Tragic

"Is it true, Jessica?" asked Von.

"Yes," sagot ni Lawrence para sa kanya. "After winning Asia's top model and be a part of the biggest music video, Jessica became top one in the rank 'til this year."

Madness filled her chest. Napatayo siya ng wala sa oras. She is not drunk nor tipsy. She is aware of anything that she's in a business party. It's not time to throw fits or make a scene, that's what her rational side commanded. Her reputation is at the peak there is no hell she would waste it an asshole like him. What is it for her if he does what he casually does? They don't have a relationship.

"Jess? Do you have your phone with you?"

Napalingon siya kay Jyra. "Ha?"

"Umuwi si Blaire kanina. Hindi namin sinabi sa'yo dahil akala namin ay alam mo. Your dad was sent to the Hospital."

Dali-dali niyang dinampot ang kanyang pouch. Lumamig ang kanyang tiyan nang makitang wala itong laman. Dad! Kabado siyang napatingin sa lalaking huminto sa harap niya.

"I know the place, J."

Everything went quick. Nagpapawis ang kanyang mga palad habang magkadaop mula sa tahimik na panalangin. Nauunawaan siya nila Chloe at Von kaya umalis agad sila. Sumunod sa kanya sila Jyra at Oswold, habang si Lawrence ay pinakiusapan niyang tumayo sa kanyang paa sa harap ng mga kasama. Lawrence wanted to go as well, but she is intelligent to understand that whatever on the party is important too.

The moment the car stopped, she immediately jumped out and ran.

"J, this way." Paulite taught her the way.

She is frantically on panicked. She can't think properly. All she ever concern is her father, her loving old man. Sumakay sila sa elevator at nagtungo sa ika-anim na palapag. Hindi na niya napansin kung paano siya tingnan ni Paulite at hawakan sa braso. Nauna pa siyang lumabas sa pinto noong magbukas.

"613 Vip Room," he said.

She immediately saw it. The thought of how many hours had gone wasted made her nerve hurts. She ran urgently to close the distance and dodged the lock. Kusang bumukas ang pinto. Napatayo si Blaire nang makita siya. Nag-unahan ang luha sa kanyang pisngi nang makita ang walang malay nilang ama.

"What have you done?" singhal ni Blaire.

Gulat siyang bumaling sa bunsong kapatid. Naguguluhan.

"Me? What?"

Gigil siyang nilapitan nito at sinampal. "You stayed with, Dad until ten in the evening yet you even didn't notice that he's not breathing?"

Bumilog ang kanyang mata. "What?" Sumagi sa isip niya si Nurse Ana. Lumabas ito noong pumasok siya. Alam niyang natutulog lang ang ama niya. Panong hindi humihinga?

Nilingon niya itong namumutla at mukhang wala ng buhay. Dad? She moved her feet to reach for him but Blaire held her wrist.

"Blaire, what are you talking about?" Lumapit si Paulite upang ilayo si Blaire sa kanya.

"You... you didn't care to my daddy. Kinasabwat mo pa iyang si Ana. Salot kang anak sa labas!" Blaire cried out.

Nabitin sa ere ang paghawak niya sa kamay ng kanyang ama. She felt the shallow wall stand tall that separate between them. She suddenly lost the familiar love she had for him, that she didn't belong to him. Who is he? Who is Blaire?

Walang emosyon niyang nilingon si Blaire. She's like a ghost on her eyes. A talking smoke. Takip nito ang bibig. Nagulat sa pinawalang salita.

"Anak sa labas?" ulit niya.

Namilog ang mata ni Blaire. Takot na tumingin sa katabing lalaki na kapwa gulat gaya niya.

"You heard her right. Hindi kita anak. Anak ka ng asawa ko sa ibang malanding babae," kumpirma ng metikolosang babae na kakapasok lamang sa pinto. Sa likod nito ang mga sumunod na sila Jyra, Malik at Oswold.

"Mom?" she breathe.

The woman walked closer while wearing that stoic gaze at her. If only eyes can slap her maybe her face are now bleeding. "Never call me that way again. You are not my daughter. You are the killer. You killed my husband."

"Ana was in jail now. She is positive on killing, Dad." Si Blaire na biglang nagtago sa likod ng kanyang ina.

"Who's Ana?" Mapanghamak na tumitig sa kanya ang itinuring niyang tunay na ina. "What are you staring at? Get out. We don't need a bastard child here."

"Jess?" tawag ni Jyra sa kanya.

Hindi siya umiyak. Sanay na siya sa masasakit na salita, lalo kapag galing sa kapatid at ina. Ang iniisip niya lang ay paano ang kanyang ama? Sinulyapan niya ito saglit bago nagsalita. "He is still alive, right, Blaire?"

"Duh! I told you he was killed."

Tumango siya. Pilit hinahawakan ang luhang gustong kumawala sa kanyang mga mata. Kahit pa anak siya sa labas. Ama niya pa rin ito. May karapatan siya, pero ano ang gagawin niya kung pinapalayas na siya? Totohanan na ito, hindi ba? Kahit pa, noon pa man ay pinapalayas na siya ng kanyang ina. Kaya pala.

"Ana, did this all?"

Blaire rolled her eyes.

Lutang siyang tumango. Hindi maintindihan kung paano at bakit? Nilapitan siya ni Jyra at binulungan. She even saw Paulite stood beside her, but Blaire tried to hold his wrist.

"Pao, where are you going?"

"Jess, let's go!" Hinila siya ni Jyra palabas. Bago makalabas ay nakita niyang pumiksi si Paultie sa hawak ni Blaire at sumunod sa kanila. Bago pumasok sa elevator ay pinigil niya ang pagpasok nito.

"Not now. Thank you," she croaked. Aware that her voice broke from the heavy loads on her chest. The door shut closed and all she could see on her eyes is his hurting eyes. Those begging and worried eyes of Paulite. Hawak ang kadulu-duluhan ng kanyang pisi ng luha ay lumingon siya kay Jyra. "Can I borrow your shoulder for a minute?"

She was very down and broken that night. Instead of celebrating she is in despair and sadness. Hindi siya nakatulog kakaiyak. Hindi manlang niya nakausap ang kanyang ama upang itanong ang ilang karapatang mayroon siya upang malaman. Buong buhay niyang tiniis ang masasakit na salita ng itinuring niya na totoong ina, pero sa huli ay malalaman niyang anak pala siya sa labas.

She asked Miya to cancel her guesting and photoshoot for the next three more days. Tahimik at palihim siyang dumadalo sa burol ng kanyang ama, nagbabakasakaling makapasok o hindi kaya ay makita si Blaire. Gusto niyang masilayan ang kanyang ama kahit pa nasa kabaong na ito. Ngunit mahigpit ang seguridad. Mula sa labas ay tanging natatanaw niya ang labas-masok na mga tao. Ilang kaanak na tiyak siyang hindi siya kilala hanggang ngayon.

Funny, some of my relatives doesn't know my existence. Or maybe they do but they pretend, don't care. Huminga siya nang malalim. Muling tumanaw sa pinto. Nabuhayan siya nang loob ng makita niya ang tiyahing si Ms. Swizz at kapatid nitong si Mrs. Claudia.

Should I approach them?

She took her phone and dialed her Auntie Clarine's number. When the number rang, she shifted on her seat and heaved a long sigh. Sa ikatlong ring ito sumagot. "Auntie, this is Jessica. Please don't tell them that I called. Can I see you? I am outside."

"Sure, Darling."

When she saw her Auntie got out on the Chapel, she stopped her car and let her in on the shotgun seat.

Mainit siyang niyakap ito. "Where have you been? Why aren't you there?"

"Auntie. It's a long story." Dinala niya ito sa kabilang ibayo na restaurant. "They are blaming Dad's nurse, but actually I can't understand how and what could be the nurse's motivation of doing it with him. I—I don't see the logic. Ana is very nice. She is my ears on the house. Auntie, do you think I can kill my father?"

Her Auntie whispered forgiveness on the creator before she finally spoke, "I know you, Darling. You won't do such horrible. I just couldn't believe with your mother that she sent my brother here in the Philippines without telling us. Claudia is surprised too."

Saglit siyang nag-isip. She hired a private investigator about this weird sudden case but that person after reporting his initial investigation didn't give any follow-ups. She wondered if the real suspect is blocking her to know the truth.

"Okay ka lang ba? Tinatanong ko ang mag-ina pero sinasabi nilang wala silang naririnig sa'yo. I can't believe with you mother."

Mariin niyang tinitigan ang kanyang tiyahin. Nahihiwagaan siya kung alam nito ang tungkol sa kanya o hindi. Hinawakan niya ito sa kamay. "Auntie, do you not know that I was gave birth by dad's mistress?"

"What?"

Mariin siyang napapikit. Naisip na marahil ay maging ang kanyang ama ay nilihim ang katotohanan sa lahat. At tanging alam sa pagitan nilang tatlo. Bahagya siyang nalungkot sa totoong dahilan ng kanyang ama kung bakit ito pumayag.

"Jessica, I may not know the whole story but you are still my beautiful niece." Hinawakan nito ang parehas niyang mga kamay. "Don't ever think that you are not a Smith, because you are." Mahinhin itong ngumiti. "Kamukha kita noong dalaga pa ako."

Napangiti siya dahil doon. "Ibig sabihin ay maganda rin po ako?"

"Of course, Darling. Sino nga ulit 'yung nurse... what's the name again?"

"Ana."

Tumango ito biglang bumakas ang lungkot sa mukha. "Hindi ko manlang nakausap ang kuya ko. Kaya pala nag-message siya sa akin noong minsan tungkol sa'yo, na ako na raw ang bahala sa'yo."

Bakit pakiramdam niya alam ng kanilang ama na mawawala na ito? Huminga siya nang malalim at inisip ang mga panahong lagi itong tulog kapag bibisita siya. Could it be possible that Ana would do that with her father? Impossible.

"Can we visit Ana in the Jail, Auntie? Gusto kong malaman ang totoo sa kanya."

"We should, Darling."