The Girl He Lost

CHAPTER 07: FATE

"Ready ka na ba kayo, ate?" Tanong sakin ni Sanjo

"Sa tingin ko eh dapat ikaw ang tinatanong ko nyan, you look so tensed" sabi ko naman sa kanya

"Waaaa! Mommy the building is so high!" Aniya Marina

Kasalukuyan kaming andito sa hotel restaurant na pagma-may ari raw ng pamilya ng girlfriend ni Sanjo, and I don't know why I feel like I've been here before because this place and the name are really familiar to me, but I really can't tell.

"Nasa loob na daw sila" sabi ni Sanjo

"Edi pumasok na tayo dahil baka kung anong isipin nila kapag hindi pa tayo nagpakita sa pamilya ng girlfriend mo, alam mo naman ang mundo ng mga mayayaman di ba?" Sabi ko naman

Buti na lang talaga ay nag-ayos ako dahil ayaw kong mapahiya si Sanjo sa harap ng girlfriend nya especially sa pamilya nung babae.

"Babe!"

"Damara!" Sigaw ni Sanjo at kumaway sa isang babaeng papalapit sa amin

"That's her, ate Keilee, my girlfriend" masayang turo sakin ni Sanjo

"Babe, bakit nakatayo lang kayo dito?" Tanong nung Damara nang makalapit ito samin

She looks familiar

"Woah! And who is she?" Nakangiting tanong nito

"I'm Keilee." Sagot ko naman sa kanya

"She's from your department and club ate" said Sanjo

"I know, you already told me that" I said

"From my department and club?" Nakangiwing sambit nya

So, basically she's my junior since she's from my department and club.

"I used to study in that school and I'm also from that department and club. I'm Keilee. Keilee Raven" Pagpapakilala ko naman ulit

"I'm Damara... Did you just said Raven?" Said Damara

"I'm not actually his family. I mean, we're family but not by blood. He used to be my mom's student, and we grew close to each other, together with Danwil and Zaikie. For sure kilala mo na yung dalawa dahil lagi naman silang magkakasama" paliwanag ko naman

"Oh, yeah! Lagi nyang nababanggit sakin na may ate sya pero hindi ko akalain na ikaw si Keilee Raven! My Senior" Aniya Damara

"Anyway, shall we go inside?" Dagdag pa nya

"Sure, Marina we're going now!" Tawag ko sa kanya mula sa bench na kanyang kinauupuan sa hindi kalayuan

"Okay!" Saad nya at agad na tumakbo papalapit samin

"Oh my ghosh! Whose baby is she?" Tanong ni Damara

"She's my daughter" mabilis ko namang sagot

"No doubt about that, she really looks like you!" She said excitedly.

Alam mo naman na pala, nagtanong ka pa.

"Who is she, mommy?" Tanong naman ni Marina

"Ah, Marina this is tita Damara. She's my girlfriend" pagpapakilala ni Sanjo sa dalawa

"Hello little girl!" Aniya Damara

"Hello auntie Darama, I'm Marina" said Marina

"HAHAHAHA! It's Da-ma-ra not Darama"

"I think we really need to go inside, lumalamig na kasi dito sa labas eh" sabi ko naman

"Then, I'll lead the way" nakangiting saad ni Damara at nagsimula na itong maglakad papasok sa loob na agad naman naming sinundan

And a few seconds later, we reached the table where Damara's family was sitting, and I was very surprised to see two people there that I never wanted to see again.

"KEILEE?!" Sabay nilang saad, malamang sino bang hindi magugulat di ba?

"S-seven?" Utal na saad ko

"You guys know each other?" Kunot noong tanong naman ni Damara

"You know them ate?" Bulong sakin ni Sanjo kaya naman napatingin ako sa kanya

"Ah! Mommy's friends!" Sigaw naman ni Marina nang makita nya sila Seven at River

Suddenly, I had many questions, like what are the two of them doing here? What is their relationship with Damara and why are they here?

"Waa! It's mommy's friends?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Sanjo

"I know them from college!" Singhal ko sa kaba kaya naman lahat sila'y napatingin sakin

"College?"

"Yeah, they were my seniors way back in college." Pagsisinungaling ko, hindi ko na binigyan ng pagkakataon na magsalita si Seven dahil baka kung ano na naman ang sabihin nya, I know him.

"Oh? Really?" Sanjo asked in disbelief and confusion in his eyes

"Yes! Anyway, hindi ko alam na may bodyguard ka pala Damara. Mahal na mahal ka siguro ng parents mo" I smirked

"Bodyguard?" Kunot noong tanong ni Damara

"Oh my! Hindi mo ba sila bodyguard?" Sarkastikong saad ko

"I thought they are" dagdag ko pa at ngumiti ng nakakaloko

"No they're not, kuya Seven is my older brother and kuya River is our childhood friend" pagpapakilala ni Damara

Sa dinami raming pwedeng maging girlfriend ni Sanjo ay kapatid pa talaga ni Seven, kaya pala nung binanggit nya sakin noon yung apelyido ni Damara ay mukhang pamilyar sakin dahil kapatid sya ni Seven. Isang Keller, kaibigan pa ng ama ng mga anak ko, mukhang gustong gusto ata talaga akong pinaglalaruan ng tadhana

"HAHAHAHA! Ang joker mo naman Keilee" aniya Seven at nginitian ako ng mapait

"Nakuha ko kasi yung humor mo SENIOR SEVEN" saad ko na ipinagdiinan ang kasinungalingan ko

"Anyway, asan pala sila dad at mom?" Tanong ni Damara

"They already left, something came up" said Seven

"So it means?"

"Why don't we sit first?" Singit ni River

"Good idea" sabi ko naman at agad kong inupo si Marina sa pagitan namin ni Sanjo

"Oo nga pala, kuya Seven and kuya River, this is Sanjo. My boyfriend" pagpapakilala ni Damara kay Sanjo sa dalawa

"Hello, good evening po" bati sa kanila ni Sanjo

"It's nice to meet you" said Seven and River just nodded at him

"Where are your parents, Sanjo? Why aren't you with them?" Tanong ni Seven

"They are celebrating their wedding anniversary abroad and didn't want me to contact them, so they'd block me." Sagot naman sa kanya ni Sanjo

"Oh, that's why you're with Keilee. What's your relationship with her?" Tanong pa ni Seven

"I'm his older sister, so it's natural for me to show up here." singit ko naman

"Woah! I didn't know na may kapatid ka pala" manghang saad nito sakin

"It's because we're not friends, that's why you didn't know" seryosong sagot ko naman sa kanya

"AHEM! Should we order now?" Pagsingit naman ni Damara

"Marina, what do you want to eat?" Dagdag pa nya

"I'll eat what mommy is going to eat" she replied

"Then we'll have the D2" sabi ko naman

"So, saan kayo nagkakilala ng kapatid ko, Sanjo?" Tanong ni Seven

"There was an event at the school, and Ate Keilee ordered me to get something from her former professor, so I went to their club office because that's where I was supposed to see Ate Keilee's former professor, and it's Damara who opened the door when I knocked and after that nagkita ulit kami sa baba ng building and I saw her carrying some basket and I offered her a help." Paliwanag ni Sanjo

"Yeah, and it was a total shock when I found out that senior Keilee was his sister" masayang dagdag naman ni Damara

Anong pinagsasabi nitong dalawang 'to?

"You know, Keilee?" Kunot noong tanong ni Seven sa kapatid nya

"Of course! The name Keilee Raven was really popular in our department." Said Damara

"Actually, hindi lang sa department namin kundi sa buong campus. Senior Keilee is a legend kuya!" Dagdag pa nya habang nakangiti

"What do you mean?" Tanong pa ni Seven

"She used to be the student council president and at the same time club president and class president, ang dami kayang achievements ni senior Keilee at kahit ilang taon na simulang ng maka-graduate sya ay sya pa rin ang bukang bibig ng mga professor namin dahil sobrang galing nya daw sa pamamahala at sobrang disiplinado ang mga students noon dahil kay senior Keilee" sabi ni Damara

Hindi naman sa pagmamalaki pero lahat ng sinabi ni Damara ay totoo, pero ayoko na sanang balikan yung panahong college pa ako.

"Hindi nyo ba alam 'yon kuya? I thought you're her seniors?" Kunot noong tanong ni Damara

"N-no! G-graduate na sila nung time na naging council president ako kaya sure akong hindi na nila alam yung nangyari sakin way back in college" pagsisinungaling ko

Hindi naman talaga nila alam kung anong nangyari sa college life ko dahil gawa gawa ko lang naman na senior ko sila dahil hindi ko naman alam kung saang school sila mga nag-aral

"Ahhh, that's why" aniya Damara

"Mommy, when is the food arriving?" Marina asked

"They're still cooking it, sweetie, so we have to wait, okay?" Sabi ko naman

"Are you hungry now, Marina?" Tanong ni Damara

"Gutom ka na naman eh kumain ka sa bahay bago tayo umalis ah?" Saad naman ni Sanjo

"Maybe she's a foodie?" Sambit ni Damara

"Yeah, she likes eating" maiksing sagot ko

"Kaya naman pala ang tabang bata eh" singit naman ni Seven

"I'M NOT FAT!" Ikinagulat naman naming lahat ang pagsigaw na iyon ni Marina at maging ang ibang tao sa loob ay napatingin sa table namin at kasunod nito ang pag-iyak nya

"O-oh" utal na saad ni Seven

"That's what you get from calling her that" taas kilay ko namang sambit

"My bad, I just wanted to tease her a little bit, hindi ko naman alam na seseryosohin nya" tugon ni Seven

"Kids are sensitive kuya!" Inis na sabi ni Damara sa kanyang kapatid

"Shhhh, tahan na, sweetie, hindi naman daw nya sinasadya eh" pagpapatahan ko sa kanya

Ito pa naman yung ayaw ko, ang umiiyak si Marina dahil ang hirap nyang patahanin

"Ate, akin na si Marina at dadalhin ko doon sa palaruan ng mga bata" aniya Sanjo

"Saan?" Tanong ko naman

"Doon malapit sa entrance, nakita ko kanina nung pumasok tayo" sagot nya

"Sige, pasuyo na lang ah" sabi ko sa kanya at agad naman nyang binuhat si Marina at naglakad papunta sa palaruang sinasabi nya

"Kasalanan mo 'to kuya, kung hindi mo sinabi 'yon edi sana hindi umiiyak yung bata. Tch! How insensitive of you" saad naman ni Damara at bigla itong tumayo sa kanyang kinauupuan at paalis na sana sya nang bigla ko naman syang hawak sa kamay upang pigilan

"Where are you going?" I asked

"I'm going after them to check if she's alright" mabilis nyang sagot

"W-what? Iiwan mo ako dito?" Utal kong tanong at mukhang hindi ako narinig ni Damara dahil agad na itong naglakad papunta sa direksyong tinungo nila Sanjo

"What the heck" bulong ko sa aking sarili

RING! RING! RING!

"Seven. Your phone." Rinig kong sambit ni River

"Oh! It's Mr. Lopez" Seven said as he took his phone out to see who's calling him

"Is it important?" Tanong sa kanya ni River

"I don't know man, but I need to take this call. Excuse me for a second." Aniya Seven sabay alis para sagutin ang tawag

At para naman akong hindi makahinga nang mapagtanto ko na dalawa na lang pala kaming natitira ni River dito sa lamesa. It was as if something was blocking my throat that caused me to be unable to breathe, so I immediately grabbed a glass of water in front of me to drink it all.

Sa dinami raming taong pwedeng maiwan dito kasama ko ay si River pa talaga, hindi ko na talaga alam kung may galit ba sakin ang mundo at lagi na lang kaming pinagku-krus ng landas kahit pa ayoko na syang makita. Anong gustong ipahiwatig sakin ng tadhana at bakit kailangang magkita kami ulit ni River

"Thristy?"

Did he just talk to me?

"I'm talking to you" dagdag pa nya dahil nagpalinga-linga pa ako sa aking paligid para tignan kung ako ba talaga ang kinakausap nya

"Me? Are you for real?" Nakangiwing tanong ko sa kanya

"Is there anyone here beside you?" Is he asked me in a sarcastic way?

"Who knows if I'm seeing things that you can't see" I replied sarcastically. Kung magiging sarkastiko lang din pala sya ay kaya ko syang sabayan sa gusto nya

"Is that so?" Tanong pa nya at tinaasan ko lang sya ng kilay bilang sagot at ibinaling ko na lang ang aking tingin sa paligid dahil ayoko talagang makita o makausap ang lalaking 'to

"Your... Your daughter is sure growing okay" dagdag pa nya

"Yeah, hindi kasi ako pabayang ina" sarkastikong sagot ko na nagpatahimik sa kanya

Buti naman ay marunong syang makaramdam na ayaw ko syang makausap dahil wala akong balak na makipag-plastikan sa kanya. Your daughter he said? b***h, the daughter you're referring to is the thing you left with me!

At ilang segundo pa ulit ay nagsalita na naman si River. "I see that you're not wearing a ring but you have a kid" saad nya, malamang sa malamang sino bang tatanggap sakin eh isa akong single mother. Yung mismong tatay nga ng mga anak ko ayaw sakin, ano pa kaya ang ibang lalaki di ba?

"Why? Do I have to wear a ring just to say I'm a married woman?" Taas kilay ko namang tanong sa kanya

"Because that is the proof that you are married." Sagot nya sakin

"As far as I know, I was also married before, but the man I married didn't put any ring on me." Nakangising saad ko dito

"Are you referring to me?" Kunot noong tanong nya sakin

"Oo!"

"How daring of you to assume I'm referring to you when I never said you or mentioned your name in what I said." I smirked at him

Kung guilty ka, lamang sa malamang eh tatamaan ka talaga sa mga sinabi ko

"I didn't assume because I was the only person you married before." sabi naman nya, tama naman sya sa sinabi nyang iyon.

At kasabay naman nito ang pagdating ng mga waiter upang ilapag sa lamesa ang mga pagkain namin kaya hinintay ko muna silang umalis bago ako nagsalitang muli

"So are you admitting that you didn't really give me any rings before, and are you sure that you were the only one I married before?" Saad ko nang makaalis ang mga waiter at muli ko na naman syang nginisian

"What do you mean by that?" Tanong ni River na may halong pagkalito sa kanyang mukha

"What I said is what I mean" kabit balikat kong tugon sa kanya

"What?" Kunot noong tanong nya sakin

"Don't you get it?" Taas kilay kong tanong

Hindi ko alam pero ang sarap makita ng pagmumukha ni River ngayon, To be honest, the expression I see on River's face right now is very new to me because I know him as an emotionless person. Kaya siguro yung inis ko kanina ay napalitan ng saya.

Magsasalita pa sana ulit si River nang biglang bumalik sila Sanjo kasama si Seven

"We're back, she's not crying anymore" aniya Sanjo

"Are you okay now, sweetie?" Tanong ko kay Marina

"Yes, I played with uncle and auntie over there and he said he's sorry, so I'm not crying anymore" she explained. Kaya naman pala magkakasama silang bumalik

"How about you guys?" Tanong ni Damara nang makaupo ito sa kanyang pwesto

"About what?" Kunot noong tanong ko sa kanya

"Yeah, you and kuya River" she said

"Ah, kakabalik ko lang din galing restroom" sabi ko naman

"Sure?" Tanong naman ni Seven na nginitian pa ako ng nakakaloko

"I'm texting my secretary. I thought she followed you because I only realized that she wasn't here when you all arrived at the same time." Sambit naman ni River sabay pakita ng phone nya bilang proweba

"Well, you know what guys? Since the food is already here, I think we should eat it now because the food is getting cold." Said Sanjo

"Mabuti pa nga dahil gabi na din, may bata tayong dala dala" sabi ko

"Then, shall we eat?" Aniya Damara at sinimulan na nga naming lahat na kumain

Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari, pero nang simulan namin ang pagkain ay ni isa samin ay hindi nagsalita kaya pakiramdam ko ay para bang nabingi ako sa katahimikang bumabalot sa aming lahat na tanging tunog lamang ng mga kutsara at tinidor ang naririnig mula sa mesa namin.

ONE HOUR LATER

"Mauuna na kami, Damara. Thank you for having us tonight, it's a pleasure to meet you" nakangiting saad ko at isinakay ko na si Marina sa kotse dahil nakatulog na ito, pagkatapos kasi naming kumain ay ilang minuto lang ay inaya nya akong pumunta sa palaruang pinanggalingan nila kanina habang naiwan naman sa table sila Sanjo at mga naguusap.

"I'm the one who should thank you, senior Keilee, because I look up to you so much that I want to work with you when I finish college. At that time, I thought it was impossible to meet you and get to know you in person because I didn't know how and where to find you, but when I found out that you were Sanjo's sister, I was really happy. Thank you very much for going with him, and because of that, I had the opportunity to meet you in person." Sabi naman ni Damara

Nakakatuwa lang na kahit ilang taon na akong graduate ay may mga student pa ring gusto akong makilala na galing sa department namin. Well, I should blame the school for putting my portrait in our department.

"Ate na lang ang itawag mo sakin, hindi na kasi ako sanay na matawag na senior at girlfriend ka ni Sanjo ay ate na lang ang itawag mo sakin" tugon ko naman sa kanya

"Is it okay?" Paninigurado nya

"I would love that" nakangiting sagot ko sa kanya

"Okay, ate Keilee" saad nya. Ang bilis mo naman atang maka-adopt?

"We'll go first. Babe, I'm sorry I can't take you home tonight because I'm with ate Keilee and Marina." Said Sanjo and gave Damara a forehead kisses

"I'll be riding with my brother, so it's fine and you can't leave them just to take me home. I don't want ate Keilee to look at me badly." Damara smiled at him

Pumasok na ako sa loob ng kotse dahil hindi ko na kinakaya ang pagiging sweet nila sa isa't isa na kulang na lang ay langgamin silang dalawa. Sa una lang naman masaya ang relasyon.

Maya maya pa ay sumakay na din si Sanjo sa kotse matapos bumalik sa loob ng hotel restaurant si Damara

"All goods?" Tanong ko

"Yeah, and thank you for coming with me tonight ate Keilee kahit na medyo disaster" nakangiting saad ni Sanjo at kanya na nyang sinimulang paandarin ang makina ng sasakyan

"It's nothing to be honest, nagulat lang ako na kakilala ko pala ang kapatid ng girlfriend mo. Buti na lang ay na control ko ang sarili ko kanina" sabi ko naman

"Why?" He asked

"Nothing, it's just... You know, past matters" I said and smiled awkwardly at him

Hindi ko naman pwedeng sabihin kay Sanjo ang totoo dahil alam kong pwedeng maapektuhan ng katotohanan ang relasyon nila ni Damara at baka ito pa ang maging dahilan ng paghihiwalay nilang dalawa at iyon ang ayaw kong mangyari dahil mukhang seryoso si Sanjo sa relasyon nila at ayaw ko rin naman silang madamay sa sarili kong problema.

Pero teka lang...

Kung kapatid ni Damara si Seven at kababata nila si River at girlfriend na ni Sanjo si Damara, then that does mean NA MAGPAPATULOY ANG PAGTATAGPO NG LANDAS NAMIN NI RIVER DAHIL SA KONEKSYON NAMIN KILA SANJO AT DAMARA?!

"Bakit ngayon ko lang realized?!"

"Anong bakit ngayon mo lang na realized ate?"

"Huh?"

"I'm asking you, what do you mean by you've just realized what?" Tanong pa ulit ni Sanjo

"Did I just say it out loud?" Naguguluhang tanong ko naman sa kanya

"Oo, at halos magising mo pa nga si Marina sa lakas ng boses mo eh" sagot naman nya sakin

FUCK YOU RIVER! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!

"Well, it's nothing... May isang bagay lang na sumagi sa isip ko then I just realized something about it" sabi ko sa kanya

Sa sobrang lalim ng pagiisip ko ay hindi ko na namalayang nasasabi ko na pala ang nasa isip ko, it's stressing me out

"If you say so" aniya Sanjo at nagpatuloy na lang ito sa pagmamaneho

"Ano palang pinagusapan nyo kanina noong wala kami ni Marina?" Tanong ko. Syempre kailangan kong malaman kung anong pinagusapan nila kanina, malay mo may importante silang pinagusapan di ba o baka nagtanong si Seven tungkol sakin, kilala ko pa naman ang ugali ni Seven kaya kung hangga't maaari ay si Seven at River ang ayaw kong makakita sa mga anak ko lalo na kay Nile

"Wala naman, They just did a background check on me and asked what my true relationship with you is, nothing special." He just said what's special about their topic earlier, whatta stupid guy, indeed.

"And what did you say?" Tanong ko pa

"Just like what you said before, huwag kaming magsasalita patungkol sayo o kahit na anong pangyayari sa buhay mo sa kahit na sino kahit importanteng tao pa ang kaharap namin" paliwanag naman nya

"Thank you" nakangiting saad ko sa kanya

"Alam naman naming may dahilan ka ate kaya sinusunod lang namin yung bilin mo kaya nung tinanong ako ni kuya Seven kanina tungkol sayo before and after you gave birth to Marina, sinabi ko lang na naging simpleng house mother ka lang at wala ng iba" dagdag pa nya

Siguro kung hayop si Sanjo ay baka isa syang aso, napaka-masunurin, pero masaya ako na hindi nila nakakalimutan yung kondisyon ko noon lalo na ngayong mas lumiit ang mundo para sa amin ng mga anak ko at ni River, ito yung parteng kinakatakot ko.

"Thank you for your consideration, Sanjo" sabi ko naman

"I know that you just want to protect Nile and Marina because, based on your story before, their father is not just an ordinary person, so you prefer to have a private life where you can live peacefully with the twins. And that's what the three of us, Danwil and Zaikie, want for you. Gusto rin namin kayong protektahan, hindi kami papayag na matunton nya kayong tatlo at malaman nyang anak nya sila Marina at Nile matapos ang lahat ng pananakit nya sayo noon. I know ate Keilee na ayaw mong malaman namin kung sino ang taong 'yon pero sa oras na malaman ko kung sino sya eh kahit anak pa sya ng presidente ng amerika ay babalatan ko talaga sya ng buhay" gigil na saad ni Sanjo habang namumugto ang kanyang panga

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Hindi ko na naiwasang matawa dahil sa tuwa, hindi ko akalaing makakarinig ako ng ganitong mga salita galing kay Sanjo dahil usually napaka-gentle nya at hindi pala salita, nakakatuwa at nakakagaan lang ng loob

"Bakit ka tumatawa?" Tanong nya sakin

"Wala naman, natawa lang ako sa mga sinabi mo" saad ko naman

"I'm not joking ate at walang nakakatawa sa sinabi ko" inis nyang sambit

"I know, I know, I didn't mean to laugh. Thank you" sabi ko naman at ginulo ang kanyang buhok

"Ate stop or else mababangga tayo" sabi nya sabay hawi sa kamay ko

"Subukan mo lang, kapag may nangyaring masama kay Marina, ikaw ang babalatan ko ng buhay" pagbabanta ko ng pabiro

"That's why huwag mo akong guluhin kung ayaw mong maaksidente tayong tatlo" saway naman nya sakin

"Okay, fine" sabi ko na lang at muli akong umayos sa aking pagkakaupo

"Iidlip muna ako, woke me up when we arrived at home." Dagdag ko naman at hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot sakin ni Sanjo bagkus ay isinuot ko na ang aking earphone at pumikit

AFTERWARDS

"Ate Keilee"

"Ate Keilee, we're home"

"Hhhhmmm?"

"Don't hhhhmmm me, we're home now" aniya Sanjo na patuloy sa pagyugyog sakin

"Stop shaking me, I'm awake now" sabi ko naman at hinawi ang kanyang kamay

"Ako na ang magdadala kay Marina, mauna ka na sa loob ate dahil alam kong pagod ka" dagdag pa ni Sanjo

"Thanks!" Sabi ko naman at naglakad na ako papasok sa bahay

Nang makapasok ako sa bahay ay naabutan ko sina Zaikie at Danwil na naglalaro sa Xbox

"Gising pa rin kayo?" Tanong ko sa dalawa

"Obvious ba ate?" Sagot sakin ni Zaikie kaya binato ko ito ng bag ko

"Ouch! Tinamaan mo sugat ko ate Kei--- No way! Namatay ako!" Saad ni Zaikie habang aligaga dahil hindi nya alam kung anong uunahin nya, kung yung sugat ba nya o yung laro nila ni Danwil

"You sucks at this game, dude" aniya Danwil

"Anyway, welcome back ate" dagdag pa nya

"Binato ako ni ate kaya malamang sa malamang mawawala ako sa focus!" Sigaw ni Zaikie kay Danwil

"You deserve it though" sabi ko naman at umupo ako sa kabilang sofa at ipinahinga ang likod ko sa sandayan

"Oh? Hindi ka pa dumiretso sa kwarto mo, ate?" Tanong sakin ni Sanjo nang makapasok ito habang buhat buhat si Marina na natutulog pa rin

"Just resting for a bit" sabi ko

"Dude, akin si Marina at ako na ang magdadala sa kanya sa kwarto nya" pagboboluntaryo naman ni Danwil at agad namang ibinigay ni Sanjo si Marina sa kanya

"So how's dinner with your girlfriend's family?" Tanong ni Zaikie kay Sanjo

"It turns out that her parents are not there either because they went to something important related to work, so it's just her two older brothers who are there, and what's more shocking about her brothers is that ate Keilee knows them." Paliwanag ni Sanjo

"Really?!" Hindi makapaniwalang saad ni Zaikie

"Yeah, and for sure kilala mo rin sila, sobra nga akong na gulat kanina pero pinigilan ko lang ang sarili ko na maging excited dahil baka magmukha akong tanga sa harap ni Damara eh" sambit ni Sanjo

"Bakit?" Kunot noong tanong dito ni Zaikie

"Those two were members of Golden Fangs." Said Sanjo

"WHAT?! ARE YOU FOR REAL?!" Sigaw ni Zaikie sa gulat

"Yeah, it's Seven Keller and River Collymore"

"Seriously? Dang it, kaya pala nung marinig ko yung surname ni Damara ay parang pamilyar kasi kapatid pala sya ni Seven! You hit a jackpot!" Excited na saad ni Zaikie

"Sila talaga? Sigurado ka?" Singit naman ni Danwil na kakababa lang galing sa kwarto ni Marina

"Yeah, hindi ko akalain na kapatid at kababata sila ni Damara"

"What are you guys talking about? What is Golden Fangs?" Kunot noong tanong ko naman sa kanilang tatlo

"Hindi mo sila kilala ate?" Tanong sakin ni Danwil

"Grupo ba 'yan?" Tanong ko pa

"Hindi sila actually grupo pero parang grupo na sila dahil magkakaibigan naman sila" paliwanag naman ni Zaikie ngunit hindi ko pa rin ito naintindihan

"Huh?" Sabi ko

"Okay, para mas maintindihan mo ay ganito na lang ate, Si kuya Seven at River ay may dalawa pang kaibigan at iyon sina Raji Decko at Red Cruz. The four of them were friends since their childhood, so the reason why they were being called Golden Fangs was because of their achievements in life, si kuya Seven ay sikat na model locally and internationally at si Raji naman ay isang successful na piloto habang si Red naman ay isang sikat na novelist and last but not the least, the most famous member of the Golden Fangs is River, ang young multi-businessman na nangunguna sa ranggo ng mga mayayaman at successful na businessman sa asia at pumapangalawa sa America, so that's why people calling them Golden Fangs" paliwanag sakin ni Sanjo.

"I still don't get the fact why people are calling them Golden Fangs" sabi ko naman

"It's because they are dominating their work and a lot of women are going crazy about them, and some young men like us are admiring them." Paliwanag din ni Zaikie. Tch! You guys are admiring Marina and Nile's biological father... The guy you despise the most in this world!

"Ah, okay" maiksing saad ko naman

"Pero may isa lang akong napansin" aniya Sanjo

"What?" Tanong ni Zaikie

"Hindi ko alam kung miss ko lang si Nile or magkamukha talaga sila ni River" I dropped my phone in shock because of what Sanjo said.

"W-what d-do y-you m-mean b-by t-that?" Para akong naging isang bata na sinusubukang magsalita dahil sa utal utal kong pananalita. Ito na nga ba ang kinakatakutan ko... Ang may makapansin sa pagkakapareho ni Nile at River ng kanilang mga mukha

"Paano mo naman nasabi?" Kunot noong tanong naman ni Danwil

"Kasi nung nakita ko sya kanina, nung unang tingin ko para talaga akong namalikmata akala ko bumilis yung paglaki ni Nile pero na realized ko na hindi 'yon si Nile at si River ang kaharap ko pero parang matandang version talaga sya ni Nile" paliwanag pa ni Sanjo

"HAHAHAHA! Hindi naman, napakalayo at sobrang impossible na maging magkamukha silang dalawa" I said awkwardly and bit my lower lip afterwards

"Now that you said that, magkamukha nga sila!" Pagsang-ayon naman ni Danwil kay Sanjo

"Talaga ba?" Tanong naman ni Zaikie

"Here, I searched him" Danwil said and hand his phone to Zaikie

FUCK!

FUCK!

FUCK!

"Hala! Oo nga ano? Ate look!" Saad ni Zaikie at ipinakita sa akin ang picture ni River sa internet. Huwag naman sana nilang isipin na si River ang ama ng mga anak ko dahil ayokong magulo yung tahimik na buhay naming mag-iina

"H-hindi naman, napakalayo kaya" pangtatanggi ko naman

"Tignan mo ng maigi ate" pagpilit naman ni Zaikie

"Tatanggalin mo yung phone sa mukha ko o ikaw ang tatanggalan ko ng hininga?" Tanong ko sa kanya na may halong pagbabanta

"Ohh, my bad, my bad" he said

"But they both really look alike, like father and son." Aniya Danwil

"Ah! Alam ko na!" Singhal ni Sanjo na ikinagulat ko naman. Na realized na ba nyang si River ang ama ng mga anak ko?!

"What?"

"Hindi ba ang sabi mo kanina ay senior mo sila River way back in college, ate Keilee?" Tanong sakin ni Sanjo

"Y-yeah" please don't say it. Please don't say it!

"Kaya sila magkamukha ni Nile because..."

Bacause?

"It's because senior mo si River at sya ang napaglihian mo noong buntis ka sa dalawa!" And it was as if my heart fell because of what Sanjo said.

"What?" Kunot noong tanong ko

"Oo nga 'no? Di ba kasi kapag buntis ka naglilihi ka, now I get it!" Pagsang-ayon naman ni Zaikie kay Sanjo. What the actual f**k?