ASHANNAH'S POV
I AM still scared up until now. I can't still accept the fact that I almost d**d awhile ago. It is still on my mind. I can still remember what Nix have done to me.
"You okay? Still bugging by the things that happened earlier?" Nilingon ko si Ythaniel na nagmamaneho parin pauwi.
"I am. Thanks for saving me anyway. I don't know what to do if you didn't come too soon. I am very thankful and lucky to have you as my brother. Thanks for being understanding, Brother" Nakangiting tugon ko sa kanya at pilit na tinatago ang isa pang bagay na bumabagabag sa akin. Nix final words are bugging me too. What if he'll do what he say. What if he will come after us? What if the law can't put him behind the bars? There is too many what ifs in my mind and I can't stop thinking about it
"We're here, Asheng. What's with that little head of yours at hindi mo ako narinig?" Bumalik ang atensyon ko Kay Ythaniel nang mag salita ito
"What is it?" I asked him
"I said I will always be here to protect you. I won't let something bad happen to you again. Please stop thinking about it and smile. Don't stress your self for the things that did not even worth it to think of. Come and let's go inside. Nandito na tayo" ngumiti ako sa kanya. He's really the best guy that I ever known. Bumaba na ako sa sasakyan nya at naglakad papasok sa loob ng mansion. Sumabay naman sya sa akin. Pag bukas ko palang ng pintuan ay nakarinig na ako ng pag uusap sa loob ng bahay at para itong nagsisigawan
"I will get my daughter right now, Amarie. See what happened to her while she's on your side. She almost d**d earlier!" Napahinto ako sa paglalakad nang makita ko kung sino ang nasa loob ng bahay. This can't be happening!
"No! I won't give you my daughter, Aries! Ako ang nag buntis sa kanya. Ako ang umire kaya ako ang may karapatan.!" This time, I saw my Mom losing her temper. Nakapako lang ako sa kinatatayuan ko at hindi ako makagalaw. Ramdam ko ang pamumuo ng luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko
"Kukunin ko ang anak ko, Amarie. Mas ligtas sya sa puder ko. Your husband has a lot of enemies around this city. Manganganib lang si Ashannah kapag nasa puder mo sya" Matigas na saad ng kausap ni Mommy. At that moment, a drop of tears continuously flow down from my eyes
"No. Hindi ko sya ibibigay sa'yo Aries" Mom countered back but I know that she's just holding her tears not to fall down. Where is Daddy Xyril?
"Please, Amarie. Let me have my daughter this time. I want to be with my daughter this time Amarie" I saw him begging in front of my Mom and that moment, I saw Mommy's tears starting to fall down. I can't stand seeing my Mom in that situation
"Mom" I manage to speak between my sobs. They both look at me and I saw how my Mom react when she saw me. She ran towards me and hug me tightly
"Are you okay, My Princess? Wala bang masakit sa'yo?" Tanong nito sa akin nang pakawalan nya ako mula sa isang mahigpit na yakap
"I'm totally fine, Mom" I answered her and I look at the man that she's arguing with awhile ago. Parang piniga ang puso ko nang makita ko sya ngayon ng malapitan. I saw longing and sadness in his eyes. After almost 11 years he finally showed up himself in my front. Begging to have me on his side. Wanting me to be with him
"Ashannah." Rinig kong bulong nya
"D-Dad?" Hindi ko alam kung ano nng itatawag ko sa kanya. Nakalimutan ko na kung ano ang tawag ko sa kanya noon. It's been a long time since I saw him. Nang marinig nya ang tawag ko sa kanya ay ngumiti sya ngunit hindi ito umabot sa mga mata nya. I saw a glint of pain in his eyes
"Can Papà hug you, Baby?" He asked me. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ang bigat ng dibdib ko. Patuloy lang na umaagos ang mga luha sa mata ko. Tumango ako sa kanya. Mom step aside and he come to me then he hug me tightly. Right at that moment, I feel his warmth. Bumigat lalo ang naramdam ko nang magsalita sya. His voice broke
"I'm sorry, baby... I'm so sorry if I wasn't there to protect you. Forgive your Papà, Ashannah" hingi nya ng tawad but I can feel that there is still a hatred with in me for him. I can't contain my sobs anymore so I let it out until I cried in his arms
"I hate you..... I hate you.. You leave us... You hurt me... I was there every night, waiting for you to come and ask for my forgiveness but you didn't show up. I was waiting for you every day and night... And now you want to have me? No! I won't go with you!" I shouted at him between my sobs. Narinig ko rin na umiiyak si mommy sa tabi ko. He let go of me the he smiled at me bitterly
"I understand if you can't forgive me. I just want to be with you, My Child" he said in front of me
"I don't want to be with you!" Sigaw ko at tumakbo paaakyat sa silid ko
THIRD PERSON'S POV
NAPATINGIN si Ythaniel sa tunay na ama ni Ashannah. The man in his early 40's. He still look handsome and strong. Ngayon ay alam na nya kung saan nakuha ni Ashannah ang kanyang itim at medyo kulot na buhok. Mommy Amarie has a has a straight and semi brown hair and this man has a black and semi curly hair that suit his perfect form of face, just like Ashannah. Medyo hindi din katangkaran ang Mommy Amarie nila at medyo matangkad si Ashannah sa edad nya ngayon and she also got that height from her father. Ashannah and her father can pass as carbon copy. Kopyang kopya nito ang mukha ng ama at wala man lang itong nakuha mula sa ina nito. Ashannah is indeed a beautiful Lady like how handsome her father is. Mommy Amarie is beautiful as well but Ashannah got her beauty from her father
"What's happening? I heard Ashannah shouting. Is there something wrong?" Ythaniel saw his Dad who came from the kitchen
"I was talking to her but she's mad at me" Aries answered and they all look at him in surprise when Aries sat on the floor, hopeless and crying.
"She's mad at me... My daughter is mad at me.... This is my fault" saad pa nito sa sarili. She understands Ashannah's attitude towards her father. Saksi sya sa araw araw at gabi gabi nitong paghihintay sa tunay na ama nito na mag pakita kahit isang beses man lang at ipaliwanag ang sarili nito sa anak ngunit hindi ito nagpakita man lang but looking at the man right now, he felt pity for him
"She just need some time, Sir. She will forgive you when the time comes. I know your daughter, Sir. She's a softy" He said. Alam nyang wala syang karapatang manghimasok kung ano man ang problema ng mga ito pero hindi nya maiwasang mag salita. He just need to help this man. He's Ashannah's father after all
"Are you her brother?" He nod his head when Aries ask him
"He is Ythaniel delos Reyes, My son. Niel, he is Aries Dominic Zacharias, Annah's father" turan ng Ama nya
"I know why Ashannah is very fond of this family. You valued her as much as I want to value her. You found a very good family, Amarie. Much more better than me" Aries said
"Thank you. And I hope you too. How's Ashton, Aries?" This time, Ythaniel is in total puzzle. Who is Ashton?
"He is okay, Amarie. He's now at the California. He manage my company there. He's one of a very successful bachelor there and I am very proud of him. Your son got your intelligent when it comes to business, Amarie" Naguguluhan man ay nakaya ni Ythaniel na iproseso lahat ng impormasyon sa utak nya. Ashannah has a brother? Her brother is older than her
"When did he will come home? I miss my son, Aries" Mommy Amarie said
"Maybe next month. It's his birthday and I am looking forward to see you there with this wonderful family that you have" Aries answered that made Ythaniel and Xyril smile
"Thank you for that, Aries. We will be there with Ashannah" his father said
"Good to hear" nakangiti na ngayon si Aries ngunit makikita parin sa mga mata nito ang lungkot
"Can I visit here on the other time?" Parang nahihiya pa ito sa kanila
"Yes you can" Xyril answered
"Thank you. I need to go. I still have a meeting right now. Please take good care of my daughter always, Ythaniel. I know that you're always with her. Please keep her away from any harm. Can you do that for me, Young man?" Aries said to Ythaniel.
"You can assure that, Sir" Ythaniel answered
"Thank you. You can call me Tito Aries. I need to go. Bye. See you next time." Paalam nito sa kanya at lumabas na sa mansion nila. Hinatid ito ni Amarie at Xyril hanggang sa sasakyan nito na nasa labas ng gate
"Thank you for accepting me to your house. I'm sorry about my attitude earlier. I just want to see my daughter again" Aries said
"She's a smart and a good girl, Aries. She will understand, trust me" Amarie said
"Just wait for it, Aries. You and your daughter will be reunite someday" dugtong ni Xyril
They know each other because they're running in the same circle but Xyril is more successful and powerful than Aries
"Thank you again. See you next time" Aries last words before he get in his car
"See you" panabay na tugon ni Amarie at Xyril bago bumusina si Aries at pinasibad na ang sasakyan paalis
"He's a good man actually" Xyril commented
"Yes he is. Play boy nga lang" Sagot naman ni Amarie na ikinatawa ni Xyril
Pagkapasok nila sa loob ng mansion ay wala na si Ythaniel sa sala kung saan sila nag uusap usap kanina.
"I need to go to Ashannah. I'll talk to her" Paalam ni Amarie sa asawa at umakyat patungo sa silid ng anak
"Are you okay now? 'Di kana umiyak?" Rinig nyang nag uusap mula sa loob ng silid ng anak. Napangiti si Amarie dahil alam nyang si Ythaniel na naman ang kausap ng anak. Those two is very much close to each other
"Yeah. I'm okay. I just need to rest" Ashannah answered
"Okay. I'll go outside. I will just call you when the dinner is ready. Sleep now, Little Sissy" Sagot ni Ythaniel at lumabas na. Nagulat pa ito nang makita ang Mommy sa labas ng silid ni Ashannah
"Mommy Amarie. You gonna talk to Ashannah?" He asked
"I want to but I know she's resting now" Nakangiting Sagot naman ni Amarie
"She is. You can talk to her later Mom" Ythaniel asked
"Okay. Is she okay?" Sabay silang naglakad pababa habang nag uusap
"Yeah. She's okay tho something is bugging her" Ythaniel honestly said. He don't want to lie for something from this Lady who have been his Mommy for a long time
"What is it?" Amarie asked
"Nix Jude Valdez threatened us earlier. Babalikan daw nya kami and Ashannah can't get that away from her mind." Ythaniel answered
"That Valdez is a pain in the *ss. Subukan nila at nang makita nila kung paano ko ididiin sa ilalim ng hukay ang kung anong meron sila ngayon. Threatening my daughter huh? I won't go down without a fight if it is about my daughter." Amarie answered that made Ythaniel smirked. This is what his father likes about his Mom. She's a feisty little tiger
"Pupunta pa kami ng prisinto bukas. We need to give a testament and file a case" Ythaniel said
"No. You have a class tomorrow. You should focus on your studies. I will handle this with your Dad. Let me do this stuff" Napatango nalang siya sa Ina. Sumabay sya dito papunta ng kusina
"What's with your angry face, Wife?" His Dad asked his Mom
"They are threatening our children" Amarie answered
"Who?" Xyril ask
"Valdez"
"Ow. That J*rk? Threatening our children means wishing for a d**th. That's interesting" Xyril commented. They didn't gain a title as a ruthless business man for nothing
"Look after Ashannah every time, Son" Xyril said
"As always, Dad" Ythaniel answered
"How about the Ramiso?" Amarie aksed
"Ramiso? You mean Paulina Ramiso?" Ythaniel asked
"No. It's Paul and Anna Ramiso. The parents" His father answered
"What about them?" He curiously asked
"They're pirating our employees"
"What the h*ll. Anong binibigay nila?" He asked again
"A good benefits and a higher salary with bunos of every month"
"What are they up to?"
"To bring us down. Zacharias, delos Reyes and Yamato business line will be one soon. That's why they want to bring us down" He's father said. What the h*ll. His father, Ashannah's father and Yvo's father will become a business partners soon? That's one h*ll of a business. Three top companies will be in fuse soon. The h*ll!