Montecillo Series - Therese Montecillo ( Completed )

A shoulder to cry on

Therese POV

Its been days since nung incident and wala nang gaanong nangyari. I am still waiting for his explanation pero palagi niya lang sinasabi na he’ll take care of it and that I don’t have to worry. Sometimes, kakasabi niya nang ganun, hindi ko maiwasang mag alala.

It’s as if may dadating na bagyo. But I trust him. I trust him now more than ever lalo na nang magawa niyang maghintay and keep his promise.

We were lounging sa garden when a call came to my parents. Nagtaka ako nung makita ko si Dad na nanlaki ang mga mata.

After what seems like forever, he hung up the phone saka mabilis na lumakad palabas. I tried to walf fast after them when I heard kuya saked what was happening,

Dun ko lang nalaman na si Lolo was in the hospital. I gasp and covered my mouth, napatigil din ako sa paglalakad.

Nauna na sina mommy and daddy followed by Kuya. Nagsabay naman sina Kuya Alex at Christoph. Naiwan ako sa bahay. I was supposed to bring my car pero saktong dumating si Andrew.

I ran up to him and hugged him, he hugged me back tightly.Di ko namalayan na umiiyak na ako. Lolo, the one who entrusted me to run the school. The one who believed that I can do it despite not having the passion of doing it.

“Andrew, si lolo…” iyak kong sabi.

“What happened, hmm?” he was soothing my back and kissing my forehead.

“Si, si lolo… he’s in the hospital. Please, bring me there. Di ko na sila naabutan. I got too shocked.”

“Come.” Sabi niya sabay hawak sa kamay ko at igiya ako sa kotse niya.

We drove silently with me quietly sobbing. I was fearing for him. I want him well, I want him to see his school progress more with my supervision. I want him to see na tama yung pagpili niya sakin. It hurts, lalo na’t minsan lang kami magkasama.

Nakarating kami ng hospital at nadatnan naming nagkukumpulan sila with hate written on their faces. Agad akong lumapit kay Christoph to ask what happened.

To my dismay, nandito si lolo sa hospital because of their friend, close friend. I couldn’t help but hug Andrew and cry. Lolo was in critical condition and baka di niya na daw makayanan.

Lumapit ako kay Daddy and hugged him. Lolo was very proud of Dad, kahit pa minsan may mga desisyon siyang alam nito ay nadisappoint si lolo.

But lolo has been with him, supporting him. Kahit na ang napili ni Daddy ay si Mommy, never nagsalita ng masama si lolo about Mommy. Coming from someone of middles class, hindi nila kapareho but lolo accepted Mom dahil siya ang mahal ni Daddy.

I feel Daddy’s fear, hate and sadness. Lolo woke up but he was too weak. I understand kung bakit gagawin yun ng mga magulang ni Angeline, they may have hurt a lot with her passing. But why involve my lolo.

It was her doing and she was the cause why it all happened to her. Down to his last moments, ang gusto niya lang ay makasama kami. Until we had all cried because he had let go already. He had said his goodbyes to us.

A few days later, a funeral was held sa mansion ni lolo. We were all there. Andrew was with me the whole time, leaving at night to rest. Masyadong madami ang mga nangyari.

We also found out that lolo had another child sa ibang babae. Only the woman, our other uncle, mom, dad and tita grace were talking.

Masyadong maraming naging drama after mamatay si lolo. Masyadong maraming mabibigat na revelation.

I was thankful Andrew was always there for me. Ni hindi niya ako iniwan nang di muna ako nakakatulog. He would make sure I slept first before he goes home. He was my only source of strength when I feel like I want to actually give in sa sadness and fear.

Nasa garden kami ng mansion naming, lolo has been buried na. We were trying to move on, we accepted na wala na si lolo.

I was laying on his lap while we were outside under a tree. With eyes closed, I can feel his hand lightly caressing my hair.

“That feels good.” I said. Napatawa siya saka ako hinalikan sa noo.

“Feel better babe, I know these past few days have been horrible for you. Di mo na nga naaasikaso yung school.” Napasimangot ako and napatango.

“I am so distracted din kaya di nalang ako pumasok. Tutunganga nanaman ako dun.” I said.

“Babe?” sambit ko.

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.”

“For?”

“Being with me all throughout.”

“That’s what partners do, babe. Be there for each other.” I smiled.

“Kaya love kita eh, masyado ka nang sweet.” Napatawa naman siya.

“Well, I have to. Ikaw nga inintindi mo mga pagkukul;ang ko. Ano ba naman yung, samayan kita sa mga ganitong pagkakataon?”

I smiled then sat up. Niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit. I sighed because I was so happy, here in his arms.

Andrew POV

Nang makauwi ako galing kina Therese, naabutan ko si Mommy na akmang aalis.

“Mommy, san ka?” I asked.

“O hijo, may meeting daw for every owners sa mall ngayon. I think dahil sa pagkamatay ni Sr. Montecillo.” She said. Tumango naman ako.

“Marahil nga. I heard may bagong hahawak sa mall.”

“Hindi ko pa alam but maybe it will be discussed later. Gusto mo bang sumama?”

“Nah, I’m gonna rest, galing lang din ako kina Therese kanina.”

“Okay, dear. Pakicheck sa restaurant mamaya okay?”

“Okay, after I rest, punta ako kaagad.”

Akma na akong papasok pero may nakuha akong tawag. It was Sabel, I had to do something to her. Alam kong di niya ako titigilan. Hindi niya matanggap na di kami yung magkakatuluyan.

Yes, that was what I thought when we started hanging out and eventually became f**k buddies. We were both horny rabbits.

Kaya ganun siya kasaya nung sinabi kong, siya ang pakakasalan ko nung mga oras na yun. I did not intend to fall in love with Therese, nor be involved in the bet.

But s**t happens. Kaya ganun siya ka desperadang ilaglag ako at makuha niya. But I won’t let that happen. I f****d up once, not gonna do that anymore.

Ang masama lang sa ginagawa niya ngayon ay dinadamay niya si Therese sa kagaguhan ko. She swore to make my life a living hell nung nireject ko siya nung nasa States kami. She followed me. Akala niya kasi, I was not thinking straight nung hindi ko siya pinagbigyan sa school.

But she was dead wrong. I was serious. Kaya ganun nalanmg ang banta niyang pati si Therese, idadamay niya. I couldn’t allow her to do that. Even if iot means scaruificing myself.

I did not attend to her call. Ni hindi ko binaba, just let it ring for many times. It was silent anyway and it was not vibrating.

Umakyat na ako sa kwarto nang biglang may spots akong nakita sa vision ko. It was there at first then nawawala. Damn, ilang taon ko na tong iniinda at habang tumatagal, I feel worse.

Anyway, baka kakacellphone ko lang to. And my eyes were tired as well. I just sat sa couch ko in my room and closed my eyes for a nap.

--

Nagising ako and it was already 6 in the evening. Agad akong tumayo saka iniling iling ang ulo ko. I went to the bathroom to just wash my face bago ako umalis.

Paglabas ko ng banyo, I just wiped my face nung towel sa lalagyan then went out and grab my cellphone. Paglabas ko lang ng kwarto, nasilaw agad ako sa isang ilaw na nakasindi sa hallway naming. It was too bright.

I walked fast saka ako nakalabas na ng bahay. I went in my car and my phone flashed again, it was Sabel again. I ignored her.

I drove out of the driveway. Tahimik kong binabaybay yung daan nang mapansin kong may nakasunod sakin. I was not familiar with the car.

I keep on checking it and it was indeed following me. Huminto ako sa isang gasoline station and it also followed me.

Di nagtagal, papalabas na ako ng gasol;ine station nang biglang pmwesto sa gilid ko yung sasakyan. Bringing their windows down, I also brought mine down.

Much to my dismay, si Sabel pala yun. She threw something to me from her car bago ito tuluyang umalis.

It was a piece of paper, crumpled. Nang buksan ko ito, ganun na lang ang takot ko nang makitang may nakadikit din itong picture, picture sa mansion nina Therese.

Sa baba, may nakasulat, “She is happily living a princess life, what if pahirapan ko siya ng konti? –S”

It was a threat, I know. I crumpled the paper back. Saka may nareceive akong tawag. It was her. Sinagot ko iyon.

“Next time, please answer my call. You know what the consequence will be. I’ll see you soon. Bye~”

Binaba ko na din ang tawag saka huminga ng malalim. Bakit ba ganito? I just want to be happy. I want to be happy with her but my past haunts me.

Natigil lang ako saglit but I started my car once again, pero nanlalabo ang mata ko nung oras na yon. I was not sure but everything was blurry.

Pinilit kon isara bukas ang mata ko to make things clear. Buti nalang after a fedw blinks, naging clear ulit. Ano bang nangyayari sa mga mata ko.

I have been experiencing these for a long time now. Nasosobrahan na ata ako sap ag gamit sa technology, I better use it less.

I drove my way to the mall saka pinuntahan yung restaurant namin. Akala ko pa naman di makakarating si Mommy dito kaya niya ako pinapunta.

Andito pala siya, may kinakausap na mga tauhan dito. I went in and kissed her cheeks. Matapos niya silang kausapin. Humarap naman siya sakin.

“Invite Therese here againa, son.”

“Nanaman?!” Umiling nalang ako.