Finding Avie's body

Chapter 5

Right after my meeting in the GGOC I went straight into my house. I didn’t bother to eat I just straightly went to my room and began to fix my things. I have to make sure that everything I need is right packed and are their right places.

I over and over reminded myself to forget what happened earlier. I am really hoping that Dad will just have amnesia and forget everything. Ngayon lang kami nagkaroon ng ganoon na discussion, usually kasi hindi ko talaga pinapatulan yung mga rants nya at pag may requests sya lagi kong unuuna ang GGOC kesa sa Vrielle.

 I always make sure na makaka attend ako sa lahat ng needs ni Dad at sa kompanya kaya this is very unlikely to happen, kasi never ako talagang nagsalita.

I just follow.

“Avie anak nakauwi ka na pala?” I heard Nana Gina and saw that she’s beside my door.

My Nana Gina is all that I got, I couldn’t help but hug her the moment that I saw her. No one ever saw me cry. Not even when my Dad hit me or when other kids bullied me for being an illegitimate child, no one ever saw my tears except for my Nana Gina. When I had my first heartbreak she was the one who consoled me saying that everythings gonna be fine.

“May problema ba Avie? bakit parang malumbay ka anak?” She said while tapping my back and hugged me.

This is my home for me. My Nana Gina’s arms, the comfort that she can give to me is incomparable. It was like a heaven in the earth for me.

“Nagkasagutan po kami ni Dad Nana, hindi po naging maganda yung pag uusap namin kanina” I said while sobbing.

Patuloy lang si Nana sa pag-tap ng back ko,

“Pagpasensyahan mo na ang Daddy mo anak alam mo naman na gusto lang nya na makapagfocus ka sa Vrielle at sa GGOC. Kaya siguro nabigla lang sya ng mapagdesisyonan mo na magleave ng two weeks para sa fashion show mo sa New york, pagpasensyahan mo na ang daddy mo anak, wag mo nang bitbitin itong alitan na ito ninyo sa pagalis mo” she calmly explain to me.

My Nana Gina has always been like this, sa kabila ng hindi magandang pakikitungo ni dad sa kanya hindi ako ni minsan man nakarinig ng hindi magandang salita sa kanya.

Palagi nyang dinadahilanan lahat ng actions ni Dad. May time pa na nong bata ako at 7 years old birthday ko binigyan nya ako ng regalo na ang nakalagay ay galing kay Daddy, sobrang saya ko non kaya tinawagan ko agad si dad siguro hindi ineexpect ni Nana na tatawagan ko si Dad dahil hindi naman din talaga sya nagging close sa akin. Siguro as a kid who never get to receive a gift from her own and then received one for the first time siguro I got really excited and that it was overwhelming for me.

Nung tinawagan ko sya para magpasalamat ang sabi nya lang sa akin hindi nya alam na birthday ko noon. At binati nya ako, sinabi nya lang na dadagdagan nya ang allowance ko at pang gastos namin ni Nana. At the age of 7 I already know the feeling of disappointment and the feeling of being irrelevant. It was painful, painful to the point that the pain was like tattooed on my skin.

Sorry ng sorry ang Nana noon, umiiyak sya sinabi nyang gusto nya lang akong mapasaya.

At first I got mad at her for lying to me. Pero narealize ko na gustong gusto lang din talaga nya akong mapasaya noon dahil nga siguro 7th birthday ko. And that she knows that my dad makes me happy kaya siguro naisip ni nana na ganon ang gawin.

Funny right? My own Dad doesn’t even know my birthday.

Kaya ever since then I made sure that I will be stronger and wiser. I will never let anyone see my weakness.

“Nana I will just attend the fashion week. I am not planning to stay there for good. I couldn’t understand why dad doesn’t get that and why is he making this fashion week a big deal as if I would run from his company he’s being really weird.” Sagot ko kay Nana.

She just smiled sweetly at me, and looked at me with those loving eyes, she then hold my hand and said…

“Natatakot lang siguro ang Dad mo na matulad ka sa Mama mo, noon ganoon sila nagka kilala isa ding modelo ang Mama mo. Nagka kilala din sila sa isang fashion week at nagka gustuhan. Hindi sinasadyang mahulog ang loob nila sa isa’t isa.” She said convincing me.

 “Kinalimutan ng Mama mo ang lahat para sa dad mo. Hindi nga lang alam ng Mama mo na noong mga panahon na iyon ay engaged na ang Dad mo. Natatakot sya na tulad ng Mama mo mahumaling ka sa pagiging modelo at ito ang maglayo sayo sa kanya”

 I couldn’t help but sarcastically laugh at Nana Gina’s story about my Mama and Daddy.  I don’t really think that was his reason.

Dad loves Alana so much and yet hinahayaan nya si Alana na maging isang model, so I don’t see the point.

 “Nana malaki po ang pagkakaiba ko sa kanila ni Mama, lalo naman po na hindi ako naniniwala na natatakot si Dad na mawala ako” I answered to her.

“Alam mo Avrielle anak, walang puno na hindi nag mahal sa bunga, walang magulang na hindi nagmahal sa anak. Palagi mong tatandaan yan anak. Baka nag aalala lang ang Daddy mo na mag-isa ka doon sa New York at paano nga naman kong bigla mong maisipan na huwag ng bumalik? Intindihin mo nalang din ang daddy mo anak.”

Nana Gina was one of the few people I know that is this ensthusiastic with everything, she’s is such a very positive and kind person. She makes sure that even in dark she will see the beauty in the darkness.

Kahit na nakikita nya kung paano ako tratuhin ni dad she always look at the brighter side of everything. Kahit hindi ako pinahahalagahan ni dad lagi nyang sinasabi sa akin na hindi pa din ako nito pinabayaan at ang mahalaga ay tinanggap pa din ako nito.

“ o sya Nana, I have packed my things already. Magchecheck in na po ako sa hotel. Doon nalang ako matutulog para mas malapit po ako sa airport” I said to her.

Nana Gina smiled at me and helped me pack my things.

This day was one of the longest days for me. Nakaka pagod at super exhausted ako.

I will probably just sleep off all the negative vibes of this day.

After eating dinner with Nana Gina, I have decided to go to Bella Towers. Doon nalang muna ako mag checheck in dahil medyo malayo ang Makati sa airport.

“Nana paano po? Mauuna nap o muna ako okay? I’ll just call you from time to time. We’ll do face time okay? You can call Vanie I already instructed her to assist you. Bibisitahin din po nya kayo dito from time to time”

Nana Gina held my hand.

“Anak hihintayin kitang makauwi ha?” Smiled as she let go of my hand.

“yes Nana. I promise to be back. Don’t worry Nana hindi mo mararamdaman tapos na palang ang 2 weeks at biglang andito na po ako. I will surprise you nalang okay?” I assured her.

Hindi din talaga sanay si Nana ng naiiwanan sya, as much as I wanted to take her with me, alam ko na birthday ng kapatid nya sa isang araw and Nana really wanted to go to her sister. Kaya napagdesisyonan ko na wag nalang muna syang isama.

“Mang Ernesto sa Bella towers po muna tayo. By 4 am tatawag na po ako para ihatid nyo po ako sa airport” Mang Ernesto has been my driver for 6 years.

Mabait at responsible si Mang Ernesto, naisakay nya lang ako dati sa taxi nya. Lasing na lasing ako non galing sa isang bar. Hindi ko alam kung pano ako ligtas na nakauwi ang naalala ko lang ay sumakay ako ng taxi. Ni hindi ko maalala non kung nakapagbayad ba ako. Kinabukasana ay ginising ako ni Nana Gina at sinabi na yung taxi driver na naghatid sa akin nung isang gabi ay nasa bababa. Akala ko maniningil si Mang Ernesto nun pala ibabalik nya ang wallet at card holder na naiwanan ko sa sasakyan nya.

And I think that’s what makes me fond of Mang Ernesto, he is really a genuine kind man, hindi mapang samantala at hindi mapaghangad ng hindi sa kanya.

Kinuha ko sya na personal driver ko mula noon. At hanggang ngayon sya pa din ang driver ko. Isa siguro si mang Ernesto sa mga tao na nakaka kilala sa akin.

“Sige ho Ma’am aantayin ko nalang po kayo sa baba. Ihahatid ko pa po ba kayo sa room nyo ma’am?” tanong ni Mang Ernesto.

Ang trabaho lang talaga ni Mang Ernesto ay driver pero madaming pagkakataon na higit pa don ang ibinibigay nyang serbisyo sa akin kaya naman din kahit papano mataas din ang pinapasweldo ko sa kanya.

Parang token of appreaciation nalang din siguro yung additional na sweldo  nya sa akin. Nabanggit din nya sa akin na yung panganay na anak nya daw gusting maging designer kaya lang hindi nya kaya yung tuition, kaya nag-insist nalang din ako na ako na ang magpa-aral sa anak nya because the kid is intelligent, sayAng yung talino at tyaga nung bata.

And I think I have so much money that I can even provide a scholarship for another one hundred students so me helping Mang Ernesto’s childred is just a petty thing for me. It doesn’t really cost me so much since the kid is also academic scholar so I only provide for their project and extra needs.

I got off the car and quickly went inside the hotel

“Good evening Ma’am welcome to Bella tower. How may I help you?” Bati sa akin ng receptionist.

“Hello. I’d like to check in. please book me the executive suite and make sure that the bath tub is already prepared please use Venouigh scent for my bath. Also please serve some red wine.” I immediately instructed the receptionist.

“Okay Ma’am please kindly wait at the VIP lounge while we prepare the room” she said as she lead the way to the VIP lounge.

As I sit there I saw some magazines and decided to browse some since I have nothing else to do.

“Hello to this beautiful lady,” someone talked so I raised my head and notice a familiar face.

“Hello? Do I know you?” I asked him.

“yes we met at the Razon Party last week. I am Xander by the way if that will make you remember” he said offering his hands.

Then I suddenly remember Jaxson introduced a guy to me that party named Xander.

“Oh yes! I remember you! How are you?! I am so sorry I totally forgot. My mind is blurry sometimes. I hope I don’t offend you?” I asked him knowing how petty my reasons were.

“Don’t worry, I won’t make a fuss about it. I saw on tv that you are attending the VS fashion week?” He asked as he got the seat in front of me

“Oh yes, my flight was actually tomorrow that’s why I decided to check in here.” I honestly told him.

“ah really, you must be so happy! Not everyone gets to be invited in such a luxurious event” he said.

“I believe so. Of course I am very happy” I answered while smilling

“Ma’am your suite is ready.” The hotel staff said that cut off our conversation.

“Oh okay. Paano Xander? I’ll go ahead? I still have to prepare for my fligh t later eh” Paalam ko kay Xander.

“Okay. Miss Avie. I’ll see you again” he said while looking intently at me.

That statement felt off for me, but then I said maybe it’s just his choice of words.

I went straight into my room and took a bath and sleep.

I feel so exhausted so I immediately fell asleep after taking a bath.

4 am in the morning everything was already set. I have packed all my things and was set to go.

I heard my door bell and saw at the peeking hole that it was Mang Ernesto. He helped me pick up all my things together with the hotel staff.

At 4:20 in the morning we are on our way to the airport already when our car was bumped by something it was loud and it caused our car to go sideways.

I felt like something hit my head that made me lose my consciousness. After hearing a loud bang I gained a little consciousness and I saw Mang Ernesto was already full of blood.

And I felt like I was being carried, but before I close my eyes I saw something at the face of the man who took me away. It was initials but wasn’t so clear to me. We were far enough when the car suddenly exploded.

And just like that… I lost myself…