Lies and Deception ✔ (Haciendero #4)

Ikatatlumpo't Limang Kabanata

Kabanata 35

Press conference

Raius was transferred to a hospital in Manila.

Kasama namin ang kanyang kapatid na babaeng lumuwas ng Manila, kagaya ng usapan sa mansyon muna siya mananatili para mas malapit sa kapatid. It wouldn't be that hassle to her going back and forth from Quezon to Manila just to see her brother.

Iginugol ko naman ang aking oras upang bantayan si Raius sa hospital. Things were heated right now with people really wanted to end my career.

Timing wasn't right.

Hindi natutuwa ang boyfriend ko sa mga pangyayari, imbes na magpahinga siya at hindi ma-stress, he was probably thinking about it a lot. Palagi siyang nakasimangot kaya alam kong iyon ang iniisip niya.

Iniiwasan ko namang makita muna ng publiko. I didn't put out a statement regarding the issue. I completely logged out of my social media accounts. Pinapahupa ko muna ang tensyon sa medya at sa mga tao.

Isasabay ko na siguro ang statement ko tungkol sa retirement sa industry sa pag-clear ng aking pangalan, pati nang pagsangkot kay Raius.

On the hand, the good news was Raius is getting better and better. That was the highlight of my week. Sooner or later, we could take him home.

We would hire a physical therapist for him when his bones healed and the casts were removed. Some of the wounds on his face were healed. Ang g'wapo naman talaga ng boyfriend ko kahit may small wounds ang mukha.

Nadatnan ko naman ang mga bata sa mansyon nang umuwi ako. They were playing with Cleo. I just came home to take a bath and a nap before going back to the hospital.

"Hi, kids!"

Agad kong napansin ang mapulang pisngi ni Hana, ganoon din si Zafa. "What happened to you, babies?" Sinuri ko ang kanilang pisngi. "Does it hurt?"

"A parent slapped her... because she bit a kid." Cleo answered the question boggling my mind.

"What?" Kumunot ang noo ko.

Tama ba naman 'yon? The action was shameful coming from a fully grown adult.

"Why did you do that? Hana, it was bad to bite a kid..." sinabi ko. "But it doesn't mean you should be slapped by an adult."

Cleo's phone rang.

Nagpaalam siya upang sagutin ang tawag. Zafa helped his aunt before going back to us in an instant.

"Because she's cute! She's squishy! I love her!" She told me. "We're friends!"

"Love mo naman pala, why did you bite her? Kapag friend o love, hindi dapat sinasaktan."

Ngumuso naman siya. "Why? Her mommy nga, eh! Pinalo siya noong naglaro kami dati tapos nag-ask ako kung bakit niya pinalo, sabi niya kasi love niya raw ang friend ko... that's discipline daw. Eh, pinipilit niyang kuhanin baon ni Zafa! Dini-discipline at nila-love ko rin siya kaya kinagat ko!" saad pa niya.

Napanganga ako. Environment was really a factor for a growing child. Nasa loving and caring environment si Hana at Zafa, pero may instances pa rin na nakakasaksi sila ng hindi tama.

"I think... we need to talk to your parents about that." I caressed her face.

"Why can parents hit their child and claim they love them? Pero kapag ako, bad! Kapag ako sumuntok at nag-bite, bad ako!" She pouted.

Niyakap ko naman siya.

Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin sa bata. Siguro kaya maraming bulag sa red flag behaviors ng isang tao, most kids had grown up with parents like that.