Todos los capítulos de The Rebellious Stepdaughter of Timothy Grey: Capítulo 41 - Capítulo 50

“So, I heard you’re still in college?” tanong ni Zach habang binabaybay namin ang daan papunta sa lighthouse.Actually, magaan siyang kasama. He was very talkative. At parang kahit poste, kaya niyang kausapin. He could talk about everything under the sun.“Yeah. I chose not to study when my mom got sick. That’s why I’m still on my third year,” paliwanag ko.He nodded, then turned hard left to take a big curve. Malubak ang daan at matarik. I was just grateful that he offered to tour me around. Dahil baka kung si Tim ang kasama ko, mauuwi lang sa bangayan ang buong biyahe. I couldn’t imagine having a conversation with him after what happened.“I see. Sorry about your mom. Hindi kami nakapunta because Lolo was very ill that time,” paliwanag niya.Hindi ko masabi na I wasn’t aware of Tim’s relatives because I was busy hating him all this time. Ni hindi ko nga alam ang tungkol kay Sir Arthur... especially about his sickness.Natigilan ako sandali bago muling nagtanong. “Is he okay now?”Na

“Good thing you didn’t push it,” sabi ng doktor. “Otherwise, mas malala pa ’yan.” Kung alam lang niya kung gaano ko pinilit ang sarili ko sa mas masakit na bagay. Para lang mabigo sa bandang huli. That’s why the pain it caused me was also severe. “Yeah,” sagot ko na lang. “Baka nga lumala pa.” Hindi ko alam kung para saan ’yon. Kung tungkol ba sa sprain o sa kung ano pa man. I didn’t want to clarify, because the clearer it gets, the worse feeling it brings. “Just follow the prescription,” paliwanag ng doktor. “Huwag mong pilitin ang paa mo. May mga bagay talagang kailangan munang magpahinga para tuluyang gumaling. You’ll be fine.” Napakurap-kurap ako sa sinabi niya. It hit a different angle in me. I smiled bitterly at my thoughts. “Yes. I just need to rest,” inulit ko. Pagkatapos ay itinulak na ng doktor ang wheelchair palabas ng pinto. Agad na tumayo si Timothy nang makita ang paglabas namin. They greeted each other shortly, then bid their goodbyes as well. At nang itutulak na

“Is there something you need, hija?” Tinig ng matandang Grey ‘yon sa kalmadong paraan.I was caught off guard.Agad kong ibinuka ang bibig at pilit hinanap ang tamang salita. “I-I was just looking for—” naputol ang paliwanag ko nang mapatingin ako sa kamay ni Timothy na nakahawak pa rin sa bewang ko.Mabilis niyang inalis iyon, kasing bilis ng pagtuwid ko ng pagkakatayo.“May kailangan lang siya,” biglang sabi ni Timothy bago pa ako makapagpatuloy. “I asked her to come in,” aniya, saka maingat na iniabot sa’kin ang baso ng orange juice.Napatingin ako sa kanya, saka nanginginig ang kamay na kinuha ‘yon.Sir Arthur looked worried. “Ganun ba,” aniya, saka tumingin sa’kin. “You shouldn’t just stroll around, hija.” Bumaba ang tingin niya sa paa ko bago kay Timothy. “Allan, is this really okay? You shouldn’t let her roam around by herself,” puna ng matanda.Tumikhim ako. “Pasensya na po,” mahina kong sagot. “I thought—”“That’s on me,” putol ulit ni Timothy. “I told her I’d be here.”May k

“U-Uncle?” Boses ’yon ni Zerina. Dahilan kung bakit napaigtad ako at nabitawan ang panga ni Timothy. I was about to turn to face her when suddenly, a hand grabbed my hair. “You… bitch!” gigil niyang wika habang malakas na hinihila ang buhok ko. Fuck… Napapikit ako dahil parang anumang oras ay makakalas na ang anit ko. “Zerina!” ani Timothy, saka pilit na inaalis ang kamay ng pamangkin sa buhok ko. “Nilalandi ka ng anak-anakan mo, ’Da!” I tightly held her hand and tried to scratch it, making her suddenly let go of my hair. Mabilis akong tumunghay at inayos ang buhok ko na halos magbuhol na sa paghila niya kanina. “Still, that doesn’t give you the right to just grab someone’s hair!” singhal ko pabalik, saka inayos ang suot kong dress. Halos lumuwa ang dibdib ko dahil sa paghaklit na ginawa ni Zerina. “And what right do you have to kiss your stepfather?” sigaw niya sa mukha ko nang makalapit. At akmang sasampalin ako nang pumagitna na si Timothy. “Stop it, Zerina,” banta niya

Maaga akong nagising kinabukasan. I went straight to the kitchen when my phone rang. Nakita ko 'yon sa dresser at agad na inabot nang makitang si Atty. Ramos 'yon."Good morning, hija," bungad ng abogado namin.He has been serving our family for as long as I can remember, kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung na kanino pa ang loyalty niya. I had a feeling that he was aware of the unregistered marriage of Timothy ang mom."Atty. Ramos," sabi ko lang.Tumikhim siya. "About your email to me. We can set up a meeting in my office this afternoon since Mr. Grey is in Manila," simpleng saad niya.He suddenly came back? Akala ko ba matagal pa ang aasikasuhin niya sa Batanes?Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko. I felt... unprepared. It had only been what? Two, three days? Kulang ang ilang araw para lubusang maging handa para muling harapin siya."Hija?" untag ng matanda."Uh... yeah. I'll be there by 2 p.m., Atty. Salamat." I hit the end call button.​Matagal akong nakatayo roon, hawak pa rin a