Off-Camera Obsession

“Are you ready, Isyra?” I looked at Raze and nodded. We will be attending a birthday party, he was invited on the party so we will be going together with my daughter. “Mom, I am ready,” my daughter said. I looked at her and smiled fondly. She just looks like me, a carbon copy of mine. “Let's go?” I asked them smiling. They both nodded so we slid ourselves into the car. “I am excited to see their faces,” naka ngising sambit ko sa dalawa. “I bet they will be in shock once they see you,” Raze mumbled. I smiled at him. “I bet the colors on their faces will leave them once they see me,” I said smirking. “Oh bet they will, I wanna see their daughter's face later, I bet she is not that super pretty,” my daughter said. I caressed my daughter's face. “Don't let that woman's child bully you, Serene. This game is ours and yours to own,” naka ngiting sambit ko sa anak ko. “You can bet on me mom,” she said smiling. I smirked at the sight and exhaled softly. Fifteen years have passed and I still don't forget what Ishar and Morvella did to me. Ishar made me his s*x slave, para akong puta kung maituturing, binaboy niya ang pagka tao ko. Pumayag ako na ganon ang gawin niya sa akin dahil alam kong mahal ko siya nang mga panahong iyon. Sinuportahan ko ang pag aartista niya, he kept me in the dark for so long while flashing Morvella in public. While they are eating in lovely and expensive restaurants I can only sit on the cold mansion alone and eat alone. Then later, have s*x with Ishar. For so long I thought it was love, he would shower me with kisses, loving words to capture my heart and get a hold of it, but when I realized that it's getting toxic already, he kidnapped me and made me live in a resort far away from manila. I tried so hard to resist and escape but I can't, bantay sarado ako sa resort na ‘yon, uuwi lang siya roon para galawin ako, para gamitin ang katawan ko, pagka tapos magpaka sarap sa akin ay iiwan nalang ako na parang basura. For years, I've hated my body, I've hated men and people, I thought they are all the same, they will capture your interest, your heart then after that they will leave you hanging and broken. I’ve hated Raze back then, he was promised to me when we were a child then resurfaced when mom and dad saw me again after years of me missing home. For the whole fifteen years he didn’t do anything that will make me hate him, he did all the efforts to remove my trauma from men, when I thought I was losing all my shits together he was there to hold my hand and re assure my self. And now, after long fifteen years of being dead to people, I am now ready to come back. Handa na akong maninginil sa mga taong nanakit sa akin. “What are you thinking?” naka ngiting tanong sa akin. Napa baling naman ako sa kanya at bahagyang umiling. “Nothing,” sagot ko rito at napa tingin ako sa venue nang maka rating na kami. It’s Marivelle’s birthday today, anak ni Ishar at Morvella, invited si Raze kaya ito ang araw na pinili naming magpapa kita na ako. “Remember to approach Ishar, Serene. And introduce yourself okay?” anka ngiting bilin ko sa anak ko. Tumango naman siya sa akin. “Yes mommy, I will,” naka ngiting sagot niya sa akin. Tumango naman ako sa kanya at hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at sabay na kaming pumasok sa loob, nag sisimula na ang party, kasalukuyang nasa harapan sina Ishar. “Wow, she is giving her speech now mommy,” Serene said while looking at Marivelle. “Let’s go,” sambit ko sa kanila. Tumango naman si Raze at nag lakad kami pa lapit sa kanila. Suot ko ang ngiti ko habang naka titig sa dalawa, dahil nag lalakad kami pa lapit ay na agaw namin ang pansin ng lahat pati sila Ishar. “Isyra,” gulat na sambit niya nang ma kita niya akong pa lapit sa kanya. “Hi, so long Ishar,” I said smirking. “You’re alive,” mahinang sambit ni Morvella sa akin. I looked at her, feeling hurt. “Of course, do you want me dead, Morvella?” I joked. Pero ako lang naman ang na tawa sa sinabi ko, habang si Serene naman ay ngumisi. Litong tumingin si Marivelle sa amin. “Mommy who are they?” litong tanong ni Marivelle sa mga magulang niya. “”Hi, Marivelle. Happy birthday, sister,” naka ngiting bati ni Serene rito. Gulat na tumingin si Marivelle rito. Na rinig ko naman ang bulungan ng mga tao sa paligid, nag tatakha marahil dahil sa sinabi ni Serene. “Sister? I am an only child, stop calling me that,” nata tawang sagot ni Marivelle, probably reclaiming her shame. “Isyra, please not now,” paki usap ni Ishar sa akin pero hindi ko siya sinagot. “What is the meaning of this? it’s been fifteen years, why did you came back?” mataray na tanong ni Morvella sa akin. Tinaasan ko naman siya nang kilay ang tanong niya sa akin. “I am here to make my daughter meet her father, I don’t wanna neglect her you know,” I said smirking. “Daughter of whom?” galit na tanong ni Morvella sa akin. She is trying to put her cool into these things happening pero alam ko mismo na hindi na niya alam ang gagawin niya. “Please introduce yourself my daughter,” naka ngiting utos ko kay Serene. Kinuha naman ni Serene ang mic kay Marivelle. “If you’ll excuse me please, I am Isyrella Serene Rexford, I am the daughter of Ishar, but I refused to carry his surname for this is a filthy name and not worth to be tangled into my name,” Serene said while wearing her proudest smirk. Ngumisi si Raze at hinawakan ang bewang ko. Nag bulungan ang mga guests sa sinabi ni Serene. “Stop lying child!” sigaw ni Morvella, na tawa naman ako sa sinabi niya. “Now now, you don’t scream at my child like that, Morvella,” “Your child is lying,” sagot nito sa akin. Lumapit ako sa kanya at bahagya ko siyang niyakap. “I know this is a sudden announcement but please, accept it. You know my relationship with Ishar back then but you chose to stand in between us,” naka ngiting sagot ko sa kanya. “You and Ishar are nothing back then,” “Hmm? Ishar?” naka ngising tawag ko sa lalaking gulat na gulat habang naka titig sa akin. Naka titig lang ito sa akin, hindi makapag salita o maka galaw man lang kaya tuwang tuwa ako habang naka titig ako sa kanya. “Hmm? cut got your tongue?” naka ngising tanong ko sa kanya. Ngumuso ako nang hindi pa rin ito nag sasalita kaya nilingon ko ang anak nila. “Happy birthday, Marivelle. I hope you won’t hate you parents for the evilness they did so they can have you in this world,” I mumbled. “You’re lying, stop it! my parents are kind!” sigaw niya sa akin. “Foolish! your parents are no saint! your dad is a f*****g demon!” nag ngangalit na sigaw ni Serene habang naka duro kay Ishar. Bumuntong hininga ako at tinignan ko ang mga reporter na nasa gilid, this birthday will be highly publicized, kaya alam kong kahit magka sampalan ng pera ay hindi nila ma cocover ang ganitong klaseng balita. “We are done here, we are not yet done,” banta ko sa dalawa at tinapunan ko nang masamang tingin ang anak nila.