Darkest Secret

Chapter 2: ‘The BlackSheep of our Family’

REGINA

“Mom, what time is our flight ?” i ask my mom na katatapos lang kausapin ang kapatid ko,.. “5:30 pm Via, are you ready na ba talaga umuwi?”

Sometimes I don’t understand bakit tinatanong pa ako knowing naman I need to be there for my company.... “Of course, I am mom. Also i need to be hands on rin sa company ko” she just stared at me and smirked.. Sigh...

“ I just hope this time, maybe dad will accept me for who I am mom”...,., “ Via, You’ve change a lot, in fact your dad will be proud dahil sa achievements mo.”...,

I just wished ganun kadali... Very easy for her to say.... “ Still in dad’s eyes I’m the blacksheep of our family, na walang ibang ginawa but to give kahihiyan and disappointment to him” ,... that’s the reason why dad decided to send me here to the US and adopted some kid from the foster home.

“Don’t say that Via, your dad loves you more than you ever know.” ....- “but not the way she loves that Dia, right mom? I’ve heard it from kuya Rj mom.” ,..

Yes, i know i have an adoptive sister, the day i left sa house, same day rin na dumating si Dia sa bahay. Only dad and kuya Rj lang andun with mom, while me and Oliver my twin brother left dahil sa galit ni dad sakin. Couldn't even remember much bakit pinatalsik ako ni dad....

“Via, just go home show up and act civil lang tayo, whatever you dad do, i always got your back anak. Yes dia was your dad’s favorite simula umalis ka. Walang araw na hindi ka nababanggit ni dad mo sa akin. Besides, Dia is your younger sister na. I hope you treat her well.” I just can’t wait to meet Dia personally.. - -

“ Let’s see mom, you know my standards, as Vanguardia by blood, I will do my own kilatis with Dia, even though she’s my foster sister..—“ I mean it.. “I know Via, let’s go, nauna si Oliver sa airport. Come on Via before we missed our flight”

After an hour of driving, nasa airport na kami, as always talaga Oliver is my opposite he is super pabaya sa bagay bagay.....

“Mom, i forgot to bring my favorite blanklet” here’s my twin Oliver acting like a kid, sobrang opposite namin..--- “Can you please stop acting like an immature kid Oliver?! Grow up, wag yung pati ako napapahiya because of you,. We are twins which is wala akong choice!” bulaslas ko sa kanya...

“oo na Via, pwede ba stop acting like dad!” What the h*ll ? .. “ Pardon me? Oliver, Baka nakakalimutan mo, I am still the eldest sa ating dalawa. Gusto mo ata ipa cut ko ATM and Credit cards mo” pananakot ko sa kanya.... wala siya iba ginagawa but umasa sa akin, i don’t know hindi naman siya b*b* pero he can’t excellent everything since childhood. .. “Via, stop it.” Sabad ni mom ....

“One last warning Oliver, can you two please mom? Call me Regina, and not Via. Ayoko na marinig yan ever again..” alam ni mom why ayaw ko na tatawagin akong Via.. ... “Sure anak, Regina” music to my ears... “better mom” ……

Nothing is new naman from US going to the Philippines mahaba ang byahe kaya i sleep lang the whole flight..

Mom woke me up kasi nasa Philippines na kami, i don’t plan na dumiretso ako sa mansion….,,

“mom, just take Oliver with you sa bahay, I’ll go straightly sa Condo Unit ko.” i just hope mom won’t insist..,,

“But Regina, you have to meet your siblings and your dad.,,” …Sigh “I don’t have mood to meet dad at this moment. Jetlag pa ako i need some rest tsaka Tomorrow daan ako sa Company ko i heard from my secretary meron newly hired applicants I guess dalawa so I want to personally meet them” .,,- “Meron ba ako magagawa to change your mind Regina ?” .._-

“nothing mom, thanks by the way. and please can you not tell Dia about me muna ? I want to surprise my little sister myself” …- madali naman kausap si mom kaya im confident she will agree ….-

“Okay Regina, do whatever you want. I’ll wait you sa bahay. See you tomorrow ?” -…. See ? Malakas ako sa mom ko since bata palang ako… “ Yes Sure, see you tomorrow mom..,,,” I hugged her … “Oliver please this time don’t be pasaway! I’m sick of cleaning up your mess.” ….- Been here naman couple of times already.. but si mom lang nakakaalam .. ,,—

“Yes ate” sanay si Oliver to call me ate mom insisted before na I’m still the eldest sa amin kahit Twins kami...- nag smirk siya… - “I’m giving you warning Oliver, if you don’t obey me. Pasensyahan tayo this time” … didn’t wait for his response and I quickly went outside the airport my driver is waiting na rin outside…

Arrived in my condo safe and sound, only took an hour to rest and went to the shower so I can gala muna tonight. Gonna meet up with someone…

Nag ring naman phone ko..,,- “What’s up? I’m almost done na, can you wait me sa lobby ? I’ll go down after 5mins” …. Damn this girl too excited…— “Regina ! Finally tagal mo bumaba teh!” Here’s my super makulit na friend… Luna — “well now I’m here, can we go na ?” As always she’s the best yet annoying minsan….—

“ ay ang sungit mo agad.. wala man lang hug awts!” Hinampas ko braso nya super maarte “can you please stop Luns? You know na I don’t give hugs even if you’re my closest friend” …

“oo na, palibsaha kasi walang jowa.. alam mo bitter ka rin HAHA!” …. the. Nerve?! ….- “ let me remind you Luna, this isn’t the first time na lalabas tayo lang dalawa Gosh! Suit your self !”

The night haven’t started yet here I am already annoyed with her.., ewan bakit nga ba naging friend ko to? Sigh. .,, “ Sorry luns, I’m just having a stressful day lang siguro… kakauwi ko lang dito.. pakiramdam ko marami akong need ayusin…,” Luna knows everything about me…..

“Frenny chill, let’s just enjoy the night lang siguro… cheer up ka..” .., she’s right— “ alright, by the way I wanna ask you about sa company ko. Anong ganap lately?..” she’s my right hand dito sa pinas aside from being my closest friend… a bestfriend to be exact…. “Nothing’s new naman..,, but meron new hired employees, sabi ng brother mo Ikaw na daw mag decide ano posisyon ibibigay mo sa female applicant. Tsaka the guy naman, nasa Production, since yun daw suitable for him.” ..,— Kuya.. always doing this… ,

“I see, what’s the name of this girl?” … didn’t hesitate to ask kahit nasa bar kami… “Uy teh…” sabay sundot sakin… “ feeling ko you’ll like that girl to be your next…” -… oh gosh luna…..

“next what ? Can you answer nalang my question..” ..,, “oo na.. Jane ... yan lang info nakuha ko from your brother…” .,,—

“have you seen her na ba ? I mean nevermind luns I’ll do all the work myself nalang tomorrow,, finish your shot maaga akong pupunta sa Office ko so I can meet my family sa house after work” ..,,, —- “Seryoso frenny? After how many years papakita kana sa Dad mo ?,” … see ? Alam na alam ….

“ Yes, and besides ginagawa ko ito for mom lang.. don’t care if dad still treats me like before..” ..,, “I know,, sa tingin ko naman si Tito, tanggap kana.. I mean you tried dating guy naman diba? If it doesn’t work don’t push yourself sa mga bagay na ayaw mo talaga Reg.” ,, Dating guy was the worst…. “I’m not.. nag hihintay lang talaga ako for someone.. let’s just leave it there lang for now…” ,,,, “ hmmm” —… after our last drink umalis rin kami agad…. Headed to my condo….

“Thanks for tonight luns I owe you a lot,, I’ll see you tomorrow, send my best regards to your parents tell them visit ako soon”… tumango lang ito sakin and waived her hand……..,,,’