ANMELDENAlmost 20 years ago“Mommy, why do we need to Grandpa’s house again?” tanong ng sampung taong gulang na si Ralph sa ina na si Janessa. Kasalukuyang naglalakad ang mag-ina patungo sa mansiyon ng mga Del Fierro na ilang bahay lang ang pagitan mula sa kanilang bahay.Ngumiti si Janessa, niyuko si Ralph. “Because your Grandpa wants to see you everyday,” anang ginang.“What about Dad? Is he not coming with us?” muling tanong ng paslit.“Your Dad’s already at the mansion, Ralph. Kanina pa niya tayo hinihintay roon. Kaya kung ako sa ‘yo, we better hurry up. You don’t want your Dad waiting for us for too long, don’t you?”Hindi sumagot ang batang si Ralph, umiwas ng tingin, bahagyang lumabi. “Ayokong kalaro si Simon, Mommy. He’s always angry at me. Grandma is angry at me too,” anang paslit, puno ng pag-aalinlangan ang tinig.Sandaling bumakas ang awa sa mukha ni Janessa. Hindi na bago sa babae ang masamang pakikitungo nina Margarita, ang ikalawang asawa ni Don Pedro, at ng apo nitong si Simon
Maingat na inilapag ni Ralph ang dalang mga bouquet ng bulaklak sa dalawang nitso na nasa harapan ng binata. Malinaw na nakaukit sa marmol ang pangalan ng mga magulang.He can still remember vividly that one rainy afternoon that seemed to be a lifetime away now. He didn’t want to leave that place. That place was where his parents were laid to rest. Doon din nangako si Don Pedro na aalagaan siya nito nang mabuti at na hanggang nasa poder siya nito, walang mangyayaring masama sa kanya. But... none of those happened. Growing up, he had a house but never a home.He had everything all the world needed but never that thing he needed the most.He was surrounded by people, strangers who were tasked to keep him safe. But he didn’t have someone who really cares, someone who would take his side… always.Nevertheless, he is who he is today because of the cruelty he endured growing up. And now…“Grandpa got sick, Dad, Mom. I have taken over Del Fierro Minings. He gave me every single share he has
“No… this cannot be happening,” umpisa ni Margarita, panay ang iling. “This can’t be happening!” sigaw ng matandang babae, inihampas ang dokumento sa mesa. Naniningkit ang mga mata nitong bumaling kay Ralph. “Hindi pa rin ako naniniwala na kaya itong gawin sa akin, sa amin ni Pete! You, you must have done something for this to happen! Ginagawa mo lang ang lahat ng ito dahil walang malay ang lolo mo!” gigil na dugtong ni Margarita, lalong kumuyom ang mga kamay. “Do you think you can trick all of us into this--- this preposterous plan of yours?! Well, nagkakamali ka nang binangga, Ralph! I will not yield to this kind of injustice! I will protect what is rightfully mine!”Hindi agad sumagot si Ralph. She was studying the old woman. She used to be composed-- regal. She used to act all high and mighty because she knew she has Don Pedro in the palm of her hand. Subalit iba na ngayon. Ralph can almost feel the tension coming out of Margarita. She was panicking. It was as if she knew that fr
“Ralph, are you in here?” si Elize, nang bumungad ito sa study room ng asawa sa penthouse.She has been looking for him for sometime now. Nagising siya kasi kanina na wala ito sa kanyang tabi. At nag-aalala ang dalaga dahil iyon ang araw ng board meeting sa Del Fierro Minings. Ralph will not go there as a regular board member though. He will go there as the owner of the largest share in the company.Sa nakalipas na ilang araw mula nang ma-ospital si Don Pedro, palagiang dumadalaw si Ralph sa abuelo. Sometimes he’d stay there for hours. And Elize cannot complain. Alam ng dalaga na kahit na nagkaroon ng hidwaan ang maglolo, Ralph still cares for his grandfather deeply. Kaya naman ngayong wala pa ring malay ang matandang don, hinihayaan lang ni Elize ang asawa sa gusto nitong gawin. If that’s the only way he would feel better.She doesn’t know how heavy was the guilt Ralph was carrying in his conscience. She knew he has regrets. And so she tries her best to be supportive to her husband
Humahangos si Ralph habang patungo sa ICU room kung saan naroon at naka-confine si Don Pedro. He went there as fast as he heard the news about his grandfather. Hindi niya kasama si Elize. He has decided not to involve his wife in that situation anymore. Masyado na itong maraming stress na kinaharap sa araw na ‘yon. Accompanying him to the hospital wouldn’t be good for her and their unborn child. Kaya naman nagdesisyon si Ralph na pumunta sa ospital nang mag-isa.Well, he is not alone alone. Kasama niya sina Dylan at Mark na nakasunod din sa kanya.But despite of that, Ralph is still worried and confused. He didn’t want to but he cannot help it. His mind was filled with different questions.Ilang oras na palang naroon sa opsital ang matandang don subalit hindi pa nalaman ng binata ang nangyari sa abuelo kung hindi ibinalita ni Dylan sa kanya. It’s either nakalimutang sabihin sa kanya ng mga tao sa loob ng mansiyon o kaya naman talagang sinadyang h'wag ipaalam sa kanya nangyari kay Do
“Napakawalanghiya talaga ng Juliette na ‘yan! Saan siya humugot ng lakas ng loob na sampahan ng gawa-gawang kaso si Elize? Hindi dahil sa kakampi niya si Don Pedro at Donya Margarita, pwede na niyang sirain ang buhay ng anak ko. Eddie, Xander, please do something!” histerikal na sabi ni Felicia.Ilang minuto na rin mula nang makabalik sina Ralph at Elize sa bahay ng mga Monterverde. Mula sa presinto ay doon sila dumiretso ayon na rin sa suhestyon ni Xander at ni Dylan.Hindi makatanggi si Ralph kahit na ang gusto sana ng binata ay ilayo muna sa Maynila pansamantala ang asawa. He wanted to keep Elize away from all the chaos until he was able to fix it. Kaya lang, ayaw rin ni Ralph na sila ni Xander ang magtalo. Masyado nang magulo ang sitwasyon ayaw na niya iyong dagdagan pa kaya siya nagpaubaya.Humikbi si Elize, lalong yumakap kay Ralph. Ayaw niya sanang umiyak alang-alang sa dinadala niya. Kaya lang, naaawa siya sa sarili. God knows she did nothing wrong. Not to Juliette. Not to any
“Elize, hija. Bakit hindi ka pa kumakain? Masama ba ang pakiramdam mo o ayaw mo sa pagkain?” si Felicia nang mapansing hindi pa nababawasan ang pagkain sa plato ng anak gayong kanina pa sila nag-umpisang maghapunan.Mula nang bumalik sa Maynila si Elize, hindi na nakaligtaan ng mga Monteverde na ku
Hindi sumagot si Ralph, muling uminom ng alak. Alam niyang may ibang intensyon ang mga kaanak para sa hapunang iyon. He just didn’t expect that it would be about some girl they have in mind that was supposed to be a ‘perfect match’ for him.“Tama ang grandma mo, Ralph. You are of marrying age, hij
Abala si Ralph sa pagtatrabaho nang biglang pumasok si Mark sa kanyang opisina. “What is this time, Mark? Hindi ba ang sabi ko, ayokong maistorbo ngayong araw,” anang binata, hindi inaalis ang mata sa kanyang laptop.Pinag-aaralan ng binata ang mga proposal for collaboration na ipinasa sa kanya ng
Agad na nahigit ni Elize ang hininga, lalong napuno ng kalituhan ang isip. Bakit naroon si Ralph? Guguluhin din ba siya nito gaya ni Calvin?Nang hindi makasagot si Elize, tuluyan nang naglakad palapit si Ralph. He gave a warning look at Calvin bago nito tinabig ang nakahawak na kamay ng binata kay







