I was in all confusion when I heard what my father said. Para akong nabingi at tila ba ibang lenggwahe ang kanyang sinabi na hindi ko iyon naintindihan. Rylle's hold tightened and I felt his anger and protective stance with the way he held me tighter. He cursed matapos sabihin ni Papa iyon."Is Rylle there, honey? Can I talk to him?"Walang lakas kong ibinigay ang cellphone kay Rylle. Pilit pa ring iniisip ang kanyang sinabi. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Hindi ako naniniwala. I've known Simon for being a notorious playboy but never this. At ano naman ang maaaring dahilan niya para gawin ang lahat ng iyon?I never knew him personally, at least back when I was still in the US. Nitong mga nakaraang buwan lang kami nagkita at nagkakilala. Bilang pa sa daliri ang mga pagkikitang iyon. As far as my memory can recall, I've never done anything bad to him. Was it because I rejected him? I don't think so. At ramdam ko rin naman na hindi

 He continued pacing back and forth in front of me, laughing like a madman. He's more than crazy.I bowed my head as I try to sink in everything he just said. I can choose to not believe him pero ano pang magagawa niyon? I'm about to face my end. There's no point in trying to think wether to believe him or not.Whatever happens, I can't change it anymore. I was trying to console myself through saying that.Hindi ba ganoon naman talaga? Kahit gaano ko ipilit ang gusto kong mangyari, kung iyon ang itinadhana, wala na akong magagawa pa. I don't have the capacity to change anything just because it's not favorable to me.I lifted my gaze to look at him. Mariin siyang nakatitig sa akin habang nakapamaywang sa harap ko. His anger seething like nothing could ever tame it. "Is that why you're doing this to me? For revenge dahil sa ginawa ng magulang ko sa iyo? Sapat na dahilan ba iyon para idamay mo ang mga inosenteng tao para lang sa pag

 I can already feel the tension between my parents. Tila ba alam na nilang dalawa kung ano ang tinutukoy ko. I came here to talk about it with them. More than my eagerness to know the whole truth, I want to give my father the benefit of the doubt. Ayokong magpadalos-dalos at magalit agad without hearing his side of the story.Kung totoo man ang sinasabi ni Simon, na si Papa nga ang dahilan kung bakit na-depress at namatay ang mga magulang niya, I want my father to atleast explain his side."With your reactions, batid ko pong alam na ninyong dalawa ang tinutukoy ko..."I swallowed the lump on my throat. Pilit kong tinatagan ang sarili when I'm about to tell them what really happened in that place. At kung ano'ng mga nalaman ko habang hawak ako ni Simon."Simon told me what you did, Pa. Totoo bang niloko mo po ang tatay niya kaya ito na-depress at namatay?"I didn't even blink as I watched how his expression changed. Nagliko

 Natatawa niyang sinalubong ang yakap ko. I was too shocked and overwhelmed to see him here. I never expected him to be here. Huli naming pagkikita ay noong bago ako umuwi ng Pilipinas para magtrabaho sa LHR. Though we communicate sometimes.Nakangiti kong pinagmasdan ang kabuuan niya. Malaki ang ipinagbago ng katawan niya. He became more bulky and of course masculine. Ang mestiso niyang balat ay mamula-mula. His facial features still the same but they became more define as he aged.My memories with him came in like a whirlwind. Kung paano niyang nakuha ang loob ko sa ilang beses na pag-aaya sa akin na kumain sa labas at magliwaliw.I would always reject him at first. I would always isolate myself from everyone. I was too afraid of getting attached to people again. I was so afraid of being betrayed again.Pero kahit ganoon ay hindi siya sumuko. Parati, pagkatapos ng eskwela, inaaya niya akong mamasyal. Nakukulitan na nga ako sa kanya noon. At

 "Akala ko uuwi ka rin?"He lifted his gaze on me. Mula sa laptop ay lumipat ang nanunuri niyang tingin sa akin.I continued checking the designs for the upcoming launch next week. Ang aking mga staff naman ay namamasyal sa iba't ibang tourist spots. Sinusulit ang natitirang mga araw ng pananatili namin dito bago tumulak pa-New York.Ayoko naman ipagkait sa kanila iyon. They worked hard for this fashion week. Alam ko rin ang stress at pressure na pinagdaanan nila, maging successful lang ang event. They should relax atleast bago naman sumabak sa trabaho."Hindi ba kayo sasama, miss? Plano sana naming kumain sa labas kasama kayo," si Len.I can also hear the other staffs' voices in her background, hinihikayat din akong sumama.I would love to come. Kaya lang nangako ako kay Denver na dadalo sa exhibit niya. I still have to prepare for that.Isa pa nandito rin si Rylle na akala ko'y uuwi rin ng Pilipinas pero nagkamali ako.