INT. CORDOVA RESIDENCE, 10:43 PM

A maid opened the gates for Letizia and Raguel. When they entered the living room, they saw Lucio smoking his tobacco while crossing his legs. He looked at them and smirked.

LUCIO
   Oh, my prodigal granddaughter and her useless ex-husband. Fancy seeing you here.

Letizia looked at him sharply, while Raguel kept a straight face.

LUCIO
   To what do I owe you this visit, my dear granddaughter?

Letizia wants to remove the annoying smirk from her grandfather’s face. She gritted her teeth, and without thinking, she removed her hand from Raguel’s hold, and in a swift move, she slapped Lucio Cordova Sr.

Napaatras si Lucio sa gulat. Even Raguel was shocked. Hindi niya inasahang gagawin ni Letizia iyon. On the other hand, Letizia sighed in relief and pointed her index finger at Lucio.

LETIZIA
   You! You fucking deserved that slap! No, actually, kulang pa ‘yan! Kulang pa ‘yan sa lahat ng kagaguhang ginawa mo sakin, kay Raguel, at sa pamilya niya!

LUCIO
   [ Laughs mockingly ] Kagaguhan? When did you learn to speak like that? ‘Yan ba ang natutunan mo sa estupidong ‘yan?

LETIZIA
   No, I learned it on my own because I found out how rotten you are! And Raguel’s not stupid! Kung may estupido man sa pamamahay na ‘to ngayon, ikaw ‘yon!

Lucio chuckled mockingly and looked at Raguel from head to toe. Raguel pursed his lips and stopped himself from speaking. He wanted to say something, but he kept his mouth shut. Because he wants Letizia to vent out. Alam niyang matagal na ‘tong kinikimkim ni Letizia at ayaw niyang pumagitna.

LETIZIA
   You're fucking disgusting, Lolo! And it disgusts me right now to even call you that! After five years, ngayon ko lang nalaman ang ginawa mo kay Raguel at sa negosyo ng pamilya niya.

LETIZIA
  I-I wanted so bad to go home that time and lash out to you... pero pinigilan ako ni Raguel. Saying that it’s already in the past at ayaw niya nang ungkatin. At hayaan ko na lang daw kasi parang imposibleng manggulo ka pa. Kasi limang taon ka nang tahimik, eh. We should just continue on moving forward daw.

LETIZIA
   But this? This is fucking bullshit! You paid someone to publicize our divorce and then told the media that Raguel kidnapped me?! Tangina. That’s so fucking low!

LETIZIA
   How dare you paint his love for me as toxic—

LUCIO
   Because it is!!! It’s fucking toxic!

Lucio took a step forward, and that's why Raguel pulled Letizia and put her behind his back.

LUCIO
   Kasi kung hindi, then why did you turn your back to me?

LUCIO
   You were an obedient granddaughter! Pero dahil dito sa estupidong ‘to, tinalikuran mo ako?! Wala kang pinagkaiba sa ama mong tanga!

LUCIO
   Your father was the most obedient and the best son a father could ever ask. Pero dahil kagaya mong tanga! Dahil sa pag-ibig kuno! Tumalikod din sakin! He turned his back to me, and it cost him his life!

LUCIO
  I've been warning him that that woman is only using him for money. Na ginagamit lang ang apelyido niya para iangat ang pipitsuging negosyo nila. Pero dahil tanga ‘yang tatay mo, pinagpatuloy niya!

LUCIO
   Until one day, nalugi ang negosyo ng pamilya ng ina mo. At ginawa niya ang lahat para makatulong.

LUCIO
  And while helping them rebuild their cheap business without my help, nadisgrasya sila habang papunta sa isa pang pipitsuging investor sana ng negosyo.

LUCIO
   That’s why my only son is dead! It’s because he didn’t listen to me! And the same thing will happen to you!

LUCIO
   Akala mo ba wala akong alam sa biglaang pagbaba ng timbang mo?! Ang pagkalagas ng buhok mo habang mag-asawa kayo?! I was ready to tell you I told you so pero hindi ka bumalik sakin!

LUCIO
   I let it pass. Dahil at least, wala ka na sa puder ng hijo de puta na ‘to. Pero malalaman ko, makalipas ang limang taon, nagkakamabutihan na kayo ulit?!

LUCIO
   Tangina, Letizia Mari! Kailangan ba madisgrasya ka pa? O baka kailangan makalbo ka pa bago mo iwan ang inutil na ‘yan?!

Letizia was stunned by her grandfather’s story. She can’t believe how petty her grandfather really is.

LETIZIA
  Lolo... my love for Raguel and his love for me was not the reason for my hair fall. Or for my alarming weight loss.

LETIZIA
   It was you.

LETIZIA
   You were the root cause of my problems, our problems. And guess what? You were also the root cause why my father died! Why your only son died!

LETIZIA
   Kung hindi ka nanggulo sa mga Da Silva... hindi kami maapektuhan ni Raguel, hindi ako mai-stress na magiging sanhin ng lahat ng ‘yon. Our marriage would have been happier!

LETIZIA
   At sino ka para tawaging tanga si Dad? If anything, I admire his courage. I admire him for fighting for his love.

LETIZIA
   [ Chuckles ] Malungkot ka kasi namatayan ka ng anak? Tangina! Kasalanan mo! Kung tinulungan mo si Mom at Dad una pa lang, hindi sila madidisgrasya papunta sa investor! Wala sanang mamamatay!

LETIZIA
   It all boils down to you, Lucio. You ruined my marriage and you fucking killed your own son!

LUCIO
  I— I killed... I killed my son? No... no... b-bawiin mo!

LETIZIA
   Wala akong babawiin dahil walang mali sa sinabi ko!

LETIZIA
   This is my first and last warning, Lucio. Stop. Meddling. With. My. Life.

Letizia threw one last disgruntled look at Lucio Cordova, who looked mortified before marching outside. Raguel looked at him and sighed.

RAGUEL
   I hate you. I hate what you’ve done to me, to my family, and to Letizia. At kahit kailan, hindi kita mapapatawad. But you need help, Lucio. Seek professional help.

Raguel ran outside to follow Letizia. He saw her sitting on the stairs outside their house. He sat down and hugged her. As soon as he put her in his embrace, Letizia’s strong demeanor collapsed while she cried on his chest.

LETIZIA
   I felt bad... for saying those things. But at the same time... I'm relieved.

RAGUEL
   [ Smiles as he kisses Letizia’s hair ]
It’s fine, baby. It’s normal. Gano’n talaga.

LETIZIA
   I hope he won’t bother us anymore.

RAGUEL
   Hindi na niya gagawin ‘yon. Pangako.

RAGUEL
   Princess?

LETIZIA
   Hmm?

RAGUEL
   Proud ako sa’yo.