Forgotten Memories Book 1 (2013)

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Meet the Parents

Alex's Point of View

Gin held my hand firmly when we emerged from the connecting door papunta sa maluwang na living room kung saan naroon at nakatayo sina Gov. De Villa at ang asawa nito. I feel nervous. Shit, ngayon ko lamang yata naramdaman ito.

"Smile, sweetheart, hindi ka kakainin ng pamilya ko." He chuckled.

Pilit na ngumiti ako. Pilit na pilit dahil sa nerbiyos. "Funny, Gin."

He is still smiling when he coughed to call the attention of his parents. Napalingon ang mga ito and I could see the astonishment on their faces nang masilip nila ako sa likod ni Gin.

"I want you to meet, Isabella," Gin said na hinila ako sa tabi nito. "Isabella, meet my parents, Governor De Villa and my beautiful mother who had been calling me a while ago," he said.

I blushed. Nanay pala niya tumatawag sa kanya. Gin's father looked at me and the politician in him extended his hand. "Nice to meet a very fine lady, how are you iha?" he said in a firm and strong voice.

"I-I am fine, sir. Thank you."

Mrs. De Villa looked at me from head to foot but she smiled warmly. "Ikaw pala ang sinasabi ng anak ko na dina-date niya. Now I see why ubusin na niya ang perfume ko kapag umaalis ng bahay," nagbibirong sabi.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Gin. Lalo pa at may ilang bisita na nag ngitian ng marinig ang sinabi ng Mama nito.

"Ma! You are embarrassing me," reklamo nito.

"What is this all about?"

Napatingin kami pare-pareho sa pumasok na nakarinig ng ingay. Si Ex-Senator De Villa.

"Gin introduced Isabella to us," sabi ng Papa ni Gin. Bumaling ito sa akin. "I didn't catch your full name iha."

"Isabella Alexandra Monteverde, sir."

"Monteverde?" his grandfather asked sharply. "How are you related to Sebastian Monteverde? The owner of St Michael and the MGM Group of Companies?"

Natigilan ako. "He is my late father, sir." I tried not to quiver. When it happened to my father, it was all over the news. Pinagpiyestahan ang buhay ng Papa ko at ng aking ina. It's like a big circus. Babaeng sumama sa ibang lalaki, nagpakamatay ang asawa.

I saw them na natigilan. Pati ang ilang naroon na nakarinig sa tanong ng lolo ni Gin.

Nawala din ang ngiti ng Mama at Papa ni Gin. It was a long pause and it was almost heartbreaking. I held my head high sa nararamdaman na pagkapahiya. Alam ko na alam nila ang istorya ng buhay ng mga magulang ko.

Napakunot ang noo ni Gin. "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with that?" naiiritang sabi ni Gin. Marahil napansin na nawalan ng kulay ang mukha ko.

His mother tried to lessen the heavy atmosphere. "Wala iho. Sige ayain mo na si Bella na kumain, I am sure gutom na kayo."

Ni hindi ko alam paano kami nakaalis sa harapan nila. Sinusundan ako ng tingin ng mga tao. Napatiim ang labi ko.

Nagulat si Gin ng dumire-diretso ako palabas ng gate ng mansiyon.

"Bella!"

But I was deaf. I want to get out of here. And fast.

Dahil hindi ko gugustuhin na dito ako mag breakdown.

It was still painful.

The past hurts me the most na para bang kahapon lamang nangyari. Na para bang kahapon lamang na nakita ko ang Papa na duguan at nagbaril sa sarili. I shook.