KEEPING UP WITH HER CHEERFULNESS

CHAPTER 11: "HOME"

° ° ° ° °

[THAT DAY CAME...]

"Sorry, papa..

I've already made my decision..

I want to be free now..

I don't want to be your child anymore..

I want to forget that I'm your child.."

I TRIED HARD TO HOLD BACK MY TEARS... BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO SHOW HIM THAT I WAS CRYING...

HE MIGHT THINK I WAS HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT TELLING HIM THAT...

"Is that why you came here?.

To tell me you don't want me to be your father anymore?..

You're so selfish..."

IT FELT LIKE MY HEART WAS STABBED WHEN HE SAID THAT TO ME..

"You only think about yourself..

Did you even think about how I'd feel when you said that?..

What wrong did I do to you, Zhycarich Reil?..

Why are you doing this to me?..

I'm struggling so much to understand you..

Did I fail in raising you?.. "

Nagulat Ako ng Makitang may namumuong luha na sa mga mata nito..

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE..

NAKITA KO SIYANG UMIYAK..

"Fine.. I'll tell you the truth now..

Yes, papa.. You did fail in raising me..

You failed to give me love.. You failed to give me attention..." I said, while trying to stop my tears.

"but I never once got angry about that.."

Hindi ito umimik at tinignan lang Ako..

"All I want is to feel love from you.. is that so hard to give?.."

And there it is.. I really couldn't hold back the tears anymore.. I finally broke down crying..

"In this house.. I have nothing else to do but mope around in my room..

When I need someone to talk to, someone to lean on..

I'm only talking to myself!.. Kasi Wala namang nakikinig sakin ehh.. ni MISMO Ikaw na Sarili kong ama.. alam ko namang Hindi mo ko papansinin..

So many times, days, months, years!.. I've needed you so many times!..

pero... pero lagi Kang Wala..

sa mga Araw na kailangang kailangan kita!.."

Agad kong pinunsan Ang aking mga luha.

"Kaya Naman... aalis na Ako..

Yun Naman Ang gusto mo diba?..

na mawala na Ako, para Wala ng mag papasakit sa ulo mo?.. "

I WAS ABOUT TO STAND UP..

BUT....

"I'm sick, Zhycarich Reil..

and as time goes on, it's getting worse.."

Napahinto Ako agad ng marinig ko Ang sinabi nito..

"Half of my inheritance is yours..

But the company...

It's already in Bianca's hands.."

"What?......"

Hindi ko alam Ang sasabihin ko..

HE'S SICK?..

AND THE COMPANY?..

IT'S ALREADY IN BIANCA'S HANDS?...

"What are you saying papa?.."

"Your sister..

If I die..

She'll be the one to replace me as CEO of VELOX.. the management of VELOX is already in her hands.."

I clenched my fist at what papa said..

THIS CAN'T BE..

"Papa..

Ako ang panganay mong anak!..

Bianca is still too young to take care of VELOX.."

Agad nabaling Ang atensyon ko sa babaeng kakapasok lang sa office ni papa..

"Well,..well,.. well..

Nanditu pala Ang ate ko..

kamusta ka ate?.."

Hindi Ako maka galaw..

At Hindi rin Ako makasagut..

Naghalo lahat Ang emosyon ko..

takot, kaba, puot, at lungkot..

Gusto kong malungkot dahil sa kalagayan ni papa.. pero nilalamon Ako ng puot.. nang Makita ko Ang babaeng to.. gusto ko agad siyang sugurin..

PERO BAKIT PARANG NAKAKARAMDAM AKO NG TAKOT?.. AT KABA?..

Oo!..

dahil takot akong mapasakamay ng babaeng to Ang kompanya na pinag hirapan ni Mommy..

pati ni papa..

I DON'T KNOW..

PERO PARANG NA REALIZED KO..

Na Walang kasalanan si papa.. nililinlang lang Siya ni Bianca..

This woman is the one behind everything!..

SHE WILL PAY FOR THIS!..

"Ate?.. bakit Hindi ka makasagut?..

Hindi kaba Masaya para sakin?.."

Saad nito at tumabi sakin..

Here she is again!..

nag papanggap na inosente!..

"How can you smile like that, Bianca? You know dad is sick, right?!.."

Madiin kong Sabi..

"Ohww.. Ate, relax..

Hindi ko Naman pinapabayaan si papa..."

Anito at hinawakan Ang kamay ko..

AHRRG!..

NAPAKA PLASTIC!..

"I always give dad his medicine, ate.."

Saad nito at inilapit Ang Mukha Niya SA Mukha ko..

"The kind of medicine that.. will temporarily erase you from his mind.."

Nanlaki Ang mga mata ko sa sinabi nito..

"How dare you!!.."

----[SLAP]----

Napaupo ito sa sahig dahil sa lakas ng sampal ko SA kanya..

"Zhycarich Reil!!.. why did you do that to your sister!?.."

Sigaw ni papa at tinulungan si Biancang itayu..

"Papa.. ate is upset..

Siguro nag seselos Siya dahil sakin mo ipinagkatiwala Ang kompanya..."

Bianca said, habang naka hawak sa mga braso ni papa..

"You insolent child!.."

----[SLAP]----

As what I expected..

naka tanggap rin Ako ng sampal mula Ritu..

NAKITA KO PANG NAPANGITI SI BIANCA..

"P..papa.. listen to me!..

this woman is Brainwashing you!.."

I said, hoping he would believe me..

"You're crazy Zhycarich..

I'm so disappointed on you!..

Tears fell from my eyes at what he said..

"P..papa..

plss.. makinig kanaman sakin..

kahit ngayun lang!.. plss.."

Nagmamakaawa kong Sabi Ritu..

"Zhycarich...

you can now leave.." - Papa

Para akong binagsakan ng langit at lupa sa sinabi nito..

• • • •

FLASH BACK~ ~

"If he's really worried about you..

he'll beg you not to leave anymore.." - Clayden

END FLASH BACK ~ ~

• • • • •

"P..papa?.."

Naguguluhan kong sambit..

"I'm so tired of disciplining you, Zhycarich Reil!..

Can you please!..

Just change already!..

You're not a kid anymore!.."

I can't even speak..

It feels like my heart's being stabbed, again.. and again..

"Yess..

Tama ka papa..

Hindi na Ako bata pa..

"I'm big now..

I don't need your attention or love anymore!..

I'm never coming back here..

not ever!..

Yes.. I am your daughter!..

but how many times have you made me feel like I'm not!..

how many times have you treated me like I'm not even yours!..

so...

don't worry...

because..

I'll never see you again!.. never ever!..

That's what you want anyway..

so you don't have to deal with the headache I give you anymore.."

I left right away and wiped away the tears I'd wasted..

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ng naka labas na Ako..

Nakita ko Ang nakaparadang kotse SA labas ng gate..

At alam Kona agad kung sino Yun..

"Did she hurt you again?.." - Clayden

"Not she.. He.."

Sagut ko Ritu at mapait na napapikit..

at ng Sabihin ko Yun..

Bigla Ako nitong binigyan ng yakap..

"Sorry.."

Sambit nito..

"It's my fault..

I planned this...

if I hadn't done that.. you wouldn't have gotten hurt again..

I'm sorry.."

Niyakap ko ito pabalik..

at dun kolang naramdaman ulit..

I felt again what it's like to be hugged by a true friend.

"Let's go home.."

Saad nito at pinag buksan Ako ng pinto ng kotse..

HOME?...

TAMA!... CAUSE FROM NOW ON..

THIS WON'T BE MY HOME ANYMORE!

Napa tingin Ako sa Bahay..

Ang Bahay kung saan Ako ipinganak.. kung saan ko nakasama si Mommy ng 6 na Taon..

Ang Bahay na kinalakihan ko..

"Ate Zhy?..

Okay kalang ba?.." - Clara

Tanong ni Clara mula sa back seat ng kotse..

THEY'LL BE MY HOME NOW!

~ ~ ~ ~

Someone's POV

"Hahahaha!.. I'm so proud of you anak.."

She said and laugh..

"Poor Zhycarich..

Hindi man lang pinaniwalaan ng papa Niya.."

I said..

"btw.. Bianca anak?..

what's your next plan?.."

Mommy said, habang umiinom ng wine..

"My plan?..

Ano paba?..

edi tutuluyan Kuna Ang matandang Yun mom..

para Wala nang haharang harang sa Plano ko.."

I said, at tinanggap Ang wine na inabot nito sakin..

"Hahahaha!.. kawawang mag-ama..

mas pinili pa talaga niyang magpakatanga?..

heh!.. tingnan nalang natin kong Anong magiging reaksyon Niya kung malaman Niya na tutuo talaga Niyang anak si Zhycarich.."

"Mom?.. ano ba sinabi mo SA kanya noon?.

bakit inakala niyang Hindi Niya anak si Zhycarich?.."

I ask..

"Zamour and I are close friends before..

but.. that changed..

Nong mas pinili Niya si Mariel kaysa saakin!..

kinamumuhian ko sila!..

kaya Naman nag hanap Ako ng paraan!..

I get so jealous every time I see them happy and together with their child..

That's why..

I killed Mariel..

You already know that..

pero pinag sisisihan kong Hindi korin napatay Ang anak Niya..

That Zhycarich Reil!..

I thought she was with her mom back then.. when I crashed her mom's car.. but.. she was lucky!.. because she wasn't there!..

that's why I didn't get to kill that kid!..

Pero...

it's fine..

Nabilog korin Naman agad Ang Ama Niya!..

hahaha..

Stupid Zamour..

Maniwala agad Siya sakin!..

haha..

I told him that Zhycarich isn't his child.. that the kid is Mariel's from another man.. and he believed me right away.."

"But..It's a bit risky, mom..

what if he gets a DNA test done?"

"Ako pa mismo Ang nagsabi SA kanya non..

pero.. Hindi Siya pumayag..

Masasaktan lang daw Siya pag nalaman Niya Ang tutuo, pag Nakita Niya Ang DNA test..

kasi napamahal na Siya sa batang Yun..

but.. Hindi ko Naman inaakalang mag babagu Ang turing Niya SA anak Niya.. mula non.. haha..

dahil lang sa maling hinala.."

mom said.

"Kawawang mag ama..

Poor Zhycarich Reil.. hahahaha.."

"cheers sweetie.." - mom

"Cheers!.."