IT'S FATE, AFTER ALL

VOLUME 2: IT IS ALL ROOTED IN THE PAST

They say what we are in the present is a result of what we are in the past. Although our dark past doesn’t define who we truly are but crumbling a painful past sometimes leads us to a more broken version of ourselves in the present. That’s why things in the past don’t mean to be forgotten but should remind us to be a better version of ourselves in the present. Our past should be the foundation of the present we lived in and the bedrock of the future to come.

***

After being shoved out by her father, Ingrid went to the bar and was drinking as if there is no tomorrow. She feel frustrated and disgusted which was very evident in her actions as she blustered toward the waiter and everyone who would unintentionally touch her arms or those who would cross her way. She would immediately throw a pit even to unnecessary things. Luckily, no one dared to play her schemes. Maybe because those people knew that she was just out of her mind due to intoxication.

“Hey! That’s enough, Ingrid.” Kelly, Ingrid’s friend uttered. “You’ve drunk a lot. Plus, it’s already late. Let’s go home for now, okay?”

“No!” Ingrid refused to listen. “I’m not drunk.” She added while drinking another shot. “Who the hell does he think he is? Huh?!”

“Stop it, okay?” Kelly took away the glass from her. “You can’t just barge there and say you will take Gab out of a sudden. It’s just normal that your father would react that way. They’ve been together for so long. You can’t just tear off their relationship easily the way you wanted.”

“You know what pisses me a lot after seeing my father for a very long time?” Ingrid sobbed. “When I saw him, I was expecting that he would ask me how I am doing back in the States. How life was for me away from him? But, he did not. Instead, he shoves me away so easily.” She added while bawling like a child.

“You must have missed your father a lot, right?” Kelly asked. “And, you can’t deny it. No matter how much you’ve grown a lot. No matter how much you’d tell yourself that you don’t need him. You will always long for his love, Ingrid. You will always seek for a father’s care.”

“No! I don’t need him anymore.” Ingrid infuses. “Just like how I never needed him back then, I won’t need him this time. I’d only gone to see him for my niece. I will take her away from that place and him.” Ingrid’s face was damn serious as she wiped her tears away.

“Why are you obsessed with taking your niece away from your father? I mean you’ve already had a blast of your career in the States.

Wait! Don’t tell me…” Kelly sensed something. “You want a position in M Design? Did the PGC…” Kelly paused for a while. “Or, let me rephrase my question then, did the Perez’s offered you a position on one of their subsidiary company?” She stood up after finally putting up the puzzle together. “I just remember that your dream company was M Design which happens to be one of PGC’s companies. Did they offer you a position in exchange for your niece?”

Ingrid just smirked. Her trademark expression tells that she’s not denying nor confirming anything. But it was more of a big yes than a no. Knowing her personality, she wants to be at the top. And she will do everything she can just to get what she wanted. A personality way different from her older sister.

After getting passed out, Kelly brought Ingrid home. Luckily, she was not also wasted and managed to drive Ingrid’s car safely. Ingrid was so lucky to have a friend like Kelly. Ingrid might be a materialistic type of person. She values money more than family and relationships. She’s willing to cheat just to get what she wants. It might not sound good to hear but her tough personality has helped her survive the fast-paced life in the States. She taught herself to be cold and tough just to fight homesickness and loneliness alongside the pain of losing her sister and not being able to see her one last time. She has been through a lot. But despite her flight, she’s still the same Ingrid—wounded and in pain.

Morning came into her place. She woke up from the sunrays hitting her eyes. And the first thing she uttered was full of curses and annoyance. She slowly stood up losing some balance and getting dizzy while feeling the hangover from last night. She growls feeling the pain in her head. She walked staggering towards the kitchen. She immediately searches the fridge for some hangover drink while touching her head. But the more she got annoyed as she couldn’t see anything except a bunch of bottled water. There wasn’t even a single food on her fridge. She searched on the kitchen counter as well as on the wall cabinet. But, there was none. Not a single drink that would ease her headache nor a fruit or vegetables she can use to make a hangover smoothie.

She picked up her phone and ordered from the online convenience store. She was impatient as she left a note to deliver her order right away. She walked towards her living area and shoved the curtains leading for the sunrays to enter the house. Then, she took a seat on the couch in front of the window giving her a sneak view of the crowded and busy city life outside.

She remained quiet while her thought was flying somewhere. Then, she laughed out of a sudden as if she remembered something.

“Family?” Ingrid smirked. “He was never been a father to me since then.”

***

Ingrid Gonzales is the younger sister of Gabriella Gonzales and the exact opposite of Gab’s mother. Gabriella, Gab’s mother is kind, humble, and seems content with their life on the farm but not Ingrid. She’s sophisticated, materialistic, and has high ambitions in life. She wants a city life that’s why when given the opportunity to study abroad, she immediately grabs it. She worked hard day and night just to support her studies and living expenses.

Living alone was so hard but she was able to bear it because she promised herself that she won’t go back to the kind of life she has in the countryside—on the farm. After graduating from college, she landed a job in a conglomerate company as a marketing specialist. Everything she dreams off is within her reach—a stable job, a place to live—not just any place but a condominium unit in one of the most luxurious buildings in the city, a car, and the capacity to buy anything she wants.

Ingrid might be different from her older sister, Gabriella but their bond as sisters was incomparable. They are each other’s protectors. They got each other’s back, especially after their mother passed away when they were still in grade school. They are each other’s, great confidants. They shared secrets—things they can’t tell their father.

At school, Ingrid was more like a big sister to Gabriella whenever someone would bully her. Not because she was weak that her sister Ingrid would always come to rescue her. But it's just that, it’s not on her personality to fight back. Gabriella was good in school. She excelled in academics while her sister Ingrid was always called to the principal’s office for causing trouble. She was like a black sheep in their family.

At first, the huge gap in studies created a hole in their relationship. Ingrid started to feel left out as her sister got the praises and admiration from other people for doing great in school. Her sister’s spotlight became her dark moments. The more she felt envy whenever conversation ends up in comparison to her sister. She hated it the most. That would have shattered their relationship if not because of the accident they encounter in the sea one summer morning.

They were fighting over a little misunderstanding at home. Their father has given Gabriella more money for her allowance than Ingrid. Ingrid saw it and she felt betrayed. She was asking for an additional allowance from her father to buy drawing materials she needed to join a contest. Ingrid might not be good in school but she excels in anything related to arts especially painting, sketching, and drawing. She was really good at that stuff that most of the competitions she join, she won. And thanks to her win, she was able to earn some money to buy the things she needed to hone her talent and skills. But life was not running smoothly for this little dreamer. Her father was totally against it. And most of their arguments are rooted in talent in drawing. But that didn’t stop Ingrid to pursue what she loved because for her, she only needed one person to support her dream and that is her own older sister, Gabriella who help her to secretly join every drawing competition in town. And what added to her early struggle is the reality that for someone who would pursue a dream like her, money is of the essence. And it’s something, she doesn’t have.

One day, she was planning to join a huge competition in the city but she needed a new set of drawing materials. Unfortunately, she has no money to buy all the stuff she needed for the competition. So, with trembling hands and a pounding heart, she went to her father for help. At first, she was making a story just to ask for an additional allowance from him. But her lie was short-lived. And what’s worst, her father knew the real reason why she was asking for money—it was to buy a new set of drawing materials. The more her father was furious that she was banned to go out for a month unless during school days. Her one-month routine was just school and home. But Ingrid can’t be bothered especially since the competition she wanted to join so badly was happening within two weeks. With the help of her sister Gabriella, she was able to practice secretly in preparation for her competition. Her sister, Gabriella with her money from her tutoring jobs, managed to buy even by piece the drawing materials she needed to practice since her father throw all the materials she has. Truly, nothing can beat a sister’s love for each other not even the struggles of life.

But things didn’t go the way these little girls wanted. A day before the competition, something unexpected happens. After her last secret practice for tomorrow’s event, Ingrid went home. She was really tired since they had a long exam in school and she was also practicing hard to perfect her techniques for the competition. She entered the house stealthily. She didn’t make any noise as she had a long day earlier. But her silent entrance made her witness something that leads to a misunderstanding with her sister, Gabriella. Although what she saw was far from what was the truth behind it, still it created pain in Ingrid’s heart.

“How come her father easily gave money to her sister while it took her a lot of pleading and still it’s a big no for her? How come his love was so impartial? How come he wasn’t fair towards his two daughters? How come it is easy for him to support her sister but not for her?” Those were the words that run towards her little mind while looking at them. She can’t take seeing it anymore so she walks out and left home without knowing the truth behind her father’s sudden action of giving her sister more allowance than her.

But beyond her knowledge, the money was intended for Ingrid’s birthday cake where her sister was planning to give her a surprise birthday party even in a simple way since on the same day of her competition was also her birthday. Actually, the money that Gabriella asked for was her pay for tutoring the son of her father’s boss. It wasn’t really from her father’s pocket. She accepted the job to help with their finances. Although her father was totally against it, she managed to get his permission after explaining her intention of saving money for her younger sister’s upcoming birthday. She wanted to throw her a party because it was such a long time since they’d celebrated any occasion after their mother passed away.

Ingrid mistook it coming from her father because the pay she received on that day was an additional pay as the son of her father’s boss got passed on to his chosen school. The pay was given to Gabriella for the huge improvement in their son’s studies. Her father only handed down the money on that day since the pay was only unexpected.

Gabriella runs after Ingrid. But she already fled somewhere. It rained heavily during that day. But, that didn’t stop her from searching for her. She looked everywhere but she couldn’t find her. Then, she went to Ingrid’s hiding place where she was practicing her drawing skills secretly. But it wasn’t a secret to her sister since Gabriella know about it before Ingrid could tell her. It’s an abandoned building near a beach where they frequently went to. And Gabriella's instincts were right. Ingrid was there hiding and crying. But the more Ingrid felt furious the moment she saw her sister. She ran off towards the streets. Gabriella chased after her. But she was running faster. So Gabriella hurried her steps. But their chasing led to an unexpected accident. There was a raging car on the other side of the long road. Ingrid didn’t know about it that she had just crossed the road just to escape from her sister who keeps chasing after her. She was about to get hit by that car. But Gabriella saw it and immediately push her sister to the side leading her to get hit instead. Luckily, it wasn’t a serious one and she only got some bruises on some parts of her body. Ingrid was so remorseful about what happened to her sister especially when she knew the truth about why her father was giving her sister some money. That day was somehow like a blessing in disguise. It made their bond and love as sisters stronger than ever. And it even fix her misunderstanding with her father but still, she was bringing hard feelings toward him not only because of her father’s partiality between her and her sister but because of how her mother died. Deep inside, Ingrid was blaming her father for what happened to her mother. And for her, it’s not something, you can easily fix with a simple sorry. She might be smiling but the pain of the past has already created a wound in her heart. And no matter what medicine you put into it, it can’t be healed easily. It might heal and grow into scars but the pain will always remain.

***

But what separated them far apart was when Ingrid decided to study abroad. She was given a study grant by one of the judges in one of the competitions she joined. Despite not winning, one of the judges saw interest in her skills and want to finance her studies abroad. Her father was totally against it. And even Gabriella was half-decided to support her sister in accepting the scholarship. Not because she doesn’t want to support her in any way possible. But she just can’t take the idea of them being far from each other. But in the end, Gabriella helped Ingrid to follow her dreams. But that decision somehow made their relationship slowly drift apart. They had small arguments even on simple things. Unexpectedly, living far away from home has a bad influence on Ingrid. It made her greedy, impatient, sophisticated, and full of ambition.

But despite her success, Ingrid feels incomplete. In one way or another, she misses her family. But her longing for love and family is somewhat filled with her greediness for fame, money, and career especially when she met, Antonio Ibarra Montenegro III. The sole heir of Montenegro Group of Companies. Upon their first meet-up at a charity ball, Ingrid was hooked by his charisma that she promised that he was the perfect man for her. Knowing Ingrid’s personality, she does everything just to get what she wants. She stalked him on social media. Until one day, she went to a coffee shop where Antonio was having a business meeting. She sits from afar but has already come up with a scheme to catch Antonio’s attention. She bought a coffee and walks toward him. As he walks toward the door, he accidentally hit Ingrid and spills the coffee on Ingrid’s dress because Antonio is so busy talking to someone on the phone. Acting hurt. Antonio was so sorry and apologetic about what happened. From then on their relationship grows a bit special but not for Antonio. Because at the very beginning, he loved someone else and the kind of relationship they had with Ingrid was just merely a friendly relationship.

However, Ingrid didn’t know about this—she didn’t know that Antonio loves another woman—and that woman is her dear sister, Gab’s mother. Antonio was the one riding that car that hit Gabriella accidentally when Ingrid was running away from home. The young Antonio felt guilty about what happened that he frequently visited Gabriella in the hospital. Ingrid didn’t know about it since their friendship remained to be a secret due to Antonio’s circumstances. He wasn’t allowed to make friends outside his circle. That unexpected friendship sprouted a young love between them. And despite being separated since Antonio was brought by his family abroad. They remained to be friends and eventually grow a special relationship. The distance wasn’t a hindrance to their love.

After college, Antonio went home to the Philippines—where his love is—Gabriella. Ingrid follows Antonio secretly. She saw he was hugging someone—a woman. She feels betrayed but what makes her even furious is knowing that the woman Antonio was seeing secretly is her elder sister. She’s hurt although she doesn’t have any right to feel so because Antonio had already drawn a line between them at the very beginning.

Right after Antonio dropped Gabriella at her house, Ingrid showed up in front of her sister. Gabriella was delighted to see her sister. Despite being separated way too long and their misunderstandings and quarrel, Ingrid will always be her sister. And no distance nor arguments can chance that. Gabriella hugged her right away.

“Ingrid?!” She shouted with joy. “When did you arrive? You should have told me about it. So, I can fetch you up at the airport. How are you then? Life must have been good, right? I’m sorry I couldn’t come to your graduation day. Father was very sorry. We’re trying to save money to buy a plane ticket so we could attend your commencement day. But still, it’s not enough. A drought came and the money we save for the plane ticket ended up covering the expenses on the farm. Plus, I couldn’t save some money from my work in the office as well. You know that I couldn’t finish my degree since my father got sick. I need to quit school in my last year so I can work full time and earn money to pay for the father’s medication as well as the loans.” Gabriella added. “Come in, father would be delighted to see you. He misses you a lot.”

But Ingrid stopped her sister from dragging her inside the house. She didn’t move an inch and instead, shove her hands from her arms.

“I didn’t come here for a family reunion,” Ingrid uttered with a straight face.

Gabriella was clueless about hearing her sister. “What? What are you saying?

“I came here for another reason.” She added. “Let’s go. Let’s talk somewhere else.”

They went to a nearby park and even before they could sit comfortably, Ingrid talked right away.

“Let’s not beat around the bush. I only came here for one reason. Stay away from him.” She uttered.

But Gabriella was oblivious. She didn’t know what her sister was talking about. She didn’t know it was about her secret relationship with Antonio. She didn’t know her sister also likes the man she loved.

“Him? What do you mean?” Gabriella confusingly asked.

“Stop acting like you don’t know what I’m saying. Stay away from Antonio.” Ingrid ranted.

“Antonio? Do you know him?” Gabriella asked.

“Yes! He’s my fiancé.” Ingrid explained.

“What?!” The more Gabriella feels confused. “Fiancé? What do you mean? How come?”

Ingrid became Antonio's fiancé after she was adopted by her sponsor who offered her the study grant. And because she was really good at running a company, she got the support of Antonio’s family to be the daughter-in-law of their son. But Antonio was against it since aside from he loved someone else, he only sees Ingrid as his younger sister.

Ingrid explained the situation to Gabriella but she won’t heed her warnings. But since her explanation was more like an exaggeration just to force Gabriella to end her relationship with Antonio, Ingrid involve her father in their argument.

“Did father know that you were dating the son of the family that he loathes so much?” Then, she smirked. “Seeing how you react, it seems like you were hiding it from him as well. How would he feels if he would know that his loving daughter was actually stabbing him at his back?”

“I guess, life was hard for you in the States, right? Seeing you with fancy clothes and a nice bag driving an expensive car tells me you had a great life away from us. Then, I told myself, it was the right choice to support you back then. But after hearing you now, I was wrong. I was very wrong that I said yes to you back then.” Gabriella sounded sad.

Ingrid feels upset. “What?” She demanded an explanation from her but Gabriella just left. “I warned you!” She shouted. “Don’t get shocked at what would happen because you didn’t listen to me.”

After not getting a positive result from the talk with her sister, Ingrid came up with her dirty schemes just to separate her sister and Antonio. At first, her schemes were going nowhere as Gabriella and Antonio’s love was stronger just to get easily destroyed.

Ingrid thought that fate was on her side especially when she knew that Gabriella’s status is not accepted in Antonio’s family. And she uses that to separate the two of them. But, Antonio plans to leave everything behind—his name, wealth, and fame and wanted to start a new life with Gabriella but it seems like it was not meant to be because Ingrid spills Antonio’s plan to his family. Upon riding the car swiftly, he was being followed by a bunch of men. He droves the car so fast and was focused on how to escape that he didn’t notice a raging car approaching on the other side—losing its brake. He wanted to avoid it but the situation was already out of control.

Then he died immediately while Gabriella was sent to a nearby hospital since the baby in her womb was seen to be in a critical situation. After giving birth to her daughter, she died kissing her head as she saves her last breath to see her. That’s why Gab was ahead of the due date when she was born but this wasn’t a reason for her to grow as a normal child just like any other child.

Ingrid saw it all with her two yes. And she was in total shock seeing her sister on the brink of death begging her to save her daughter at all cost. But she can’t stand seeing how her plans ended in her sister’s life and her fiancé. She feels guilty that she left the country immediately. She went back to the States to run away and busied herself with work. She didn’t even come to her sister’s burial.

Circumstances might change her but after what happened, something remains, and she will always love her sister no matter what. She left because she was ashamed seeing her in the coffin breathless. She thought everything was all her fault. And even to the last days of her sister’s burial, she didn’t see her one last time. And since then, she didn’t come to the Philippines not until an offer was laid into her hands.