken aback and then nodded.

“Why not, hija? But please allow me to accompany you by tomorrow because we have visitors to attend tonight and this has something to do with the new CEO of De Villa & Cruise..and that’s you.” A-Ano?

Magsasalita sana ako—gusto kong tumutol sa pahayag nito pero walang lumabas na mga salita.

“You’re my only child—you’re the only heir I have, Zayna and tonight, the world will know that you exist.”