Dirty Job

Chapter 17

Nathan's Point of View

Agad akong bumalik ng Manila ng itawag sa akin ni Sean na nakita niya sa isang sakayan ng bus si Alyza.

Is she running away from me again?

Gabi na pero hindi ko parin siya nakikita. I search the place where she can go but I didnt see her. Even her phone is out of reach.

I hopelessly went home and tonight Im staying at Dad's mansion. I need to talk to him.

I need to fix this.

Sinalubong ako ng dalawa kong nakakatandang kapatid na si Ate Laura and Ate Rosie. They were still wearing their aipron and by their looks they've been looking forward to this.

"Finally! Brothers home!" Tumili pa si Ate Rosie ng makita ako habang yinakap ako ng mahigpit ni Ate Laura.

Ate Laura is the Eldest sunod si Ate Zoey and then si Ate Rosie tapos ako. Ang nagiisang lalaki.

I both hug them tight. Ilang linggo ko din silang hindi nakita.

"So hanggang kailan ka magstay dito kapatid?" Ate Rosie ask me.

Nagkibit balikat lang ako cause Im sure baka umalis din ako ngayon malakas ang pakiramdam ko na hindi magiging maayos ang lahat sa pagitan ko at ni Dad.

But talking to him man to man that I will try.

"Ate Laura you're quiet again."puna ko. She looked at me smiling and shook her head.

"Tahimik naman talaga ako Nathan."

"Kaya nga! Dapat masanay ka na sa kanya. Oh you should see how I suffer whenever Im with her! Para akong nakikipag-usap sa pader!"

The three of us laugh at what Ate Rosie said. Hindi parin talaga nagbabago.

Pagkapasok namin sa mansion ay akong humiwalay sa kanya para salubungin si mama na pababa naman ng hagdan.

"Hi mom. Good evening" pormal kong bati sa kanya sabay halik sa pisngi.

"Nathan are you eating? You are getting skinny again" I rolled my eyes.

"Mom I am eating at hindi ako skinny. I workout!" I grinned at her.

"I remember ganyan din ang sinabi ng Daddy mo nung sinabi ko sa kanyang ang payatot niya" mom then chuckled after what she said pero napadako ang tingin ko sa taong pababa ng hagdan.

I met my father's cold eyes.

Agad akong napastraight ng tayo ng makita kong palapit na sa amin si Dad. Naramdaman ko ang paghawak ng kamay ni mama sa akin.

She smiled at me.

"Dear your son is home. Hindi mo lang ba siya babatiin?" I heard my two sisterd giggled at my back.

What the f**k! Anong nakakatawa?! Tss.

"Good evening Dad" ako na naunang bumati.

He just then nodded at me. Hinalikan niya sa pisngi si mommy at hinarap ang dalawa kong kapatid.

"Are you done cooking?" Ate Laura nodded.

"Good. Im hungry" agad na kumilos sina ate at pumunta ng kitchen.

"Nathan dont ruin my mood" and with that he turned his back on me. He reach for mom's hands and accompanied her to the dining area.

I was left speechless.

I know my father. I know that he's very disappointed in me. Kaya nga ni minsan hindi ko naramdaman na mahal niya talaga. He just used me.

But tonight I wont just disappoint him. I will be the trigger that will push his buttons to burst out the truth to me.

Im doing this for Alyza. Im not ruining my family or our name cause its been long ruined. Dati pa naman na itong sira.

The family I have pretends to be happy.

Sumunod na rin ako papuntang kusina. Naabutan ko si Ate Laura na ngumuso sa akin na tumabi sa kanila ni Ate Rosie.

And so I obeyed my beautiful sister.

Nagsimula na kaming kumain. Nilagyan ako ng pagkain ni Ate Rosie sa aking plato. There's a big smile plastered on her face.

Tahimik kami habang kumakain but once in a while I caught mom staring at me then she would look away whenever I caught her.

Tss.

"How is the stocks going in the market Laura?" Bigla kaming napatigil ng kain dahil sa seryosong boses ni Dad.

Ate Laura immediately shifted into a serious mode.

"We are still on the top if you're worried dad" she answered coldly.

"Are you still dating that bullcrap Laura?!" Padabog na ibinagsak ni Ate Laura ang dalawa niyang kubyertos. Hinarap niya si Dad.

"You told me to date him dad! For goodness sake!" I confusingly looked at Ate Rosie.

How come I didnt know about this?!

"I told you to date him para makakuha ka ng impormasyon sa kompanya niya! I didnt told you to fall for that bullshit!"

Parehas na nanlaki ang mata namin ni Ate Rosie. What? Why is her reaction same as mine? Didnt she know?!

"How-" Dad cut ate Laura's sentence before she finishes it.

"I have ears and eyes all over that company Laura! You dont lie to me! I am your father!"

Tumayo agad si Ate Laura. Her eyes where starting to form into tears. Agad akong tumayo para alalayan siya.

Dad looked at me in rage. What now?

"Well I am so f*****g sorry Dad! I cant do what you want me to do! I wont hurt Percius!"

I squeeze her hands reassuring her that I am all here for her. Kahit hindi ko alam ang nangyari papaboran ko si Ate.

"Stay away from her Nathan!" Dad yelled at me. Pati si mama ay nagulat at napalayo ng kaonti kay Dad.

I angrily looked back.

Not this time dad. Im not your golden boy anymore.

"No! You stay away from my sister! You're a worthless father! Gusto mo lang kaming gamitin dahil sa kasakiman mo sa pera!"

Mom tried to calm dad pero binalewala siya nito.

"This time Dad hindi ko na hahayaan na gamitin mo kaming magkakapatid! You're the reason why Ate Zoey left this house! You're the reason why Ate Laura is hurt! You're the reason why I cant marry the woman I truly love! She hates me because of you!"

Hinila ko si Ate Laura papunta sa likod ko. I am a man. I will protect who I love.

"Matagal na akong nabubuhay sa kasinungalingan nato Dad! I know the f*****g truth! Alam ko na kung bakit ayaw na ayaw mo akong mainvolve sa mga Montessa!"

Dad froze the moment I said his nightmare. Napatingin din sa akin si mama. I felt Ate Laura and Ate Rosie at my back.

"Please dont bring up the topic Nathan. Lalo lang lalala ang sitwasyon" Ate Rosie whispered to me with shaky voice.

Hindi ko sila pinakinggan imbes tinitigan ko si Dad ng masama.

"Who the damn told you that Nathan?" Ngayon ay huminahon ang kanyang boses pero ramdam ko ang galit.

"Alyza Montessa. The heir to all Montessa Properties and billions of real estates."

"Sinasabi ko na nga ba!"

"How could you f*****g do that?! Why would you betray your friend?! Why would you f*****g steal money?!" Sunod-sunod kong tanong sa kanya.

"You are just my son! Wala akong responsibilidad na sabihin sayo ang lahat!"

Halos matawa ako sa sinabi niya.

"Naririnig mo ba sarili mo Dad? Bullshit! Walang responsibilidad?! It is your responsibility to tell us this! The f*****g truh! Ikaw sumisira sa pamilya natin!"

Dad looked away from me. Ano?!

"Frederic stop lying to our son. You promised us that you'll tell him the truth. Tingin ko ay ito na ang tamang pagkakataon" mom butt-in calmly

"Hindi pwede Celestina! Hinding-hindi ko ipagpapalit ang limang taon na yon para lang dito!"

Dahan-dahang tumayo si Mom. I could see how hurt she is.

"Sana ay siya na lang ang pinili mo para hindi kami nasasaktan ng mga anak mo ng ganito ngayon. I always knew you would choose her pero hindi ko inaasahan to. Binalewala mo ang anak mo para sa isang kasalanan!" Mom slap dad hard.

"Hindi kasalanan si Anton! Alam mo yan!" Mom started crying kaya agad siyang nilapitan nina ate para alalayan.

I was stuck in my own feet. Halos hindi ko alam kung paano pa ako gagalaw. Kung paano pa ako magsasalita sa mga nangyayari.

"I know Arissa came first before I did pero ako ang legal mong asawa! Sa mata ng batas anak mo sa labas si Anton!"

Dad stormed out of the room without uttering another word. Tumingin ako kay mom. Her eyes looked at me apologizing of what just happened.

I focus on my mind to construct the most important question that I know will break her too.

"Mom sino si Arissa?" And still I manage not to break my voice.

Bullshit.

This is f*****g bullshit!

My twenty-four year f*****g existence in this world is a f*****g lie!

"MOM WHO IS SHE?!" I yelled at her. Im sorry I need answers badly.

"She's a Montessa Nathan. Siya ang ina ng babaeng ipinaglalaban mo. Ang babaeng karibal ko noon pa man sa ama mo"

Napahawak ako sa upuan. f**k.