#CYECChapter27

B E F O R E

ATTORNEY Deraco leaned on the couch and stared at my father. "If I represent you in your bankruptcy filing, you and I will receive a copy of your debt discharge order. As your lawyer, I will help you understand what happens if you declare bankruptcy and which debts were discharged by your bankruptcy filing as well as those you might still be obligated to pay."

I have never seen this day coming. My parents losing the most important thing in their life. Their company.

Napakabiglaan ng lahat. No'ng mga nakaraang buwan ay sobrang okay naman ang takbo ng kumpanya. Bakit sa isang idlap ay nagkaganito?

I'm not a fan of my parents being a workaholic, and I'm not a fan of their business because it took my parents away from me, but still . . . it makes me sad watching them lose everything.

"What happens if we declare bankruptcy?" my Dad asked Attorney Deraco. They're not aware that I'm listening to them right now. Nakatago lang ako rito sa likuran ng shelf sa office ni Dad. I went here to ask for his permission. Pupunta kasi kami ni Hope sa Japan para magbakasyon ng ilang linggo. Pero hindi ako natuloy magpaalam dahil ito ang dinatnan ko.

"When we declare bankruptcy, we will file a petition in court. Your creditors will be informed and must stop pursuing any debt you owe once your petition for bankruptcy is filed. The court will then request certain information from you, and this includes the total amount of debt you owe, a complete list of all your creditors, an accounting of your total income, and an accounting of your outgoing expenses," Attorney Deraco explained. My father's forehead creased and crossed his arms above his shoulder.

"The good thing about filing for bankruptcy is that, you can have a fresh start that can help you create a healthy financial future, you have the ability to retain much, if not all, of your personal property and assets, and also, your creditors will be required to cease all debt collection actions. But of course, if there's an advantage, there will also be a disadvantage, Sir," Attorney Deraco added, trying to persuade my Dad to file for bankruptcy. Well I don't know how this all works, but I trust Attorney Deraco. He's like a son to my Father, and he's been with us through all these years.

"What will be the downside?" tanong ulit ni Dad sa kanya.

Tumikhim si Attorney Deraco at saka umigting ang kanyang panga. "Filing for bankruptcy will stay on your credit profile for 7 to 10 years. It can also lead to higher interest rates when you are eventually able to obtain financing. You can also be ordered to undergo court-approved credit counseling. And you cannot use bankruptcy to discharge overwhelming debt, again, for at least four to eight years, depending on what type of bankruptcy you had filed."

My Dad didn't speak. I know he couldn't say anything because this is all too much for him to bear. This company was his life. Their life. And now he couldn't save it. He couldn't do anything.

I hope Attorney Deraco can persuade my father to file for bankruptcy. I think it's better to do that than fight a war he'll certainly lose.

"You helped me finish law school, Sir. You're the reason why I became a lawyer. Why I've come this far. It's all because of you, Sir. I owe it all you. You helped me and my family with all your heart, and this is the least thing I could do for you. I just couldn't afford watching you suffer. I know I must do something. So please, let me help you. I can help you through the petition and filing process. I can help you retain your assets, Sir. But I can't guarantee you anything."

The moment my Dad heard that, he placed his hand over his chest like he's having a heart attack. Ikinagulat ko iyon kaya akmang tatakbo na sana ako papunta sa kanya, pero napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang makita ko kung paanong humagulgol ang tatay ko.

Para bang gumuho ang mundo niya.

Grabe ang pag-iyak niya at halos itapon niya lahat ng nasa mesa. Walang magawa si Attorney Deraco kundi ang hayaan siya. Hayaan siyang umiyak dahil wala na, hindi na maisasalba pa ang kumpanya.

Naramdaman ko ang pag-init ng mga mata ko, at maya-maya lang ay pumatak na ang luha ko. I can't afford watching my father like this. Para siyang binawian ng buhay. Gano'n ang epekto sa kanya ng lahat ng 'to.

Napaatras tuloy ako at akmang lalabas n asana ng opisina niya, pero natigilan ako nang biglang bumukas ang pinto at mula roon ay pumasok ang nanay ko at nagmamadaling lumapit kay Dad.

Napatakip ako ng bibig ko nang makita ko kung gaano kalakas niyang sinampal si Dad sa harap ni Attorney Deraco.

"I told you, you shouldn't have trusted that man! I told you he was manipulating you but you didn't listen to me! Now we lost everything!" Anger was written all over my Mom's eyes. I don't know what she's talking about, but she's obviously blaming my Dad for all of this and I couldn't take it. Why is she acting this way? She should at least hug my Dad and tell him everything's going to be okay.

Impatiently, I walked towards them. Their attention shifted to me, and now they finally see me.

"C-Ciem . . ." my father trailed off. "What are you doing here, anak?" He tried his best to sound calm, but he can't fool me. I've seen it all with my own two eyes, and I heard it all with my own two ears.

I stared down my Mom and flashed her a disappointed look. "You shouldn't be blaming Dad."

She scoffed and raised a brow at me. "Of course, I should blame your fiancé because he conned us! Oh, wait. Is he even really your fiancé? At Hope nga ba talaga ang pangalan niya? Baka pati pangalan niya ay hindi totoo!" sigaw niya sa 'kin kaya natigilan ako.

Para akong napako sa kinatatayuan ko nang sabihin niya iyon. Ano ang ibig niyang sabihin? Bakit biglang nadamay si Hope sa usapan?

"He used you, Ciem! Open your eyes for God's sake! He used you to take over our company by playing dirty! He conned us! He's not a real business man! He was unemployed!"

"Hon, please don't raise your voice. She's just a kid," I heard my Dad said.

"She's no longer a kid! Jesus! Don't tell me what to do or what to say! I no longer trust you!" Her voice broke, and she couldn't even look my father in the eye.

Pilit kong iniintindi ang mga sinabi niya pero nabablangko ang isip ko. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa mga narinig ko. It doesn't make sense.

"H-He loves me, Mom," pabulong kong sabi.

"He doesn't love you! He loves our money! H—"

"Can you please calm down and don't yell at our daughter?!" my dad cut her off. "She didn't know! I didn't know! We didn't know! Walang may gustong mangyari 'to, kaya puwede bang huwag na tayong magsisihan dito? Tayo na lang ang meron tayo. Tatalikuran pa ba natin ang isa't isa?" My Dad begged her.

My Mom's face slowly softened, and when she finally realized what she said, she marched towards me and held me in her arms. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. I don't blame you. I'm sorry. Oh my God . . . I'm really sorry."

Hindi ako makapagsalita. Ni hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko. Kung ano ang paniniwalaan ko. Para akong tanga na nakatulala. Walang luha ang gustong kumawala mula sa mga mata ko.

"I should—call him," wala sa sariling sabi ko. Agad na umiling si Mom. "He changed his number."

"N-No. Why would he do that?" I retorted.

I pulled out my phone from my bag and tried calling him, but I couldn't even contact his number. My Mom's right. Hope changed his number.

"N-No . . . this is not real. This is just a dream, Mom, right? He will never do this to us. H-He loves us."

Pilit kong pinapaniwala ang sarili ko na panaginip lang lahat ng 'to. Pero ilang minuto na ang lumilipas ay nandito pa rin kami sa sitwasyon na 'to.

He really conned us.

N O W

"THANK you talaga, Sandro," sinsero kong sabi. Humigop ng kape si Sandro saka niya ako binigyan ng isang magandang ngiti.

"No, Ciem. I should be the one thanking you for reconnecting with me."

Marahan akong umiling at ngumiti. "You saved my life, Sandro. And I'll be forever grateful to you. Actually, you saved me again. Ikaw lang ang ulit ang tumanggap sa 'kin sa trabaho."

"Seryoso ba?" natatawa niyang sabi. "You're honestly qualified in everything."

"Ikaw lang ang nagsabi niyan," napapailing na sagot ko kaya mas lalo siyang natawa.

Sandro opened his own bookstore here in Vera city. He's no longer working under Paria. He established his own business and named it after him. Sandro Book Store. Adam's actually the one who told me about it, that's why I reached out to Sandro. And luckily, he did hire me.

"When will I start?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Anytime will do. Kailan mo ba gusto?" kibitbalikat niyang sabi kaya mas lalo akong natawa. Siguro lahat ng empleyado ay gugustuhing maging boss si Sandro.

"Bukas. Okay lang ba? Wala rin akong magawa sa bahay, eh."

"You sure? You can start next week. Nagmamadali ka ba?" pagbibiro niya kaya parehas kaming humalakhak at agad akong umiling.

"Thanks again, Sandro."

"Anytime, Ciem," tumatango-tango niyang sabi.

"Hey—" he trailed off. "I don't really know if I should ask you this, but . . . your friend, Hope—"

"What about him?" I cut him off. Bakit bigla niyang nabanggit si Hope?

"Why do you keep on calling him Hope?" Bakas sa mukha niya ang pagtataka nang sabihin niya iyon kaya napataas ang kilay ko.

"Dahil iyon ang pangalan niya," simpleng sagot ko. "Iyon din naman ang tawag niyo sa kanya. Bakit tinatanong mo pa? Nakalimutan mo na ba? That night I introduced him to you and . . ." There's a pause. I don't know if I have the right to say her name. I'm still uncomfortable about it.

"Chas," Sandro finished my statement.

"Y-Yeah. That night you guys first met Hope at Buono, when we were having dinner, I'm sure you heard how he introduced himself. He said he's Hope Vegas," paalala ko sa kanya.

Napataas ang parehong kilay ni Sandro at parang mas lalo siyang nagtaka.

"No. That's not what he said, Ciem. I heard him. I remember it clearly."

Natahimik ako at napatitig sa kanya. Pilit pinroseso ng utak ko 'yong sinasabi niya kaya agad na napakunot ang noo ko. "What are you talking about?"

Binitawan niya 'yong tasa ng kape na kanina ay hawak niya at saka siya tumikhim. "He said his name's Calizo."

Nagitla ako nang sabihin 'yon ni Sandro. Para bang nabingi ako at nawalan ako ng pakialam sa paligid ko. Tanging mga salita lang ni Sandro ang nagpaulit-ulit sa pandinig ko kaya biglang sumakit ang ulo ko. Napahawak ako sa ulo ko at ibinalik ko kay Sandro ang paningin ko.

"N-No. He said he's Hope Vegas," nauutal ngunit madiin kong sabi. "Kayo rin ni Chas, ang tawag niyo sa kanya ay Hope."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Sandro at pinagmasdan ang mukha ko. Para bang inaaral niya ang mukha ko na para bang may mali sa 'kin at hindi ako komportable sa ginawa niyang 'yon kaya napaiwas ako ng tingin.

"No offense, Ciem. But I think you're hearing and seeing things wrong."

Mas lalo akong natigilan at napabalik sa kanya ang tingin ko. "Ano ba ang sinasabi mo?" Bakas sa boses ko ang pagkainis dahil hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ba ang gusto niyang iparating sa 'kin.

"Sometimes you call him Hope, sometimes you get it right and you call him Calizo." There's a pause. "I think there's something wrong with you, Ciem."