Chapter 11

Scandal

Wala akong ibang matakbuhan kundi si Feng sa mga pagkakataong ganoon. She was the only one I trusted. I told her about what happened at home. I cried all my frustrations and pain to her. Tahimik lang siyang nakinig.

Alec might be good to me but I didn't fully trust him yet. Lalo na dahil usapang personal na pampamilya iyon.

"... so, what do you think? Do you like it?"

"Huh?" I absentmindedly looked at him. Mukhang kanina pa si Alec nagpapaliwang tungkol sa isang bagay habang hawak niya ang ipad sa isang kamay.

Nasa lounge kami at katatapos lang ng food tasting namin sa mismong Etheral Palace na pagmamay-ari niya kung saan magaganap ang wedding reception. We've already decided about the foods that would be served.

Traditionally, it should be the elders who would decide. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ginawa ni Alec at napapayag niya sila na kami ang magdedisyon nito.

He smiled at me. "The changes that I wanted to make to the penthouse I bought. So that after we get married, we can live there."

"I thought we're living in your father's mansion? Isn't that the tradition?"

"We won't follow it. I want you to be comfortable in our own home."

"Hindi ba tayo magkakaroon ng conflict sa elders?" nag-aalalang tanong ko.

"I've already asked permission. They already agreed to it."

"Ikaw ang bahala," pagod kong sinabi.

His gaze was intent. "Is everything okay at home?"

Awkward akong natawa. "Of course. I'm just probably tired with all the wedding preparations."

He nodded. "Let's get you home so that you can rest."

Normal na gabi lang 'yon ng kadalasang paghahatid ni Alec sa akin sa mansiyon. As we entered the gate, all the maids were lined up in the portico ready to pay respect to my fiance.

Naunang lumabas ng sasakyan si Alec at pinagbuksan niya naman ako ng pinto nito. Sa mga pagkakataong magkasama kami, lagi kong napapansin na siya mismo ang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan maski na sigurado namang marami silang drivers. I noticed that he preferred taking control of everything. Probably why he's so good in business.

Ngumiti ang nakahilerang mga kasambahay sa amin. They greeted the two of us. It had become a routine ever since my engagement with Alec was declared.

Lumapit naman ang isa pang kasambahay sa akin at kinuha ang paperbag na dala ko.

"Jia is tired," si Alec. "Please bring a glass of milk in her room and make sure that she gets enough rest."

Nagsitanguan kaagad ang mga kasambahay. Bumaling si Alec sa'kin.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He smiled at me and he stepped closer. Marahan niyang hinagkan ang noo ko.

I froze again, thinking about all the staffs who were looking at us.

Alec bid his final goodbyes and went back to his car. Ilang sandali pa ay umalis din siya.

Pumasok na ako sa loob ng mansiyon at umakyat na sa kuwarto. Sumabay naman sa akin ang isang kasambahay na siyang may dala ng paper bag.

"Si Mama?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Nasa kuwarto po, nagpapahinga."

I glanced at the masters bedroom. I wanted to check on her but I hesitated. If she was asleep, I didn't want to disturb her.

Dumeretso na ako sa kuwarto. I took a quick shower and did my night time routine. The maid brought a glass of milk in my room.

Pagkapos kong uminom nito ay napagpasyahan kong humiga na sa kama. I suddenly didn't feel comfortable on my own bed. Pabago-bago na ako ng posisyon, pero hindi pa rin ako dinalaw ng antok.

Naisip ko bigla ang kabilang kuwarto. I thought of my own mother. Simula noong huling nangyari na pag-aaway nila ni Papa ay hindi na namin ito napag-usapan pa. Ipinaalam din sa akin ng mayordoma kaninang wala si papa at nasa isang hotel daw.

He always did that. Kahit na marami namang kuwarto sa mansiyon, mas pinipili niya ang matulog sa isang hotel sa tuwing nag-aaway sila ni mama.

Bumalikwas ako ng bangon. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng pagkauhaw. I glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table. It was one in the morning.

Tumayo ako at lumabas ng kuwarto. Hindi pa man nakakaisang hakbang pababa sa hagdan ay nakarinig ako ng isang putok na nanggaling sa kuwarto ng mga magulang ko.

I quickly ran towards it. Parang nawala ako sa sarili at mabilis na hinawakan ang knob ng pinto. I could not open it. It was locked! I screamed at the top of my lungs for the maids. They had spare keys for sure!

May mga nagsiakyatan ng kasambahay sa kung nasaan ako. One of them handed me the keys. Ni hindi ko maipasok sa loob ang susi dahil sa panginginig ng mga kamay.

"Ako na, Miss Jia," the mayordoma offered.

I handed it to her without thinking twice. Isang beses niya lang pinasok ang susi at nabuksan niya ito kaagad.

I harshly breathed in. Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan. Hinintay nila ang susunod na gagawin ko. They were not allowed to enter the room without permission from my parents.

Madilim sa loob ng kuwarto. It was out of the ordinary dahil maski nagpapatay ng ilaw si mama, lagi namang nakabukas ang lamp sa bedside table nila. But this time, it was off.

I was too scared to even move. I was scared of the unkown. I was afraid of what I would discover when the lights came in.

"Miss Jia," marahang sambit ng mayordoma sa'kin.

I stepped inside. Kinapa ko ang switch. Sa liwanag ay unang dumapo ang tingin ko sa ina ko na nakahandusay na sa sahig. Her blood was on the floor.

Dinig na dinig ko ang singhapan ng mga kasambahay sa gilid ko. Then I heard my own shrill voice as I ran towards my mother.

"Ma... Mama.." paulit-ulit na sambit ko. Nakaluhod na ako sa tabi niya. There was a pool of blood on the floor where her head was.

I was about to touch her because I wanted to lift her head when two of our security men held me.

They said something about proper protocol.

"Mama!" I screamed and cried my heart out. My body rocked.

My brother arrived. He looked shocked and scared as well but he was better at hiding it. Mas nanaig ang pagiging organisado niya. Nag-usap sila ng security. My brother took control of the situation since my father was out. I only stared at my mother's body which was still lying on the floor. Untouched and unmoved.

"Take Jia outside," bigla kong narinig na utos ni Kuya sa mayordoma.

Mabilis akong umiling. Ayaw kong iwan si Mama.

" 'Wag ng matigas ang ulo!" galit niyang sambit. Binalingan niya ulit ang mayordoma na nasa tabi ko. "Take her."

The mayordoma and the other maid assisted me. Parang nawala ako sa sarili dahil sa nangyayari.

They brought me inside my room. Nalaman ko rin na may dalawa pang security na nakaantabay sa labas ng pinto ng kuwarto ko. Hindi ko alam kung para ba iyon mabantayan ako mula sa kung sino man ang maaring gumawa no'n kay Mama o bantayan ako para hindi lumabas.

Iyon na yata ang pinakamatagal na ginawa kong paghihintay. Naririnig ko pa rin ang kumosyon sa labas. More people were coming in. I heard a lot of voices.

Nang narinig ang marahang pagkatok mula sa pintuan ko, kaagad akong tumayo.

Bumukas ang pinto. Nakita ko si Ate Shen. She was crying as well.

Nilapitan ko siya agad. "Si Mama? Is she okay?"

Niyakap ako ni Ate Shen. "W-Wala na si Mama, Jia.."

"N-No..." My legs turned jelly. Sinubukan akong hawakan ni Ate Shen pero itinulak ko siya. "I want to see her! I have to be with her..."

Naglakad ako papunta sa pintuan. The door was open. Nobody stopped me when I stepped out.

Nakita ko si Papa na kausap si Kuya. Sa tabi nila ay isang doktor na masinsinang nakikinig sa kanila.

I looked away. I saw two men in a white rubber coveralls lifting a fold stretcher. On the stretcher was a white clothe covering something which seemed to be a body.

Umakyat ang kaba at pagdududa ko na katawan ito ni Mama. Mabilis ko itong nilapitan pero hinarangan ako kaagad ng dalawang security staffs.

"Where are you taking her? She's my mother!" sigaw ko.

"Stop it, Jia," came my father's cold voice. Lumapit na rin siya sa'kin. He looked tired and stressed out.

Sinubukan niya akong hawakan sa braso pero umiwas ako.

"Your mother is dead. You are getting married and it is not ideal if you touch her body."

Those were the very words that triggered me.

"I don't care!" I screamed at him. Nag-uunahan man ang mga luha ko ay galit na galit ko pa rin siyang tiningnan. "This is all your fault. I will never forgive you!"

He just sighed and crossed his arms. He then nodded towards his head of security.

"No!"sigaw ko na may bahid na ng takot. The two men behind me almost dragged me towards my room.

I was not allowed to go out of my room the entire day. Nobody was even allowed to visit me. I only heard that my mother died of suicide. Iyong madilim na balitang iyon ay sinabi sa'kin ni papa kinabukasan. It was very ironic because my mother used my father's gun to take her own life.

Hindi ako nagduda na suicide nga ang nangyari. It could never be due to some criminals. Our security was so tight and my mother was all alone in the bedroom. She even locked the door.

Para lang akong tuod habang nakikinig sa limitadong impormasyon na ibinigay sa'kin ni papa. I could not feel anything anymore. Para na akong namanhid sa lahat lahat.

My mother's death was only announced by the head attorney of our family. Hindi alam ng lahat ang totoong nangyari. Dad ordered a media blackout for it. He used his influence. Nobody bothered us.

The funeral was the hardest for me. The entire family were there, of course my mother's side of the family as well. They knew what happened but even them were asked to be mum about it. To protect the family.

It was a Chinese funeral. The Chinese side of the family wore a black band around our arms.

I was just staring numbly at my mother's casket. Walang nakalagay na litrato niya rito dahil bawal sa tradisyon. Then we had the joss paper burning. The paper and paper-maché items were burned to ensure that my mom would have that item in the afterlife.

I saw Alec amongst the attendees. He was standing with his father. He was looking at me with eyes filled with worry, and I was looking at him but it felt like I wasn't seeing him at all. I only saw my pain. I did not talk to him.

It was just after the funeral when other people were allowed to enter the mansion. Alec was the first one who visited. I never really talked to him. Tulala pa rin ako sa nangyari.

He respected my silence. He never asked questions. He was just there with me for four hours in my dark room because I refused to open the window blinds. And when I told him I was tired, he left.

Although Feng was very intimidated by my family, she also visited me the next days.

"I want to run away," pag-amin ko sa kanya. We were inside my room. Nagkaroon na ako ng gana na makipag-usap sa iba. "We should've ran away sooner. Dapat mas kinumbinsi ko pa si mama para hindi na sana umabot pa sa..."

Feng looked confused. "Anong ibig mong sabihin? Hindi ba... binaril siya?"

"She killed herself, Feng." Ako naman ang nalilito siyang tiningnan.

Malakas siyang napasinghap. "Hindi kayo nilooban? Pero sabi sa media—"

"What media?" Naging alerto ako. "Nag-issue ng media blackout si Papa. Nobody knows the reason behind my mother's death except the family. Kung meron mang lumabas, siguro gawa-gawa lang nila 'yon."

"Pero nagbigay ng official statement ang papa mo. Ang sabi niya weak daw ang security kaya kayo nilooban at binaril si Tita Cora."

It took me a while to process what Feng had said. Marahas akong napatayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa dulo ng kama.

"The bastard," I said seethingly. "He'll just do everything to cover up for the family not to be shamed."

Kinuha ko ang cellphone mula sa drawer. Binuhay ko ulit ito. I turned it off ever since the event because that was the suggestion of the family's PR to avoid the media.

"Anong gagawin mo?" tanong ni Feng sa'kin.

Hinanap ko ang numero ng agent. "I will call someone and let him leak to the media about what happened in the family."

"Ha? Safe ba 'yan?" Nahimigan ko ang takot at pag-aalala sa boses ng kaibigan ko.

"Wala na akong pake sa pamilyang 'to."

Hinawakan ni Feng ang braso ko. "Pero kapag ginawa mo 'yan malaking eskandalo ang kakaharapin ng pamilya mo. 'Di ba gusto ng mama mo na maikasal ka?"

Unti-unti akong umiling. "I don't want to get married, Feng."

"Sigurado ka ba diyan, Jia?" she repeated. " 'Wag ka namang padalos dalos! Tangina oh!"

I thought about Alec. The agent from the other line finally answered. It was too late.

"I have an exclusive intel about what happened to my mother," panimula ko para sa agent na nakikinig sa kabilang linya. "I know you have connections to the press. Ito ang totoong nangyari..."

Matapos ang tawag na iyon ay sumabog ang pinakamalaking eskandalo sa pamilya. My father's illicit affairs, which was my father's dirtiest laundry was all over the news. His connection to the press weakened. Hindi na ito natakpan pa ng kung anumang impluwensiya niya sa media.

A lot of people expressed their symphaties on what my mother went through. People were saying that it must have been a hell for her. I heard our companies suffered as well.

I was grounded. Like hell I cared anyway. Our family was in chaos. Galit na galit si Papa sa'kin dahil wala raw akong loyalty sa pamilya. Amma lectured me. Everything was my fault.

The entire family was gathered for a discussion.

"You destroyed the reputation of this family," malamig na saad ni Amma habang sa akin nakatingin. "Did you know the amount of damage that you've done?"

"I was only telling people the truth."

"Jia!" warned my father.

Mariin akong tiningnan ni Amma. "Telling people the truth? What good could it do?"

I closed my eyes. Natakot ako na lumabas ulit ang mga luha ko para lang sa mga taong tulad ng pamilya ko.

"Even in my mother's death, you still want to stripped off her dignity," I softly said. I opened my eyes and looked at them one by one. They did not look guilty. They still looked proud.

"What dignity are you talking about?" Medyo tumaas na ang boses ni Amma. It was the first time I've seen her not composed. "She committed a suicide! Alam mo ba kung anong pinta niyan sa pamilya natin? It's a disgrace to the entire Chen! It's a bad omen even until the next generations!" She sharply turned to my father. "It is bad for the business because our investors are now questioning about our credibility! How could we handle the company if we could not even handle our own family!"

Natawa ako. I thought about how hopeless my family really was. I laughed so hard that I need to hold on to my stomach because it hurt.

"Anong nakakatawa, Jia? You are being disrespectful to Amma!" pagalit na sambit ng isa sa mga auntie ko.

Hindi ako sumagot at itinikom na lang ang bibig.

"Now, the Cuas have plans on backing out of the marriage," imporma ni Amma.

"We can't blame them," si Kuya naman sabay sandal sa backrest ng kanyang inuupuan. "It won't be a good marriage anymore. Especially for the business."

"Bumaba rin ang halaga ng stocks natin the past weeks," nakayukong saad ni Papa. "We badly need this merge with them for us to recover from the great loss."

Tiningnan ako ni Amma. "Mabuti na lang at mukhang nakuha mo talaga ang loob ng anak nila. He was very against it. He still wants to marry you despite everything."

I did not know how to feel about it. Hindi pa kami ulit nagkakausap ni Alec.

"Of course we have to wait after a hundred days before you marry," dagdag niya.

"Pa'no kung hindi makumbinsi ni Alec Von Cua ang pamilya niya at sumunod siya sa utos nila?" si Kuya. "I've heard, prior to what happened, his father was finally planning to step down and pass to him the chairmanship."

"I agree with Lee's doubts," ang uncle ko. "With the chairmanship position, I am sure Gregorio's son will do anything to please his father."

Biglang lumapit ang sekretarya ni papa sa living area kung nasaan kami. Nilapitan siya ni papa at may ibinulong dito. My father looked surprised after it.

"Alec Von Cua is now proclaimed as the new chairman," anunsiyo niya sa lahat.

Nagsinghapan ang lahat. Natulala naman si Kuya at mukhang malalim na ang iniisip. My father looked pressured. Si Amma lang ang nanatiling kalmado.

Binalingan niya ako ng tingin. "You have to do everything in your power to make the marriage with him possible," utos niya. "He's now the chairman. This only means that he has now enough power and control."

Tiningnan ko silang lahat. Seryoso man nila akong tinitingnan, nahuli ko pa rin sa likod nito ang pag-asa. Gusto kong matawa ulit dahil sa bilis ng pagbabago ng turing nila sa akin. It was just a minute ago that they blamed me for what happened. And now they were looking at me as if I was the only answer to their prayers.

Dalawang paraan lang ang puwede kong gawin para makaalis mula sa maimpluwensiya kong pamilya. It's either I needed to die or get married to an even more powerful family.

I thought that if I marry Alec, I would be out of this hell of a mansion.

I wanted to get away so bad. And if the only way is to marry Alec Von Cua, who was I to be picky?

I would marry Alec. He's the only way to bring my family down. Siya lang ang paraan para maipaghiganti ko ang pagkamatay ni Mama.

"Pakakasalan ako ni Alec," pangangako ko. "I will make sure of it."