DUCANI LEGACY SERIES #2: KONNAR

Kabanata 21

Kabanata 21

Sadie

Kanor's phone has been unreachable since last night. Ayaw ko mang magpalamon sa kutob ko, hindi ko rin maiwasang mag-isip pa nang mag-isip lalo kapag ganitong hindi niya ako sinasagot.

I sighed. Wala pa naman kaming pasok ngayon kaya hindi ko alam kung saan ko siya hahagilapin. Kahit si Cielle ay na-text ko na pero hindi rin daw niya alam kung saan ba nakatira si Kanor.

Inis na inis kong dinampot ang phone ko at muli siyang tinadtad ng text. I hate having this feeling that my instinct was right. Pakiramdam ko hindi ko matatanggap oras na malaman kong nagsinungaling nga talaga siya sa akin, pero hindi naman, 'di ba? Paano kung nagkataon lang lahat at paranoid lang ako?

I blew out the heavy air in my lungs before I checked the time. Ngayon ako makikipagkita kay Eiji Takishima kaya kailangan ko na ring maghanda.

After sending Kanor another text, I started getting ready. Nagsuot lang ako ng simpleng high-waisted jeans at floral criss-cross top. I let my wavy hair fall down to my lower back, and then I wore my flats to match my outfit.

Nag-text ako sa sekretarya ni Eiji na papunta na ako sa meeting place namin. After getting into a cab, I texted Kanor. Again. Pero ni isa sa higit bente kong text, wala talaga siyang sinagot. Sinubukan ko na rin siyan tawagan pero hindi active ang phone niya. Lalo lang tuloy akong nafu-frustrate dahil hindi ko na alam ang dapat kong isipin.

Bumaba ako sa resto kung saan nakikipagkita si Eiji. It was inside Sakura Hotel, and when I told the receptionist my purpose for coming in their hotel, they immediately phoned Nikida.

"Hello, Miss Yamaguchi. This way, please."

Lumunok ako sandali saka ako sumunod sa kanya patungo sa resto. Kaya naman pala palagi kong naririnig kay Cielle ang tungkol sa Sakura Hotel. Talaga naman palang pantapat ang hotel nila sa Hotel Khallisa!

From the state of the art interior inspired by the Japanese culture, down to the fake Sakura tree in the middle of the ground floor, I could say Eiji Takishima is as brilliant as Keeno Ducani.

Hindi ko lang alam kung kaya niyang tapatan ang utak ni Kon Ducani.

Si Kon Ducani na pakiramdam ko ay ang taong pinaibig ako habang naka-janitorial uniform.

I shooed away the thought. Hindi. I still have faith that Kanor didn't lie to me. Kung totoo man na siya si Kon Ducani, bakit naman siya magpapanggap na janitor, hindi ba? I see no point in doing so.

Nikida approached a porcelain-skinned guy with foxy eyes and magazine cover kind of facial structure. Diyos ko, napahinto pa ako sa paghakbang. Pakiramdam ko ay nakatitig ako sa artista!

"Sir Eiji, she's here."

Umangat ang tingin ng lalake mula sa laptop niya patungo sa akin. Mayamaya ay lalong sumingkit ang mga mata niya nang ngitian niya ako.

"Hello, Sadie." He stood up, bowed to me, and then offered me a hug.

Napakurap ako saka puno ng pagtatakang yumapos sa kanya. "Uh, I'm sorry but... I don't really know what I'm doing here."

Ipinaghila niya ako ng silya. Nang makaupo ako ay ngumiti siyang muli sa akin. "Don't you?"

I pursed my lips. "I do." Humugot ako ng hininga. "You're looking for your sister."

He jerked his head. Mayamaya ay may kinuha siyang larawan mula sa folder na nasa mesa. "Is this your mom?" he asked as he handed me the old photograph of a familiar woman in her late twenties, wearing the famous Japanese traditional clothing.

"Y—Yes." I did my best to control my emotions. God, my mom looked so lively in this photo. "Where did you get this."

Basag niya akong nginitian. "That woman in the photo, she was my former nanny. My Dad got her pregnant so she went home to hide her pregnancy." He held my hand and gently squeezed it. "You are the baby I was talking about... right?"

Umawang ang aking mga labi ngunit ni isang salita ay walang lumabas sa bibig ko. It was as if for the first time in my life, I ran out of words to say.

Eiji opened the folder and showed me more photos along with some documents.

"Dad's name is Satoshi Yamaguchi. She gave you our dad's last name, probably because she knew that someday, Dad will look for you. When my mother found out about you, she had our Dad's last name removed from my name. That's why I'm using my mother's family name up until now."

Nilunok ko ang namuong bara sa aking lalamunan. "If Dad really wanted to find me, then why didn't he look for me before?"

"He tried, Sadie, but your mother refused to let him in your life. She asked him one thing; for Dad to stay away from you." Lumamlam ang mga mata ni Eiji. "Dad only confessed everything to me after he was diagnosed with a terminal disease. Our Dad needs you, Sadie. He wanted to meet you before he dies, that's why I'm here. I want to take you with me to Japan."

I sniffed. "How sure are you that I am the one you're looking for?"

"We hired several investigators. I have all the proofs that can prove thar you are my sister."

Hindi ko alam ang dapat kong maramdaman. Kung matutuwa ba ako na kapatid pala ako ng bilyonaryong hotelier mula Japan, o mabubwisit ako dahil mapera naman pala kami tapos dinanas ko pa ang matinding hirap nang mag-isa.

Kaagad kong pinunasan ang gumulong na luha pababa ng aking pisngi saka ako tumayo. "I'm sorry but this is overwhelming. I... I need some time to fully take everything in."

"Sadie, wait..."

Hindi ko na siya pinansin pa. Mabilis na lang akong lumakad paalis, ngunit nang makalabas ako ng Sakura Hotel ay natanggal ang swelas ng sapatos ko.

Inis na inis kong hinubad ang sapatos at ibinato saka ako humikbi. Tanginang buhay naman 'to! Anong klaseng plot twist ba ito sa buhay ko? Akala ba ng Diyos nakakatuwa 'to? I had more bad days than good ones!

Halos mamatay ako sa gutom, ilang beses muntik ma-holdap dahil kailangan kong maglakad pauwi kasi wala na akong pamasahe, at nagpakadesperada pa akong makapangasawa ng Ducani tapos malalaman kong nakahiga sa salapi ang kapatid ko? Ano namang kagaguhan 'to?!

I wiped my tears and went inside the first cab that stopped in front of me. Nagpahatid ako sa apartment ni Jelyne dahil pakiramdam ko kung uuwi ako sa bahay, baka magwala lang ako sa galit.

Nang makarating ako sa apartment niya ay hinihintay niya na ako sa labas matapos niyang mabasa ang chat ko.

I sobbed on my best friend's shoulder as frustration ate me. Hinagod lang naman ni Jelyne ang likod ko saka na niya ako niyayang pumasok sa loob.

"Dito ka muna. Manood ka ng TV habang ginagawa kita ng juice," aniya, halatang hindi alam kung papaano ako pakakalmahin dahil bihira naman akong magkaganito.

She opened the television then went to her kitchen. Wala naman sana akong balak bigyang atensyon ang palabas, ngunit nang marinig ko ang sinasabi ng babaeng nagsasalita sa balita, blangko akong napatitig sa screen ng telebisyon.

"It's official. After years of hiding in the dark, the mysterious CEO of Ducani group of companies and Hotel Khallisa chain of hotels, is finally stepping into the light to speak about the latest news regarding Keios Ducani's accident."

Nanatili ang aking titig sa screen, at nang tuluyang naupo sa harap ng press ang pamilyar na bulto, pakiramdam ko ay tumigil ang tibok ng aking puso lalo na nang magsimula siyang magpakilala.

"I am... Konnar Baltazar-Ducani. The eldest child of Khalil Ducani. Also, the CEO of Ducani Empire and Hotel Khallisa." His jaw clenched. "Some people know me as... Kanor Baltazar, my fake identity..."

Tuluyang bumuhos nang masagana ang aking mga luha kasabay ng pagkuyom ng aking mga kamao.

He lied to me...