The Charm

Epilogue

Epilogue

It was a dismal day for people who were gathered here at the memorial park. Nilingon ko ang babaeng nakipagsiksikan para makalapit sa katawan ng Papa. I couldn't clearly see her face 'cause her head was bowed down. Mama was whispering something to her and I could even feel the tension between the two despite of our distance.

Amity Helene Escobar...

When I heard about her and Papa, I distanced myself from him. Nambabae siya na ang edad ay mas bata pa sa amin. Kahit kailan ay hindi ko naisip na magagawa niya ang bagay na 'yon. At ngayon, kailangan kong tanggapin ang katotohanan na hindi na namin maaayos ang relasyon namin bilang mag-ama.

It seemed like there was a heavy rock in my chest. Too heavy, that I couldn't lift it out my chest.

I just let Mama and that girl silently argue, of course about him. I stared at my father's coffin as a number of men carefully put it down the grave. Walang lumalabas na luha sa mga mata ko, pero sobrang sakit. Ang sakit na wala akong magawa kundi tanggapin na lang.

The inauguration day came and my eyes roamed the crowd, looking for that teacher. But I didn't see her. O baka nakita ko siya pero hindi lang ako aware na siya 'yon. Hindi ko naman kasi talaga tanda ang mukha niya.

"Mama, let's go." Kuya Rogue, the eldest among the four Agrezor siblings, held her arm with a stoic expression.

Tinanguan ko ang mga kapatid ko.

Tinapik naman ako ni Kuya Dash sa balikat. "Nice speech, Aegeus! Congrats!"

Naiwan akong mag-isa sa opisina. Inilibot ko ang tingin sa lahat ng iniwan sa akin ng Papa. Wala pang ilang araw ang nakalipas ng pagkakalibing niya, pero kinailangan ko na agad punan ang posisyon niya. I was the youngest, but in his will, he wanted me to be the next president. And I didn't have any choice but to accept it.

Isang lagukan kong ininom ang wine at inilapag ang wineglass sa table. I was deep in thought when someone opened the door. Nabalik ako sa katinuan. Hindi man lang pala ito nai-lock ng mga kapatid ko.

A young woman entered my office with folders in her hands. Lumapit siya sa table ko at nabitawan ang mga dala pagkakita sa akin.

She took a step backward. Gulat na gulat.

Her waist-length hair was light brown in color. She had a cat-like eyes and the natural color of her eyebrows added power to her face. Her nose and lips were small. But all in all, she was gorgeous.

"Who... are you?" I asked.

I saw her gulp, but she didn't look scared.

Why was a teacher still here at this hour? Biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang usap-usapan tungkol sa Papa. The hair of the girl I saw at the memorial park was the same as hers.

Mabilis na umahon ang galit sa dibdib ko. I couldn't be wrong. It was her.

"Don't you know how to knock before you enter someone's office or room?" I did my best not to shout. Hindi ko makontrol ang pag-iinit ng dugo ko. Kita ko na ang dahilan kung bakit nahumaling ang Papa sa kanya.

"Sorry po!" She turned her back on me and I abruptly grabbed her arm.

Agad niyang nailayo ang braso sa akin.

"Don't turn your back when someone is talking to you. That's rude." Pero hindi pa rin niya ako hinarap. "What's your name, Ma'am?"

Gusto kong sapilitan siyang iharap sa akin, pero pinigilan ko ang sarili.

"Are you..."

"Amity Escobar," she answered.

I clenched my hands, and then my jaw. Nanginginig ang mga kamao ko sa pagpipigil ng galit. Nag-angat siya ng tingin at nagtama ang aming mga mata.