Beyond the Billionaire's image

Chapter 2/2

I casually put my two hands in my pockets as I stepped outside. I had already disembarked from the plane upon reaching the Philippines, but I didn't waste time savoring the breeze, even though it felt unfamiliar. How many years has it been since I last returned? 10 years? 12? I don't know. I don't even remember the details.

Even though I live in different countries, my grandpa talks to me in Filipino, French, and English. When my grandfather died five years ago, I swore to myself that I didn't want to go back to the Philippines. But here I am, nakauwi. If I hadn't been called, I probably wouldn't have come home. If I choose not to return, I'll end up looking like the one at fault again.

Nasulyapan ko ang isang babaeng dala ang isang malaking papel at nakasulat doon ang apelyido ko. Hinubad ko ang aking itim na salamin at lumapit sa babaeng kanina pa tumitingin-tingin sa paligid. She's short, maybe 5'4?

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa suot niya. She's kinda plain. Is she my maid or something?

"Who sent you?"

He looked up at my face. My expression was blank, but the woman had a different reaction there.

"P-po? A-a-ano po k-kasi-"

I frowned. Who sent this girl? I told them to send me at least a decent person. I really dislike slow people, especially in speaking. There's no confidence in it.

"Whatever. Get my luggage." I tossed my bag to her, which she managed to catch, but she almost stumbled in the process.

"I-ikaw po ba si Ma'am Laci? Sabi po kasi ni Sir Art na dumiretso po tayo sa Mansion."

She followed me as I was leaving the airport. I saw a familiar man who, I think, is my dad's secretary. The signs of aging are evident in his appearance. Akala ko pa naman bedridden na din 'to. Mukhang mas tatagal pa ang buhay nito kaysa sa ama ko.

He greeted me as his usual smiling face. Hindi ko siya tinapunan ng tingin at dumiretso ng sakay sa backseat. Napangiwi ako dahil sa init.

"No aircon?"

Tiningnan ako ni Mr. Buenavista gamit ang salamin sa driver seat.

"I'm sorry madam, the aircon is not functioning properly. This is the only car that your older brother handed to me."

Hindi na ako umimik at hinubad ang suot kong itim na jacket. Nakasuot nalang ako ngayon ng itim na sando at inayos ang buhok ko. Hindi naman mataas ang buhok ko, nasa bandang leeg lang kaya mas naramdaman ko ang lamig kahit kunti.

I rested my head at napapikit saglit. I shouldn't have bother to come here but grandpa would be mad if I won't follow my Father. He wanted me to go back in the Philippines but I was the one who really don't.

We arrived at a familiar Mansion. The place have a different vibes than the last time I saw it. Mas naging moderno at may dinagdagan na. Hindi ko na hinintay pang pagbuksan ako at lumabas na. Natataranta pang kinuha ng babae ang mga gamit ko dahil mabilis akong bumaktas sa loob ng Mansion.

The maids stopped what they were doing when they saw me. Nakasalubong ko ang dalawang kapatid ko sa ama. Kuya Lemuele is with his serious face while Demither who's younger than mine is wearing that arrogant expression.

"Sister! Long time no see!"

He was supposed to hug me, but I quickly moved away, distancing my body as if disgusted, and walked ahead.

"Kuya." Seryoso lamang si Kuya Lemuele na nakatingin sa akin. Nakipagtitigan rin ako habang si Demither ay lumapit na rin sa amin.

"Masyado ka parin bang apektado sa nangyari sa'yo? You can't even smile at me."

I tilted my head and smirked at him.

"Why would I smile at you? Care to elaborate?" I said with my usual mocking tone.

He pressed his lips together, attempting to hold onto his ego. Demither intervened immediately as my brother started to get angry, creating tension between us. However, my normal expression remained unchanged. My usual b***h face is currently mocking his existence right now.

"Guys, come on! You just miss each other! Kuya, don't pressure Laci. She's just arrived from New York. Okay? Guys?" Palipat lipat ang tingin nito sa amin ngunit wala paring magtangkang basagin ang atmosphere.

Lumampas ang tingin ko sa likod nito nang makita ang babaeng mas matanda sa amin. She's not bad like the others but she is not kind too. When she saw me, she plastered a smile on her face at mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong niyakap ako. Hindi ako yumakap pabalik at hinayaan lamang ito.

"Welcome back Meddy! Na-miss kita!"

"Unnie."

Kumalas na ito dahil kanina niya pa ako niyayakap. May luha na rin sa kaniyang mata at malambot akong tiningnan.

"I miss when you're calling me that. Minsan lang tayo nagtawagan kasi busy lately."

"Honeybunch."

What the f**k with that endearment?

We turned around as a man shouted approaching us. We looked at him and saw a man who seemed to be in his 30s. He had a large and tall statue, even taller than Kuya Lemuele.

Nang makalapit ay dumiretso agad ang tingin nito sa akin. Kumunot ang noo nito bago siya ngumiti kay Unnie.

"Meddy met my Fiance, Torrin. We will be getting married two months from now. Honeybunch, this is Laci my younger sister."

He offered his hand for a shake, which I accepted, but I felt uncomfortable with the way he was staring at me. He glanced at my chest, and I quickly withdrew my hand, feeling disgusted, especially with his smirk.

I'm still on my sando, while my jacket is on my shoulder na pasimple ko lang nilagay. Kaya kitang-kita ng hinayupak ang dibdib ko dahil masyadong malaki talaga. I really didn't bother to wear the shirt dahil masyadong mainit. Wala man lang itong hiyang sumisimple sa pagtingin roon.

"Why are you looking in my boobs? Is it pleasing to watch?"

Napamaawang ang lahat dahil sa naging turan ko. Masyadong halata ang mga reaksiyon nila lalo na ang lalaki sa harap na halos hindi na mapakali at tumatawa ng peke.

"Honeybunch, I didn't know that your younger sister is assuming. Too vulgar. Hindi ko nga kayang tumingin sa iba." Pagrarason nito.

Unnie expresses with a serious emotion while looking at me. Hindi ako umimik at hinintay lamang itong sumagot.

"Your so called fiance is cheating on you, Unnie and you're aware of it already."

Napasinghap ang lahat sa sinabi ko. Hindi nakatakas ang pag angat ng labi ni Demither. He knows me, They know me very well.

Nataranta na ang lalaki sa harap at hinawakan pa si Unnie. "Honeybunch?! Of course not! You can't just believe those lies! How could she know about me if I met her just now? This is absurd!"

Hindi parin nawawala ang seryoso kong mukha at pagod lamang itong inobserbahan.

"Then, why are you reacting that way? If you're not, you could have just ignored what I said. You even pinched my hand that will mean that you're interested in me. I always encounter men like you, Torrin. You're not different from them,"

They flabbergasted. Hindi parin nakakabawi sa pagnganga si Torrin sa sinabi ko. Unnie is still on her feet with her serious expression. Tumawa siya nang makabawi upang malihis ang atensiyon ng lahat.

"Your younger sister is unbelievable but I'm different. We were there for 4 years now, You can't just believe that lies, Honeybunch."

Sabi nito kay Unnie na may halong lambing.

"Okay, do you want another proof?"

Napatingin ulit sila sa akin at tinuro ang bulsa ng lalaki. "Why don't you show what you got in there? I saw a thin silk. Maybe underwear?"

Nanigas ang lalaki sa narinig at halata na ang pamumutla nito. Mabilis na kinapa ni Demither ang pantalon ng lalaki at nanlaban pa si Torrin kaya lang ay maliksi si Demither at agad niyang nahablot ang isang itim na tela.

Napasinghap ulit ang lahat dahil sa nakita lalo na at tinaas at binalandra pa ni Demither ang underwear. Umasim ang mukha niya kinalaunan.

"Oh, I smell the after climax. Kinuha mo siguro 'to pagkatapos niyong magpakasarap."

Todo Iling ang lalaki at hinablot pa pabalik ni Torrin ang underwear na hinayaan niya rin. At nagpagpag pa na parang nandidiri.

"I-it's from Valli! Hindi ba, Honeybunch? Sa'yo to hindi ba?"

How shameless this motherfucker. Pina-ako niya pa.

Walang emosyon pa rin ito at kanina pa ang ganiyan. I know Unnie, when she was mad, her expression didn't even change for a while. Magiging ganoon siya kapag ayaw niya sa isang tao.

"Demither, throw him outside."

Sabay talikod sa amin at dumiretso pataas ng hagdan. Nakasunod lang rin si Kuya Lemuele habang si Demither ay tulak-tulak si Torrin hanggang labas. Minsan kinakadkad niya ito. Sumigaw sa frustration si Torrin at galit na galit pa akong tinuturo but I just shrugged and went upstairs.

I lifted my head when I saw Unnie waiting for me to come closer to her at the top. She's crying but she hugged me tightly.

"Thank you, Meddy. I owned you for this. If this happened, I can't break up with him anymore."

She sobbed on my shoulder. I simply rubbed her back to comfort her. I really don't like drama but Unnie is different. She's my only sister who I always talk to.

Unnie called me before I came here. She wanted to get rid of her fiancé but she was afraid to confront him personally because that guy did violence on her. Gusto niya itong hiwalayan na nasa maraming tao dahil kapag sila lang dalawa ay baka sasaktan na naman siya nito ulit. Torrin is a manipulative guy and a womanizer.

"Father is awake. Let's go inside."

Tumingin kami kay Kuya Lemuele na sumilip sa pintuan ng kwarto ni Papa. Kumalas na rin si Unnie at pasimpleng pinunasan ang luha gamit ang dala nitong tissue galing sa kaniyang bag at kumuha rin ng perfume at nagpabango sa harap ko bago niya ako hinila.