Chapter 29: Her Innocent Confession

Hindi maipaliwanag ni Brent ang nararamdaman ng mga sandaling ito. Nagbago na nga ang anak niyang si Brielle. Naging heartless na ito at walang awang sinabi nito na gagamitin niya as pawn si Ivana. Kahit anong kumbinsi ang gagawin niya kay Brielle, batid niyang di ito makikinig sa kanya. His mind and heart felt sudden sadness for Ivana. Brent thought that Ivana is a good child and she was raised by his father with dignity.

“Boss Brent, okay lang po kayo?” boses ni Ryan na pumukaw sa isip niya.

“Ryan did I not raise my children to be a good human? Hindi ko na kilala ang anak ko,” nanlulumong turan ni Brent.

“Boss, mabuti po kayong magulang sa mga anak ninyo. Sa sobrang bait nyo nga po lahat kami halos lumuhod na sa harapan nyo at kapag may sinasabi kayo sa amin nakikinig kami sayo kasi alam po namin patas kayong tao. Kung nagbago man ang anak nyo ay may dahilan siya tiyak. Minsan kasi kapag sobrang nasaktan ang isang tao, nakakagawa sila ng mga bagay na hindi muna nila pinag-iisipan ang magiging consequences,”

“Naaawa ako sa anak ni Reynold because I know she’s a good human being. When she’s a little Ivana that used to visit my house, she’s shy and timid. I remember, she just cried when Brielle bullied her. She kept coming into our house because she longed for a family’s love and affection. I can’t bear to see right in my own eyes that she will become a pawn and toy for Brielle,” anito.

“May magagawa kayo Boss, kapag dumating ang araw na iiwanan na siya ng anak nyo gawan mo ng paraan na makapag-simula siya ulit. I’m sure naman sanay na mamuhay ng independent ang batang iyon. Mahina lang siyang tingnan dahil babae at lumaki sa masaganang buhay, pero babangon din iyon boss!” tugon ni Ryan.

“Hindi ko akalain na ganun na kalalim ang hinanakit ni Brielle kay Ivana. Alam kong hindi ginusto ni Reynold na ilayo ang anak niya noon. Nagkataon lang na naipit siya sa sitwasyon at hinila ng mga taong pinagkakatiwalaan niya. Mabuting tao si Reynold, honest and fair,”

“Hayaan nyo pong maranasan ni sir Brielle ang result ng mga ikinikilos niya. Let’s wait and see how long he could stand to harm someone who loves him so much. Mahal ni Ivana ang anak nyo at malalaki na sila kaya hayaan nyo muna silang gawin ang kung ano sa tingin nila ay tama,”

Bago pa makapagsalitang muli si Brent, bumukas ang pintuan ng office at pumasok si Shantal.

“Love, bakit ang tagal mo? Naiinip na ako sa kakahintay sayo kaya pinuntahan na kita rito,”

“May important video conference kami Love katatapos lang!” Brent said.

“Lunch time na, kain na tayo. I’m hungry!”

“Okay. Ryan, please do all the instructions I’ve told you earlier and send the reports to my email once you’ve done it!” Brent stood up and held his wife’s hand.

“Sige po sir Brent. Gagawin ko po agad ang iniuutos nyo po!”

Paglabas ng opisina ni Ryan, di pa rin umi imik si Brent habang pababa sila ng main lobby.

“Love, okay ka lang? Bakit ang seryoso mo naman ata?” Shantal asked.

“Ah, Oo naman, may iniisip lang akong bagong concept ng Marketing campaign Love para doon sa bagong ilalaunch namin na project. Huwag kang mag-alala okay lang ako!”

After Brielle ends the video conference with his father he quickly gives instructions to Harold.

“Prepare all the necessary documents that I needed for the business proposal that I will offer to Mr. Hendric Huo. Let’s do our plan. Get the financial report of their company and check where he bring the money he took from the Swiss Bank!”

“Yes, sir Brielle. Actually, sabi ng ating secret agent the money has been used for the big project of Mr. Hendric Huo. Private Golf Club raw na may kasamang few villas,”

“Private Golf Club ang gagawin niya na may kasamang Villas?”

“Oo sir, halos same concept nga raw ata ng The Golden Phoenix pero ito ay golf club nga lang. Kay Mr. Hendric Huo mismo nakapangalan ang project sir,”

“He is a cunning fox. Prepare the report, I will deal with him after the auction event. You can leave now,”

“Okay Sir Brielle. About nga pala sa enrollment ng asawa nyo para sa online schooling niya, inaayos na raw ng HR department ang lahat,”

“That’s good. But we need to work faster. Now that my father knew my status, I am afraid he will stop all my plans,”

“Sir Brielle, hindi po sa nanghihimasok ako, aanhin nyo pa ang kayamanan ng mga HUO? Bakit kukunin nyo pa? Kawawa naman si Miss Ivana, she had no one to rely on. Kayo lang nilalapitan niya, though she did it in a wrong way, she is still your wife. Mabait naman si Miss---”

“I don’t want to hear your comments. Are you questioning my ability?”

“Ah hindi po. Naisip ko lang na kayo lang ang inaasahan niya. Nagtiwala po siya sa inyo at palagay ko seryoso po siya sa inyo,”

“She hurt me and I can’t forgive her. I know Simon Yun wanted her so much, I can use her to lure that person into my trap,” bakas sa mga mata ni Brielle ang galit. “Keep your mouth shut. I know what I am doing!”

“Okay, sir Brielle. I’ll leave now!”

Pag-alis ni Harold, naiwang malalim na nag-iisip si Brielle. Tila ba bigla siyang nag-ibang tao. Bumalik ang galit na matagal niyang kinikimkim para kay Ivana.

“I will make sure you will fall in love with me deeply and get your trust. Brielle, don't fall for her charm, she’s just a user!” a tiny voice keeps coming in his mind.

After an hour, he decided to check Ivana. Bumalik siya ng kwarto nila. Nadatnan niyang mahimbing itong natutulog katabi ang sketch pad nito. He sees a new jewelry design that Ivana created. Her Angelic and calm face made Brielle feel a little guilty.

He slowly touches her soft skin and whispers her name, “Ivana! Ivana! Wake up!”

Dumilat ito at biglang bumangon ng naalimpungatan, “ Hon, sorry nakatulog ako. Gusto mo na bang kumain? Nakapagluto na kasi ako kanina pa habang nasa video conference kayo,”

Umupo si Brielle sa tabi ni Ivana. “Hindi pa ako nagugutom. Mamaya na tayo kumain. Harold said, my team had prepared everything for your online schooling. Next week you will start, so be prepared!”

“Really? Thank you, honey! Muah!” she hugged and kissed him.

“Ivana do you trust me so much?” He suddenly asks.

“Yes! I trusted you so much. I know you are a good man. I know you will fulfill your promises to me!” she smiled at him.

Brielle felt a little guilty when he heard Ivana’s words. “What if one day, I will hurt you? Would you still stay beside me?”

“I don’t believe that you will hurt me. Kilala kita mula pa noon. Mabait ka lagi sa akin, noong bata pa ako palagi mahaba ang pasensya mo sa akin kahit makulit ako at minsan ginugulo ang mga laruan mo. Merong mga time na pinapaiyak mo ako at inaasar pero pinapatahan mo naman ako kapag umiiyak ako ng malakas,”

“We were young at that time. I’ve changed, and I think I am not the old brother Brielle you used to know before,” he said seriously looking at her eyes.

“Even though you already changed and if one day you will hurt me, I will definitely forgive you and listen to your explanation. Honestly, noong umalis kami sinikap kung makausap ka sana pero hindi ko alam papaano. Ang daming nangyari, nabigla ako sa lahat ng kaganapan sa buhay namin. I went too far, living in London alone, I felt abandoned. Ang lungkot ng buhay ko pero laging sinasabi ng Daddy ko matuto akong tumayo sa sarili kong mga paa. Harapin ang reyalidad ng buhay. Masaya ako ng makita ko ulit si Denise. I’ve asked her about you, but she said you’ve been busy and your Dad had trained you to be his successor. Bawat article na naglalaman ng balita sayo, pinaglalaanan ko ng time at iniipon ko lahat kasi sabi ko sa sarili ko, proud ako na maging isa sa mga kaibigan mo,”madamdaming tugon niya kay Brielle.

“Ivana, what are your true feelings for me?” he asked again.

She lowered her head and whispered, “I--- I-- admire you secretly and I have loved you since we were young. Lagi kong pinangarap na sana isang araw dumating ang time na masabi ko sayo ang lahat-lahat ng nararamdaman ko!”

Hindi makaimik si Brielle sa confession niya. He felt a sudden pain in his heart. Looking at her right now, telling those words, made him feel bad.

“But I didn’t trust you or love you!” Brielle brutally said.

She raised her head and met his gaze. She painfully shows a weak smile. “I know that you don’t love me. Napilitan ka lang, sorry kung hinila kita sa ganitong sitwasyon. Sorry kung sinabi ko sayo ang totoong nararamdaman ko Brielle. Hindi ako hihiling sayo na mahalin mo rin ako, hayaan mo lang akong manatili sa tabi mo, masaya na ako doon. Kapag dumating ang time na ayaw mo na sa akin, sabihin mo lang ng maayos, maiintindihan ko Brielle, pero hindi ko alam at hindi ko maipapangako sayo kung ibibigay ko ang kalayaan mo. Selfish man ako sa paningin mo, pero mahal na mahal kita, hindi ko kayang iwanan ka!” she shed tears.

“Ivana, I might hurt you!” He said.

“I don’t care about it Brielle, as long as I’m with you. Titiisin ko lahat, hanggang dumating ang time na mamahalin mo rin ako. Diba, nangako ka sa akin noon that you will be going marry me? Tinupad mo naman kaya naniniwala akong may halaga ako sayo. You told me a few days ago that we will have our children and we will build our own family,”

He hugged her and said, “Next month is my birthday, my family will arrive. You must pretend as my secretary. I will figure out how to tell my parents about us, in the future!”

“Okay!” Maikling tugon ni Ivana. She felt aggrieved but she needed to follow his order. She knew Brielle is the kind of man that hates someone who questions his decision.

"Come with me. I will show you the other room. I have a new piano which I bought from London! I think you know how to play the piano!" he pulled her hand and stormed out of their room.

"Tara, excited akong makita. Marunong ako tumugtog ng piano kasi I took a piano lesson during my younger age,"

Brielle quickly wiped her tears and said, "Ang babaw ng luha mo. Muntik na akong madala sa drama mo!" makahulugang tugon nito.

Nagulat si Ivana ng marinig ang sinabi ni Brielle. Palabas na sila ng master's bedroom. "Hindi ako nagdadrama, totoo ang sinabi ko. Hindi ka lang naniniwala sa akin kaya mo nasabi iyan,"

"Hush, we are here!" He opened the last room located on the second floor.

Namangha si Ivana ng makita ang loob. In the middle, there is a brand new piano. Puno ng mamahaling gamit at may malaking TV screen sa bandang dulo. She guesses that, this is the entertainment room.

"Wow, I love this piano!" she said and sat down in front of it.

"I know. You can use this one. Try it!" he smiled at her.

"Thank you, honey! I will play your favorite song!"

"Hmmm! Okay, you do it! I will listen!"

Excited na tumugtog siya ng piano at kumanta. She saw how Brielle looked at her. Kitang-kita sa mga mata nito ang paghanga sa kanya. Nang matapos ang pagtugtog niya ng piano Brielle clap his hands.

"You have an awesome talent. Baby, I might miss you when you left me!" makahulugang sabi nito.

"Left you? Why did you say that? Sabi ko sayo mananatili ako sa tabi mo kahit ayaw mo na sa akin. Bakit parang pakiramdam ko mayroon kang tinatago sa akin, Brielle?"

"Hahaha! I am just kidding!" He lied to her.

"I don't want to hear bad thoughts coming from your mouth. Let's cherish the moment that we stay like this. Kapag bumalik ka na sa trabaho mo, magiging abala ka na. Happy ako dahil nag-decide kang mag-extend ng vacation mo," aniya.

"I just wanted to know more about your hobbies. Kapag hindi ako maglalaan ng time para doon, I am afraid wala na akong chance to do it!"

"We will spend the rest of our life together. You can see all my hobbies in the long run. Saka sabi mo mag-aaral na ako online starting next week," she looks at him.

"Yes. You need to learn more, so you can stand alone and fight the real battle ground when you are ready,"

"Ang iniisip ko lang sa ngayon ay kung paano ko haharapin ang parents mo? nahihiya ako sa kanila. Hindi ko alam--"

"Hush, just forget it. I will be the one to tell them at the right time. For now, just focus your time and energy on building your strength,"

"Brielle, can we visit my father's tomb? Kahit saglit lang?" she asked.

Matagal na tumahimik si Brielle at napansin ni Ivana na lumihis ang tingin nito.

"Saka nalang kapag may oras na ako. Sa ngayon kasi hindi ko magawa dahil may aasikasuhin ako,"

"Brielle, kahit saglit lang. Gusto ko lang sabihin sa kanya na nagkita na tayo--"

"Ivana, I told you not now!" biglang tumaas ang boses ni Brielle.

"I-- why do you get mad?" She lowered her head and wanted to cry.

"I said, I'm busy and I don't have enough--"

Biglang tumayo si Ivana at tumalikod. "It's okay, ako nalang ang pupunta mag-isa po. Let's just go downstairs to have our lunch,"

Nairita si Brielle sa inasal niya at sinundan siya nito. Naabutan siya ni Brielle sa living room at bigla siyang hinablot.

"Galit ka? Huwag mo akong artehan ng ganyan dahil nasa pamamahay kita," mairiing sabi nito.

Naramdaman niya ang malakas na paghawak nito sa braso niya. "Brielle, masakit. Bitiwan mo ang braso ko. Wala naman akong sinabi na masama ah,"

"Tinalikuran mo ako. Huwag na huwag mong gawin sa akin ang ganyan," Hatred flashed in his eyes.

"I didn't humiliate you, I just don't want any arguments, so I choose to leave," she snapped.