Novel & Cerita Illegitimate Son

She shrugged her shoulders. "Mahalaga siya. Hindi ako papayag na mananatili si Ivo sa kompanyang 'yon. He's an illegitimate son and my son who is the righteous heir ay nasa amerika at naghihirap para patunayan ang sarili? Hindi pwedeng madagdagan ng bastardo ang pamilya natin."

"And I don't understand that. I know I am the daughter of your mistress and everyone probably hates me and my mom. But you can't treat me like a trash just because I was made out of mistake. No, you can't treat someone badly just because they came from bad things." I didn't want to be born this way but what can I do now? I didn't want to cause pain to his family and I only ever wanted to be accepted but I got harassed and it only sounded right for them. Because I was illegitimate, they treat me badly, for the sin I didn't do, for the life I didn't ask, they treat me badly.

“Stupida! Don't be like an unfilial child, Umica. I will give you a chance. Kung ’di mo magawang isama ang kumpanya natin as one of the guest sa launching ng tatlong malalaking company, well I don't think that your father deserve his regular therapy sa mahal na Ospital.” “But, Lolo! Dad is also your son . . . Don't you lo—” “Cut the crap, Umica. Isa lang ang gusto ko. Maging kapaki-pakinabang ang pamilya ninyo!” Nanlambot ang kanyang mga tuhod at para siyang nalusaw na bagay na unti-unting bumagsak sa sahig. Her mind was in chaos ngunit ’di niya magawang makaimik. Gusto niyang magwala, sumigaw at umiyak . . . ‘When was the last time I cried so hard and forgot to be strong?’ Dumapa na siya na

dagdag ni Chanton, bahagyang bumaba ang boses, “ang siyang pinakaleader ng pagkidnap sa inyo, ay siya rin palang illegitimate son ni Oscar. Sa pagnanais niyang mapunta sa kanya ang organisasyon ng ama niya, ginawa niya ang lahat ng iniutos ni Oscar. Ni hindi niya alam na ginagamit lang din pala siya ng matanda.” Napailing ako sa narinig ko. Hindi ko alam kung mas naaawa ba ako o mas mapupuot. Anak man siya o hindi, pinili pa rin niyang sundan ang yapak ng ama niya—isang landas na puno ng dugo at kasinungalingan.

Nakikinig lang si Haile nang walang gaanong pakialam, balak na sanang umalis pagkatapos magbayad ng tubig. Pero ang mga salitang ‘pamilya Pineda’ at ‘illegitimate daughter; ay tumama sa kanyang pandinig na parang kuryente. Ang pamilya Pineda sa BGC? Isang illegitimate daughter? Napatigil siya, hindi natuloy ang pagpihit sa takip ng bote. Iniangat niya ang kanyang tingin kay Clark at maingat na nagtanong,

He understood what I meant. But he still maintained his smile even though it already looked strained. “Halata naman,” natatawa niyang sabi. “Alam kong lumaki ka sa malulupit na angkan dahil isa kang illegitimate child, hindi ba? Kaya hindi kita masisi. Haha.” There it was. The insult. The reminder of where I came from. Most people would've snapped hearing those words. Years ago, maybe I would've done the same. Back then, being an illegitimate child felt like a permanent stain painted across my forehead. Every family gathering felt like a silent trial. Every stare from my clan carried judgment sharp enough to skin flesh.

Pareho naman silang anak ni Gerson. Ah. Oo nga pala. He’s the unwanted one. Kung gusto siya nito, hindi siya nito iiwan sa daddy at stepmother niya at hahayaang iba ang magpalaki sa kanya. Illegitimate child nga siya, ’di ba? Buti na lang, hindi siya tinuring na iba ng tumayo niyang ina. Instead, she loves him wholeheartedly, treat him as her own child and wants what’s the best for him.

“Mukhang nagiging… active na ang dalawang pangalan na binabantayan natin.” Hindi ko agad binuksan ang folder. Alam ko na kung sino ang tinutukoy niya. Ang dalawang illegitimate sons ng ama ko. Mga lalaking halos buong buhay ko ay nasa gilid lang ng larawan, mga anino na paminsan-minsang nababanggit sa mga bulungan ng pamilya. Pero ngayon, bigla silang naging sentro ng usapan dahil narin sa aking ama.

“But time is running out. Think carefully, Wade. Kapag dumating ang ama mo at hindi ka pa rin nakapag-decide, you won’t be given another chance.” Walang nakitang kahit anong ekspresyon sa mukha ng binata. “Paano kung hindi ko kayo pipiliin?” Matteo’s expression didn’t falter. Then you’ll remain what you’ve always been—the Lee family’s illegitimate son. Hidden. Unacknowledged. That’s your choice, and I’ll respect it.” But the words he left unspoken were darker. The Medici family would never allow their bloodline to be wasted, never tainted. To them, impurity was a disease. And when the disease appeared, it was purged.