I hate billionaires: So, I hate my child's father

Chapter 16

SEASON 2 IS HERE!!

CHAPTER 16

"Brother..." lumabas nalang ang salita sa bibig ko.

"Lori!" Agad niya akong niyakap. "Lori, I missed you! How are you?! Are you okay?! Are you eating?! You looked thinner since we last saw each other!"

"Bro, will you quite down?!" Tinakpan ko ang bibig niya. "May makarinig sayo, eh." Sabay tingin ko sa paligid.

It will be bad news if someone hears him.

Kinuha niya ang kamay ko sa bibig niya.

"I didn't know you're here. Are you with the bride or groom?"

"I-I'm with the Verzosa family." Hinawakan niya ang ang balikat at iniyugyug yun.

"Verzosa family?! Anong pinag iisip mo at bat ka sumama sa kanila?!"

This is my big brother, Sariel. He's cold to everyone except to us, his family.

Napakaingay niya kapag magkasama kami. Sa sobrang ingay, nakakairita na.

Kinuha ko ang kamay niya sa balikat ko.

"Ansakit, ah."

"Ah! Sorry, naman. Are you okay, Atty?"

"Please, don't call me that." Sumilip ako sa hall at wala namang tao. It must be safe. I hope no one heard us.

"Atty, don't you want to to back to us? We missed you so much!"

"Arh..." parang di naman ako makahinga sa higpit ng pagkakayakap niya mula sa likuran. "Pwede ba tigilan mo ako!" Sabay siko ko sa tiyan.

"Aray! Ouch!"

"Ah! Sorry- ehem... I mean serves you right."

Tumawa naman siya.

"I'm happy to see you, princess." Sabay bigay niya sa akin ng magandang ngiti. "But do you have to be with the Verzosa Family?! Do you know how we hate that family, right?! Why are you with them?! Did they kidn*pped you or something?!" Sigaw niya.

"Of course not, idiot!" Sigaw ko naman pabalik.

"Eh, bat ba magkasama kayo?" Sabay puot niya. "Alam mo naman na wala silang kwenta."

"Hindi sila lahat, okay?" Sabay hawi ko sa buhok na nasa balikat at nilagay ang kamay na sa baywang.

"Huwag mo silang ipagtanggol! They are jerks and stupid! Lalo na yung isang mukhang daga!"

What's with the calling him rat?

Napailing nalang ako.

"Why are you with them?"

"There's someone I like in Verzosa Family." Nanlaki ang mata niya at napasandal sa pader.

"No... way. It must be a love potion! Right, it must be! Atty, you have been deceive by those insects! Wait, don't tell me nagkabalikan kayo?! Atty, naman! Sa dinarami rami! Alam ko namang mahal mo siya pero di ko maintindihan kung bakit kaylangan mo siyang balikan!"

"Stop it, right there. It's been 14 years. Naka move on na ako sa isang iyon. Iba to ngayon."

"What?! Nag move on kapa?!" Sarkastiko niyang sugaw sa pagmumukha ko. "Kung magkakagusto kapa naman, bat sa Verzosa ulit?! Ano bang ginawa nila ngayon at napunta ka sa kanila?!"

"They didn't do anything. I think it's my fault that I'm there with them. I asked one of them to impregnate me."

"What the?! Are you mad?! At nagpabuntis ka?!"

"Yes. Papa told me that he wants a grandchild, so, I choose a random man and I end up with them."

"Why did you listen to that old man?! I am right! That old man is good for nothing!"

"Don't be like that." Sumandal ako sa pader. "It was fun though. I am happy with my life now."

Natahimik naman si Sariel at sumandal narin sa pader.

"I-I guess, you have a better life as a commoner than with us..." malungkot niyang sabi. Di ako sumagot sa sinabi niya. Totoo naman. "But you can't run forever, you must face the truth, Atty. We are still your family, don't you want us?"

"Brother, I'm a grown woman now. I won't run anymore. I must face my problems."

"Really?! You'll come back to us?!" Tumango namam ako. "Yes! That's great! Father will be glad!"

"But not now."

"What?!"

"I have still something to do." It's my mission. Finding Jennette.

"I-I respect that..." malungkot niyang sabi. Ngumiti naman ako at lumapit sa kanya. Binigyan ko siya ng halik sa pisngi at ginulo ang buhok niya.

"Thank you." Sabay ngiti ko.

"Okay. If that's what you want but don't forget that your big brother are here. I always have your back-

since day one."

"Since day one." Sabay tango ko.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at kinuha ang number niya. I have to keep in touch with him. Nagpalitan kami mg number at bumalik na kami sa venue.

"That took you long." Agad na bungad sa akin ni Yoyo.

"You're still here?" Sabay taas ko ng kilay.

"Ha?! How dare you say that to me?! To your best friend!" Pumuot naman siya.

"I met my brother."

"Oh..." ngumisi naman siya.

"How did it go?"

"It's fine."

"Then?"

"It's okay."

"Tell me in detail!" Iniwas ko ang tingin sa kanya nang maramdaman ko ang tingin ng iba sa amin.

"Di ko siya kilala."

Napanganga. "Meany..." may kinuha naman ako sa bag na papel at binigay sa kanya. "What's this? Is this how I think it is? I-Is this a love letter? T-thank-"

"I want you to find someone. Tell me her address afterwards and I'll go to that place myself."

"Uh... so, this is job?" Tiningnan ko naman siya.

"Yeah."

"Meany..."

I can trust Yoyo in this. He never fails me before. He keeps my secret perfectly. I know he wouldn't tell anyone about this.

"Should I do a background check?"

"Not necessary."

"Okay."

-------

"Damn it!"

Patuloy lang ako sa pagkain ng pulutan habang tinitingnan si Kyle, Leo at mga pinsan niya na nagsisiinuman. This is an after party. Kiel isn't here because of his honeymoon.

"I did everything! Zambroso Family can't be pleased easily!" Saad ni Barniel also called as Barny.

"That Zambroso guy didn't even glance at me once!" Rekalamo ni Steffanie pagkatapos niyang lumagok ng isang basong wine.

"You should give up." Saad ni Kyle sabay tawa. Sinamaan naman siya ng tingjn ng dalawa.

"Don't say that to us, jerk." Ngumisi lang si Kyle at tumingin sa akin.

"What do you think about them, Lori?"

"Think of what?"

"Zambroso Family?"

"Uhm... I didn't know. I didn't saw them. I don't even know them." Saad ko nalang.

"Yeah. As expected." Saad ni Steffanie. Tumingin si Steffanie kay Leo na ang ulo ay nasa balikat ko at mukhang natutulog na. "That guy is easily going drunk."

Nanliit naman ang mata ko at tinakpan ang mukha ni Leo gamit ang isa kong kamay.

"Don't look at him like that."

"Geez... He's not my type. He's my cousin." Sabay ikot niya ng mata.

"I'm just being careful. Mahirap na."

"Are you talking about me, b***h?" Tanong niya.

"What if I am?" Sabay taas ko ng kilay.

"Okay, ladies. Stop it. Let's just drink." Pigil sa amin ni Kyle.

"Lori..." napatingin ako kay Leo dahil nagsalita siya. "Where's Kian?"tanong niya.

"Kasama siya ni Yoyo. Doon muna siya matutulog sa kanya."

Actually, alam niya naman. Pinagpaalam ko naman sa kanya si Kian pero mukhang nakalimutan niya dahil sa nainom na alak.

"Why did you let him take Kian?"

"Kian wants to be with him."

"It's dangerous if Kian isn't around. I might do something inappropriate to you." Napangiti naman ako at hinalikan siya sa noo.

"Do you want to go home? You're already drunk."

Tumango naman siya. Inalalayan ko siyang makatayo at makalabas ng bar na walang paalam kay Kyle. Bigla namang may humarang sa amin na sasakyan. Bumaba ang salamin nito at bumungad sa akin si Sariel na masama ang tingin kay Leo.

"Don't look at him like that."

"I'll take you home." Sabay iwas niya ng tingin. Napangiti naman ako. Pinapasok ko muna si Leo sa back seat bago ako sumunod.

"Thank you, Sariel, for this." Tiningnan ko si Leo na nakasandal sa salamin. Hinawakan ko ang noo niya, medyo malamig ito.

"Who is he? Is he your boyfriend? Bat masyado kang maalaga?"

"He's the father of my son."

"And he's not your responsibility."

"But-"

"You like him?"

"Yeah."

"Are you his girlfriend?"

"No."

"Kawawa ka naman pala. Walang label. Tanda-tanda niyo na wala paring label."

"Uhm..."

"Wait! Don't tell me he doesn't like you?!"

"He loves me. Wala lang kaming label. Is that even important?"

"Uh... yeah? Pwede siyang maagaw sayo- wait! What am I saying?! I shouldn't say things like this to help my enemy! Arh!"

"Well, that makes sense. Thanks."

"You should be thankful I'm your big brother." Napangiti naman ako. "Lori, I-I want you to come to our father's 50th birthday and revealed your identity, i-it would be great. But it still up to you-"

"I'll go." It is still next, next week.

"Really?!"

"He's my father."

"Then, I should invite Verzosa family then?" Nawala ang ngiti ko. Anging seryoso kasi ang boses niya. "I heard them earlier, talking to you like that. What a shameful piece of trash. I want them to see who's Lori they dealing with." Napailing naman ako.

Tinuro ko sa kanya ang bahay at nang dumating na kami ay tinulungan niya pa akong dalhin si Leo sa kwarto niya at umalis na si Sariel pagkatapos nun.

Binihisan ko si Leo at umupo sa kama niya

"Leo... hey."

"Mmm?"

"I like you."

"Uh... yeah. I love you too."

"Uhm... w-do- uhm... can I be yoir girlfriend then?" Dumilat naman siya. Mapupungay naman ang mata niya.

"Kiss me if you want to be my girlfriend." Sabay ngiti niya.

I don't know what's the point but I kissed him. Matagal at dinamdam ko ang malambot niyang labi sabay ng malakas na t***k ng puso ko. Nang lumayo ako ay mahina siyang tumawa.

"What a good dream. It looks real." Saad niya at natulog na mg tuluyan.