Fortejo Bastards: Fourth Fortejo

Prologue

He wasn't supposed to be here. Kung siya lang ang masusunod, nasa bahay siya kapiling ang gabundok na mga papeles na nangangailangan ng kanyang atensyon. Every minute he spends here makes Fourth restless, to the point that his collar felt tighter than it actually was. Gusto na niyang mapamura sa inis pero para namang tuksong bumalik sa alaala ng binata ang usapan nila ng tiyuhin dalawang linggo na ang nakararaan.

"How much do you like money?"

"Come on, Tito Ian. Alam n'yo ang sagot diyan."

"Then come to your father' wake."

And here he is. Wala pa man ay parang gusto na niyang pagsisihan ang naging desisyon. But since he lives for money and nothing but money, he gave in to his uncle's prodding. Give and take two hours. Nangako si Fourth sa tiyuhin na sisikapin niyang tumagal ng dalawang oras sa piling ng pamilya ng tatay niya. Pero mag-iisang oras pa lang siya kasama ang lola at mga kapatid niya sa ama ay gustong-gusto nang tumakas ni Fourth. Wala pa man ay paubos na ang social battery ng binata.

Yes. Technically, his uncle is no longer his last remaining kin. Apparently, may apat na kapatid at isang lola siya. But Fourth doesn't give a damn. Gertrude Fortejo doesn't radiate even a sliver of a grandmotherly aura around her. Her stern face, pepper-hair styled in a bun and ramrod straight spine, she's more of a picture of a war general than a grandmother to the five bastards her son Henry left.

And don't let him get started about his brothers. Hindi siya interesadong malaman ang background ng mga kapatid sa ama. Bakit pa? They're just unnecessary and unwelcome addition to his life. Nandito lang siya para sa mamanahin mula kay Henry Fortejo.

Someone's voice giving eulogy droned on and on in Fourth's ears, seemingly endless. Wala siyang maintindihan. At nang masilip niya ang mukha ng namayapa sa kabaong nitong walang dudang nagkakahalaga ng milyon, walang makapang kung ano mang emosyon si Fourth sa dibdib. Henry Fortejo, the bastard who sired him, finally has a name and face in Fourth's mind.

Naalala niya ang ina habang nakatitig sa walang buhay na mukha ni Henry Fortejo.

Are you watching,  'nay? Now I am convinced that your death is indeed pathetic. You got your heart broken for this man. Ironically, he's nothing special.

As he moved away from his father's coffin, Fourth realized it wasn't true that he felt nothing. Dahil habang unti-unti siyang lumalayo sa kinalalagyan ng kabaong ng ama, naintindihan niya ang sarili sa wakas. Galit. Panghihinayang. Unti-unting nabubuhay sa dibdib niya ang magkahalong emosyon na ni minsan ay hindi niya inisip na mararamdaman. And the worst thing? He doesn't know where to direct those things now that his father is dead.

The tightened feeling he felt around his throat intensified. Fourth's breathing came out in gasps. His footsteps quickened without him realizing it. Hanggang sa nauwi sa pagtakbo ang lakad ni Fourth. He thought he heard a voice calling his name somewhere, but he's no longer listening. Ang tanging nasa isip niya ngayon ay ang umalis, ang magpakalayo-layo. 

No amount of love for money could prevent him from fleeing. At sa pagtakas na ginawa niya, hindi niya namalayan ang paglandas ng isang butil ng luha sa kanyang maputlang pisngi.

Coming here is a big mistake.