My DNA is ninety-nine point ninety-nine percent matched with Joaquin Serrano's DNA according to the fucking results.

I placed the envelope back in the table when I feel my insides trembling. Wala sa sariling bumalik ako sa pagkakaupo dahil sa panghihina ng aking mga tuhod.

I became numb and the only thing I can hear is my heartbeat.

But a scream from Rieselle and a panicking voice from Tita Cecille broke the silence.

"Mommy!"

"Estella!"

The next thing I know, Estella Serrano already lost her consciousness. Agad naman siyang nasalo ng asawa niya na natauhan lang din nang makitang nawalan na ng malay ang asawa.

I stayed in my place while everything panicked at what happened. I am rooted in my place, like a tree who wants to move, swayed by the wind but failed. Still rooted.

We're with a doctor that immediately assisted her to check her vital signs.

At matapos sabihin ng doktor na maayos ang lagay ni Mrs. Serrano ay noon ko na pinilit ang sarili na gumalaw.

I snatched the envelope in front of me as I hastily place the result of the test inside. Tumayo ako at walang pasabing naglakad palabas ng dining hall.

I heard them calling my name but I'm determined to leave, especially that I can feel my chest tightening and it's getting harder to breathe as a big lump is stuck in my throat.

Nang makalabas ng mansyon ay noon ko natantong nakasunod sa akin si Chaos.

"Let me drive," he muttered. Tila alam niya kung saan ang tungo ko.

I let him and hastily went inside his car. Hindi ko na siya hinintay na pagbuksan pa ako ng pinto. Sa pagmamadali ko ay hindi na rin siya nakaabot.

Our ride was completely silent. Maybe he can feel that my emotions were full. Na isang salita mula sa kanya ay sasabog ang mga emosyon ko. I might cry or might get angry in just one word right now.

He didn't ask where we're going nor asked me if I'm alright because it was obvious that I'm not.

Nang tuluyang huminto ang kotse niya, tama ako sa hinalang alam niya kung saan ako pupunta.

We're here in front of the building where Flavio was residing back then. Bumaba ako bago pa niya 'ko muling pagbuksan. He got out of the car too and started nearing my way.

"I'll wait here," sambit niya na tinanguan ko.

Hindi na ako nagsalita at basta na lamang siyang tinalikuran matapos tumango. In my hand is the envelope while inside it is the DNA test result.

Dali-dali akong sumakay sa elevator at inip na inip habang umaakyat ito ng bawat palapag.

I am too eager to confront Dad about this result but no one was inside when I arrived at Flavio's unit. His things weren't inside his room either.

Napaisip ako kung saan siya maaaring magtungo ngunit isa lang pumasok sa aking isip. Sinabi ko sa kanya noon na rito ko siya babalikan kung makabibisita man ako mula sa pagtatago. At ngayong nakabisita na at naimpormang nakabalik na ay tingin ko, iyon ang dahilan kung bakit wala na siya sa condo ni Flavio. Palagay ko ay umuwi siya sa aming lumang mansyon.

I immediately informed Chaos and told him the address of our mansion.

When we arrived, I instantly concluded that my hunch is right when I saw that the mansion is open. Dala ang envelope sa aking kamay ay dire-diretso akong pumasok ng mansyon.

Like earlier, Chaos told me he'll wait in the car. Para bang alam niya na kailangan ko ng pribadong usapan kasama si Dad. Or is he really my father?

I don't know. Naguguluhan na ako at sa tatlong magkakaibang laboratoryo na iisang resulta ang lumabas, mahirap paniwalaang may mali roon. It is hard to believe that all the results were fraudulent. The tests were made from different highly accredited laboratories. Kaya't imposible iyon.

At sino naman ang mag-iisip na dayain ang resulta ng test? There were only few people who knew about the test we conducted. Ang mga Serrano, si Chaos, Guerdon, and Chaos's parents, aside from me and the doctors were the only ones who knew about it. At wala akong maisip na kung anong motibo ng isa't isa para baguhin o isipin man lang na dayain ang resulta.

Idagdag pa na pinagkakatiwalaan ng mga Serrano ang doktor na kinuha nila at palagay ko, mahigpit ang bilin ng mga Serrano sa doktor upang maiwasan ang anumang pagbabalak na baguhin ang resulta ng sinuman. It's their daughter that they're looking for, kaya't siguradong nanaisin nila na totoo ang anumang lalabas sa resulta. But I still need my father's words.

Agad ko siyang natagpuan sa tanggapan ng aming mansyon. Comfortably watching in our television but seems his attention is attached to somewhere.

Naramdaman niya agad ang aking presensya at nilingon ang aking direksyon. "Marcia, anak-"

"Care to explain what's the meaning of this?" I didn't let him finish as I placed the envelope at the top of the center table.

His eyes darted at it. Matapos ay inabot niya iyon. "What's this?"

Hindi ako sumagot. My lips remained pressed in a firm line.

I patiently waited for him to open the envelope. Ngunit hindi pa nabubuksan ay nahagip ng mata niya ang logo ng laboratoryo sa envelope. Marahan siyang nag-angat ng tingin sa akin at unti-unting kumunot ang kanyang noo habang inilalabas ang resulta.

Ibinaba niya ang tingin sa papel at ilang sandali lang ay marahas na bumaling ang mga mata niya sa akin. Tumayo siya habang bakas ang bahagyang galit sa mga mata.

"What the hell is this? You conducted a DNA test with the Serranos without telling me?"

Umawang ang aking mga labi. Iyon pa ang inalala niya?

"Because I thought it was nonsense to tell you about this." I sarcastically breath out and shifted my weight. Naramdaman ko ang pagsikip ng aking dibdib. "I was so sure that the results would turn out negative because I am a Quijano. But now I'm doubting."

Akmang lalapit siya nang humakbang ako paatras. "Marcia, you are my daughter-"

"Are you my biological father?" mariing putol ko ulit.

"I am your father," giit niya.

I cocked my head as I shut my eyes off. I intensely stared at him. "The truth, Dad. I want the truth."

"I am your father!" His voice boomed and echoed in the whole mansion.

Ngunit hindi ako natinag doon. "How can you explain that?" Marahas kong itinuro ang papel na hawak niya.

He lowered his head and slowly shook his head, not in defeat but in disappointment because of me.

"Do you want me to take another DNA test again? What about this time, let's test if our DNA would turn out positive, huh?"

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili. He's telling me he's my father. But why does his reaction says the otherwise?He's suddenly mad upon knowing that I took a test with Joaquin Serrano. Na wala naman dapat siyang ikagalit, lalo na kung totoong anak niya nga ako.

Nawalan siya ng imik at narinig ko ang marahas na pagbuntong hininga niya.

"Are you my father?" I asked again, this time with my voice devoid of any emotion. I didn't tear my gaze on him.

Nahuli ko kung paano bumagsak ang balikat niya bago siya nag-angat ng tingin sa akin.

He looked at me, defeated. "You are my daughter. I treated you as my own. I am your father but not... biologically."

I lowly gasped that sounds more like a sob. Naramdaman ko ang panginginig ng aking mga binti.

Fuck. How did it happen? Did Mom and Joaquin Serrano have an affair? Is Melissa Quijano my biological mother? Or is it Estella Serrano?

Tang ina. Marahas akong napasabunot sa akin buhok habang pinipigilan ang sarili na huwag mapasigaw. I let my body fell on the couch. I leaned my arms on my knees while I lowered my head in my arms to hid my face as I tried to suppress the tears at the edge of my eyes.

"I... kidnapped you back then."

"Isa sa mga kalaban ng Serrano ang nagbayad sa organisasyon para kunin at patayin ang kambal ngunit isa lang ang nakuha namin ng mga tauhan ko. The baby was named Marcia Estelle, it's you."

Damn it. All this time, I believe I am a Quijano. I believe that Melissa and Nathaniel Quijano are my parents!

I shut my eyes off as I want to place my hands in my ears, para lang hindi ko marinig ang mga sasabihin niya.

Kanina lang, gustong gusto kong marinig ang katotohanan mula sa kanya. But now that it's here, he's already telling me everything, I feels like I just want to become deaf.

"I was ready to kill you back then. We were in a cliff, I'm ready to shoot you dead when Melissa called and she heard you crying." He paused a bit. Nanatili ako sa aking posisyon, tahimik at pinipigilan ang sarili na lumuha.

"I don't care whatever happens to you before. You're just a target to weaken the Serranos. But when Melissa, your mother, heard your cries, you already got her. At... wala na rin akong nagawa. I don't want her idea at first, to let you live. Ngunit noon, walang ibang mahalaga sa akin kung hindi si Melissa."

He sat beside me and felt his hand on my shoulder. "She dedicated her life on you. She even decided not to bear our own children because she said, she doesn't want you to think that you're an outcast when the time comes and you learned that you're not our biological daughter. I silently got mad at her for what she wants. Ngunit sa huli, itinuring at pinahalagahan din kita bilang sariling anak."

"Pumayag ako sa gusto ni Melissa na ikaw lang ang maging anak namin dahil ayaw ko ngang iba ang isipin mo kung... sakaling malalaman mo ang totoo."

I heard it all. Narinig ko lahat ng sinabi niya ngunit para bang nangingibabaw ang galit sa akin ngayon. Treating me as his own won't justify what he did!

Nag-angat ako ng tingin, ngayon ay siguradong pigil na ang aking mga luha at hindi na ito babagsak. "Kung sakaling malaman ko? So you really have no plans to tell me?" At kung hindi ko pa makasalamuha ang mga Serrano ay hindi ko malalaman ang totoo? If I didn't kidnapped my... sister... hindi ko malalaman.

Hindi siya nakasagot. I dodged his hand on my shoulder and hastily pulled myself up.

I'm mad at him. Mapapatawad ko siya pero hindi ngayon. I can forgive him, sure. He's still my father. But right now? I don't think I can because my emotions are overpowering me.

Iniwan ko siya roon na mabigat ang aking dibdib. Like something heavy is anchored in my heart.

As I got nearer to Chaos's car, I caught him holding my gaze while he's leaning in his car.

Tumuwid siya ng tayo nang makitang papalapit na ako. "Wanna go somewhere or... let's stay in my condo?" he asked as he opened the passenger's door for me.

I was about to go inside when I stopped and looked at him, letting out a deep, audible breath. "In your condo."

Pakiramdam ko ay napakahaba na ng araw na ito at hindi ko na gugustuhin pumunta pa kung saan. My mind is full while my insides were heavy.

Pumasok ako sa kotse niya at ganoon din siya. A few minutes after we left our mansion, his phone started ringing.

His phone is in the car phone holder. Dahilan kung bakit nahagip ng aking tingin ang pangalan ng tumatawag.

Rieselle.

He glanced at me before he answered the call and put it on loudspeaker. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. I stared outside through the window. Pakiramdam ko, hindi ko dapat marinig ang pag-uusapan nila. But I don't have a choice because the car is moving and I can't go somewhere just so I can't hear it.

Ngunit mali ako.

"Rieselle," Chaos called.

"Chaos!" I heard a thrilled yet still soft voice from the other line. "Are y-you with my sister? Marcia? I don't know how to contact her kaya... ikaw na ang tinawagan ko. You left with her. Kasama mo pa ba siya? Where is she staying?" She paused a bit.

My eyes darted at Chaos's phone.

"C-can you ask if it's alright if we visit her? Kung hindi, baka pwedeng bumisita bukas? Mom's asking if we can have... dinner with her."

Naramdaman ko ang paglipat ng mga mata ni Chaos sa aking gawi, para bang ako ang hinahayaang sumagot.

"How's Mrs. Serrano?" I asked instead.

"Marcia? A-Ate! Mrs. Serrano? Who?" tila natataranta at litong sagot niya. "Si Mommy?" she muttered when she realized who I'm pertaining to when I said Mrs. Serrano. "She's alright. She wants to see you. K-kami nila Dad, can we visit?"

I pressed my lips. "You can visit me today," marahang sambit ko ngunit sigurado akong narinig niya iyon.

"T-talaga? Alright! We'll visit you. Where are you staying?"

"In..." I bit my lower lip and glanced at Chaos. I don't know Rieselle's feelings for Chaos and surely, it won't sound good if she'll learn that I'm staying at Chaos's condo, if she still loves him.

Bakit nga ba hindi pa 'ko umaalis sa condo ni Chaos?

Nang natantong nag-aalangan ako sa pagsagot ay si Chaos na ang nagsalita. "She's staying in my condo. We'll be there in a few minutes."

"A-alright. Salamat. Pupunta kami."

We arrived at Chaos' unit, like I wanted.

Malamig at walang imik akong pumasok sa condo habang nakasunod sa aking likuran si Chaos. Mula pa noong nasa kotse ay naramdaman ko na ang mga mata niya na pabalik-balik sa akin, like he's checking me but didn't utter a single word.

Akmang didiretso ako sa silid nang nahuli niya ang aking palapulsuhan. Chaos pulled me closer until I turned and faced him. He enveloped me in his arms.

I shut my eyes off. Hinayaan ko siyang yakapin ako at idinantay pa ang aking ulo sa kanyang dibdib. Para bang wala na akong lakas para umiwas pa o magmatigas. Though I have no plans dodge his embrace.

"I'm here, Marcia," he whispered while his hand crawled at the back of my head and pushed it closer to him. Maramdaman ko ang marahang pagpatak niya ng halik sa aking noo. "I'm here. You can talk to me. I'll listen, baby. I'll listen."

Like his warmth and those words were the trigger that made me explode, I felt my hot tears trickled out of my eyes. Napunta sa wala ang lahat ng pagpipigil ko na lumuha nang marinig ang mga salitang iyon mula sa kanya. Una-unahang bumagsak ang aking mga luha at wala na akong pakialaman kung makita iyon ni Chaos. Isiniksik ko ang ulo sa kanyang dibdib.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal kaming nanatili sa ganoong posisyon.

Nang kumawala ako sa bisig niya ay agad kong hinanap ang kanyang mga mata. "I don't know what I'd do," pag-amin ko. My mind's too clouded that I don't think I can still think straight.

He gently squeezed my hand. "Rest for now. Then figure it out in the next coming days. No one's pressuring you, Marcia."

We're in that position when his doorbell rung. Agad kong tinuyo ang aking pisngi dahil tingin ko ay ang mga Serrano na ang nasa likod ng pinto.

I was right when Chaos opened the door and they came in my view.

I instantly met Estella Serrano's teary eyes. "Marcia Estelle," she whispered as she walked near me.

Kasunod niya ang asawa at si Rieselle.

She lifted her hand when she stopped in front of me. A tear escaped from her eyes as her palm gently landed in my cheek and caressed it.

A small gasp escaped from my lips as I can't help but remember that this already happened before. 'Yun nga lang, sampal ang inabot ko sa kanya noon.

"Marcia."

I remained unmoving from where I am standing because I don't know what to do.

She caressed my cheek while a smile is visible in her lips. Hindi alintana ang mga luhang naglalandas mula sa kanyang mga mata. She circled her hands around me, caging me in her passionate embrace.

"I'm sorry. If only I were careful back then. If only I didn't let you slip off my sight, this wouldn't happen. I'm sorry, anak," she cried.

I shut my eyes and lifted my hands to hug her back. "Let's... not dwell on everything that happened in the past."

"I'm sorry. You don't have to be away from us if only-"

"I'm here, Mrs. Serrano. You don't have to blame yourself."

I don't know if I should be happy that I met my biological parents or feel betrayed that the parents that I grew up with, Nathaniel and Melissa Quijano aren't my parents at all.

But maybe, I'm feeling both.

"Mrs. Se-" she trailed off as she pulled away. She placed her hand in her mouth while sobbing. Para bang lalo siyang naiyak sa paraan ng pagtawag ko sa kanya. "W-what?" Mataman siyang napakurap. "We are y-your parents. Y-you should call me Mommy or Mom." She glanced at the other two Serrano behind her. Habang maingat ang mga salita na para bang nananantya. "Y-your father too. Call him D-Dad."

They're my parents. But I don't think I can digest all of these in just a day. I am a Serrano. Serrano. I'm one of them. What the fuck just happened?

"Alright, M-Mom." I tightly pressed my lips.

She smiled and let out a deep exhale. Para bang nakahinga ng maluwag nang marinig iyon mula sa akin. "H-how are you? Kumusta ang trato ng mga Quijano sa 'yo? What do you do for a living? D-did they let you study? What did they do? Tell me and we'll sue them!"

"We'll file a case against Nathaniel Quijano." Mr. Serrano-

I flinched. Dad stated. Mariin at tila pinal nang desisyon niya.

Mommy nodded. "I heard... Melissa Quijano's dead so it's just Nathaniel-"

Mariin akong umiling. My lips parted. "What? Why-" I stopped when I realized the answer to my question.

Muli akong umiling. "D-don't. They didn't do-" I nibbled my lower lip and hardly swallowed.

I know they want to get justice for what happened to their daughter, which is well, me. But I don't think I can continue living a harmonious life while my father, Nathaniel Quijano is in jail. Kahit pa hindi ko nga siya tunay na ama.

"The Quijanos treated me like I'm their own. I know you don't want this but... don't sue Nathaniel Quijano." I paused a bit. "He's still my father."

Yes, I'm mad at him. Pero hindi ko naman kakayanin na makulong siya. I can't stand it. Siya pa rin ang kinalakihan kong ama. No matter how frustrated I am, I don't want him in jail.

I held biological parents' gaze. Bakas ang pagtutol sa kanilang mga mata ngunit hindi na isinatinig iyon.

"I graduated from my college degree. I'm handling the... Quijano company and has a clothing boutique, The Estelle." I paused a bit.

Mom's eyes widened a fraction. "The Estelle?"

It's familiar to her because that's the boutique in charge in Rieselle and Chaos's wedding.

I nodded. "But I'm selling it."

"W-why? You don't like it any longer?"

I shook my head. "No, I just need-" I trailed off and cleared my throat. "I need funds."

"What?" She shook her head. "If that's the case, you don't have to sell it, we'll process a trust fund under your name and you'll have a share in our company. And, I see that you have a background in handling a company, you can have a position in our-"

"Estella, stop pressuring our daughter," my biological father interfered.

I shook my head. "No. No, I'm not pressured. It's just that... there's no need for that. I mean-" I trailed off.

I used the money I stole from Chaos for my father, Nathaniel Quijano's hospital bills and medications. At kung manggagaling nga sa mga Serrano ang perang ipangbabayad ko kay Chaos, para na ring sila ang nagpagamot sa taong kumuha sa anak nila.

I don't want that. Dahil alam kong hindi rin nila gugustuhin iyon kung malalaman nila ang paggagamitan ko ng pera nila.

Umiling ako. "Ako na pong bahala roon."

This sounds stupid but I'll buy back back the boutique when I have enough money of my own. Iyon ay kung papayag ang makakabili ng boutique.

"W-what? That's all meant to be yours. The trust funds, share and position in the company, and s-some properties. At k-kulang pa ang mga iyon sa mga taong nawala ka sa amin. What do you mean that there's no need for it?" she asked, panicking a bit. Bahagya pa siyang lumingon sa asawa na para bang humihingi ng tulong.

I bit the side of my cheeks. "I mean, I have no problem in accepting everything that's for me but I won't touch any of those just to get the funds that I needed right now."

The resistance is still evident in my biological mother's face but she decided to nod her head. I caught her shoulders relaxed too, tila nakahinga ng maluwag nang marinig na tatanggapin ko naman ang mga ibibigay nila.

"How about your home? We have a mansion, doon ka na lang tumira. If you're not comfortable, we can give you a condo, whichever you prefer. Though I'll appreciate it if you'll stay in our mansion for the meantime, kahit ilang buwan lang." She paused a bit. "Where are you staying? Sa mga Quijano pa rin ba?"

My lips parted and ended up nibbling my lower lip. "I'm currently staying here," pag-amin ko.

Sandaling namilong ang kanyang mga mata. "Here? B-but..." Inilibot niya ang tingin sa paligid. "Isn't this Chaos's condo?"

I glanced at Chaos's direction and he nodded at me, like he's assuring me of something. "Chaos is... my boyfriend."

She gasped. "B-boyfriend?" Bumuka ang kanyang mga labi ngunit walang salitang lumabas doon. She tried to speak once again and finally utter a word. "But..." Nilingon niya ang direksyon ni Chaos at Rieselle, tila naguguluhan at nag-aalangan sa gustong sabihin.

"Marcia is my girlfriend, Tita," Chaos confirmed.

"I told you, the wedding is off, Mommy. And... I have a boyfriend too," dagdag ni Rieselle.

Bahagya pa akong nagulat sa sinabi niya. I don't know if it's true or she just said it so the conversation about that matter won't be too long.

Akmang sasagot pa ako nang mag-ingay ang aking phone. I immediately fished my phone from my pocket and was about to put it in silent when I saw who's the caller.

I cleared my throat to get their attention. Ngunit para bang hindi na kailangan iyon dahil nasa akin an ang atensyon ng lahat.

"Excuse me, I'll answer this," paalam ko nang makitang ang abogado ng mga Quijano ang tumatawag. This must be about my boutique.

"Attorney?" I answered when I'm far enough from the crowd.

"I have good news for you, Ms. Quijano. Your business broker contacted me, we have three buyers for your boutique."

Agad na namilog ang aking mga mata. "Three?" Fucking three in just a day?

"Yes but we need to talk about their conditions and weigh each of them. But you don't have to worry, it'll be our choice on where we would sell the boutique."

__________