–Aamon–
Seeing my Caia arrive with her sister made me feel relieved.
I heard that they were already setting up the covered court of the Barangay for that.
I watched from my window as Caia seemed to have calmed down.
She glared at her mother.
I wanted to laugh.
My feisty Caia.
That’s right.
Don’t let anyone take advantage of you.
I rented a car, bought my meal, and had the caretaker buy meals for me and cook for me.
I paid her well.
We chatted for a while, but I stayed in my room, tracking my Caia.
Yes, I installed a tracker on her phone.
I can hear her speak.
Since she mentioned Ateneo, I arranged things to make it easy for her and her sister, Agatha.
And for the apartment near there, I arranged for a residence.
I think she will find the prices reasonable.
Anyway, she’s rich now.
A billionaire.
She would probably hate me if she found out who I am.
I made that auction as an excuse, too, to have her by myself and to never have anyone take her firsts.
I’m obsessed.
I’m crazy.
I have been for so long.
She grew up beautifully, and who wouldn’t fall head over heels for her?
But now, she’s mine.
I headed out.
It was already midnight.
I had my hood on and eyeglasses.
I went to the court and approached the coffin.
My eyes widened at how thin and small Uncle Eric had become.
I heard that he was paralyzed after the accident.
But looking at him now, he was more like a skeleton.
Extremely malnourished.
I looked around to find Caia’s eyes closed.
She didn’t even notice me.
There were people offering coffee, and there was also food.
There, I saw that second daughter, Lilith.
She was taking selfies or whatever.
I looked away.
She probably saw me.
I could see it in my peripheral vision.
So, I stood before Caia could notice me.
I headed out and heard Lilith calling me, telling me to wait.
But I walked fast with my long legs.
I didn’t hear her following me.
I really need to control myself and improve my stalking.
I headed back to my rented room, took a hot shower, and just lay in bed.
The bed was too small for me.
My feet were past the edge.
My phone rang, and I reached for it.
“Matt.”
“I received your message.
Where are you?”
“Just somewhere.
Prepare the apartment, fully furnished, by the school.
24/7 security.”
“Got it.”
For the third day, it was already dark too.
Late in the afternoon, I saw a car pull out.
I knew who it was.
My dad came out of the car, and I watched as he approached the coffin.
He stayed there for five minutes until he finally approached Caia, who was on the corner, still staring at nothing.
I watched as my dad knelt on one knee and reached for Caia’s face.
She froze.
I could see the shock on her face.
She sobbed and hugged Dad.
I know that they’ve been close, too.
Caia and Dad used to play chess together.
He’s been telling me that he wished that Caia was his daughter, unlike me, who was nearly useless to him.
Probably because I’m not a sweet son.
He wanted a daughter, but I was just a miracle child for my father and mother.
After a while, my dad seemed to notice me.
I leaned against his car, waiting for him.
He approached me and looked at me from head to toe.
“You are here.” He shook his head.
“Why are you here looking like that?”
I didn’t answer him.
But he seemed to realize what I was doing.
He smacked my arm hard.
“Don’t tell her that I’m here,” I said casually as I reached for my cigarette.
“You little brat.”
He didn’t have a choice but to go back.
–Caia–
I saw a man, a Russian man.
Wrinkles lined his face, and there, I recognized him.
Uncle Alec, Dad’s best friend.
“I’ve been looking for you.” His eyes were cloudy.
“I’ve been looking for all of you all these years.”
“Uncle.”
“I’m here, Caia,” he whispered.
I hugged him as he rubbed my back.
Alec is like a father to me, too.
He spoiled me when I was a kid.
“I’m sorry that you suffered like this.” He sat next to me and hugged me.
We stayed like that as I told him what happened.
I don’t want him to hate my mother, but it seems that he already hates her.
“Don’t worry, I’ll arrange…”
“It’s alright,” I told him.
“I can manage from here.”
He took out a card and gave it to me.
“Call me.
Don’t hesitate,” he said as I nodded.
“I’ll pay for the fee—”
“I already paid for it.”
I know that he’s kind, and he would always help us.
But Dad doesn’t want to take it for granted.
We left without telling him where we were going.
He knows that we are bankrupt.
Dad doesn’t want to borrow money from him.
I don’t know much, but he told me that we can’t take advantage of a good friend who will never leave us through our ups and downs.
“Alright, what else can I do?”
I shook my head.
“It’s done,” I said and looked at Dad.
“Dad didn’t want to wake up.
He chose that.
Don’t worry, Uncle.
I’ll handle it.”
“Hmm,” Uncle said as he turned his head somewhere.
“I need to speak to my bastard son,” he said as I nodded.
I didn’t ask further about his son.
I thought he’d be calling him, but I watched as he left the venue.
Is his son here too?
“Sis.” I turned my head to my sister.
“Who was that?”
“It’s Uncle Alec, Dad’s friend.
You may not remember him; you were too little.” I chuckled.
“He’s talking to a tall man,” my sister said as I looked out, only to find Uncle Alec speaking to someone behind the car.
They had tall silhouettes.
Yes, they are pure Russians, and I know that they are dangerous people.
That is one reason why my dad doesn’t want to get tangled with them anymore.
Uncle Alec stayed for a few more days until we buried our dad.
My mother?
She didn’t show up.
We buried our dad in a beautiful chapel.
Somehow, Uncle helped with setting it up.
It was beautiful, with plants around it.
Uncle Alec stayed with us.
My sister Lilith would try to ask him for money, but I pulled her away and slapped her.
Yes, I hurt her.
And I will do it again.
I trusted her to take care of Dad and Agatha, but she’s just like Mom.
“You are staying here with Mom, finish your college, and if you don’t graduate, forget that you are my sister,” I hissed as she started crying dramatically.
“I already paid for your tuition for the whole semester.
If you skip classes again, I’m letting you go.”
“Caia, wait.” She held my arm.
“I promise, okay?
I won’t skip classes.”
I went to her school the other day, took the dean’s number, including her professors’ numbers, to monitor her.
We got back home, and Uncle was waiting for us.
He told us that he’d be taking us with him.
So, we followed.
I only took a few things, and my sister packed up, but I told her to only pack a few.
Lilith was on the corner, arms crossed.
“You are not taking me, too?” she asked as I stared at her blankly.
“You chose your mother.
Stay here with her,” I scolded her.
I grabbed Agatha’s bag.
I heard my uncle speaking in Russian.
I understood a few words, but he somewhat talked the same way as the man who just sold me for twenty million euros.
“Uncle?” I called as he turned back and smiled.
“You ready?”
I nodded as he opened the backseat to put our bags.
I glanced at the house across ours.
The caretaker was speaking to someone, a tall figure.
Something familiar.
“Let’s go?” Uncle asked as he opened the backseat and front passenger seat for us.
We both hopped in as I saw Mom coming home in a car, too.
Before we entered, Mom came out and froze upon seeing Uncle.
“Alec.”
Uncle’s jaw tightened.
But Mom smiled and approached him.
Uncle lowered his face at her, angry.
“I know what you damn did,” he hissed.
Then, he glared at the man.
“How can you do this to your daughters?” He pointed at the man.
“If something happened to them, I don’t have a choice at all.
Caia, Agatha, get inside.”
He said it sounded like a strict dad, and somehow, I miss Dad so much.
We hopped in as I put my seatbelt on.
Mom was seething, and somehow, I saw something in her eyes that made my stomach twist in knots.
Calculating.