Yamato's POV

Last week of taping. We're all sad and glad at the same time. This is a one of a kind experience to me. Having to be chosen as one of the actors handled by also one of the great directors is such a great privilege, especially that I'm still an acting student.

We also shared great time during work because everyone's so kind and professional. We'll be having a small celebration tomorrow for the success of our project. I guess that would also be the last time to hang out with all of these actors, actresses, staff, and crew. Exemption is that lady who still seems not okay.

Kanina pa mang umaga pagkarating niya rito sa set, ramdam kong may hindi magandang nangyari sa kanya. Sa tuwing magtatanong kami, ngiti lang ang ibabalik niya.

Boyfriend niya rin ako--este fiancée pala, at alam kong dapat lang na may pakialam ako sa kanya sa ganitong mga bagay. Ilang beses ko nang sinubukang kausapin siya, pero maliban sa sobrang busy kami dahil working hours nga, pakiramdam ko gusto niyang mapag-isa ngayong araw.

Bibigyan ko naman siya ng oras kung iyon ang gusto niya, pero syempre hindi ko pa ring maiwasang mag-alala para sa kanya.

"Love," I reached her hand when I thought that we're on the right place to talk. It's dark here and nobody's going to see us. Perfect for a couple who don't want to get caught.

Ang akala ko'y ayos lang sa kanya na makipag-usap na sa akin, pero nagulat ako nang tanggalin niya ang kamay na inihawak ko sa kanya.

"Hey, what's happening? Can you please just tell me?" I worriedly asked.

"N-nothing's wrong," she lied. It was an obvious lie of course. Even if I'm just a staff on this set and I heard her say that, I would've known that she's already lying.

"Stop lying," I said with authority. "Just tell me what's bothering you," but later softened.

She looked at me with her eyes that seem so tired. I didn't notice it awhile ago, but it seems like she cried all night.

"H-Hindi ka na nagkukuwento sa akin madalas," I opened a risky topic. I know that she looks so much bothered but I also tried to bring my feelings up. "Ano ba talagang nangyayari sa'yo recently?"

She sighed heavily before looking downwards. "I'm just tired. I think we should go home na," she looked up and smiled at me.

This is not the smile that I know. For sure, she's hiding her sadness by suppressing it with a fake smile.

"Sa condo ka ba ngayon?" I asked, hoping her to answer a 'yes' but at the end I lost my hopes.

"No. I'm sorry."

"Don't feel sorry. It's fine," my turn to lie. Of course it's not fine for me.

First, matagal na siyang hindi umuuwi sa condo. Second, 'pag magtatanong ako kung bakit, she will always dodge it. Third, I'm so worried about her and I'm torn between forcing her to tell the truth or to be more patient with her.

"Wynnona, can you stay fof a while? I'll be discussing you about something," papaalis na sana si Wynnona nang harangin siya ni direk.

Direk simply gave me a smile and a nod. Nagpaalam na rin ako sa kanila na mauuna na ako. Hindi ko na nilingon si Wynnona at dumiretso sa kotse niya. Hindi pa ako uuwi. Kailangan kong kausapin si Marie. For sure, she knows what's happening.

"Hey," I got her attention. She's outside the car, maybe done packing the things of Wynnona.

"Yamato," she greeted me with a smile.

"Can we talk about something?" I want to go straight to the point, but it may shock her.

"Abou what?"

"May nangyari po ba kay Wyn?" I asked, definitely hungry for answers.

"Hindi pa kayo... nagka-usap," she concluded while flashing a worried smile.

May dapat bang sabihin sa akin si Wyn? Mukhang meron nga simula noong nakikita ko siyang laging lutang at umiiwas sa akin. But is it that serious?

"What is it about po?" I politely asked.

"What are you doing?"

Our conversation was interrupted when Wynnona showed up. I faced her and shot my question quickly.

"What is it that we need to talk to?"

She looked away before speaking, "You mean, the topic that you should've told me five years ago when we first meet?"

Her eyes are turning red. I'm not sure if it's because she's about to cry or it's because she's mad at me.

"What do you mean?" What did I do this time? She's confusing me.

"You want to talk?" she sounds so calm, but her expression says the opposite. "Fine. Follow me."

She entered her car, and I entered mine too. Just like what she said, I followed her until her car stopped in front of a cemetery.

What are we doing here?

Pagkababa ng kotse, ni isang ingay ay hindi namin ginawa. Hindi pa gaanong madilim kaya't ayos lang sa amin na maiwan ni Wynnona sa ganitong klaseng lugar. Without saying a word, Wynnona motioned me to walk first.

Nilingon ko siya at mukhang hindi nga talaga sasama si Marie o ang mga body guard at driver niya. Is it something so private? But why cemetery?

When I looked at her again, she gave me a deadly glare. I gulped and just walked forward. Why is she mad when I'm just checking her?

"Wh-Where are we going?" I asked to break the silence... and because I really don't have any idea.

"Isn't this place familiar to you?" she casually asked back.

"You mean, a cemetery? Of course it's familiar. Everyone visits thei--"

"That's not exactly what I meant," she cut me off. "Ito bang sementeryo kung nasaan tayo ngayon..."

Nilingon ko siya ulit, kahit pa magalit siya. Mabuti na lamang at nakayuko na siya ngayon.

"Imposibleng wala kang alam tungkol sa lugar na ito," she said and my feet unconsciously stopped from walking.

I faced her to search for a clue on what she tries to say.

"Did she..."

"And I definitely confirmed it," this time, she gave me a vert sad smile.

I'm so confused by her. She's now tearing up, so I went to her to wipe them away, but she stopped me. She gave me a smile once again and stared at my eyes.

"You see? Wala akong sinabi kung saang parte ng sementeryo tayo pupunta," napaawang ang bibig ko.

"She already..."

"Pero, dito ka dinala ng mga paa mo."

Hindi ko namalayang napalingon din ako sa aking likuran at nakita doon ang eksaktong parte ng sementeryong ito na taon taon kong pinupuntahan.

Tumingin ulit ako sa kanya. Nakaawang ang mga bibig ngunit walang mailabas na salita. Hindi ko inaasahang darating ang araw na ito.

"I-I'm planning to tell you," I don't know if she could accept this now.

After her figuring all the false hopes of marrying me, what is she going to do? What will happen to us?

I know she's hurt, but I am too.

"T-Talaga?" her voice crackes at and it hurt me so bad.

What did I do?! When I started planning to tell her, I should've told her right away, but...

"Kailan? 'Pag malapit na tayong ikasal? 'Pag nakilala ko na 'yung parents mo at sila mismo ang magsasabi sa akin na h-hindi k-ka..."

"I'm sorry," those words automatically exited my mouth. I feel so sorry for her, and so mad at me.

"No need," I looked up. "Kahit naman mag-sorry ka, wala na 'yang magagawa. Walang mababago. Dahil ikaw mismo, alam mong hindi naman talaga dapat umabot ng ganito."

--

Wynnona's POV
(back when someone sent them a mail)

Who the fuck sends me email--

I automatically stopped cursing on my mind when my eyes hit a familiar name on the mail this someone sent.

"Wanna know something about your beloved, Ichi Yamato?"

When I rechecked the name of the sender, my brows furrowed.

Is this Jenna?

I remember her threatening me awhile ago. I admit I'm a bit nervous to open the picture and the corresponding file attached to it. It may be a hoax, but what if it's not?

"Wynnona, I got an email," dad told me. So Jenna sent it to him? For what? To ruin my relationship with Yamato? So that she will get him freely?

Because of those thoughts, I'm not aware that dad's already beside me. He pulled my hand so tight and dragged me away from the garden.

"We need to talk."

Dinala niya ako sa office niya dito sa mansyon. Nang buksan ko ang litrato upang makita nang maayos, napansin kong luma na ang pagkakakuha doon. Hard copy ang picture at mukhang kinunan lang upang maipadala sa akin. Nasa litrato ang isang magandang babae na nasa mid 20s ang edad. Hawak hawak niya sa kanyang braso ang isang sanggol na mukhang bagong panganak pa lamang.

Mayroong taon na nakalimbag doon. "06 - xx -xx" basa ko. Nang isiping mabuti, naalala kong iyon ang birthday ni Yamato.

"Siya 'yung nasa picture?" I whispered but dad heard me.

"May document na nakaattach. Basahin mo," he commanded. Sinunod ko pa rin siya kahit na nanginginig.

"Marites Suarez. Filipina, born in September 25, 1972. Unmarried. One child. Child's father," I stopped reading out loud when I noticed the next name mentioned. "Ichi Yashuhito, big businessman in Tokyo, Japan."

And then I stopped again. "Continue reading," my father commanded but it took me seconds to process again.

"Name of child," when I saw the picture I've got an idea that it would turn out like this. "Ichi Yamato."

But I guess, even though I saw it coming, I still can't accept the fact that... he's not pure Japanese, and he didn't tell me the truth.

"You know what that means, right?" my father stood up and faced me like a boss. He seems so serious. "Hindi ko lang maintindihan kung bakit, sa loob ng limang taon, wala man lang nakalap na ganyan ang mga investigators ko!"

"Dad," I cut him off to read him the next content. "Date of death, June xx, 19xx. Died due to prostate cancer and complications after giving birth to son."

In my conclusion, ang araw ng kapanganakan ni Yamato ay ang araw din na nawalan ng buhay ang kanyang ina. Ibig sabihin, hindi niya rin nakapiling ang mama niya kahit isang saglit man lang.

"After death, the child's custody is given to the father. Ichi Yashuhito later on married Nakamura Sada and gave birth to own child, Ichi Yumi."

The next content is all about the whens, whys, and hows of Yamato's lies.

"Yamato, as a child, grew as a bullied kid because of half Filipino-physical traits. Upon turning seven years old, he entered sumo wrestling to be treated like any other Japanese kids. After years of training in Sumo Wrestling House, he gained popularity and is seen as a pure Japanese-national."

I looked at my dad and thought that maybe he's wondering that's how Yamato fooled us, but actually there's more to come.

"He won various sumo wrestling competitions in and out of Japan. Because of undeniable strength, he managed to top the chart of best and richest Japanese sumo wrestlers."

"In an interview, he admitted that one day, he will give up sumo wrestling to have a normal life with his family," I gulped and heaved a sigh. "but in 20 years of living, he never had romantic relationships with any woman he met. It is hard for him to have a girlfriend."

"One day," I paused for a little. I guess, this is what I and dad are waiting. "due to the amount of money he has and respect given to him, he encountered a family that is famous for their unending tradition. Walter Ferreira, also known as Walter Ferrer, offered him to partake as the life-long partner of his daughter, the only heiress of the legacy, Wynnona Ferreira."

Ipinikit ko nang mariin ang aking mata nang makita ang sumunod na talata, bago muling nagbasa.

"Because of the opportunity given to him to have a long-term relationship with a woman, he made a private investigation for the woman."

"He did what?"

"and later on agreed with to the proposal. Before meeting the heiress Ferreira, he hid everything that is against the proposal, including his true identity." Lumingon ako kay dad at nakitang naikuyom na niya ang kanyang palad.

"It became easy for him to do, due to the desire of Nakamura Sada to adopt him as her own child, twenty five years ago. Every business partners of the Ichi's also thought Yamato as Nakamura's own child. In Yamato's records, he has two mothers, one biological, and one foster. When giving information about his family, he only mentions Ichi and Nakamura as his parents."

This reminded me of my conversation with Yumi. He never lied in any of these. Maybe people just don't ask. But these won't also justify why he didn't tell us the truth.

"After meeting Ferreira, he cancelled the marriage. He quitted sumo wrestling, and learned Filipino language. After three years, he moved to Philippines to find his childhood friend. He is not recognized as one of the best sumo wrestlers in the world due to his simple living. Because of this, he has the chance to visit his late biological mother's grave whenever he wants."

"He fooled us."

After a long silence, dad is the one to process everything and talk.

"Maybe he did, but..." I'm afraid to talk back but in my mind I'm still fighting the fact that he really did fool us.

"It's actually l-late now. I'm going to bed," I said and tried to stand up.

"We're not done talking, Wynnona. This is a grrat disaster. Buong angkan natin ang may paki alam dito."

"I know."

As I stood up, I felt a dizzy feeling. My eyes are also blurred, and I'm fighting the lids of my eyes to open them up.

"Then sit down. I'm calling the..."

Hindi ko na narinig ang sumunod na sinabi ni dad. Naramdaman ko na lang ang malamig na sahig nang mawala ang lakas ko.

Pagkabukas ko nang aking mga mata, sumakit agad ang ulo ko nang maalala ko ang mga nangyari kagabi. Nakahiga na ako sa aking kama, at pansin kong umaga na pala dahil sa sinag ng araw sa bintana.

Walang shooting ngayon, kaya't wala din akong balak puntahan. Tiningnan ko ang telepono ko at nakitang may text message si Yamato doon. Nag-aaya siya ng date. Dahil sa nalaman ko kagabi, alam kong hindi madali para sa akin na makita't kausapin siya. Nireplyan ko siya na hindi ako pwede ngayon. Nagmessage pa siyang muli at sinabing pupuntahan ako sa bahay namin, at syempre kinailangan kong magdahilan.

Pagkalabas ko ng kwarto, nakita kong nag-aalmusal si dad sa dining room. Mukhang kasisimula niya palang kumain.

"Sit down and eat," he usually coldly said without looking at me.

After a few minutes, I'm with him, eating silently.

"I already talked to our relatives," he said, making my head hurt again. I don't want to talk about this right now, especially it's still early in the morning. "We're going to find another one for you."

"But, dad..." I unconsciously responded. I know he would tell me this, but I don't want anyone to replace Yamato.

He's irreplaceable. I never fell in love the way I fell for him. I think I won't ever love anybody else.

"No buts, Wynnona. You're a grown up now. Alam mong wala kang ibang magagawa kung hindi sumunod sa amin."

Tumahimik lamang ako at tumitig sa pagkaing nakahain sa plato ko. Ngumiti ako nang mapait at napaisip sa nangyayari sa akin ngayon. Grabe, hindi ko man lang akalain na magiging ganito kagulo at kadrama ang buhay ko.

"Did you talk to him?" I asked, almost whispered.

"No. Not yet. Baka kapag kagabi ko siya kinausap, baka napatay ko na siya." I know my dad. When he's mad, he can always almost do that.

"Let me be the one to talk to him--"

"No," hindi ko pa man natatapos ang sasabihin ko, agad na akong pinutol at sinamaan ni dad ng tingin. "I know you, Wynnona. You can't handle this."

"But it'll be better if I'm the one to--"

"No. WHEN I SAY NO. IT'S A NO!" I sound so desperate but I can't handle my dad's temper. He might kill me if I continue arguing.

Hindi ko pwedeng idaan sa paninigaw dahil mas lalo niya iyong hindi magugustuhan.

"Y-You know that we're filming, right?" Tumingin ako sa kanya at tumango lang siya sa akin. "Can't we just finish filming bago mo siya kausapin?"

Dad's a professional actor. Tinitingala siya, at malaki ang respeto ng mga tao sa kanya. Sa kabilang banda, ganoon din siyang tao. Malaki ang respeto para sa mga direktor at iba pang kumakatawan sa paggawa ng film projects. Sana man lang... makuha niya ang point ko.

"Fine," and I guess nakuha niya nga. Ayaw niyang may naaantala sa isang project, kaya niya ako pinagbigyan.

"But, c-can't I really talk to him about this?"

--

It's clear to me. My dad said no. Hindi ako dapat ang kumakausap kay Yamato ngayon, pero I guess wala na kaming magagawa.

Pinunasan ko ang mga luha ko, at nakahanda nang umalis, nang hawakan niyang muli ang kamay ko.

"Please, Wynnona. Let's fix this. Talk to me, baby, please," he's now pleading and I can see in his eyes that he's also hurt.

Pero hindi niyon matutumbasan ang sakit ko, lalo pa't isang linggo ding bumabagabag sa akin ang tungkol sa bagay na ito.

Tumingin ako sa itaas at mukhang nakikiayon ang kalangitan sa sakit na nadarama ko. Dumidilim na ito at mukhang bubuhos ang malakas na ulan.

"Do even you know how to fix this?" I coldly asked.

Hindi pa rin ako lumilingon sa kanya, at ramdam kong nag-iisip siya ngunit wala siyang masabi.

"I don't know what will happen to us," I looked at him. "but I'm probably sure now..."

"Wynnona."

"Stop looking at me like that! It hurts me more."

"I can't be your bride."

--

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