Today was "Operation: Find Out the Truth from Chase" Day.

Dahil pinahintulutan na rin naman ako ng aking jowa, walang pag-aalinlangan na akong pumunta sa Global Projects, kung saan nagtatrabaho ang aking college friend slash ex-suitor.

"Good morning, ma'am," nakangiting bati sa akin ng receptionist nang mapansin niya ang pagdating ko. "You are here for...?"

"Mr. Chase Constantino," I supplied. "From your accounting department. Nandito ba siya ngayon?"

"Let me check po," sagot naman niya sa akin. "May I know your name, ma'am?"

"Mira Custodio."

The receptionist nodded to convey her understanding, then proceeded to make a phone call. Ilang saglit ang lumipas bago niya akong muling binalingan at nagsabi ng, "Mr. Constantino is waiting for you in his office, ma'am. Board the elevator, get off the seventh floor, then take the left corridor," she instructed as she handed me a visitor's pass. "His office, Room 703, is the third one to your right."

"Got it. Thanks."

Mabuti na lang at kahit may kahinaan ako pagdating sa direksyon, maluwalhati naman akong nakarating sa destinasyon ko.

"Hey, Mira," bati sa akin ni Chase nang mapansin niya ang pagpasok ko sa opisina niya.

I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination, but he didn't seem surprised at all to see me. In fact, he was curbing a smile as he acknowledged my presence. Para bang inaasahan na ni Chase na at some point ay sasadyain ko siya para kausapin — a thought that made me both wary and curious.

"Chase," tugon ko sa kanya. I wouldn't normally be this curt, but I figured it wasn't the time for niceties.

Iginala ko muna ang paningin ko sa loob ng opisina niya, at nang makasiguro akong walang ibang tao rito bukod sa aming dalawa, kaagad kong nilapitan si Chase. Maybe it was his vexing expression that triggered me — as he was just about to stand up, I grabbed him by the collar in one swift motion.

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Chase dahil sa ginawa ko. "Hey, what was that for?" he half-yelled in a terrified tone.

"Hoy, Chase Nixon Constantino..." I began, my eyes narrowed threateningly, "...may mga itatanong ako sa'yo. And I expect you to be completely honest in response. Maliwanag ba?"

He gulped. Kung kanina ay mukhang handa pa siyang makipaglokohan sa akin, ngayon naman ay pansin ang unti-unting pagkawala ng kanyang kumpiyansa. Halatang nawindang si Chase dahil matapos ang napakahabang panahon ay muli niyang nasilayan ang pagiging lahing Amazona ko.

"There's no need to sound like you're ready to kill me any second, you know," he muttered. "Ano ba 'yang mga itatanong mo at kailangan mo pa akong kwelyuhan?"

"Darating din tayo riyan. For now, mangako ka muna na sasagutin mo nang maayos ang lahat ng mga tanong ko. Kung hindi, babalian kita ng buto."

Muling napalunok ang mokong. Alam niya kasi na hindi ako nagloloko — minsan ko na ring binangasan ang mukha niya noong nasa kolehiyo pa kami, nang mapikon ako dahil sa pang-aalaska niya sa akin.

"Fine. Ikaw pa ba ang lolokohin ko?"

"Good. Mabuti nang nagkakaintindihan tayo." I smirked before letting go of his collar, causing him to fall down his seat again. Napangiwi naman si Chase, tanda na hindi maganda ang naging pag-landing ng kanyang backside sa upuan.

"Okay, first question." I was aware of how much I sounded like a game show host, albeit a hostile one. "Paano kayo nagkakilala ni Bella?"

"I knew it." Si Chase naman ngayon ang umismid. "Inutusan ka ng boyfriend mo na usisain ako, tama ba?"

"Hindi 'yan ang sagot sa tanong ko!" I slammed a hand on his desk, causing him to wince again. "Uulitin ko — paano kayo nagkakilala ni Bella?"

Malalim na buntonghininga ang pinakawalan ni Chase bago siya sumagot. "Bella and I met in Australia," he finally confirmed. "Happy?"

As expected, I thought with a hint of triumph. But out loud, I said, "Not really. I need details, Mr. Constantino."

"Of course you do," he mumbled, casting me a look that clearly implied he expected me to coax every possible piece of information from him.

I crossed my arms and plastered an impatient expression on my face. Nagpatuloy naman siya sa pagsasalita.

"Remember how my family decided to relocate abroad, right after we finished college? Well, a few days after we settled into our new home, may lumipat din sa katabi naming bahay. When I learned that our new neighbor was also Filipino, I personally came over to welcome her. And by her, I mean Bella. The rest was history. We grew close, and I became her confidant during the most difficult time of her life."

"Most difficult time of her life?" I echoed, intrigued. In return, he gave me a meaningful look.

"Yep. When Bella moved to Australia, she was about halfway through her pregnancy."

Napanganga naman ako nang mag-sink in sa akin ang sinabi niya. "May... may anak si Bella?"

Chase nodded, his expression now unreadable.

Matagal bago ako muling nakapagsalita. I felt lightheaded, the way I do whenever something overwhelming comes to my knowledge.

May secret child si Bella.

"Is that what you're taunting Vren with no'ng sabihin mong may mga hindi pa siya alam tungkol sa ex-girlfriend niya?"

"Exactly."

"Sino pa ang nakakaalam nito bukod sa'yo, Chase?"

"Nobody else apart from Charrie and our mom. Kaming tatlo lang ang nakakaalam ng tungkol sa pagbubuntis ni Bella, at nangako kaming isisikreto 'yon."

"Kahit ang mga magulang ni Bella, walang alam tungkol dito?"

Umiling si Chase.

I closed my eyes briefly. Ni sa hinagap ay hindi ko naisip na ganito pala kalaki ang lihim na itinatago ni Bella.

"Bakit niya naman itinago ang pagbubuntis niya?" I wondered in a faint voice. "Tinakbuhan ba siya ng ama ng bata?"

This time, Chase laughed — a mirthless laugh, unfortunately. "Bakit hindi mo itanong 'yan sa maangas mong boyfriend, Mira?" 

It took me a long time to process his statement, but when I finally did, I managed an incredulous, "Si Vren? Siya ang ama ng anak ni Bella?"

Kung kanina, napakataas pa ng enerhiya ko at nagawa ko pang kwelyuhan si Chase, ngayon naman ay ramdam ko ang unti-unting pamamanhid ng katawan ko.

This was just too much to handle.

"Who else could it be? Si Vren ang huling nakarelasyon ni Bella bago siya pumunta sa Australia. In fact, he was her first and only relationship. Bella was devastated after they broke up."

"At gaano ka naman kasigurado na si Vren nga ang tatay ng bata? Baka naman... baka naman nagkakamali ka lang." I was aware of how desperate I sounded, but my mind still refused to take in the magnitude of Chase's revelation. And of course, there was still the chance that he's just messing with me.

"Granted, Bella never admitted to me kung sino talaga ang tatay ng bata. That was the only information I couldn't get out of her. But even the world's biggest idiot would definitely point his finger at Vren. Like I said, who else could it be? Kung hindi ang boyfriend niya ang nakabuntis kay Bella, sino?" Chase shrugged, his expression quite mocking.

"There you have it." Hope started creeping back in my tone. "Ikaw na mismo ang nagsabi na hindi naman talaga inamin sa'yo ni Bella kung sino ang nakabuntis sa kanya. Then how come you knew all about her relationship with Vren? If Bella didn't mention a name, bakit si Vren ngayon ang pinagbibintangan mong ama ng bata?"

"Oh, I assure you, Bella did mention Vren. Quite constantly, if you ask me," sagot ni Chase sa akin. The bitterness in his voice was hard to miss. "Vren Andrei Montevilla — her first love, her only love..." His face now showed disgust. "Ang Vren na 'yan ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ako natutunang mahalin ni Bella. Every time I told her she's better off forgetting that guy, she'd tell me it's impossible. To her, no other man could take Vren's place. Your boyfriend, Mira, made it impossible for Bella to return my love."

I pursed my lips and said nothing.

"I'm more than ready to be the father of her child," Chase continued. "Aakuin ko ang bata, papanindigan ko siya... but Bella always rejected me. She even said she's too old for me — I mean, does a two-year gap even count? Kung hindi naman ang agwat ng edad namin ang dahilan niya, sasabihin niyang marami pang ibang babae riyan na mas bagay sa akin. She used to reason out I deserved someone better — isang babae na hindi disgrasyada. But I'm not a fool, Mira. Alam kong ang totoong rason kung bakit inaayawan ako ni Bella ay dahil si Vren pa rin ang mahal niya. If it weren't for your stupid, arrogant boyfriend, I would have stood a chance with Bella."

Wala pa rin akong naisagot sa kanya, kaya nagpatuloy lang sa pagsasalita si Chase. I couldn't help but think that this was exactly what I wanted him to do — to reveal everything to me — yet if I could turn back time, hinding-hindi ko na uusisain pa ang history nila ni Bella.

Kung alam ko lang kung ano ang magiging resulta ng pag-uusisa ko...

"After two years, Bella decided to go back to the country, bringing the kid with her. Akala ko ay ipapaalam na niya sa lahat ang tungkol sa anak niya, pero nagkamali ako. She never told anyone about Zac. And while Bella was bearing the difficulty of having a child no one knew about, there was your boyfriend, enjoying life as a bachelor, unaware of his responsibilities. Vren Montevilla is the embodiment of the word negligence, if you ask me. Pabaya siyang boyfriend kaya iniwan siya ni Bella. At dahil pabaya siya, lumaking walang kinikilalang ama si Zac."

Hindi ko na napigilang umalma dahil sa huling sinabi niya. "Negligent? Paano naman naging pabaya si Vren? Sa'yo na mismo nanggaling na hindi naman niya alam na meron silang anak ni Bella. Kung nalaman lang ni Vren ang tungkol sa bata, sigurado akong hinding-hindi niya tatakbuhan ang responsibilidad niya. Who are you to judge him, anyway? Hindi mo kilala si Vren, so don't act as if may malaki siyang kasalanan sa'yo!"

Chase chuckled grimly. "Hanga rin naman ako sa'yo, Mira. Ipinagtatanggol mo pa rin ang boyfriend mo sa kabila ng nalaman mo tungkol sa kanya. If I were you, I'd leave him. You're better off with someone else... isang lalaki na walang sabit. You're better off with me. After all, with me failing to win Bella from Vren, getting you instead would be a death blow for that asshole. Isa pa, tayo naman talaga dati, 'di ba? It's funny how the world can be so small."

I stared at him in disbelief. Si Chase ba talaga ang kaharap ko ngayon? Nasaan na 'yong dati kong kaibigan — masayahin, mapagbiro, gentleman... at higit sa lahat, mabait?

It's really heartbreaking how some people change over time. Mabuti sana kung ang pagbabago nila ay "for the better". But after witnessing how Chase acted today, I had no trouble saying that he changed for the worse.

****

Hindi na rin ako nagtagal sa opisina ni Chase. How could I stay, ngayong nalaman kong ibang-iba na pala siya sa dating Chase na kilala ko? He must have loved Bella so much for him to hate Vren that intensely.

Ngayong narinig ko na ang side ni Chase, naliwanagan na rin ako tungkol sa iba pang mga bagay na dati ay palaisipan sa akin.

That bouquet of flowers Chase sent me? Hindi niya iyon ipinadala dahil lagi niya akong naaalala. Malamang sa malamang ay ginawa niya lang 'yon para inisin si Vren. At ang tanga ko dahil muntik pa akong kumagat sa pang-uuto niya sa akin.

Bella's weird reaction upon receiving another stupid bouquet from Chase? It was fear — fear of the guy who was obsessed with her... of the guy who might spill her greatest secret any moment.

And Bella's greatest secret? She has a child that only a few knew about. And according to Chase, the kid was named Zac. Hearing it had rung a bell, pero masyado pa akong tuliro ngayon para masigurado kung bakit pamilyar sa akin ang pangalan ng anak ni Bella.

I remembered the time when Vren and I visited his ex-girlfriend, after I finally promised that I would try my best to be civil towards the latter.

"Mahilig ka rin ba sa mga bata, Bella?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Of course." She smiled. "They're the best. I feel giddy every time I see a chubby little kid."

"Ako rin!" Tumawa ako. "Tuwing makakakita ako ng cute na bata, parang gusto kong iuwi para gawing keychain."

"You should have seen —" Bella stopped and pursed her lips, as if she was on the verge of saying something forbidden.

And now, I finally knew what that forbidden something is — her child's existence, which she kept between herself and only a handful of people for so long.

I should have seen her child, Zac.

I bet he was an impossibly cute kid. Pagsamahin mo ba naman ang isang Isabella Lira dela Merced at isang Vren Andrei Montevilla.

May anak si Isabella... may anak sila ni Vren.

Ang sakit. Ang sakit-sakit.

Napaka-unfair naman ng buhay sa akin! Bella was, undoubtedly, Chase's greatest love. And she had a kid with Vren, who would forever remind him of her, kahit na ngayon pang wala na siya sa mundo. Bella was Vren's first love, and given how they share a child, would that make her his greatest love, too?

Where does that leave me?

Naramdaman ko na lang na tumutulo na ang mga luha ko. Nakakahiya nga dahil baka isipin ng mga taong nakakasalubong ko rito sa Global Projects na nakipag-break ako sa boyfriend ko.

Pero malamang sa malamang ay mag-break nga kami ng boyfriend ko. Mamaya, kapag nagkita muli kami ni Vren at nalaman niya ang tungkol sa sikreto ni Bella... hindi ko na sigurado kung ano pa ang kahahantungan ng relasyon namin.

Paano ka pa mawawala sa puso ni Vren, Bella? sa isip-isip ko. Wala ka na, pero nag-iwan ka naman ng remembrance para sa kanya. Wala ka na, pero talo mo pa rin ako...

The pain I felt at the moment was unmatched. There's nothing more painful than knowing that no matter how hard I try to be the only woman in Vren's life — in Vren's heart — my efforts would just be in vain. There's a child, a living evidence of the love Vren and Bella shared.

Will I still continue to fight a lost battle?