Chapter Six.

                                    

                                          
Hindi na ako naghanap ng ibang apartment na pwede kong matuluyan dahil dito na lang ako kina Matteo tumuloy. Transient home pala ang bahay na ito at pinapaupahan ang ilang kwarto.
                          
As how Matteo explained it, si Lola Baby ang nag-a-asikaso sa mga turista na tumutuloy rito ng ilang gabi para pumasyal sa Ilocos. Tinutulungan naman ni David ang lola nila kapag wala ang kuya niya.
                          
Hindi rin kinukuha ng mga pamangkin ni Lola Baby ang kinikita ng transient home bilang tulong sa kanila pero hindi rin sila makaipon dahil sa pagpapagamot niya sa mata. Kailangan din nilang pag-ipunan ang operasyon niya.
                          
Isa pa, it's not as stable as it seems. Marami ang kompetisyon at hindi palaging marami ang turista na tumutuloy rito. That's why Matteo has to work while studying. He has to provide for his schooling and his brother's.
                          
"Knock knock," rinig kong sabi niya habang kinakatok ang pinto ng kwarto ko.
                          
"Come in," sabi ko naman habang palipat-lipat ako ng channel sa maliit na TV na nasa kwarto ko.
                          
Tahimik na pumasok si Matteo sa kwarto at umupo sa isang upuan habang nanatili ang mga mata ko sa TV. I stopped flipping with the remote control when a local news channel caught my attention. An exclusive and live press conference is currently being shown with my family in the middle of all the press people.
                          
Nakaupo si Daddy sa gitna at katabi niya sa right side niya si Mommy na nakasuot ng shades. I'm sure it's because of her swollen eyes from all the crying that she did. Sa left side ni Daddy, magkatabing nakaupo sina Ate Vea at Kuya Vino na tahimik lang. The three of us have some thing in common: we all hate having the attention of the public eye.
                          
"Mr. Zaldivar, is it true that your daughter ran away from home because she cannot handle the pressure of being an heiress?" tanong ng isang lalaki na reporter mula sa media habang hawak niya ang recorder niya.
                          
"Of course that is not true," tanggi ni Daddy which he flawlessly did without even blinking.
                          
Sanay na sanay na sila ni Mommy sa mga ganitong situations kaya madali na lang para sa kanila ang magsinungaling. Actually, madali na lang para sa aming lahat ang magsinungaling sa harap ng media just to protect our family's image.
                          
"Actually, last night's emergency was a false alarm and we would like to extend our apologies for the commotion it brought. My daughter, Vynnice, is actually boarded in one of our private jets as of this moment as she is headed for New York to pursue a master's degree in business," he explained. "We are actually very proud that she's finally following my footsteps."
                          
"So, how would you explain the leaked photos of her seemingly in a rush to get out from your mansion?" curious na tanong ng isang babaeng reporter at si Ate Vea naman ang sumagot sa kanya.
                          
"Well... my sister Vynnice, just like me and Kuya Vino, hates the attention we get from the public eye and as much as possible, we like to keep it low profile that is why she did what she had to do. Also, we are aware of her plans and we fully support her so the news about Vynnice running away from home is nothing but a badly made up speculation. And hey, it's easy to edit photos nowadays..." she gracefully answered and Kuya Vino just nodded in agreement beside her.
                          
"We are hoping that you can respect the whole family and stop making these false reports about my daughter because she is perfectly fine. It saddens us that reports like these are being published while Vynnice is doing nothing but pursuing her growth in New York," Mommy followed up and they all stood up after thanking the press.
                          
"The Zaldivar family won't be entertaining questions anymore. We thank you for your time," our publicist announced before leaving the hall.
                          
"They're cleaning up my mess..." mahina kong sabi bago ko pinatay ang TV.
                          
"Okay ka lang?" tanong ni Matteo at umiling ako.
                          
"The media will stop at nothing to expose our family. The buzz might die down a little for now, but it will again resurface once someone tips them about me," paliwanag ko.
                          
"That's why I'm worried about my identity. Kung paano ko itatanggi sa mga tao na ako si Vynnice Zaldivar habang malaya ako..."
                          
"May maitutulong ba ako?" he offered and I nodded.
                          
"Can I count on you? Kahit walang threats, mapagkakatiwalaan ba kita?" tanong ko at hindi siya nagdalawang isip na tumango sa akin.
                          
"Kahit walang nakatutok na baril sa tapat ng sentido ko, pwede mo akong pagkatiwalaan," he assured me and I smiled.
                          
Maybe this is worth a shot. Siya lang din naman ang pwede kong sandalan bukod sa sarili ko dahil alam niya kung sino ako. I have to trust him.
                          
"Okay," I agreed. He better keep his words because this is very important to me.
                          
"Tahimik ka?" puna niya kaya natauhan ako. I got caught up with my thoughts again.
                          
"It's nothing," iling ko. "Are you not going back to Manila today? It's Monday. A school day," paalala ko sa kanya.
                          
"Study leave," maikling paliwanag niya. "Huling pasada ko na 'yong sa'yo dahil nagpaalam ako sa boss ko."
                          
"Huh? Dahil sa akin?" tanong ko.
                          
"Sira," tawa niya. "Noong isang linggo ko pa 'to naipaalam. Graduation ko na sa Friday, eh. Kailangan mag-asikaso ng requirements sa school."
                          
"Ah. Nagkataon lang pala. Sorry," nahihiya kong sabi. I can be really assuming at times. God! This is embarrassing!
                          
"Okay lang," ngiti niya.
                          
"So... kailan ka na babalik sa Manila?" curious kong tanong.
                          
"Tinatapos ko pa 'yong ibang requirements. Mabilis lang naman daw i-process. Baka bukas ng gabi," sagot niya. "Bakit?"
                          
"Wala naman. Just asking," kibit-balikat kong sabi. "May gagawin ka ba ngayon?"
                          
"Wala naman masyado," sagot niya. "May kailangan ka?"
                          
"Oo sana," tango ko. "Samahan mo naman ako. I have to run some errands."
                          
"Tara," payag niya at nauna siyang lumabas ng kwarto para ihanda ang taxi.
                          
Sumunod naman ako pagkatapos kong isuot ang hoodie at face mask ko. Kung lola nga ni Matteo namukhaan ako, what more if other people will see me?
                          
I have to be careful. If someone recognizes me, it's over. It will be over for me.