Wynnona's POV

ladywyn_ happy to see you

I let out a smile upon checking my instagram post once again. It was a picture of me, sitting at the roof top. My back is facing the camera, and I was watching the susnset. I'm happy not just because of the view, but because of another thing.

yam.ichi see you again ☀

Right after checking my post, I received a notification saying "yam.ichi posted for the first time... blah blah..." and here's what I saw. It was a picture of the view of golden hour in Manila. Tall buildings are scattered and it was obvious that it was caught from a rooftop.

He visited me at the condo early this morning saying that he'll post on instagram too because I posted one. My happiness is so pure and I can't contain my kilig. We're like highschool students who are afraid to reveal our status but still manage to give hints lol.

When someone rang my doorbell, I immediately opened the door.

"Kahit naman hindi naka-tag alam ko kung sinong kumuha ng picture. Ano 'to, lovestagram?" dali daling pagkasabi ni Pinky nang makita niya ang mukha ko.

Pinalo ko naman siya sa braso nang mahina bago siya hinatak sa loob dahil baka may makarinig. Maliban kay Marie at Yumi, siya lang ang nakakaalam tungkol sa engagement namin ni Yamato. Inamin din niya sa akin na sa kanya humihingi ng impormasyon si Yamato tungkol sa whereabouts ko. Pa-mysterious pa eh.

"Ang cheesecorn ng peg niyo, pero wala naman akong magagawa kaya susupport ko na lang kayo."

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya. Imposibleng ayaw niya 'yung nakikita niyang galawan namin ni Yamato dahil sa tuwing magkukuwento ako sa kanya lagi niya akong hinahampas sa sobrang kilig.

"Nakita mo na 'yung ig story namin?"

"Hindi pa," umiling siya at lumapit nang iharap ko ang cellphone ko.

It was a picture of Yamato's gift to me. It was a burnt orange shirt with a print saying "SHINE always" and I thanked there without tagging or mentioning anybody.

I looked at Pinky and she pursed her lips to suppress a smile. She even rolled her eyes, but when I showed Yamato's story she can't help but to squeal.

"

Yuck, ang corny!" sabi niya sa akin pero hinahampas niya na ako sa sobrang kilig. Para na rin siyang bulate kung gumalaw.

It was a cropped photo of him taken in his unit. He filtered it with black and white filter, and he captioned "B&W" meaning black and white. But he twisted it a bit. The "B" and "&" are both in white font colors, while the "W" is in yellow. He told me he purposely did that because the ""W" represents my name Wynnona.

"Huhu, bakit ang swerte swerte mo? Bakit may ganyan kang lalaki? Kailan ba ako magkakajowa?" sunod sunod na pagmamaktol niya.

"Siguro kaya mo ako pinapunta dito para painggitin ano?" humalukipkip siya at pinanliitan ako ng mga mata.

"Hindi a!" depensa ko. "Busy na kasi ako kaya minsan na lang tayong magkikita. That's why I called you para naman 'di mo ako mamiss." I hissed at her.

"Weh? Sige na nga," ayaw pang maniwala... Kailan ba ako nagsinungaling sa kanya? Siya pa nga lang ang naituring ko ng ganito eh. "Pero malapit naman ng matapos ang shooting niyo 'di ba?"

"Yep. Next week."

Before going to the shooting place, I decided to drop by a gasoline station to pee. I couldn't hold it any longer so I have no choice.

As soon as I get out of the cubicle, I washed my hand but someone caught my attention. From the mirror, I saw the reflection of Jenna who was also shocked to see me.

"Hi," she simply said before walking beside me.

I think she's also from one of those cubicles. What a coincidence, huh?

"Hi," I replied so that she won't dub me as a snob or whatever. "What are you doing here?"

Our last conversation didn't go out well... for me I guess? I don't know if she knows anything about I and Yamato, but I don't want her to butt in too. I'm in a good mood, and I don't want to ruin it so maybe a little making a conversation with her will do.

"I just dropped by. How about you? May shooting?" she asked and I left my lips opened. She knows?

Yamato and I are still both attending class workshops. I also don't hear anyone spreading rumors that I am the chosen one that's paired with him. I remember hearing gossips of Jenna and her friends while discussing why Jenna isn't paired to him. But that's what I only hear.

"You... know," I calmy said.

"Of course. Bagay sa'yo 'yung role actually. And alam ko naman na if not ako ang ma-chochoose para doon, then for you that's you."

Naisip niya rin pala 'yon. I guess she saw me as a rival in the audition.

"Y-you're better than me, though..." I awkwardly complimented her.

"Don't you dare say that," I looked at her after saying that.

She's looking down, not smiling. Did I make her angry? For what reason?

"I'm going na," she said while drying her hands. "Congrats, I guess."

"Th-Thanks," I responded.

"Oh, I think my greetings should be doubled," my brows furrowed in confusion. "You're going to marry him, right?"

For the second time, my lips parted but couldn't utter a word. What does she mean? How did she know?

"Pero 'wag kang makampante."

Before leaving me dumbfoundedly, she gave me a smirk that looks so deadly. I can't figure what she's trying to say, but I know that she plans something.

On the first time I met her, I didn't expect her personality to be like that. And now that I already knew, hindi talaga ako pwedeng makampante.

The project is going well. Nasasanay na rin kami ni Yamato sa stress na dulot ng trabaho. Pagkatapos ng shooting ngayong araw, nagdesisyon na akong umuwi na dahil sa pagod. Ang mga ilan kong kasama ay nagbabalak na lumabas muli at gusto nila akong isama pero agad akong tumanggi.

Sa kabilang banda, nagsabi din sa akin si Yamato na hindi siya sasama sa kanila at uuwi na daw sa condo. Hindi niya ako kasabay sa kotse niya ngayon dahil hindi ako uuwi sa unit. May kailangan kasi akong kunin sa bahay, at naisip ko na doon na rin muna matulog.

"Take care, love," Yamato whispered while looking at my eyes.

We were both hidden in a dark safe place somewhere here in the set, because we can't publicize our relationship. Mamaya, isipin pa ng staff na nagkaroon kami ng something dahil dito at tawagin kaming unprofessional.

Parang kailan lang noong nagkaayos kami ni Yam, ngayon lumalim na ng ganito ang relasyon namin. He's my game changer anyways.

"Take care, too," I kissed his cheek. "love."

Nauna akong umalis sa set dahil mas matraffic sa dadaanan namin pauwi sa bahay. Hindi ko alam kung nandoon si dad, pero wala naman akong paki. Kahit yata nandoon ako sa bahay, ang itatanong niya lang din naman ay tungkol sa kung may improvement ba ang relasyon ni Yamato.

I love Yamato, of course. But I can't brag Yamato and our relationship well when I'm talking with my father because all I can think is money when I see his face.

Now I wonder... did he marry my mom... purely just because of money?

I looked at the window and mesmerized by the beauty of pouring raindrops enlighten by the city lights. I think this is the only good thing about rain and traffic at night.

As I look outside further, I saw a scenario that touched my heart. Too many people outside the mall, but those two caught my attention.

A girl, about my age talks to someone on the phone. She seems clueless because her brows are furrowed. It looks like that someone from the phone commanded her to look at her back, and there she saw a woman holding with a phone on her ear, and a luggage on her other hand.

The girl seems to space out the moment she saw the older woman, but later on covered her mouth because of sudden outburst of emotions. I think it's a surprise because who would've asked someone to fetch them at a mall, when it could be in airport.

Since the younger lady's already getting the attention of the people around them, the older woman who appears to be her mother walked towards her and hugged her tightly... because she wants to comfor her... and because... she doesn't want to be disconnected from her child again.

The scene made me feel emotions. They look so pure and it made me glad, but I can't help but to also feel a pang in my chest.

She has a loving mother.
She has a mother.
A mother.
Mother.

I envy her.

The vehicles suddenly moved and I never saw the two again.

"Are you okay?" Marie who seems shocked suddenly handed me a pack of tissue papers.

I smiled at her and nodded so that she won't get worried. She didn't see what I saw but I also don't want to tell her.

Wala din naman siyang ibang sasabihin sa akin maliban sa 'ayos lang 'yan', 'nandito naman ako eh, and 'you told me I'm already enough...' but I know none of her words will make my heart satisfied.

Just by thinking that I'm already 23 years old and never saw or hear about my mom, makes me want to tear up more. It's been so long since I tried asking everyone about my mother. Although they never give me answers, and sometimes they even mislead me into knowing the real truth, right now, I won't hold back.

"Manang, can I ask you something?"

After eating dinner, I waited for hours and made sure that manang Remy won't be doing any work when I interrogate her.

Sa lahat ng mga katulog na narito sa mansyon, siya ang itinuturong pinakamatagal nang naririto. Ang pagkakaalam ko, hindi pa man ako ipinapanganak, nagtatrabaho na siya dito.

"A-Ano po iyon?" utal niyang tanong pabalik. Nakalimutan kong kinatatakutan pala nila ako dito noon nang dahil sa ugali ko.

Nandito kami ngayon sa garden. Magkatapat kaming nakaupo at namamagitan ang isang pabilog na mesa sa amin. Mukha namang wala o hindi pa dumarating si dad kaya safe kaming mag-uusap rito.

"Please drop the 'po' and 'opo' po," I smiled awkwardly at her.

"Sige po--ay," I smiled on her little mistake.

Mabuti na lamang din at dahil doon, nag-loosen up ako ng kaunti. Masyado din sigurong seryoso ang pagtanong ko sa kanya kanina. Dapat lang na mapalagay ang loob niya sa akin kahit kaunti, para naman hindi siya ma-tense na sumagot.

"Manang..." panimula ko at nakting kinakabahan pa rin siya. "The last time I asked about these questions ay noong bata pa po ako," dumoble lalo ang kaba niya dahil parang alam niya kung saan papunta ang tanungang ito. "at lagi niyo pong nirereject na sagutin iyon."

"W-Wynnona..." bulong niya na parang hindi gusto ang mga mangyayari.

"I'm sorry po, manang. But please, this time, answer my questions," umiiling na siya ngayon pero mas lalo lamang iyong nagpatindi ng kagustuhan kong malaman ang katotohanan. "Manang Remy, I'm already 23, please have mercy..."

Hindi siya umimik at parang naaawa na rin. Matanda na siya at alam niya ang pakiramdam kapag hindi niya napagbibigyan ang kahilingan ng mga anak at apo niya.

"Sino po ang nanay ko?" unang tanong ko sa kanya. "Please po..."

"Hindi ko iyan p-pwedeng sagutin, apo," sabi niya at nawala ang tikas ng balilat ko. "p-pero kung may iba ka pang katanungan..."

Nabuhayan ang loob ko at nag-isip pa ng iba.

"Did dad marry her because of the tradition, or because of love?" I'll be disappointed of course if it's the first one, pero bahala na. Gusto ko din namang malaman.

"Mahal nila ang isa't isa, apo."

While manang is smiling, I couldn't figure it our at first if it was real, but I think manang wouldn't lie at me this time.

"R-Really?" I aksed and she confirmed it. "B-But what happened to them? Naghiwalay ba sila? Bakit? Where is she now?"

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili na mapatanong ng marami nang mapagtanto kong marami nga akong katanungan ukol sa nanay ko.

"Wynnona, apo," manang held my hand and caressed it. It calmed me a little bit but my eyes and my heart are still hungry for answers. "Sa tingin ko nga dapat mo nang malaman."

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso. Kung sasabihin niya ang ilang detalye tungkol sa nanay ko, magkakaroon na ba ako ng pag-asa para mahanap at makilala siya? At sa kasal ko... maihahatid ba niya ako sa altar?

"Mahal na mahal nila ang isa't isa. Mayaman ang mama mo. Good profile din ika-nga. Walang tutol sa gawi ng papa mo dahil doon, kaso isang araw..." napabuntong-hininga si manang bago nagpatuloy, "...Nang mamatay ang lolo mo na papa ng mama mo, saka lang nalaman ng daddy mo at ng pamilya ninyo na nagkaroon pala ng alitan ang mag-ama bago siya mamatay."

"Tutol pala ang lolo mo sa pag-iibigan ng iyong mga magulang. Walang natirang pamana ang iyong nanay. Ni isang kusing wala."

Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko sa pagkukuwento ni manang. Nanatili lamang akong nakikinig.

"Pero alam mo naman ang pamilya mo..."

"Pera," pinutol ko si manang sa pananalita. "Don't tell me, because of money..."

Bumuntong hiningang muli si manang at tiningnan ako ng malungkot.

"Nang malaman ng pamilya ng daddy mo ang katotohanan, nagalit sila at pilit na pinalayas ang iyong ina sa pamamahay na 'to."

"How about daddy? How did he react?" nakakuyom na ang palad ko at handa ng magalit kay dad.

"Ikinulong siya sa kwarto niya hanggang sa pare pareho na silang walang narinig na balita galing sa mama mo."

Pero biglang nawala lahat ng galit na iniipon ko nang sabihin iyon ni manang. Does that mean... hindi lahat kasalanan ni dad?

"Halos mabaliw ang papa mo noon, pero hindi sila naawa," yumuko si manang pagkasabi niyon. "Patawarin mo ako, Wynnona. Wala din akong magawa kung hindi sumunod din sa utos nila noon."

Wala akong galit kay manang kaya binalewala ko ang sinabi niya. Sa kabilang banda, labis na pagkasuklam ang naramdaman ko para sa pamilyang ipinagmamalaki ko noon pa man. Hanggang sa nalaman ko ito... at pakiramdam ko, nandidiri ako sa sarili kong dugo.

Nang dahil sa pera... ganoon ang ginawa nila?

"Manang," ngunit gaano pa man ako kagalit ngayon, hindi ko hahayaang hindi ito matanong kay manang Remy. "Noong pinalayas po ba nila si m-mommy, ipinanganak na po ako?"

Umiling si manang at mas lalo akong naguluhan.

"Paano po ako napunta sa bahay na 'to? H-Hindi naman po ako ampon 'di ba?"

Ang kaba ko ay napawi, nang umiling muli si manang.

"Isang araw mayroong nag-doorbell dito sa mansyon. Pagkakita ng mga gwardya, naroon ka," sabi niya kasabay ng pagsilay ng ngiti. "Mayroong liham doon. Nakasulat na ikaw ay galing sa sinapupunan ng nanay mo na buntis na pala noong ipinagtabuyan ng pamilya ng daddy mo."

Hindi ko maiwasang mapaluha sa kwento niya. Ibig sabihin, naghirap ang mommy ko ng siyam na taon habang pinagtatabuyan ng pamilya ko para lang sa walang kwentang tradisyon na ito?

"Ayaw pa naming lahat na maniwala noong una na ikaw nga ay anak ng daddy mo, pero agad silang nagpa-DNA test. 99% matched kayo ng daddy mo," nawala ang pag-aalala ko na baka galit sa akin si dad ay dahil hindi niya ako anak. "At noong tanungin naman ang daddy mo kung mayroon ba siyang ibang babae na posibleng nabuntis, sumagot siya ng 'wala'. Ang nanay mo lamang daw ang tanging babaeng kaya niyang--"

"I-Is that sure though?" I asked immediately.

"May naririnig o nakikita ka bang binababae ng daddy mo?" agad akong umiling nang tanungin ako ni manang Remy.

Buhat pagkabata, wala akong nakikitang babae na nakakarelasyon niya. Sa tuwing tatanungin din siya sa interviews lagi niyang sinasabi na ayaw niya raw na maghanap ng babae. Sapat na raw ako, at ang naging pagsasama nila ng mommy ko.

"Kamukhang kamukha mo ang mommy mo," bumalik ang atensyon ko kay manang nang sabihin niya iyon.

Nakangiti siya, at napanguso naman ako. Mukha kasing sawakas ay totoo na ang sinasabi niya sa akin. Walang halong kasinungalingan. Nalulungkot na natutuwa ang puso ko.

"May picture po ba niya kayo--?"

"What's happening here?"

Nang lumingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses, nakita ko si dad na palapit sa amin. Hindi kami nagbubulungan ni manang Remy, kaya malamang sa malamang ay narinig niya ang ilang parte ng usapan namin.

"N-Nothing," tumayo na ak dahil hindi ko alam kung paano haharapin si daddy. Patungkol sa totoo niyang nararamdaman noong nawala si mommy sa amin ay hindi pa rin malinaw sa akin. "Thank you so much po, manang Remy," I kissed manang's cheek before walking out.

Malapit na akong makalabas sa garden nang biglang nag-vibrate ang phone ko. Tiningnan ko ang notification, at laking gulat ko nang buksan iyon.

"Wynnona, I got an-email," I heard dad said. I think he also got the same mail.

I guess this girl really tries to manipulate us. But how much I wanted to get mad at her, I can't deny the fact that I'm getting scared.

The next thing I know is that dad's already beside me and dragging me into his office.

"We need to talk."

--

A/N: Hope you Enjoy reading po! Votes and comments are highly appreciated ♥ God bless y'all!