"WHAT ARE YOU... what?" I stutter. I couldn't even finish my sentences. My head is in a daze.

Tia sighed deeply before averting her gaze away from me. I was looking at her with confusion on my face, my lips parted and my eyes wide open.

"Si Hank ang tatay ni Evo." she repeated, tears cascading down her cheeks.

"H-How did that happen? Why, then, does Cash—"

"Hindi alam ni Cash. Hindi ko pa nasasabi sakaniya ang totoo." She paused for a second, wiping her tears away before inhaling.

"Nakunan ako sa anak namin ni Cash noon." Another batch of tears started automatically flowing down her cheek. And for the second time, I was rendered speechless. Hindi ko na napigilan iyong mga kamay ko na mapatakip sa bibig ko.

"Umpisa palang ayaw na sa'kin ng tatay niya, pero hindi kami nagpatinag ni Cash. Pinilit pa rin namin yung relasyon namin kahit na tutol ang tatay niya sa'kin. Hindi ko naman masisisi ang tatay niya na ayawan ako dahil sino nga ba ako? Isang mahirap at probinsiyana na nagkagusto sa anak niya."

"Mahigit tatlong taon din kami ni Cash noon at sa di inaasahan, nabuntis ako. Pero nalaman iyon ng tatay niya kaya mas lalo itong nagalit samin... saakin." My eyes were glued to Tia. I couldn't even blink while listening to her story.

"Magtatanan dapat kaming dalawa dahil pareho kaming desididong magpakalayo nalang sa pamilya niya, pero ipinadukot ako ni Sir VM. Tinakot nila ako at pinagbantaan na sasaktan nila ako kapag hindi ko nilayuan si Cash, pero nagmatigas ako." patuloy lang ang pag tulo ng mga luha sa mata ni Tia. My eyes were clouded with tears as well.

How could they do that to her?!

My chest tightens in pain by just listening to it. How much more does Tia feel right now? Bringing back all these dark memories of her.

"Dinugo ako ng kinagabihan dahil sa pagod at stress at si Hank ang nandoon na nagbabantay sa'kin. Nagmakaawa ako sakaniya kaya nadala pa ako sa hospital pero huli na nang makarating kami doon. Nakunan ako at namatay ang anak namin ni Cash."

"Walang alam si Cash sa buong nangyari. Sa sobrang takot ko na pati kay Cash ay may gawin silang masama kaya tinanggap ko ang alok ni Sir VM sa'kin na magpakalayo nalang. Ni hindi ko na nakita pa si Cash simula noon. Tanging isang sulat lang ang iniwan ko para sakaniya na nagsasabing nakunan ako at maghiwalay na kami."

I don't know what to say to comfort her because I'm sure no words can make her feel better. Ako na nakikinig lang sa kwento niya ay sobra nang nasasaktan, paano pa siya? Siguradong doble ang sakit na nararamdaman niya ngayon.

Sandali akong tumayo para ikuha ng tubig si Tia.

"Here. Drink some water." I said, handing her the glass of water.

"Salamat," she replied, with a small smile. She took a sip from the glass of water. Her eyes were bloodshot red. Mabuti nalang walang masyadong tao dito sa coffee shop.

I waited for Tia to calm down first, even though my head was already filled with hundreds of questions.

After a few more minutes, she started talking again.

"Pinili kong magpakalayo-layo nalang at tinulungan ako ni Hank na makahanap ng lilipatang bahay. Wala na akong pamilya at nakikitira lang ako sa kapatid ng nanay ko na nakatira sa Maynila. At noong makahanap ako ng titirhan ko, akala ko hindi na ako pupuntahan pa ni Hank, pero halos linggo-linggo pa rin niya akong dinadalaw para kamustahin."

Tia inhaled deeply before closing her eyes briefly, remembering everything that happened.

"Pinilit kong kalimutan si Cash kahit sobrang hirap dahil pati anak namin ay nawala. Mas doble iyong sakit dahil dalawang tao ang nawala sa'kin sa isang iglap. Hanggang sa isang beses dumating si Hank at sa sobrang lungkot ko hinayaan kong may mangyari saming dalawa. Akala ko iba siya kay Sir VM pero nagkamali pala ako dahil pagkatapos kong sabihin na buntis ako ay hindi na siya bumalik pa ulit. Iniwan nalang niya akong mag-isa."

"Oh, my gosh..." I couldn't hold it anymore. I could feel my blood boiling in anger.

Hank! That guy! Pati na rin si Sir VM!

They're... evil!

How can they do that to her?! How can they kill her baby...? His grandchild?! Anak din ni Cash iyon pero parang hindi sila tao at hinayaan nilang malaglag iyong baby!

I immediately stood up from my seat when I saw Tia start sobbing again. I'm sure this was very hard for her, and yet, she was able to keep all of this to herself for all those years! I couldn't even imagine what she went through – I don't even want to imagine it!

I wrapped my arms around her and started patting her back, trying to console her with everything that I had. I can't explain the anger that I'm feeling right now.

Paano pa kapag nalaman mismo 'to ni Cash? Oh, gosh... His own father was the reason why Tia lost their baby. They kidnapped her, for Pete's sake! They threatened to hurt her!

I love Cash so much... but I can set aside my feelings for him in the meantime. Tia is like a sister to me, and she needs me more right now.

"I'm so sorry that you went through all of that. You don't deserve that, Tia. Magbabayad sila sa ginawa nila sayo." I said with gritted teeth, patting her back.

Tia slowly pulled away from our hug, wiping the tears from her eyes. Her cheeks were flushed from too much crying.

She pursed her lips together in a thin line, trying to smile, but it became weak. I really admire her for being this strong despite everything she went through alone!

I held her hand, gently squeezing them so she'd know that I would always be by her side no matter what happened.

"What are you planning to do now? Because I am telling you, I will make sure they'll pay for what they did to you!" I clenched my jaw. Nakakagalit ang ginawa nila! I knew Sir VM could do evil things, but I did not expect it to be like this! Akala ko nagbibiro lang si Curtis sa sinabi niya tungkol sa Uncle niya, but he is right. And I'm sure he can do more than that!

I was surprised when Tia slowly shook her head in disapproval. My brows furrowed in confusion.

A tiny smile appeared on her lips. "Hindi na Sera," she said.

"What? But why?"

"Tama na iyong ako lang ang nasaktan nila noon. Hindi ko kayo kayang idamay ni Cash pati na rin ang anak ko..." malungkot na sagot niya.

She keeps on smiling as if she's okay, but I can clearly see the agony in her eyes.

I sighed. "But—"

"Okay lang ako Sera." She smiles again. "Okay lang talaga ako," she repeated. I don't know if she's convincing me to believe her or convincing herself that she will be okay eventually.

Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi tumango at yakapin siya ulit. We stayed like that for a few more minutes before I returned to my seat.

"Are you planning to tell Cash the truth?" I inquired.

"Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin sakaniya sa paraan na hindi siya masasaktan..."

"But I don't think there's any other way to tell him this that he wouldn't get hurt. He still thinks that Evo is his son, and you're giving him false hope, Tia. Cash needs to know the truth." I exhaled sharply.

Pareho naming ayaw masaktan si Cash... Pareho namin siyang mahal kaya naiinitindihan ko why Tia is hesitating on telling Cash the truth, but she has to.

"Alam ko naman 'yun... kailangan ko lang siguro nang konting panahon pa bago ko sabihin sakaniya dahil pati sarili niyang tatay ang involve dito. Sigurado akong mas masisira ang relasyon nilang dalawa."

I pursed my lips, slightly nodding my head.

"I understand..." I replied.

We stayed for a few more minutes before Tia decided to leave because she had to check on her son.

"Sigurado kang ayaw mong bisitahin si Evo? Kahit sandali lang. Miss na miss kana nun. Parati nga siyang nagtatanong kung kailan ka raw niya ulit makikita, e." Tia said, walking our way outside the coffee shop. Mabuti nalang nawala na rin iyong pamumula ng mga mata namin dahil sa pag-iyak.

I smiled a little before shaking my head. "Maybe next time," I simply replied. Tia nodded her head in agreement.

"Mauna na ako, ha? Mag-iingat ka, Sera."

"Please tell Evo that I miss him too," I said, waving her goodbye.

I walked to where my car was parked, but before I got inside, I noticed a familiar figure. He was wearing a baseball cap covering his face, and he was standing near the hospital, gawking. And when he turned around, my eyes widened as I realized it was Hank.

What the hell is he doing here?!

W H A T Y A S E Y