The Girl Under His Red Sheets [The Rozovsky Heirs 2]

CHAPTER 12

Chapter Twelve

Cute

"You are not getting any younger."

Iyan ang madalas naming marinig kay Vladimir kahit mga bata pa lang kami. Aniya bukod sa negosyo ay dapat rin naming isipin ang paghahanap ng asawa hindi para maging masaya at matutong magmahal kundi para may magpatuloy ng aming lahi.

He said find a beautiful, elegant and decent wife, marry her and build a family with her. That was his motto in life kaya ang salitang palagi niyang binabanggit ay isa lamang ang ibig sabihin, pag-aasawa.

He married my mother at a young age. Maswerte lang siya dahil mahal nila ang isa't isa kaya hindi iyon naging mahirap. Sa mahabang panahon nilang pagsasama ay ilang beses silang nabigo sa pagbuo ng pamilya.

My father was an only child at siya lang rin ang inasahang magpapalawig ng lahi ng mga Rozovsky sa linya ng aking lolo Vladislav kaya mabigat ang naging pressure sa kanila ni Mommy lalo na dahil sa tagal na panahon nilang pilit na sinubukang magkaanak ay palagi silang bigo.

My mother had five miscarriages before us and we were their miracle baby... not until we killed her at birth—or Toine who my father really blamed until now.

Napalingon ako sa ilang larawang nakalagay sa ibabaw ng kanyang lamesa. I faint smile past my lips when I saw my mother's portrait on his table.

My father trained us at an early age to act and think like an adult. Palibhasa maaga siyang namulat sa ganitong buhay kaya kung ano ang nakalakihan niya't natutunan ay iyon rin ang in-apply niya sa aming magkapatid.

He didn't had anyone to teach and support him how to raise us and his ego was also too big to ask for help to our relatives so he raised us in his own brutal way.

Bata pa lang ay iminulat na niya kami sa realidad ng buhay. He taught us about death and survival. He did not use any filter on us. Everything was raw and real and we learned... a lot, even the uncommon. Gayunpaman, nababaliwan pa rin ako sa mga prinsipyo niya sa buhay. Lalo na ang isang ito.

"Can you send Toine to that party instead?" Bungad ko habang palapit siya sa kanyang lamesa.

He sat on his swivel chair, lit his tobacco and blow the smoke in the air.

"What is that girl's surname again? La Casse? The only daughter of Estevan and Sandrine, right?"

Tamad at hindi bukal sa loob akong naupo sa kanyang harapan. Sinabayan ko siyang manigarilyo.

"Cut me some slack, Dad. I'm fucking tired of partying."

Sa titig na iginawad sa akin ni Vladimir ay nawalan na ako ng pag-asang makatakas sa kung anong punto niya.

Fucking hell, he really wanted me to go.

"You know you are the only one I trust, Thelonious. Your brother can go partying on his own, but events like this? Nah, I need to send my best son."

"You have two best sons." giit kong sandaling nagpatigil sa kanya pero gaya ng nakasanayan, hindi ako kailanman nanalo sa diskusyon pagdating sa bagay na iyon.

"I need you to attend that party and the reason why you need a plus one is that our partners from Germany and Russia will going to be there. Those fucking bastards are eyeing you for their daughters Thelonious. Kung ayaw mong magdala ng date then be ready to fucking marry either a German or a Russian. It's up to you."

Napalunok ako't natigil sa paghipat dahil sa narinig. My father is a business man at hindi rin imposibleng ialay niya ako sa isang malaking deal kung kinakailangan. Now I understand why he wanted me to bring someone.