Beyond the Billionaire's image

Chapter 3/1

Nang makapasok kami ay may mga tao na ang nandoon kasama ang dalawa pang anak na babae ni Papa. They didn't even bother to greet me which I found relief. I don't want to greet them in a plastic way too. I don't want to bother.

Papa is on his bed, looking thin and pale. I notice a few strands of white hair, a symbol that he is getting old. When he noticed me, he plastered a fainted smile and signaled me to come closer. I close the gap and kiss him on his cheek.

"My daughter is growing beautiful. How's your life? You're having an adventure."

I didn't smile but I answered him. "Sort of but I like adventures rather than let myself put in a prison."

He nodded as if agreeing and gestured for me to sit beside him. The butler provided me with a chair, which I quickly took. We're not close, so I felt awkward when he acted as if I was his precious daughter.

Umupo siya ng maayos sa kaniyang higaan at tinulungan rin ng isa sa anak niya na babae. Hindi ako kumilos at inobserbahan lamang silang parang drama sa pelikula.

Umubo siya sabay hawak sa kaniyang dibdib bago nito kinuha ang iniabot na tubig ng butler at Ininom.

"Sorry, my health is failing me now. I know you wanted to hear what I said, but first, I want to apologize for not being there for you when you needed my presence, Andromeda."

Wala akong reaksiyon. I feel my emotions but nothing is arising even the slightest. Nasanay na akong walang ama ang nag aalaga sa akin. I'm okay with myself.

Umubo na naman ulit siya at mahahalata na ang pag aalala ng mukha ng lahat except me. Why would I pity him anyway?

"Dad, maybe we should phospone this. Baka mas lumala pa." Giit ni Kuya Lemuele. Pumasok si Demither at tumabi kay Unnie na nasa paanan ni Papa.

He raised his hand to stop Kuya Lemuele from talking again. "No, I'm okay. Andromeda is here, I should talk about it now."

Tumingin ulit ito sa akin at nginitian ako. Wala akong ginawad kahit ano man lang at tiningnan ito pabalik. "I know it's sudden but I want you to handle the company at alam kong makakaya mong itayo ito ulit."

Tumaas ang kilay ko."Ulit?" Pag uulit ko sa matigas na tono.

Nagkatinginan sila bago sumagot si Papa. "The company is on the edge of Bankruptcy. We tried our best even with your brother but we couldn't handle it properly."

Kuya Lemuele clenched his Jaw. Nagpipigil na huwag magpadala sa pride niya.

A sly grin crossed my face. "Oh, you want me to handle the company, and if the company becomes better, you're all going to take it away from me just because I'm the daughter of your woman?" I said straightforwardly.

Naging iba ang expression niya. Tumawa ako ng nakakaloko."Do I look like a savior to you? Saving your sorry behind your company, and in the end, you expect me to take it like it's just another stroll in the park? Oh, how utterly impressive! I'm truly delighted that I inherited my brain from my mother. Bravo, losers." Sabay palakpak ko pa na parang ang ganda ng narinig ko. When they didn't react, I'm back into serious again.

Kuya Lemuele lost his patience and scowled at me. I pulled my shirt to cover my stomach as it was visible. He glared at me angrily.

"Don't be high in yourself! You're just a daughter of a b***h. Huwag kang magyabang!"

Tinapunan ko lang siya ng pagod na tingin.

I smirked."Should I have a big party for this important moment? I'm really happy that the person you call a 'b***h' is about to achieve her dreams. As for you, following in Papa's footsteps seems to be a dedicated effort, adding to the emptiness in your brain - a unique family trait, don't you think?"

Mabilis kong insulto sa pagmumukha niya at bubwelo na ng suntok nang inawat na siya nila Unnie at Demither upang ilayo ito sa'kin.

Inayos ko ang aking sando at tumayo na. I thought Papa would be mad pero tinapunan niya lang ako ng malungkot na mukha. No, a guilty expression.

"If you had just let your brother handle the company, you wouldn't be in this mess right now. That's your karma."

I didn't bother looking back, despite the numerous violent reactions to the last statement. I exited the room and quickly wiped away the tears that had started to fall from my eyes.

*****

Binagsak ko ang sariling katawan sa couch habang sapong-sapo ang ulo ko. My head hurt as f**k. Lalo na at wala pa akong paghinga simula kanina. Pagod akong tumayo at dumiretso sa kusina.

Nilibot ko muna ang paningin ko bago ako naghugas ng mukha sa sink at pinunasan agad ng dala kong tuwalya. I want to shower but my headache is preventing me from moving. f**k this life.

I checked my wrist watch, I have time to go for a grocery. I took my phone in my bag ang called that girl. I have to bring someone. I have no choice, wala namang ibang sasama sa akin para maglibot.

After she answered, halatang nagmamadali agad siya kung ano man ang gagawin niya ngayon. Maybe I should have ordered her to live with me. There's also a spare room in my new condo especially since I have never cooked in my entire life. I'm always ordering food online or just eating instant foods.

I just wore a men's shirt, baggy pants, white shoes and a bucket hat. I'm more comfortable using men's clothes than a fitted dress. Ganito naman talaga ako kahit noon pa. They can't force me to wear revealing, dahil suntok ang sasalubong sa kanila.

Nakarating na ako sa labas nang makita ang babaeng mukhang hinabol ng demonyo kakatakbo. Why is she running like that?

Hingal na hingal itong nakahinto sa harapan ko. In the end, she stumbled on the floor at parang mapuputol na ang hininga. Tiningnan ko lang siya at hinintay na makahigop ng hangin.

"S-sorry po Ma'am, traffic p-po kasi."

Hingal na hingal niyang paumanhin. Nagsimula na akong maglakad habang siya ay nakasunod na pero naririnig ko parin ang paghugot niya ng kaniyang hininga kaya huminto nako at tumingin rito.

"Stop breathing, it's irritating to hear."

Hindi siya makapaniwalang nakatingin sa akin. "P-po? Ayaw niyo na po akong nabuhay? Ma'am naman, may pamilya pa po ako.. h-huwag naman po sana.." Mangiyak-ngiyak niyang sabi.

"Tss. Just don't let me hear you catching your breath."

Iniwan ko na siya roon at pumasok sa elevator. Sumarado na dapat ang elevator nang may kamay na humarang roon para hindi masirado ng tuluyan ang Elevator.

Pumasok ang katangkarang lalaki. He's wearing a baseball cap, black sunglasses and a leather jacket. Tumabi ito sa akin at sinandal ang ulo sa wall ng elevator habang nakapamulsa kaya nakikita ko ang kaniyang adams apple na gumagalaw pataas.

Sumarado ulit ang elevator pero may humarang na naman ulit at pumasok ang babaeng kasama ko. I forgot to ask her name, I should have asked later.

Tumabi rin ito pero sa left side at pinipigilan na marinig ko ang paghinga niya kaya nakanganga siya ngayon para makalanghap ng hangin.

When the elevator went on the ground floor, unang lumabas ang lalaki. Mukhang nagmamadali tapos ang babae pang kasama ko ay todo tingin sa lalaki.

"Ba't kaya pamilyar siya?"

She whispered something I ignored and went straight to the car. She immediately caught up with me because I quickly got inside the car. I started the engine while she hastily fastened his seatbelt.

When we arrived at the Mall, I took my sunglasses and my chest bag before I went out. Nakasunod lang ang babae sa akin pero dahil naiirita na ako kakabasa ay huminto ako kaya nabangga siya sa likuran ko. Umatras siya nang lumingon ako sa kaniya.

"P-po? May problema po ba?"

"Your name."

Naguguluhan niya akong tiningnan at napakamot. "Um, ano pong problema sa pangalan ko po Ma'am?"

"What's your name, woman?"

Lumiwanag ang mukha niya at alinlangan akong nginitian. "Ellerie po ma'am, Pero okay na po ako sa Elle."

Tumango lang ako at tumuloy na sa paglalakad. The supermarket was in the first floor so we headed straight. Dumiretso lang ako at napansin niyang nilampasan ko lang ang cart kaya siya na ang kumuha at sumunod agad sa akin.

Mga importeng bagay lang ang kinuha ko pero dinamihan ko ang mga instant foods at ilang drinks. When we headed to the meat section, I let her choose the meat since I don't have talent for it.

"Do you want to live with me in my condo?"

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at lumingon rito. Hindi niya yata inaasahan ang sinabi ko. "P-po? Pero akala ko po gusto niyong mapag Isa?"

Maybe my half siblings informed her that I prefer being alone but I want to taste home foods for now. I can't cook.

"Yeah but I want to have a cook in my condo. Are you good at it?"

Napakamot siya ng pisngi at nahihiyang tumingin sa akin. "Gusto ko po sana kaso hindi po yata papayag si Ma'am Kerenza. Ako po kasi ang sumasabay sa kaniya."

Hindi ako sumagot at bumalik sa paglalakad. Kerenza is a good girl but we didn't talk much. I don't want to steal her maid. It might upset her. Madagdagan pa ang may galit sa akin.

"P-pero Ma'am, kung okay lang po sa'yo ay sasabihan ko po si Ma'am Kerenza tapos pwede naman po akong pumunta every Sunday po."

I took a lot of napkin and soap before I answered her. "Don't bother. I'm fine."

When I move to the shampoo part, I heard a commotion near me.

"LOOK, miss. Hindi ako pumapatol ng fans. Please leave me alone!"