Gaige's POV

"Salamat, Monica. Pasensya ka na. Wala na akong ibang malalapitan at maisip maliban sa' yo. Hindi ko naman pwedeng sabihin ito sa Ate mo dahil magkakilala sila ni Philip, at tiyak magtatanong si Philip sa kanya."

"Ano ka ba. Your secret is safe with me. Sino pa ba ang magtutulungan? E 'di tayong dalawa lang naman," tugon niya sa kabilang linya.

Gamit ko ang telepono sa hotel na ito para makatawag kay Monica ng sekreto. I could not use my details and card. And so, I ended up using Monica's atm to withdraw money.

Mabilis din ang kilos ko nang makatakas ako kanina. Mabuti na lang at katabi ng medyo pormal na motel na ito ang atm bank na nasa gilid.

I have no choice but to check in as I have no idea of where I am. Nasa malaking isla pala kami ni Diezel na sakop pa rin ng Palawan at marami nga naman ang turista sa bahaging ito. Madalas mga puti ang nakakasabay ko kanina sa check in na kasama ang mga pinay na nobya nila.

"Hoy, hinanap ka ni Atticus sa akin."

Naalerto ako at parang nabuhayan ng loob nang marinig ang pangalan ni Atticus.

"Pero hindi ko sinabi kung nasaan ka. Hindi ko nga rin alam kung nasaan ka talaga, Gaige. At naguguluhan ako sa' yo. Hindi ka naman pala umuwi sa probinsya. Tumawag kasi ako sa kanila at wala ka naman doon. Kaya nagkukunwari lang ako na nakikimusta ka sa kanila at sinabi ko na abala ka sa trabaho."

Napapikit-mata ako. Hindi ko naisip si Monica noong umalis ako dahil naging abala ako sa sarili kay Arthur. Gusto ko kasi na makuha ang loob ng bata at nang sa ganoon ay mabilis ko siyang maitakas kay Philip.

Okay na sana, kaso hindi naman umayon ang lahat sa plano ko. Wala sa akin si Arthur at nasa mama ni Philip ito.

"I am somewhere so far from you, Monica. And I don't know when I will be back, but I will try as early as tomorrow. Hindi pa kasi ako pwedeng gumalaw ngayon dahil tiyak hinahanap ako nang taong pinagtataguan ko."

"Nagtatago ka? Kanino? Kay Philip ba o kay Atticus?"

Hindi agad ako makasagot sa tanong niya. Mukhang pinagtataguan ko na silang lahat ngayon sa sitwasyon ko.

"Tumawag kasi si Ate Samantha sa akin noong nakaraang araw. Inaalam niya kung nasaan ka. Wala akong sinabi at nag-kunwari ako na walang ala. I told her that you went out for the company launching somewhere. Ang daming niyang tanong at wala akong maisagot dahil wala nga naman akong alam. Nakakatakot si Ate, at mukhang papunta yata siya rito sa Maynila. Magtago na rin kaya ako? Mapapatay ako ng Ate ko kapag nalaman niya na ganitong uri ang trabaho ko. Tsk, sana sinama mo na ako, Gaige. Kalokohan ito."

Napabuntonghininga ako. Mukhang malaki rin ang problema ni Monica kagaya ko.

"Huwag ka munang bumalik dito. Diyaan ka na lang muna," pagpatuloy niya.

Paano na ang anak ko? Si Arthur? Tulalang isip ko. Tumingala ako at pilit na pinigilan ang namumuong luha sa mga mata ko.

It's nobody's mistake except mine. I choose this, and I should know better. But I was weak and was trying to survive at that time. I have no choice but to hang on to Philip for my little boy's protection. Hindi na bali ang kaligtasan ko, huwag lang ang buhay ng anak ko.

"Tatawag ako ulit, Monica. At gamit ko pala ang atm mo. Salamat," tipid na tugon ko.

"Ano ka ba. Pero mo naman iyan. Gamitin mo habang wala ka pang matutuluyan. Basta text mo lang ako, okay?"

"Okay. . . Salamat, Monica," sabay patay ng tawag ko sa kanya. Napaupo na ako sa gilid at pilit na nag-iisip. Pero wala, wala ako sa tamang pag-iisip ko ngayon.

____

Atticus' POV

"By the way, Art. Use Magenta. I have managed to secure her for you." Bigay niya sa susi ng isa sa mamahaling kotse niya.

"I didn't know this," I smirked, and we laughed a little bit.

We arrived earlier than I expected. Iba ang kakayahan ng isang Xavion Xavier Mondragon, aka double X. He's an elegant Mondragon but at the same time a secretive black one.

He's got connections around the globe because of his father, unlike my Papa, who's only doing a sole thing in business.

"Thank you, Xav. I don't know how to pay you back, but I will, in the future," I winked and he shake his head. Sabay kaming bumaba sa tower at naghihintay sa paanan ng gusaling ito ang nag-iisang Magenta niya.

"Cool."

"Get in. I will drive and drop you there because there's something I want you to know. I have the documents inside the car." Unang hakbang niya papasok sa loob ng kotse at kunot-noo ang ginawa kong pagtitig sa kanya. I thought that was it because I never saw this coming from him.

"Here."

He gave me a brown envelope containing some information by the look of it. I opened it and paused for a second when I saw the photos of Gaige.

Mga iilang litrato niya ito noong sa Japan pa kami at ang iba ay sa probinsya niya siguro. She's already a darling of beauty even at her teenage life. Maganda at inosente ang lahat sa pisikal na anyo niya noong high school pa siya.

I smile as I look at each photo and feel the warmth inside. I miss her, and I can't wait to hug her again. And whatever her reason for hiding, I forgive her because it was not intentional. It was not her fault.

"Sabine. . ." Panimula ni Xavion. I stared at him while his busy driving and my brows creased.

"Sabine Dela Merced and Gaige Leebody. . ." pilyong ngiti niya.

"What?" I shake my head and continue what I'm doing. I saw a few photos of Sabine's father meeting a woman who got the same age as him.

"Is this Gaige's mom, right?" Pakita ko kay Xavion sa nag-iisang litrato rito.

Of course, I know Sabine's father. Ka-sosyo sa isang negosyo ni Mama ang ina ni Sabine kaya madalas ko silang nakikita noon sa mga business gatherings.

I kept turning the pages until I saw the DNA test result, and - dammit.

Confused and contemplative, I looked at Xavion's face. He only smiles a little bit.

"They're siblings, Art. Magkapatid sa ama sina Sabine at Gaige," he started and my jaw clenched.

"Gaige's mother has nothing to offer and came from a poor family. I believe they fall in love, but it was torn apart when Gaige's father impregnated the other woman, who is Sabine's mother. According to my source, Sabine's mom planned it all along as succeeded. Alam mo naman na mayaman ang pamilya nila 'di ba? Kaya lahat ginawa makuha lang ang gusto nila," buntonghininga niya.

"Felix has no choice but to marry Sabine's mom, and Sabine was born. It was too late when he found out that Gaige's mother was also pregnant. He tried to help and support Gaige, pero nagtago ang Mama ni Gaige at kalaunan ay nag-asawa ng iba, hanggang sa wala ng balita si Tito Felix sa kanila."

"When Sabine learned from Philip that you are marrying in secret in Japan, she flawed. And from there, she tried to kill Gaige."

Napakuyom kamao ako at hindi ko makuhang makatitig kay Xavion ngayon.

"But everything was over between me and Sabine, Xav. You know that. . . Matagal na kaming wala," I said, feeling shit.

"I know, but you know, Sabine. She's like her mother. She will do everything to get you." Iling niya.

"Noong araw ng kasal ninyo ay nasagasaan si Gaige. Sabine tried to kill her, and Philip came to the scene trying to save her. She lost her memory, and Philip took advantage of the situation. Sabine escaped, and Philip pretended. Have you noticed why Sabine's family went quiet after the incident?"

I rested my head on the back of my chair and shut my eyes. I feel so hopeless after everything. It seems like it was all my fault at the beginning.

"Nalaman ng Papa ni Sabine ang ginawa niya kay Gaige kaya pinalipad siyang London ng Mama niya. She hides there for years knowing that she and Gaige are siblings. I bet she was shocked too, but what else they could do? Ang alam ko ay pilit na kumukuha ng impormasyon ang ama ni Gaige sa kanya at nangyari ito sa pamamagitan ni Philip."

Philip again? I cursed in the back of my mind. That damn brother of mine knows a lot and pretended.

"It was Felix's idea to hide Gaige for the time being. And I believe she met Gaige in Japan without Gaige's knowledge that Felix is her biological father."

I fisted my hand. Only if Philip is within reach will I beat the bastard again.

"Magulo ang mundo ni Gaige, and according to her mother she's not interested to meet her biological father. Masaya na raw siya sa lahat at ayaw na niyang makilala ang totoong ama niya. . . Well, I couldn't blame her. She's been a lot in life."

Sandaling natahimik kami ni Xavion at hindi ko makuhang mapanatag ang loob at isip ko.

I want to be her at this moment. . . my poor darling.

Tumunog ang cellphone ko at mabilis kong dinukot sa bulsa ito. It was Ranger calling.

"Reeve?" sagot ko.

"Your little boy is looking for you. Do you want to talk to your dada?" tugon ni Ranger sa kabilang linya. Mukhang si Arthur ang tinatanong niya.

"Hello, Papa Art?" ang anghel na boses ni Arthur.

"Hi, bud," I smile, feeling hurt after knowing what Gaige has been through. And this little boy is the one in the middle who's innocent of all of this.

"Are you fetching, Mommy? Where is she?"

I swallowed hard and my tears started to pool in the side of my eyes. Ang hina ko pala pagdating sa bagay na ganito.

"I am, bud, and don't worry. I will call you again so that you can talk to your mother. In the meantime, eat your food and Uncle Reeve will be there tonight for you in bed. Be a good boy, okay? I will get back to you as soon as possible. . . I love you," tiim-bagang ko sa sarili.

"Okay. . . I love you too."

Rinig ko ang pagbalik niya sa cellphone kay Ranger at napabuntonghininga ako sa sarili.

"I'll connect again. Thanks," si Ranger bago pinatay ang tawag.

I shut my eyes and I couldn't be bothered of anything else except for my son and my Gaige. . . Silang dalawa lang ang gusto ko ngayon, at sapat na ito sa tanang buhay ko.

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C.M. LOUDEN