"What is this, Arieto?" gulantang na sigaw ni Mommy nang mabasa niya ang gustong mangyari ni Daddy sa last will and testament niya.

A month before my eighteenth birthday, my Dad decided to have a family meeting in the library. May mahalaga raw na pag-uusapan kaya hindi na ako masyadong nagtanong pa. Knowing Dad, hindi siya basta-basta magpapatawag ng meeting if it's not that important.

"I will not allow this! Aislinn is the heiress so she will be the one inheriting your legacy! Jaslynn never deserve any of it!"

Hindi yata magawang kumalma ni Mom ngayon. What's the big deal about it? My sister also deserves to have a part on Dad's will. Bakit halatang ayaw na ayaw ni Mom na makihati pa roon si Ate? She despises her own daughter because of one mistake– that is to have her own family too. That's not even a mistake to be called of. It just happened.

"We're talking about my money here, Kaith. My money and not yours. So, I will be the one to decide on who to give it." Pansin ko ang inis kay Dad pero halatang pinipigilan niya ito.

"We will decide-"

"You are just my wife. Hindi kailangang palagi ka na lang nakikisama sa mga desisyon ko sa buhay."

"Masasayang lang ang pera mo kapag napunta ito kay Jaslynn! She will not invest it to any of our assets!" giit ni Mom. Kanina pa nagugusot ang papel na hawak niya kung saan nakasulat ang will ni Dad dahil sa lakas ng pagkakakuyom niya.

"Why are you so worried about it? You have enough money so why worry about mine?"

"My God, Arieto! Why are you making this hard for me? For us?"

Naglakad si Mom palayo kay Dad at pabalik ulit. She's caught up in hysteria because of Dad's will. Besides, draft palang naman iyon. It's not yet finalize because Dad's still have a lot roads to take.

Bumaling ang tingin ko kay Mr. Whelan, ang lawyer ni Dad, na halos katabi ko lang sa upuan. Binigyan ko siya ng ilang na ngiti.

"Pasensiya na po," mahinang sambit ko.

Inilapit niya naman ang mukha niya sa akin saka bahagyang yumuko. "It's okay. They are always like this," mahinang sabi niya habang tumatango-tango.

"Po?" I almost stammered when I heard it from him. Sasagot na sana siya nang maagaw ulit ni Mom ang atensyon namin.

"This is not happening, Arieto! Hindi ako papayag!" sigaw niya na halatang napupuwersa na ang boses.

"I don't care, Kaith. Hindi ko naman hinihingi ang opinyon o kahit na anong suhestiyon mo tungkol dito. I just want this to be done as soon as possible."

"So, wala na akong karapatan ganoon? What am I to you, Arieto?"

"Oh please, don't make this one about you again. I'm so tired of your complaints and laments."

"Everything about in this family matters to me as much as my role to your life!" Mom wailed.

"This is not about the papers anymore." Napailing-iling si Dad saka sinubukang lumayo kay Mom. Marahas naman na hinila ni Mom ang tela ng damit ni Dad sa likod. Walang nagawa si Dad kundi ang harapin ulit si Mom.

"I'm not letting that disgraceful daughter of yours to be part of anything in this legacy! I swear to God, Arieto!"

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang punutin ni Mom ang papel sa mismong harapan ni Dad. Gulat man ay binaling ko agad ang tingin kay Dad. Wala siyang ginawa. He just stared at Mom with a straight face while tearing those papers. Pagkatapos ay marahas na itinapon ang papel sa sahig. Sabagay, hindi pa naman iyon ang totoong papel.

"Tandaan mo, Arieto, hindi lang ito ang aabutin natin kung pipilitin mo pa ang walang kuwentang habilin mo!"

Nag-martsa si Mom palayo kay Dad pero napatigil para bigyan ako ng mabilis na tingin.

The door was opened and shut with force later on. Naiwan kaming tatlo sa loob. So, okay? I came here just to witnessed that? Kahit na wala akong narinig na reklamo kay Mr. Whelan, nakakahiya na nasaksihan niya pa iyon.

My eyes darted to Dad. He's walking towards us. Nakapamaywang niya kaming hinarap suot ang isang ngisi na halatang pilit. Tumayo naman agad kami ni Mr. Whelan.

"Mr. Whelan, I'm sorry you have to witnessed that again," agarang sabi ni Dad.

Again? So, what Mr. Whelan told me earlier is true. Kung ganoon, wala pa sa kalingkingan ng kaalaman ko ang tungkol sa mga pagtatalo nila ni Mom.

"No problem, Sir," turan naman ni Mr. Whelan.

Napangiti na lang ulit si Dad saka bahagyang napayuko. He's probably worried about what happened but I think there's something more. He then looked at me.

"And as for you, my daughter, I'm sorry I called you too. Pag-uusapan sana natin ang mana mo. You will also sign the papers when you are satisfied enough but your Mom interfered."

"Ayos lang po, Dad. We have a lot of time to discuss and do it." Binigyan ko siya ng ngiti.

"I know. You can go now."

I didn't mind what he just said. Nanatili lang ako sa puwesto ko. Gumuhit naman ang pagtataka sa mukha ni Dad.

"Pero Dad, tanong ko lang po. Why are you suddenly rushing the papers of your will? May nangyari po ba?" I slowly said with my hands at the back.

Panandaliang nagkatitigan si Dad at Mr. Whelan. I can feel that they are talking through their eyes so that I wouldn't know about it. Again? Wala na naman ba silang balak na ipaalam iyon sa akin kahit na pahapyaw man lang? I'm turning eighteen in a month now at may naiintindihan naman ako sa negosyo kahit papaano. Sure, my little efforts will not do any help but I still think that I could also do something out of it.

Ibinalik ni Dad ang tingin niya sa akin. "Is there really a concrete reason to do this, sweetheart? I'm getting old before you even notice so I must prepare for it already."

"You're still strong po. Wala po ba talagang problema, Dad?" Sinubukan kong gawin iyong rason para may masabi na siya sa akin kahit papaano.

"I just wanted the papers to be done, sweetheart. Huwag kang mag-isip ng kung ano-ano. Sige na at mag-uusap pa kami ni Rick."

I got disappointed mentally and emotionally. I get it. Hindi talaga nila sasabihin sa akin.

"Okay po." I smiled faintly to him. I also excused myself to Mr. Whelan. He just gave me a smile and nod kaya agad na akong naglakad palabas ng library. But when I was about to grab the door knob, I overheard a little on Mr. Whelan's words.

"Nakausap ko na ang mag-asawang Rabin kanina. Handa silang makipag-areglo."

Agad ko nang hinawakan ang door knob saka ito pinihit. Nakaalis ako sa library dala ang palaisipang sinabi ni Mr. Whelan. What about it? Makipag-areglo para saan?

I stopped mid-step when I'm already at my parents' bedroom. Rinig na rinig ko ang mga sigaw ni Mom sa kabila ng makapal na pinto at pader. Napatingin ako roon ng may pagtataka. Lumapit ako para mas marinig ko pa.

"I will fly there tomorrow! Make sure that you'll handle it until my arrival!"

My brows creased. What is happening?

I was about to leave when I saw Ms. Luna, Mom's handmaiden, walking towards my direction. Sinalubong ko siya at agad na tinanong.

"May alam po ba kayo sa nangyayari kay Mommy?"

"Tungkol po yata iyon sa habilin ni Sir." I saw a worried look on her face.

"Uhm, bukod po riyan. Mayroon pa po ba siyang pinoproblema ngayon?"

Nag-isip muna siya bago sumagot. "Sa pinapatayong proyekto po yata."

"Ano pong proyekto? Saan po?" I quickly asked out of curiosity with my eyes begging for some direct answers gaya 'nong mga nauna.

Sa mga nakalipas na buwan ay wala naman akong napapansin na mali o problema. My parents' business are in a good shape based from what I heard on the news and personal secretaries. But then again, not everything that media tells is true. I also can't get a specific answers to my parents' secretaries. Hindi naman yata ganoon kalala ang problema? I know they can fix it without any delay.

Bahagya akong napatigil. Bigla yatang may pumitik sa ulo ko nang sumagi ang ilang alaala ng mga naging pag-uusap ni Dad at Mom noon.

"Did you saw the news? The Hilliers are turning their backs on us already. What are your plans about it?" si Mom gamit ang mahinahon na boses. Sumubo siya ng pagkain bago ulit tumingin kay Dad.

"Pinag-iisipan ko pa," simpleng sagot naman ni Dad.

It was a month after my seventeenth birthday. We're having a breakfast on Sunday morning at that moment. Iyon lang ang naging usapan nila hanggang sa matapos kami sa pag-kain. Hindi na nagsalita pa si Mom dahil alam niyang wala naman siyang makukuhang matinong sagot mula kay Dad.

"Arieto! Come back here! We're not done yet!"

One day I was sitting on a couch while watching a television show in the living room and exchanging texts with Van when I heard the screams of my Mom. Nabitawan ko agad ang throw pillow na nakapatong sa lap ko at ang cellphone na hawak ko. Napatayo ako at sinundan ng tingin si Dad na naglalakad na pababa ng hagdan habang nakasunod sa kanya si Mom.

"How come you let yourself become one of the victims of an insurance fraud?! It costed millions! Malaking butas iyon sa bulsa ng kompanya natin!" Mom was in hysterics while creasing her brows.

"Arieto, ano ba!" impit at inis na sigaw pa ni Mom nang hindi siya magawang imikin ni Dad. "You're always turning your back on me when it comes to this! Sa tingin mo ay mareresolba niyan ang sunod-sunod na problemang kinakaharap natin ngayon?!"

"Damn it, Kaith! Nakakabingi at nakakasawa na ang boses mo! Hindi rin niyan mareresolba ang problema natin kaya puwede ba? Just shut your fucking mouth!"

My heart skipped a beat and my hands started to shake because of Dad's sudden bursting. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang ganito kagalit. Ngayon ko lang nakitang pinagsalitaan niya ng ganito si Mom. Is it really bad? The problems, I mean. Looking how they fight about it tells me that it is really a bad one. Pero hindi naman yata kailangang umabot sa ganito?

The room filled with silence. Gusto ko sanang lumapit sa kanila but that won't do any good either. Hindi naman sila nakikinig sa akin. But still, I want to try it. So, I took a step forward but was brought to a halt when Dad turned his back to Mom.

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko at ramdam ko ang pagbabago ng timpla ng mukha ko. I want to stop Dad from leaving and let them settle this one but before I know it, Dad was gone already.

It was just a brief moment when Mom's eyes met mine, I saw the pain and sadness etched in it. Agad ding nagbago ang ekspresyon sa mukha niya. Napalitan iyon ng malamig at galit na ekspresyon. Naglakad siya pabalik sa taas. Alam kong tama ang nakita ko. So, I couldn't help but to sighed deeply and heavily as I lowered my head down.

"I heard from your secretary about the investments. Bakit mo hinayaan na maging ganoon lang?"

Napatingin ako kay Mom. She's looking intently to Dad while Dad's just eating like the usual. Halatang walang ganang makipag-usap. Halatang pagod.

We're having a dinner when Mom started to open a conversation. Tungkol na naman sa negosyo. Wala na bang iba? Bakit hindi nila pag-usapan si Ate? Hindi ba nila namimiss ang isa pang anak nila? O kung hindi naman ay kumustahin din nila ako. I'm just right here.

"Don't worry about it," malamig na tugon ni Dad bago isinubo ang steak at uminom ng tubig.

"How many times do I need to tell you that everything you do concerns-"

"I said, don't worry about it. I'm handling things properly." Dad's chair moved, signing his leaving.

Maya-maya lang ay umalis na rin si Mom sa hapag. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin. Malalim akong napabuntong-hininga bago ibinalik ang tingin sa pagkain. I just played with the food using the fork. Nawalan na rin ako ng gana.

Recently lang nangyari iyon. Sa mga sumunod pa na pagkikita namin tuwing kakain kami ay wala na akong narinig pa mula sa kanila. Tahimik na ang mga sumunod na naging pagkain namin. Minsan ay ako na lang ang nagsasalita para kausapin sila pero ganoon pa rin. Nauuwi pa rin sa nakakailang na pagtitipon namin. They always put an end to what I'm saying or sharing kaya hindi na lang ako nagsasalita pa ulit kahit na gustong-gusto ko pang dugtungan iyon.

I want them to know how I am doing. I want to share to them the happenings in the school. I badly want to give them an idea about me having a boyfriend. But my mind always put it aside and says nevermind. They are too busy to know my business too.

"Pasensiya na po, Miss. Iyon lang po ang alam ko sa ngayon."

Nabalik ako sa kasalukuyan nang marinig ko iyon. Napatitig na lang ako kay Ms. Luna saka inihayag ang ngiting pagsuko.

Nagpaalam na siya. Maingat siyang pumasok sa kuwarto kung saan naroon si Mom. Umalis na lang ako doon. Nagtungo ako sa kusina para uminom ng tubig.

Nababahala ako sa kung ano mang pinoproblema ng mga magulang ko ngayon. I will be handling our assets and properties soon so I think it's better to know about it now to prepare myself.

I looked at the window when the gates opened. Sino kaya ang bisita? Binilisan ko na lang ang pag-inom para ipaalam sa mga magulang ko.

I was about to step my foot on the stairs when I saw them. Guess, their handmaidens already told them.

Napalingon ako sa pagbukas ng pinto. Biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ko at muntikan pa sanang mawalan ng balanse mula sa kinatatayuan ko. Napakapit ako ng mahigpit sa hawakan ng hagdanan bilang suporta. I blinked several times to see if I am really seeing him or is it just a look-alike?

My heart began to palpitate the moment he looked at my direction. We stared at each other for seconds. Nakita ko rin ang bahagyang pagkagulat niya, pero agad din naman itong napalitan ng mapaglarong mga ngisi.

Oh, Razvan Cronin, don't you dare do something stupid for I might kill you instantly!