CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
BROOK was looking hopelessly at his grandfather, as if he's asking for confirmation if they are really siblings.
Napapagod na umayos ng upo si Don Armando, ang kaninang maputlang kulay ng mukha ay ngayon ay bahagya ng dumilim. Habang siya ay pinipilit nalang ang sariling tumayo do'n, kahit na gustung-gusto niya ng bumigay.
"She was telling the truth, Brooke. I found it out few weeks ago, but I made another investigation, hoping that my people gave me a wrong information about your mother." Don Armando shook his head, disappointed.
"Pero iisa lang ang impormasyon na ibinibigay nila sa'kin." He sighed, his sympathy is in his grandson, who looks so down at the very moment. And seeing Brooke in his broken state, made her heart ache even more.
"That your mother was in coma. She's widowed, and has a daughter which is Gelicah," Don Armando glanced a her, his eyes were menacing, para bang isa siyang malaking kasalanan para sa apo nito. "And right now, she's with Bettina. Your mother's best friend. You know Bettina, right, apo?"
Nanghihina na napaupo si Brooke, nakayuko, nakasabunot sa buhok. Ni hindi siya kayang tapunan ng tingin, ni hindi ma-i-angat ang mata sa kanila.
"I k-know Bettina," Brook voice is almost crack. "I met her long time ago. She was my m-mother's messenger."
Buong buhay niya naniwala siyang nag-iisang anak lang siya. Kaya paanong nangyari ang ganito? Bakit sila pa ni Brooke ang naging magkapatid ? Kaya ba sila pinagtagpo dahil para siya ang maging daan upang magkita na ang mag-ina? Hindi ba dahil sila ang pinagtagpo para sa isa't-isa?
"Now that you both know that you two are siblings, even if it's hard to accept these mess, I am still hoping that in the near future, you can have the guts to accept each other...as siblings." Don Armando said emotionlessly, his gaze never leaves his grandson. He really cares for Brooke, she can see it in his eyes.
"A-Aalis na po ako." Sa mahina at nanginginig na tinig niya nasambit ang mga salitang iyon.
Wala ng dahilan para manatili pa siya sa mansyon na 'yon. Mas lalo lang niyang sasaktan ang sarili niya at si Brooke kung mananatili pa siya.
Lumipat ang tingin sa kanya ng matanda, pinagmasdan ang mga luhang hindi pa natutuyo sa pisngi niya. Malungkot itong ngumiti sa kanya, tila gustong pagaangin ang sitwasyon pero hindi magawa.
"Ipapahatid kita kay Ben sa Maynila."
"Hindi na po kailangan. Kaya ko po umuwi mag-isa."
"I insist, Gelicah." Don Armando said with finality on his voice.
Hindi na siya nakapiyok pa. Malalim siyang humugot ng hangin sa dibdib, tapos ay lumipat ang tingin niya kay Brooke. He was covering his face with his both palms, his elbows were above the table. Bigong-bigo sa mga sandaling 'yon, na kahit ang sulyapan siya ay hindi na nagawa pa.
Masakit ang dibdib na maingat siyang lumabas sa library room ng mansyon. Pinikit niya ang mga mata nang nasa labas na siya at sumandal sa nakasarang pinto.
Her tears slowly flowing down her cheeks, he did not stop her. Brooke let her go... is this really their end?
MALALIM NA ang gabi nang makarating siya sa penthouse ni Brooke. It was dark and silent. Kahit saan bahagi siya lumingon ay ang mga ala-ala nilang dalawa ang nakikita niya. Nasasaktan siya sa kinahinatnan nila ni Brooke, hindi ganito ang inaasahan niya. Pero bakit ganitong katapusan ang ibinigay sa kanila?
Is it really true that you can only see the happy ending in watching fairy tales? Maybe. Brooke is right, there's no such happy ending in real world.
IN THE NEXT day, Gelicah found herself in a beautiful Villa somewhere in Visayas. She was thinking about going to California last night, but the thought that Brooke might visit their mother, stops her. She doesn't have the nerve to see him again.
BINABASA MO ANG
Territorial Men 3: Brooke Montero (Published Under LIB BARE)
General FictionOne of the richest man in Asia, Brooke Montero is clearly needed only one thing... A woman who will marry him. They will get married and he will get his inheritance from his grandfather. It was a simple deal, but the beautiful woman he chose made it...
