Atticus POV

I came without noticed to my parents house that I haven't home for a year. Si Mama ang sumalubong sa akin at nasa likod niya ang isang katulong namin.

"Atticus, baby!" Yakap niya sa akin at halik sa pisngi ko. Magpahanggang ngayon ay 'baby' pa rin talaga ang tawag sa akin ng ina ko.

"I'm glad that you're home, anak. Ano? Kumain ka na ba? Yaya - "

"Tapos na ako, Ma. I'm here to talk to you." I cut her off and looked at her seriously.

"Oh, I see. . . Prepare a warm tea, Yaya please," tugon niya nito at pinalupot na niya ang kamay sa braso ko.

"Your Papa is not home today. May importante siyang ginawa at nasa kabilang bahagi ng corporasyon. Do you also want to talk to him?"

"No, Mama. Just let him be. Hindi naman ako magtatagal." Hakbang namin patungo sa veranda.

"Okay, If you say so. But I hope you will stay tonight.  I miss my baby. . ." Higpit na hawak ni Mama sa braso ko.

"I might, I will see. . ." ngiti ko.

Everything seems the same around the house. And the best spot where we are reminds me of beautiful moments with my parents. I am truly blessed with everything, and I'm thankful for my parents, especially Papa. But amidst all the luxury, there's always money that cannot buy, and that is love.

"Salamat, Yaya," I said and she smiled. Umalis na din siya at iniwan kaming dalawa ni Mama.

"Is Philip back?" My jaw tightened while asking my mother.

Of course, I know that the bastard is back, and I'm only pretending here to get some information from my mother.

Sabihin man natin na ayaw na ni Papa kay Philip at wala na siyang pakialam sa kanya ay iba naman si Mama.

She's a mother to Philip, and no matter how bad a son is, it does not matter to a mother.

"Yes, he's back, Atticus!" Kinang na titig ni Mama sa akin. She seems excited that after so long, Philip is back again.

"I'm happy that you ask. He got back the other day. Dapat sana magkikita kami ngayon. Pero hindi natuloy dahil may importante siyang surgery. Ang kapatid mo talaga ano. . . Kararating lang niya at trabaho agad ang nauna. Dapat sana ako ang unang prioridad niya," dismayado sa boses niya.

"Sana nga pala nagkaroon ako ng anak na babae. Iba kasi kayong mga lalaki. . . You don't care about your mother. It's sad. . ." on her low voice and she looked away.

I smile and walks towards her. Pasimple ang ginawa kong pagyakap mula sa likod niya at mahigpit ito.

"I miss you, Ma. You know that. . . And I love you too." Dampi ko nang halik sa pisngi niya.

"I know, baby. . . Ano? Kailan mo ba gustong mag-asawa? Kara is a good candidate. I don't mind her. She's got the class, educated with good family background. Sabine is okay, but sometimes she's a pushover. But if you choose her, I will never go against," ngiti ni Mama sa akin.

"Ma. . . I have someone with that I want to spend the rest of my life. Sana maintindihan ninyo."

Natahimik siyang saglit at nag-iwas sa titig ko. Tumayo siya na bitbit ang tasa ng tsa-a niya.

"And how sure you are that she's not after your money, Atticus?" seryosong titig niya.

"Alam mo naman siguro kung ilang babae na ang binayaran ko? Kilala kita. Anak kita. You don't go around and fuck woman because that's not you. But it was the other way around. Those woman are after you for one thing!" Nababahalang titig ng ina ko sa akin.

I smile, and I understand her concerns. Yes, she paid a lot of women who tried to get me because of what I have and what I am in this society.

"You are different from all of your cousins. I wish you were like Drew, like Norman, Conrad, Enzo! But no, you are not. . . because you have a heart of gold like your father.

I smile politely at my mother. "A heart like Papa, who fight for you till the end, right? Papa knows what he wants, and he wants you, Mama. At oo, pareho lang kami ng puso ni Papa. . ."

"Was it the same woman in Japan?" seryosong titig niya at binaba na sa mesa ang hawak na tasa.

"I've heard that she ran away on your supposed to be a secret wedding day. Akala mo siguro hindi ko alam? See? I've told you that she's only after your money, son. She ran away with the money that I gave her!"

Her voice rose, and my jaw tightened. I've heard this before from Yaya Maling. But I was out of sorts at that time and ignored her warnings.

I'm sure Gaige did not run away with that money. Perhaps, something happened to her at that time, and she ended up in an accident, as Xavion has told me.

"She never ran away, Mama. . . Someone took her from me, and I don't believe she spent your money."

"Huh, really? And you believe that!? That money was gone! It was withdrawn three days after that! Do you need a proof? I can show it to you. Come on, Art! Nag-iisang anak kita sa ama mo at gusto kong magkaroon ng mabubuting apo mula sa' yo. Mula sa tamang babae na para sa' yo at hindi ng kung sino-sino!" Taas na boses niya.

I looked at my mother, and there was no point in talking to her. She will not listen to me.

Tumalikod na ako at kinuha ang cellphone sa mesa at humakbang ako palabas ng veranda.

"Atticus!" Sunod ni Mama sa akin.

"I'm not forcing you to get married to Kara! I don't care if you will introduce someone to us different as long as not that woman! She's a gold digger, and she will only use you!"

"Stop it, Mama!" I paused a step and turn around to see my mother's face. Halata sa mukha ni Mama ang galit at ganito rin ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.

We could talk quietly, and I thought that she would listen to me. That was what I was hoping, but I was wrong again.

"I will never settle to anyone if its not for her," igting ng panga ko at talikod sa ina ko.

"Fine! Choose your way! Be like your brother! Baka isang araw sisipot ka na lang sa harapan namin ng Papa mo na bitbit ang anak mo na walang ina! Fine! Do that! That's exactly what Philip is going to do to me tomorrow! Wala ba'ng matino sa inyong dalawa!?" sigaw ni Mama.

I stop again, and both of my hands are on my hips.

That bloody bastard. My mind speaks.

I turn around and look at my mother. She's teary, almost crying, and my heart melted. Mahina ang puso ko pagdating sa mga babaeng mahalaga sa akin. At una na rito ay ang ina ko.

"Atticus. . . Anak. . ." Lambing na tugon niya at hakbang palapit sa akin.

"I'm sorry. . . I understand if you love someone because I've been there. Pero sana naman, anak - "

"Where is Philip?" putol ko sa pagsasalita niya.

"Oh. . .Uhm, he's back at his penthouse. But if you're asking where he is now? He's with Dr Miranda, sa hospital niya."

I nod and give my mother another hug. "I will talk to you again, Mama. I need to do something first." I said, let go, and walked away from her.

"I'll arrange a dinner for us this coming Saturday. Don't be late!" huling habol niya. Itinaas ko lang ang kamay ko sa ere tanda nang pag-sang-ayon sa kanya.

___

Dammit. My mind spoke when I heard my phone vibrate.

I fished it out in my pocket and read it in silence. It was Xavion. I smirked when I read it. I ignored him yesterday purposely because I was pissed off. He knows what's happening and refuses to talk to me about it. I guess Enzo was right. I should better talk to Philip to see what's going on.

I know the boys cared about me and my feelings. The hell, I'm not some baby that needed to be pampered. 

Stupid.

Xavion's message to me:
Art, let's talk tonight. I will come over later at eight.

Me to Xavion:
Sure, reaper.

Nilagay ko na ito pabalik sa bulsa ko at buntonghininga ang ginawa kong pagtitig sa pinto ng malaking ospital na ito.

I hate going to places like this and seeing him. Marami kasing makakakilala sa akin pagdating rito.

This hospital is owned by the Dela Merced and Del Santa Maria, Kara's family.

I went inside, acting normal as I don't have my bodyguards with me. Ilang araw ko na silang pinagpahinga dahil ayaw ko silang umaaligid sa likod ko. Mas gusto kong ako na lang muna mag-isa ngayon dahil nakakapag-isip ako nang maayos sa sarili.

I sat down in one of the chairs here inside the lobby. There was no one here except me. I grabbed my phone again and was about to call Philip, but my world stopped spinning when I saw the person I'd been looking for the past few days.

Gaige? My mind speaks while looking at her.

Napatayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo at nabuhay ang pag-asa ko.

My darling. My mind speaks again. Enzo was right, he was right. . . Philip is the key to finding her. But why?

I could no longer hide the smile on my face while walking towards her. Medyo malayo pa ako sa kanya at nakatayo siya sa harapan ng elevator at naghihintay na bumukas ito.

I was ready to say her name, but I stopped when the elevator opened, and there I saw. . . Philip gets out, carrying a little boy with him.

"Baby!" si Gaige sa kanya, at mabilis ang ginawang pagyakap at kuha niya sa bata.

What the hell is happening here?

Confused with everything, I could no longer take a step forward, and I was standing, looking so lost at them in this corner.

Humalik si Philip sa pisngi ni Gaige at tumalikod siya nito, dahil nasa bata na ang atensyon niya.

I feel the pang inside my chest, and I couldn't understand it. . . Dammit. That little boy. . . that little one. My mind speaks in silence.

Ito ba ang ibig sabihin ni Enzo sa sinabi niya kagabi?

What the fuck is happening? It was like looking at my young version when I saw the little boy's face.

Philip? Gaige? Damn it!

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C.M. LOUDEN
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