Chapter 5: The Start of Unveiling

Naalimpungatan ako sa lakas ng aking alarm clock. Sinadya ko talagang e reset ito kagabi ng 5 a.m dahil marami akong gustong gawin.

I wake up early, usually just as the sun is beginning to peek over the horizon. I start my day with a stretch and a yawn, shaking off the remnants of sleep.

Pumunta ako sa kusina to prepare a cup of coffee, the rich aroma filling the room and jump starting my senses. While sipping my coffee, naaalala ko it's been months na pala akong nagtatrabaho sa kumpanya nila Liam at 3 weeks na rin na hindi umuwi sa apartment si Zari. 

Kumusta na kaya ang babaeng yun.

I miss the times when we could just hang out without any worries, when our biggest decision was what movie to watch or where to have dinner. 

“Zar? Are you there?” Hindi na ako napag antay at tinawagan ko na siya.

“Hest? Ikaw ba’to?” Wika niya. “So, hindi naka save yung phone number ko sa phone mo?” Agap ko sa malungkot na tuno. 

I can't help but feel a twinge of sadness, a longing for the simpler times. 

“Naka save pero nawala yung name. By the way, I miss you.” Sabi niya sa maarte na tuno. “I miss you too. Kailan ka uuwi?” 

Sabi ko, trying to make my voice clear.

“I don't think so. Dad told me, I'll be the one to manage our business in Cebu sa susunod na buwan.” Sabi niya.

I convinced myself to be happy by being lonely.

I head to the bathroom for a refreshing shower. The warm water helps to wake me up further and gets me ready for the day ahead. After my shower, I get dressed and prepare a healthy breakfast.

Parang kailan lang, hindi ako marunong magluto, but because I badly need to learn, natuto rin ako iba't ibang klase ng pagkain. 

Hay, the peaceful morning ambiance is melancholy to me.

Pagkatapos kong kumain, naghugas ako at nilinis ang hapag-kainan, and then sit down to plan out my day. I jot down any important tasks or appointments and make sure I have a clear idea of what needs to be done. Plano ko ring mamili ng bagong gamit sa apartment at mamili ng bagong damit.

But before that, parang kailangan ko munang mag-exercise. Sa sobrang busy ko sa trabaho at ibang gawain, minsan nalilimutan ko nang alagaan ang aking sarili.

Sinimulan ko ito sa isang maikling jog sa park malapit sa amin. Ang preskong hangin at ang tunog ng mga ibon ay nagsilbing musika sa aking mga tainga. Pagkatapos ng jog, ginawa ko rin ang ilang stretching at yoga poses para lalong magising ang aking katawan.

I'm here at Greenbelt Mall. I've been eyeing this local boutique that sells chic and sustainable clothing. After browsing through their collection, I picked out a few pieces that caught my eye: a beautiful floral dress perfect for Sunday brunch, a pair of high-waisted jeans that can be dressed up or down, and a classic white blouse, a must-have in any wardrobe.

Pagkatapos kong magbayad, I decided to head to the home section of the mall. I've been thinking of sprucing up my apartment and adding a few decorative pieces.

Nakakita ako ng isang charming little plant that would look perfect on my coffee table, and a cozy throw pillow that would surely make my couch more inviting.

Habang busy ako sa pamimili, I saw a familiar face.

It took me a moment to place the face, but then it hit me. It was the secretary of my father, someone I hadn't seen in years. He was browsing through a rack of jeans, seemingly oblivious to my presence.

I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me as I remembered the good old days.

Huminga ako ng malalim at nilapitan ko siya.

"Hey, it's been a while," Sabi ko, trying to keep my voice steady.

She turned around, surprise evident on her face. But then her eyes lit up in recognition, and she greeted me with a warm smile. I invited her for dinner since she's one of the people in the family.

"I think we have to eat our dinner first so we can chit-chat a little bit, ma'am." Sabi ko ng nakangiti. 

Nakita ko ang kanyang pagkabalisa, tila may secreto siyang tinatago.

Pero baka namalik-mata lang ako.

But the agony of the past makes it tempting to invite her. Marami akong mga katanungan na hindi pa nasasagot.

I think she's the way to open the close box a long time ago. 

"Sigi, Ms. Forbes. Pero hindi ako makatagal kasi naghihintay ang anak ko sa bahay mahirap na." Sabi niya sabay iwas ng tingin.

"It's fine, ma'am. You don't have to worry." Dumungaw lang ako sa kanya at ngumiti. 

Nang dumating kami sa restaurant, umorder kami ng mga pagkain. Habang naghihintay, tinanong ko siya kung siya tungkol sa aking ama.

Well, I don't force her to explain. I just want to know a few details regarding the past.

Ngunit, ang mga tanong sa aking isipan ay hindi rin nawawala. Bakit siya nandito? Ang alam ko kasi lumipat sila ng pamilya niya sa ibang bansa. Bakit ngayon lang siya nagpakita? 

"So, how's dad being the CEO of our company?" ang unang tanong na lumabas sa aking bibig. 

Tumango siya at ngumiti, ngunit sa kanyang mga mata, nakita ko na may something sa kanya na hindi ko maipaliwanag.

I can sense na marami siyang gustong sabihin pero pilit niyang tinatago. 

"Okay naman siya," sagot niya, ngunit may pag-aalinlangan sa kanyang boses. "Busy as usual, but he's managing." 

Nagpatuloy kami sa aming usapan, ngunit hindi ko maiwasang mapansin ang kanyang mga titig na tila may ibig sabihin. Sa bawat sagot niya, nararamdaman ko ang bigat ng kanyang mga salita. Alam kong meron siyang gustong sabihin, ngunit hindi niya masabi. 

Nagdesisyon 'kong magtanong ng direkta. "May problema ba?" tanong ko. Ngunit, sa halip na sumagot, tumingin lang siya sa akin, ang kanyang mga mata ay puno ng simpatya sa hindi ko malamang dahilan.

Sa tanong na iyon, nakita ko ang kanyang mga mata na biglang lumuha. Tila bigla siyang napatigil, at hindi alam kung ano ang sasabihin. 

"May dapat ba akong malaman? I need to know, ma'am." Pagmamakaawa ko sa kanya hoping na magsasalita siya. Ilang taon na rin ang lumipas simula nung nawala sina Mommy and Daddy.

Umiyak lang siya ng umiyak. And here I am, controlling my tears. 

"I'm sorry, hija kung hindi ko sinabi ito sa'yo ng mas maaga." Pagsisimula niya. "Pero hindi aksidenteng namatay ang Mommy at Daddy mo." Unti unting tumulo ang luha kong kanina ko pa pinigilan.

What does she mean? Na posibleng pinatay sila? "Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?" tanong ko. 

Parang isang bulong na lamang ang boses ko. My heart beats fast, full of confusion and sorrow.

Tumingin siya sa akin, “hija, hindi ito madali para sa akin, but you have the right to know the truth," panimula niya. Basang basa ang mukha sa luha."Mayroong mga taong hindi masaya sa tagumpay ng iyong pamilya, at mga taong nagnanais na kayo'y mawala." Sabi niya sabay hagod ng aking likod.

I can't believe this. All f*cking years, naniniwala ako sa isang kasinungalingan.

Our family is quietly famous because of our different businesses. Pero bakit ang tahimik ng media after nilang mamatay? 

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa aking narinig. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang aking nararamdaman.

Galit? Takot? Kalituhan? I felt a wave of emotions washing over me. But above all, there was a burning desire for justice. 

My parents, who were nothing but kind and loving, didn't deserve such a fate. They were taken from me too soon, and the thought that their killer was still out there, unpunished, was unbearable.

Hahanapan ko lahat ng kasagutan. 

Tiim bagang kong tiningnan ang sekretarya, "I want to find out who did this. I want justice for my parents." Bahagyang lumakas ang boses ko dahilan kung ba't ang ilang tao ay napatingin sa amin. Tanging pag-tango lang ang naging sagot ng sekretarya.

And with that, I knew my life would never be the same. The journey would be difficult, perhaps even dangerous. But I was ready to face whatever came my way.

My parents deserved nothing less.