SQUAD SERIES 1: SECRET [COMPLETED]

Chapter 21: Rumor ( Part 2 )

"I NEVER do one night stands. The man in the picture is not me. As you can see it was blurred but believe me. This is not me I don't wear green shirts." Nandito ako ngayon sa harap ng press conference.

Pinapaliwanag na hindi talaga ako yun pero hindi ako sigurado. "Mr. Bartolome, if ever that man is you and you really made the woman pregnant what will you do?" Natigilan ako sa tanong ng isang reporter.

Hanep sigurado akong binayaran ni Mr. Li ang isang yun. Kanina pa tanong ng tanong ng nonsense yan. Naiirita na ako sakaniya.

"WELL, I am certain that this man in the picture is not me. I hired a private investigator and it came out to be a fake news." I threw my wine because of anger.

"Bwesit!" Sigaw ko. Liar. Liar. Liar.

"You're a big fat liar! Ang sabi mo sakin di mo ako makakalimutan. You brute!" Tumulo ang pinipigilan kong luha.

I met this man four years ago. I was celebrating the success of my movie. My debut as an actress. I was 18 when that happened.He was drinking with his friends.

I got drunk so was him. It happened really fast and namalayan ko nalang kinabukasan na wala na akong saplot ni isa. Nasa private room ako ng club. He was beside me sleeping na parang walang problema.

Nagmamadali akong nagbihis at lumabas dahil gutom ako. I ordered a coffee in the cafe beside the club. Nang bumalik ako nilampasan niya lang ako. He said he won't forget me. Kahit lasing siya maaalala niya ako bukas pero why? Pinaasa niya ako.

And now that this rumor was spreading. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang may gawa nito dahil ang manager ko lang ang nakakaalam na I gave birth. Umalis ako ng bansa at pinagpatuloy ang career ko dito sa China.

Sinundan ko dito ang mommy ko sa China dahil nakapag-asawa siya ng negosyante dito. She was really mad at me when she heard I was pregnant but nang ipanganak ko ang anak ko. Her anger vanished lalo na't lalaki ang anak ko.

My son was the reason kung bakit ako napatawad ni mommy sa pagkakamali ko.

"Hindi mo na nga ako naalala ng magising ka. Sinungaling kapa. Sabi mo pina-imbestigahan mo! But why?! You liar!" I threw all the things I saw on the floor at ng wala na akong mahawakan na maibato ay napasabunot ako sa sariling buhok ko.

"Māmā, nǐ hái hǎo ma? Wǒ tīng dào nǐ rēng dōngxī de shēngyīn." My son knocked on the door. He was asking me if I was fine. Narinig niya akong may binabato. Shit! Kakatulog lang ng anak ko.

Pinunasan ko ang mga luha ko at pilit na ngumiti para pagbuksan ng pinto ang anak ko.
"Wǒ hěn hǎo er zi. Māmā hěn hǎo. Méiguānxì. Guòlái." I am fine son. Mom is fine. It's okay. Come here.

Lumapit siya sa akin at hinalikan ako sa pisngi.
"Wǒ zhīdào māmā nǐ zài kū. Nǐ de yǎnjīng shì hóngsè de. Wǒ zhēn de hěn ài nǐ." I know you're crying mom. Your eyes are red. I love you so much.

I hugged my son really tight. "Māmā fēicháng ài nǐ érzi." Mom loves you so much son.

"Sleep again érzi. Let's go back to your room." Hinila ko ang anak ko palabas ng kwarto ko at pumasok kami sa kwarto niya. Tinabihan ko ang anak ko hanggang sa makatulog ulit ito. Pinagmasdan ko ang mukha ng anak ko. My son looks like him. Habang palaki ng palaki ang anak ko. Unti-unti niya ng nagiging kamukha ang papa niya. Kaya natatakot akong bumalik sa Pilipinas dahil magkamukha sila.

But I am a stubborn woman. Bumalik ako doon without my son of course. Nakabanggan ko siya sa ospital. I was visiting my dad there and he didn't even bother to say sorry, he just gave me money!

Matutulog na sana ako ng marinig kong may tumatawang sa phone ko. Tumayo ako at lumabas sa teresa ng condo ko, dala ang phone.

"Nǐ hǎo, qǐngwèn zhè wèi shì shéi." Hello, who's this?

"Nǐ māmā xiǎng hé quánjiā yì qǐ qù fēilǜbīn dùjià. Wǒ xīwàng nǐ méishì. Tā zhēn de hěn xiǎngniàn nǐ de zǔguó." Your mom wants to have a family vacation in the Philippines with the whole family. I hope it's okay with you. She really misses your homeland.

It was my stepfather.

"Méiguānxì bàba." It's okay dad.

"Hǎo de. Wǒ hái yǒu yīgè huìyì, míngtiān zǎoshang jiàn." Okay. I still have a meeting, see you tomorrow morning.

He hung up the call. Tinawagan ko ang manager ko para ibalita na magbabakasyon kami ng family ko sa Pilipinas at ayos lang naman sakaniya. She gave me three months vacation I've been working hard lately daw kasi. So far, my movies and dramas had been a huge hit internationally. Madami ang basher ko dito sa China pero ayos lang.

Hindi daw kasi ako Chinese. I am Filipino-Spanish at least maganda ako at napagkikitaan ko ang mukha ko para mabuhay kami ng anak ko. At least legal ang trabaho ko.

HINIHILOT ko ngayon ang nuo ko dahil na stress ako sakanila lalo na si Mr. Li na panot.

"I still don't believe your statement Mr. Bartolome." Panimula nito. Si Hanz at Eric ay tahimik lang.

"Our sales is slowly recovering Mr. Li ano pa ba ang dindada mo diyan? Kita mo namang inayos na ni Mr. Bartolome diba? May mata ka naman diba? Why not use it and not your filthy mouth." Ayan sumabog na si Noel.

"Dahan-dahan ka sa mga sinasabi mo Mr. Ocampo. Bata ka pa and he is also your friend. I know you are on his side but his statement is not enough para mabawi ang loses natin." Sagot ni Mr. Li.

Kinuyom ko ang kamao ko. "If what I said doesn't satisfy you then sell your share in this company to someone ng wala ka ng problema!" And I also snapped. This is shit.

"How dare you!" Tumayo ito sa at dinuro ako.

"You may be young but you lack in experience!" He shouted.

"How dare you point a finger at my son!" Sigaw ni dad na kakadating lang.

Napa-awang ang labi ni Mr. Li at kinuyom ang kamao. "I'm sorry Stephen but your son is too much." Tapos nag walk out.

"Continue the meeting." Umupo si dad sa pwesto niya and we proceed the meeting.