CHAPTER 24

*Still in flashback

Elle's POV

"So, what's the plan? I know you have something under your sleeves" seryosong tanong ko matapos ang mga dramahan namin

Napangisi naman si Kuya Lay sa sinabi ko

"Looks like you know us already" sabi nya

"Hmm, I know you need me in your plans that's why you decided to take me here already" nakangisi kong sabi dito kaya mas napangisi sya

"You're really genius my baby girl. You're somewhat right but I really want to make Tita Scarlett, and destiny made the way as Mikka hired my men. We need you to be on side of your father"

"So how will I do that? Will my Dad believe me if I say that I'm his long-lost daughter?" nakakunot noo kong tanong sa kanya

"You don't need to worry about that, we knew his private investigator, he's working under our company. He's actually one of our investigators and we asked him to work with your father as his private investigator regarding on finding you but ofcourse he needs to report to us first. So, when he found your whereabouts, we are the first one to know it and not your father until your disappearance. We instructed him to tell your father that he already found you but ofcourse he can't see you because you were kidnapped." Sabi ni Kuya Lay

"So, are you planning to get revenge on father also?" nakataas isang kilay na tanong ko sa kanya, napatawa naman sya sa reaksyon ko

"of course, not baby girl, even we are mad at him, we don't plan to do that and Tita Scarlett still loves him so even I want to get revenge, I can't. We just can't let him find you first when there are rats in his house, oops your house" sagot nya at ngumisi ulit pagkasabi ng dulo kaya naman napangisi din ako

"You will get back what's really mine, Elle. You should retrieve your place as Charles' only heiress. It's been a decade the rats enjoying what's ours." Seryosong sabi ni Mom kaya naman seryoso rin akong tumingin dito

"Don't worry, Mom. I know something that will make them leave our house. Even if they're living with Dad, and even if I will not show up or even if I'm really dead, there's no true Charles' Heiress" nakangisi kong sabi, pansin ko lang puro kami ngisi ng ngisi kanina pa haha

"What do you mean?" nakakunot noong tanong ni Mom

"You didn't know Mom? Mikka is not Dad's real daughter, she's fake, a b*st*rd" mukha namang nagulat si Mom

"W-what? So, Louise did not cheat on me? All this time, I'm mad at him for cheating on me just because I'm already dead." Naluluhang sabi ni Mom kaya lumapit ako sa kanya

"No, Mom. Dad never betrayed you, he loved you. He just let those two because he believed the skit of his old bestfriend and ex-girlfriend. And maybe because he's been lonely for many years." Sabi ko habang hawak ang dalawang kamay nya at nakatitig sa mata nya

"Oh dear, you seem to know more about him than I do" umiiyak na sabi ni Mom

"I just know that when I investigated Mikka, I told you I found not only her background, but her family and I became suspicious about other things that made me go deeper and found the history of Dad. And I'm thankful that my investigator is the best in finding information." Nakangiti kong sabi

"You seem like to be rich baby girl to be able to afford hiring best investigator, mind telling us who really adopted you?" seryosong sabi ni Kuya Lay sa likod ko na medyo kinagulat ko ang tanong nya, kinalma ko muna ang sarili ko sandal bago ako sumagot

"My parents… I mean my foster parents were just normal people, we lived normal and happy. I was able to finish my degree but when I graduated, I found out that the Mirabelles were the one who paid my tuitions. I found out that they talked to them to help me finish my study in exchange of them working with them and when I finished my study, I worked for them too. I served them and helped their daughter to manage their businesses. Mr. Mirabelles trained me, I became his assistant after I graduated, he taught me everything, he taught me to be wise in business. I became close to them, especially their daughter. And when Mr. and Mrs. Mirabelles died in a car accident, my foster parents were with them, they are actually going to their rest house in Batangas. Sam and I were coming late due to paper works, so our parents leaved first, and that's when the tragedy happened. Sam and I have been working together on finding the person behind that incident because we know that someone planned it. And that's how I was able to have a private investigator, Sam was the one paying for him, and I can ask him anything I want" mahabang paliwanag ko

"So, you're really close with the mysterious Mirabelles' CEO? Why she's not showing to the public or even to the board members? Why is it to be you who always attend for her?" tanong ni Kuya

"Because it's my purpose, as you know, The Mirabelles were always aloof with the public and to their board members, investors and partners, but despite of it, they remain on top because they have someone trustworthy working under them, they train every person they will assign in such position. And even I, I trained hard to be a deserving person to get my position, I live to repay my gratitude to them, they're like my family too. The memories we had, the happened I felt when I'm with them, they treated me like their daughter too, and Sam treated me like her sister." Masayang sabi ko habang iniisip ang mga alaala namin

"I'm glad to hear that you were happy with them, I'm happy that they never hurt you and they really treated you like their own. I'm happy that you have two families taking care of you, but I'm sad that they ended up like that at the same and place. It must have been hard for you, anak. And for sure for Sam, I felt sorry for her. Can we meet her, anak? She can be with us, we will treat her like a family too, like how they treated you" sincere na sabi ni Mom base sa kislap ng mga mata nya

"Even if I want to Mom, but I can't. Sam is like her parents, she's super aloof. And she's determined to find that person. Maybe… maybe if we finish our task, we can be altogether." Malungkot na sabi ko kaya naman nalungkot din si Mom sa sinabi ko

"It's okay, I understand. But, do you have any leads to that person?"

"Our investigators already found something but they're still working on it. I believe we're near to find out the truth behind their death" tipid na ngumiti din ako pagkasabi ko at tumango naman si Mom

"So back to your plan, when will I go to meet Dad?" tanong ko at bumalik ako sa pagkaseryoso

"In 2 weeks, Tita Scarlett just want to be you in that time before you go to your father. And within that time, we will talk about the whole plan" kalmadong sabi n ani Kuya Lay

"Will I still be able to live my normal life? I mean, as you know I have a boyfriend, I kinda used to our set-up now"

"Of course, you can. And, if your father allows you too. You know you'll live with him while doing our plan but don't let your love life affects our plan" biglang pagseseryoso ni Kuya

"You can count on me Kuya, you don't know how I make my revenge. You know, those things are still my priority, and as you know I'm still working on finding the person who murdered my foster parents and Sam's parents. And I can assure you that Aiden will not be a hindrance in my plans" seryosong sabi ko rin sa kanya habang nakatitig sa mata nya

"Ok, I believe and trust you baby girl, stop staring me like that, you're creeping me out haha" natatawang sabi ni Kuya habang umiiwas sa titig ko

"Why Kuya? Did I scare you? HAHA" mapang asar na sabi ko

"Me? I'm a Hart, a Hart can't be scared to anything you know. And speaking of, you're also a Hart, and I know even if I'm the one managing the Hart Group now, it's yours Elle. Tita Scarlett is the heiress of the company, not my Dad. And I'm not against on that, if you want, I can give you my position now and manage our companies" seryosong sabi ni Kuya. DI pa ba matatapos ang kaseryosohan sa mga usapan naming haist

"No, it's fine Kuya. You can manage them, I have the Charles Inc., I'll make sure that I will get that company and besides, I still have my responsibilities in Mirabelles Company" nakangiti kong sabi

"Can't you resign in Mirabelles, anak? I'm sure Sam will understand it naman" biglang tanong ni Mom

Ngumiti naman ako sa kanya bago ako sumagot

"I can't Mom, and I don't want. I don't want to leave Sam. She's a sister to me, she's my family too"

"But what will you do if your Dad gave his company to you? And when the time you should manage the Hart Group?" tanong ulit ni Mom

"Don't worry Mom, this is not the right time to claim Dad's Company. Ako na bahala kay Dad, he knows me, he knew well the personalities and capabilities of the great Elle Santos of Mirabelles Company" nakangiti kong sabi

"Ikaw bahala anak, basta nandito lang kami ng pinsan mo kapag may kailangan ka, wag ka mahiyang magsabi sa amin, okay?" sabi ni Mom

"Yes, Mom. Thank you" sabi ko at niyakap sya

"Let's stop this discussion now, let's enjoy your stay here baby girl. Tsaka na natin ulit pag usapan ang ibang plano pa. Alam kong gusto ni Tita na sulitin ang mga araw mo dito kasama sya and kahit ako ay gusto kang maka-bonding bago ka malayo samin ulit" nakangiting sabi ni Kuya kaya naman lumapit ako sa kanya at niyakap sya

"Thank you Kuya" sabi ko habang nakayakap sa kanya

"Huh? For what?" nagtatakang tanong nya

"Thank you for taking care of my mother. Thank you kasi kahit alam mong mawawala sayo ang posisyon mo sa company, hinanap mo pa rin ako. Thank you for not being greedy and thank you sa pagmamahal mo sa akin bilang pinsan mo. Ramdam kong magiging the best cousin ka, and the best Kuya for me" sabi ko at mas hinigpitan ang yakap sa kanya at niyakap din naman nya ako

"Hahaha, ano bang sinasabi mo. Of course, dapat ko lang gawin yun and beside inalagaan at pinalaki ako ng maayos ni Tita Scarlett. She even trusts me sa kumpanya nya and I really treat her like my mother. Kaya naman lahat gagawin ko rin para sa kanya at para sayo" sabi nito habang hinahagod ang buhok ko at pinatong ang ulo nya sa ulo ko. Napangiti naman ako sa sinabi nito kaya inalis ko ang pagkakayakap sa kanya at hinalikan sya sa pisnge

"Ayan lang mabibigay ko sayo Kuya haha, thank you kiss lang hahaha" sabi ko habang tumatawa kaya naman natawa rin sya at ginulo ang buhok ko

"Naku, kapag yan nakita ni Kris, parang nakikita ko na ang istura nya haha" natatawang sabi nya

"Di naman magseselos yun kapag alam nyang pinsan kita no" sabi ko at parang may biglang pumasok na ideya sa isip ko kaya napangisi ako

"Oh ano yang ngisi mo nay an baby girl? Parang di ko gusto yan ah haha"

"Hmm, nakaisip lang ako ng kalokohan at kailangan kita para magawa yun hahaha, pero hindi pa naman ngayon. Ayoko pa mawalan ng boyfriend" natatawa kong sabi

"Tsk tsk, parang gets ko na haha. You're bad, baby girl, talagang ako pa gagamitin mo para pagselosin yang boyfriend mo" naiiling na sabi ni Kuya Lay

"Di ko naman gagawin if wala sya gagawing kalokohan haha. Just in case lang kuya, game ka huh, haha"

"Sure, why not, baby girl" sabi nya at kinindatan ako kaya naman natawa ako lalo

"Hay nako kayong dalawa puro kayo kalokohan, tara na at kumain na tayo" biglang singit ni Mom

"Sige po Mom" sabi ko at lumabas na kami ng office ni Kuya.

Gabi na pala, hindi naming napansin ang oras sa tagal naming nag uusap sa loob at sa dami ng dramahan moments namin