Chapter Five

“CRAIG? Ikaw nga ba iyan, hijo?" 

Halatang nagulat si Tita Mindy nang makita ako sa labas ng office si Dad. She was my Dad's secretary. Bata pa lang ako ay siya na ang secretary ni Dad. She's a very kind lady. Parang pamilya na rin ang turing namin ni mama sa kanya. 

“Kelan ka pa nakauwi, hijo?” 

She went to me. Binati niya ako ng yakap. I hugged her back and gave her a kiss on the cheek. 

“Three days ago. Is Dad in his office?” Sumulyap ako sa opisina ni Dad. 

Tatlong araw na akong simula nang makauwi sa Pilipinas. Subalit nang umuwi ako ay hindi ko naabutan si Dad. According to my mother, nasa South Korea si dad para sa isang business trip. Tatlong araw daw ito roon. 

I looked at Tita Mindy. Matagal na siyang secretary ni Daddy. May alam kaya siya sa affair ni Dad? But no. She was close with my mother. Alam kong hindi niya magagawang maglihim kay Mama. 

I hired a private investigator before I even come home. Gusto kong makasiguro na tama and hinala ni Mama bago ako umuwi ng bansa. And seems like my mother is right. Dad was indeed having an affair. 

“Yes, hijo. Katatapos lang ng meeting niya,” sagot ni Tita Mindy. 

I silently clenched my jaw. 

Ayon kay Mama, kaninang umaga nakabalik si Dad mula sa business trip nito. Pero hindi ko na siya naabutan dahil pagkatapos mag-almusal ay dumiretso na siya sa opisina. 

Hindi pa alam ni Dad na nandito ako sa bansa. I told Mom not to mention anything to my Dad. Gusto kong masorpresa siya. 

"Thanks, Tita." Ngumiti ako kay Tita Mindy. "Let's have dinner soon."

"I would love that, hijo," sagot ng matanda sa akin. "Hindi man lang nabanggit sa akin ng Daddy mo na umuwi ka pala."

"Dad doesn't know, Tita." Ngumiti ako. "I want to surprise him."

"Oh. Well, I'm sure your dad will be very surprised," sagot sa akin ng matanda. 

Pagkatapos kong lagpasan si Tita Mindy ay dumiretso na ako sa opisina ni Dad. I only knocked once before I opened the door. 

“Mindy—”

I saw how my father reacted when he saw me emerging from the wooden door. He looked utterly surprised. Napatayo siya sa swivel chair. 

“Craig, hijo?”

“Hi, Dad." I greeted him casually but in contrast, I was silently clenching my fist. 

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na magagawa ni Dad ang bagay na iyon. Oo, malaki ang kasalanang nagawa sa kanya ni Mama, at naintindihan ko kung hanggang ngayon ay galit pa rin siya kay Mama.

But to cheat on my mother in return? That was just so wrong and out of his character. This man in front of me, I feel like I don't know him anymore. 

I wanted to punch him right now. I wanted to tell straight to his face that I know what he's been doing behind our backs. 

But no, my plan will be ruined if I let my emotions get the best of me. I already planned everything. Simula nang makumpirma ko na tama ang hinala ng ina ay may plano na akong binuo sa utak. 

Use your head, not emotion.

One thing my Dad has taught me is to always think ahead and plan everything before making a move. I knew that kind of thinking is what makes my father a goddamn good businessman. And I would use that against him. 

Bago pa ako makauwi ng bansa ay nakalatag ang plano ko kung paano ko aalisin ang kabit niya sa landas niya. 

“When did you arrived?" My father went to me and welcomed me with a hug. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi na uuwi ka pala?" 

I shrugged. “I arrived just three days ago. I wanted to surprise you…”

Naramdaman ko ang pagtapik niya sa likod ko. Pinigilan ko ang sariling itulak siya. 

“How about Ada, kasama mo ba siya?”

“No, she was busy right now on her project.”

"I'm really happy you're here, son." Pagkatapos niya akong pakawalan ay masayang tinapik niya ako sa balikat. 

"Same here, Dad." Iginala ko ang tingin sa opisina niya. His office occupies the whole thirty-first of this building. It was still the same the last time I went here, and that was almost two years ago. But I noticed something. Wala na ang portrait nila ni Mama na dating nakadisplay sa isang bahagi ng dingding ng opisina niya. It was now replaced by an abstract painting. 

"How long do you plan to stay?" 

I shrugged my shoulders. "It depends. I was thinking, maybe it was time to finally help you in out business?” Naupo ako sa sofa at ibinalik ang tingin sa ama. 

Dad looked surprised. I smirked. Of fucking course. Matagal na rin akong kinukumbinsi ng mga magulang na manatili na sa Pilipinas. Especially my Dad. I know how badly he wanted me to get involved in our family business. 

"Wow," my father exclaimed in delight. "That's great, son. I couldn't believe I'd be hearing this from you now." Naupo siya sa couch sa harap ko. "But, yeah, we both know I'm not getting any younger. I'm already an old man." Bahagya siyang natawa. 

Old, huh? But you managed to get a mistress half of your age? 

"By the way, Dad. I'm afraid I have to go." Ibinaba ako ang mga mata sa suot na relo. It was almost five. Sinadya ko talaga na puntahan siya ng ganoong oras. "Mom prepared dinner for us. She asked me to buy her favorite wine." 

I saw how his expression changed when I mentioned my mother. Tumayo ako mula sa sofa. "Are you done for today?"

Natigilan siya. “I'm sorry, Craig. I still have one meeting to go, hijo.”

I hate how my father could lie straight to my face. 

“Oh?" Bahagyang umangat ang mga kilay ko. "Maybe you can just reschedule it?”

Tinapik niya ako sa balikat at ngumiti. “Don't worry, hijo. Susunod ako agad."

“Okay." I managed to smile at him. "I'll tell that to Mom.  I’ll go ahead, Dad…” paalam ko sa kanya. Tinalikuran ko siya at naglakad palabas ng opisina. 

Napahinto ako sa pagbukas ng pinto nang marinig ko ang boses niya.

“I’m happy you’re back, Craig.”

I smirked. “Me too, Dad."

Nakakuyom ang kamao na dumiretso ako sa executive elevator. I almost punched the elevator wall when I entered it. I pressed the button to the basement. Fuck him. Business meeting, huh? 

Pagdating ko sa basement ay naglakad ako papunta sa sasakyan. I went inside my car and picked up the folder seated on the front seat. It was the folder my private investigator sent me. Binuksan ko iyon. Agad na tumambad sa akin ang mga papel kasama na ang iba't-ibang larawan ng kabit ni Dad.

I already memorized every information inside that folder. 

Caressa Ilea Mendoza. That's the name of my dad's Mistress. She was twenty-three years old. And a third year college student. 

Fuck. I was even older than her. Paano nasikmura ni Dad na pumatol sa babaeng halos anak na niya? 

Kinuha ko ang isang picture ng babae at pinagmasdan iyon. She was beautiful. Long wavy hair, fair skin, dark eyes, kissable lips. She looked like an innocent angel in every picture I have here. 

Subalit sigurado akong kabaligtaran iyon ng ugali niya. I already read her profile. Dati siyang nagtatrabaho sa isang escort service. And that's where my father met her. 

I bet that woman seduced my father. She’s nothing but a gold digger bitch who uses her innocent face to lure old men. 

Nilukot ko ang hawak na litrato sa kamay ko. Ibinaba ko ang folder sa front seat nang matanaw ko si Dad. Pumasok siya sa kotse niya. Maya-maya ay nakita ko ang paglabas niyon sa parking area. 

Binuksan ko ang makina ng kotse at maingat na sinundan ang sasakyan niya. 

Business meeting? Fuck. I know he would go to his mistress. Nabasa ko iyon sa report na ipinadala sa akin ng private investigator. Madalas, bago umuwi si Dad sa bahay ay dumadaan siya sa kabit niya.

Nanatili akong nakasunod sa kanya hanggang sa pumasok ang kotse sa isang condominium tower. 

Huminto ako sa katapat na establishmento ng gusali. 

According to my private investigator's report, binili si Dad ng unit sa Alexis towers six months ago. Ipinangalan niya ang unit na iyon sa kabit niya. 

Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa manibela ng sasakyan. Kalahating taon. Ganoon na katagal ang relasyon niya sa babaeng iyon. 

Dad was crazy! Hindi lang ibinahay ni Dad ang kabit niya. Pinag-aral pa niya ito. Hindi ko alam kung ano ipinakain sa kanya ng babaeng iyon at nagawa niyang magpauto ng ganoon.

Muli kong binuksan ang folder ang pinagmasdan ang larawan ng kabit ng ama. 

Caressa Ilea Mendoza. Whoever you are, I will not allow you to ruin my parent's marriage.