Finding Avie's body

Chapter 26

It was already 9:30 when we arrived at Lacson Inc. pagpasok pa lang naming sinalubong na si Drake ng personal assistant nya na si Erik.

“It was nice to see you sir, welcome back po.” Nakangiti na bati nito sa kanya.

Drake gave him a smile and a nod.

“Naka ready naba yung board room?” tanong ni Drake kay Erik.

“Yes sir, pero may naghihintay po sa inyo sa office nyo  Sir,” nag-aalangan na sabi ni Erika kay Drake.

Napatingin naman sya kay Erik bigla.

“Huh? Sino? Wala naman akong ineexpect na bisita ngayon.” Sabi naman ni Drake at saka unang naglakad pa punta sa office nya.

Ako naman ay tahimik lang na nakasunod sa kanila.

Pag-pasok naming ng opisina nya ang bumungad sa amin ay angn nakatalikod na si Tita Yelena.

Yes kahit naka-talikod pa yung babae na yan hindi ako magkakamali. Tindig palang nya at fashion style alam ko nang sya yan.

Nung naramdaman nya na pumasok na sina Drake at Erik mabilis syang tumayo at bumeso kay Drake.

“How are you iho?” naka-ngiti na bati nito sa kanya.

Ngumiti lang si Drake sa kanya at saka umupo sa katapat na sofa.

“Erik did you offer tita something to eat or drink? Would you like to have some tea tita?” Drake politely asked her.

She smiled and gave a nod.

“I’ll have a tea please,” she smiled as she told Erik to get her a tea.

“So what brings you here tita? It’s good to see you po.” Drake said while grabbing his coffee.

“Wala naman iho, gusto lang kitang kamustahin and I want to apologize for your Tito’s behavior. Pasensya kana ha, he’s grieving over his ingrate daughter,” Tita Yelena irritatedly said and rolled her eyes with mentioning me.

“Wala po yun, Tita naiintindihan ko naman din po si Tito, I was really painful for a parent to lose his child.” Drake answered.

Ano naman ang ineexpect ni Tita? Na mag-paparty si Daddy dahil sa pagkamatay ko? I guess she thought wrong.

“ Nako that’s not okay iho, hindi dapat ginawa ng tito mo yon, lalo pa at malapit na tayong maging isang pamilya. Technically you are already a family! Dapat na kalimutan na natin yung mga nangyari sa nakaraan at mag-move forward. Hindi pa alam ng Tito mo na engaged na kayo ni Alanna, your finace wants to personally tell her dad, alam mo naman super close yung mag-ama na yun,” masayang kwento ni Tita Yelena habang nakangiti ng bongga kay Drake.

Drake looked at me as if he was telling me that he’s sorry. Well hindi naman nya kasalanan na mahadera tong magiging byenan nya.

I just gave him a nod.

 “Ah opo Tita,” pag-sang ayon nya lang.

“Oo nga pala ano baa ng plano nyo ni Alanna, she told me na dapat ikakasal na kayo sa Miami but then you said na may emergency sa kompanya kaya mo kinailangan na umuwi. Do you have some problems here in the company?” concerned na tanong niya kay Drake.

“Ahh wala naman po Tita, kinailangan lang kasi akong umuwi dahil may investor po na nagkaproblema and I guess I missed my parents din po siguro. I’ll probably stay here for a month or two.” Sagot naman ni Drake kay Tita Yelena.

With the mention of month or two, Tita Yelena’s eyes classly rolled.

For sure may iniisip na to agad na kabalbalan. Talentadong Pinoy to eh.

“Ah. I see, well then I guess dapat siguro umuwi na din si Alanna right?” she asked while fakely smilling.

Muntik nang maibuga ni Drake yung iniinom nya nung nabanggit ni Tita yung pag-uwi ni Alanna.

“Ang alam ko po tita may commitment pa si Alanna na ilang shoots sa mga mega brands kaya baka po siguro hindi pa sya maka-uwi sa ngayon. Have you talked to her po?” Drake asked her.

Sabi ko na e, she’ll think of something. Ever since I brought Drake to the mansion pinakisamahan na talaga ni Tita si Drake. Well, I can’t blame her, he’s a real catch. I still remember what she told me when they found out that Drake cheated on me with Alanna.

“See? No one will really love you, because someone like you doesn’t deserved to be loved. Katulad ka lang ng nanay mo. Habang buhay kang manlilimos sa kung ano yung ppinagsawaan at tira-tira ng pamilya ko,” nakangisi na sabi nya sa akin.

I was actually peacefully eating.

Siguro wala nanaman tong magawa sa buhay nya kaya ako nanaman ang napapagtripan na guluhin. Ka-inam.

“What? You won’t say anything? Nasaan na yung balasubas at hindi nagpapatalo na Avrielle? Cat got your tongue huh?” tumatawang pang-aasar nya sa akin.

I actually doesn’t have time to listen to her, pagod ako puyat at stressed. Nauumay ako lalo na makinig sa kanya. Wala akong energy para patulan yung mga walang kwenta nyang pinagsasasabi.

I attempted to walk away when she suddenly grabbed my arm.

Sobrang higpit ng hawak nya sa braso ko na para bang gigil na gigil syang talaga.

“  You don’t walk out on me! Bastos ka talagang bata ka manang mana ka sa nanay mo! Parehas kayong ambisyosa! Mga pinulot na sa putikan  mga mapagsamantala pa! Eto ang tatandaan mo ha? Drake doesn’t belong to your level dear, hindi ang isang Drake Cristopher Lacson ang nababagay sa isang katulad mo lang. Sisirain mo lang yung buhay nya. And I’m sure even his parents won’t like you.” She smirked as she let go of my hand.

“No one would want an ingrate in their family, who would want someone like you? Anak sa labas na napilitang panagutan.” Pahabol nya pa bago ako tuluyang iniwanan sa lamesa.

I was back to my senses when Tita Yelena suddenly laughed.

“Oh iho! Don’t worry about Alanna’s commitments I’m pretty sure she’ll prioritize the wedding over anything hindi ba? Kaya wag nyo nang patagalin ang kasal nyo ha?! Gusto ko nang magka-apo!” she said happily.

I don’t know with Drake but he seems to be not in the same page with Tita Yelena, he was just nodding at her sapalagay ko nga mukhang sinasakyan nya lang yung mga sinasabi ni Tita.

“I ah I’ll have to talk with Alanna regarding that matter po tita,” he politely said to Tita Yelena trying to dismiss the topic.

I just couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Ewan ko sa kanila.

“Ano kaba Drake?! You don’t have to ask her, alam mo naman that Alanna really loves you and that you’re her priority diba?” she said while fixing her skirt.

“Yes ofcourse po tita,” he just smiled.

“Oh pano? I don’t wanna take too much of your time iho, I want to invite for a dinner sana tonight kaya lang hindi ko pa nakakausap ang tito mo, ayoko naman na gumawa nanaman sya ng eskandalo. I want you and Alanna to have a fresh and peaceful relationship. I hope that you want the same? Are we on the same page?” makahulugang tanong ni Tita Alana kay Drake.

Drake looked at her seriously and gave a fake smile, I know that kind of smile of him.

“Ofcourse Tita.” Nakangiti na sagot nya kay Tita  Yelena.

“Well then, I have to go na. Pupunta pa ako ng spa. It was nice to see you iho,” sabi ni Tita habang inaayos yung damit at bag at nagreready na sa pag-alis.

“It was nice to have you here din po Tita, I really appreciate your visit. I’ll probably have a talk with Alanna after the board meeting. Is it okay kung si Erik nalang po ang maghahatid sa inyo sa baba? I have to make a quick call. I noticed Dad has been calling me non-stop. This must be important po,” sabi ni Drake kay Tita Yelena habang tinitignan yung cellphone nya.

“Ofcourse iho its okay, that must be really important. I’ll have to go na.” sagot ni Tita Yelena sa kanya at saka bumeso bago umalis ng kwarto.

She’s really something.