Chapter 6

Nakita niya si Bea na panay ang tingin sa kanyang cellphone. Umilaw kasi ito kapag may tumawag, tapos babalik sa itim kapag naputol ang tawag. Gusto na lang niyang magmura dahil laging may tumatawag. Baka ito pa ang dahilan na mabilis mawalan ng baterya.

Hindi na napigilan pa ni Bea ang sarili at tumingin sa kanya. "Why don't you turn it off? It's annoying," wika nito at umirap sa cellphone niya.

Tama si Bea, walang silbi ang pag-block ng mga numero, dahil parang hindi na ito gumagana. Lahat ng tawag ay mula sa hindi niya kilalang mga numero, at ang kanyang ina ay ginamit na naman ang selpon ng mga kasambahay.

Sumunod siya at pinatay ang kanyang cellphone. Pero alam niya na magpapatuloy ang parusa nito sa kanya. Nang magbayad na sila, binuksan niya ang kanyang cellphone para i-scan ang QR code ulit, but she saw the notification. It said that her bank card has been disabled, and she will choose another payment method.

Mukhang ang card niya ay naka-konekta sa kanyang Mama, at ito ang may gawa kung bakit hindi niya ito magagamit. In short, pagdating niya sa pamilyang Hernandez, Her mother already connected her card to her, and now, the card won't swipe.

Nakita ni Bea na nag-failed ang kanyang payment habang sumusulyap sa kanyang cellphone. "What does it mean?" salubong ang kilay nito.

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "They blocked the card," simpleng sagot niya.

Kumibot ang bibig ni Bea, hindi makapaniwala sa narinig. "Because of Mika? What kind of family are they?"

Hearing that her own family had blocked her credit card made her feel sick, as if she'd swallowed a fly. How could there be such a person in this world, treating their biological daughter like this for the sake of an adopted one?

Ngumiti siya ng walang pakialam. "It's not the first time."

"Let me do it," biglang sabi ni Bea at kinuha ang kanyang cellphone mula sa kanyang bag.

"No, I have money," pagpupumilit niya. Meron naman siyang pera. Wala na siyang nagawa ng mabayaran na ito ni Bea, kaya bumuga na lang siya ng hangin. Pagkaalis naman nila sa restaurant at nakasakay sa kotse, biglang nagsalita si Bea. "I'll transfer 1.6 million to your account first, don't be afraid of them. Bayaran mo na lang ako kapag may pera ka na."

They did this to their own biological daughter for just a few million. Sino naman sila para pilitin siya sa isang bagay na ayaw niya? Bumuga siya ng hangin bago tignan si Bea, "No, I have money."

"You don't even have a work. How can you have any money? May pamilya kang walang puso." Nakita niya kung paano nagbago ang mga mata ni Beatrix sa pagkamuhi. Alam nila kung gaano siya nahihirapan sa pamilya niya.

"I really have money. Well, it's a long story." Ang pagiging mayaman ay mahirap ipaliwanag, and even if she was on Duke's side for the past two years, hindi ibig sabihin non ay umaasa siya kay Duke at sa pamilya niya.

Iwinagayway ni Bea ang kanyang kamay, "Okay, mayaman ka na kaya tanggapin mo ang pera na ito."

A woman who'd been living under the spell of a man for two years, whose money was also provided by her family, how could she possibly have any money? Bea simply didn't believe what she'd said. "Really, Bea? I have my own money."

Kahit anong sabihin niya ay hindi pa rin naniniwala ang kaibigan niya. Wala siyang pagpipilian kundi hilain siya papasok sa mall at bumili ng kung ano-anong stuff na naghahalaga ng ilang libo at umabot pa ng milyon.

And Bea finally believed it when she saw the black card she's holding. Her eyes lit up. "Where did you get this black card? Who gave it to you? Si Duke?"

Maybe Bea only thinks that the card was given by Duke. She was stunned when she saw the card she just pulled out in such a hurry. A surge of emotion flashed through her eyes, and her heart skipped a bit.

"Si Duke? How could that be?" Duke's black card would never be given to her. Kaya impossible ang iniisip ni Bea.

"Then who gave it to you then?" Intriga na tanong ni Bea sa kanya. "Kung hindi si Duke, malamang hindi din ang pamilya mo, kaya kanino galing 'yan?"

Thinking of the card's owner, a soft flicker crossed her eyes, but she didn't answer. "Let's go!" pagyaya niya sa kaibigan niya. Mabuti na lang at hindi na siya nagtanong pa ulit. Bea and she carried the bags they've bought and left the mall together.

Pagkatapos ng pamimili nila ay naghiwalay na sila ng daan. She headed straight back to her condo hotel, a premium golden hotel, one of the popular hotels in Cagayan de Oro City. Pagbukas ng elevator ay kaagad niyang nakita si Duke sa harapan ng pinto.

Naiinis na sumulyap si Duke sa kanyang suot na mamahaling relo at galit na tumingin sa kanya. "Why is your phone turned off? I've been fucking waiting here for almost two hours," galit na sabi nito.

She snapped back, "Too noisy," simpleng sagot niya at hindi pinansin ang galit nitong itsura. Hindi niya narinig na tinawagan siya ng madalas for the past month, tapos ngayon ay tumutunog ang cellphone niya. Feeling niya tuloy masisira ang cellphone niya dahil sa kakatawag nila.

She pulled out her key to open the door, but Duke suddenly grabbed her wrist. "Jiannella!"

She glared at him coldly. "Your other woman, it's so pitiful to have no one by her side in the hospital," she nonchalantly said.

The word "other woman" only stung Duke's eyes, causing a swirl of anger, and she liked it. "Let's talk it over."

Umiling agad siya, "No need." Kaagad niyang hinablot ang sariling pulso at binuksan ang pintuan at pumasok. Isasara na sana niya ng mabilis na inunat ni Duke ang kanyang braso kaya hindi niya tuluyang maisara.

Just when he was about to squeeze in, she kicked him directly at his most vulnerable position. She saw Duke gritted his teeth. "You woman!"

The moment he dodged, he pulled his arm out of the door, and she took the opportunity to close the door. But Duke's reaction was also very fast. He directly pulled the door that was about to close and squeezed in quickly.

She glared at him coldly, "I advise you to get out immediately."