Kabanata 7

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ENEMY'S PROPERTY
Kabanata 7
''Chance''

Hindi ko alam na may lahi palang baliw ang mga Montecarlo. Nasisiraan na ng ulo ang Carlos Lorenzo na iyon. Nasisiraan na siya ng bait. Baliw. Iyon lamang ang masasabi ko.

A successful man with such caliber would take someone and father a child that isn't his... just to get what he wants? I have no offense with anyone who would do that especially out of love.

But hello, this is Carlos Lorenzo Montecarlo we are talking about! Bilang pa lang sa kamay ko nang simula ko siyang makita... wait, siguro lagpas na sa dalawang kamay ko, but even so! Ganoon na ang asta niya? What, did he fall in love with already? No way! Just like what Jakob said, we aren't in any Disney films or romantic chick flicks.

Surely, he isn't short with women who want to be by his side. A lot of women had been flocking over his feet begging for his attention. Nakita ko na iyon ng isang beses. Kung paano naghagikhikan ang mga babae habang tinitingnan siya kahit sa malayo na kulang na lamang ay mahimatay sila ng literal.

He looks very active... like he's engaged in activities that require a lot of stamina. His body and physique told me so. He's someone insatiable. Someone who doesn't lose his appetite for unworldly things.

I may have no experience, but I'm not innocent in things like this. Nalaman ko na sa eskwela. Nakita ko na sa mga pelikula. At nabasa ko na sa mga libro. But the nearest and closest intimate experience I had with the opposite sex, excluding my family, is the kiss I shared with Carlos Lorenzo.

And now that I remember that... it added to the things that have been running on my mind these past few days. Akala ko kahit papaano ay masayang bakasyon ang magagawa ko bago magsimula ang eskwela... but I didn't know I'd be this stressed, especially with that man.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nakatakas noong araw na iyon. Umiyak si Eli kaya kinuha ko ulit. Then a man came to him. Hindi ko kilala, hindi ko alam ang pinagusapan nila. But it looks like an emergency so he needed to leave right away.

''Let's meet tomorrow at Miadonna, one o'clock in the afternoon. I will be waiting. I won't go home until you come.'' he told me before he left.

He's so demanding!

I wonder if he indeed didn't go home that day. Saan siya natulog kung ganoon? It's been a week since then.

One afternoon, all of my cousins visited the De Leons mansion. Wala ang mga nakatatanda kaya kami lamang magpipinsan ang nasa hapag nang hapon na iyon. Nasa tabi ko si Jakob habang nasa harap si Rhys at Solenn. Javier de Leon is here too, nasa kabisera naka-upo at tahimik lamang.

Rhys smiled at me. ''How's your stay so far, Anya?''

''Uh, okay lang naman.'' sagot ko at ngumiti rin pabalik.

''Masyado ka lang daw nananatili dito sa bahay? Subukan mo ring lumabas. Sama ka sa'min minsan?''

I nodded shyly. ''Lumalabas naman ako paminsan-minsan, Rhys. Hindi lang talaga madalas.''

Napalabi ako nang may mapagtanto. Simula nang tumapak ako sa lugar na ito, pakiramdam ko sobrang dami nang nangyayari. At sa lagi kong paglabas si Carlos ang nakikita ko. At tuwing nagkikita kami, kung ano-ano na lang ang nangyayari. Although of course, my cousins don't have an idea about any of it. And I don't want them to know, either.

''You're taking Business Ad right? Vernaise and I are taking accountancy. We are all in our last year now.'' ani Solenn.

Napasulyap ako kay Javier. Ewan ko ba at lagi akong napapasulyap sa kanya tuwing nababanggit si Vernaise. Tinitingnan ko lagi kasi ang reaksyon niya. He's very sensitive at the mention of just the name, but at the same time it seems like he likes talking about her too.

''You're friends with her?'' I asked carefully.

Solenn giggled. ''More than that! She's like my girlfriend.''

Masamang tingin lamang ang ginawad ni Javier sa pinsan, pero hindi naman nagsalita. Solenn even made a face to irritate Javier.

''I think I saw her in the enrollment...'' I trailed off. Lahat sila napatingin sa'kin kaya napaayos ako ng upo. Ngumiti ako kahit alanganin sa mga tingin nila. ''Uh, the morena one with straight black hair, right? She's very pretty.''

''She is!'' Solenn with her bubbly voice filled with excitement. ''She really glows in that skin tone. That's what I first liked about her! Ang ganda niya! She's my girl crush!''

I glanced again at Javier. I saw a ghost with a small smile on his lips. Napangiti na rin ako. Pakiramdam ko ngayon ko lang ulit siya nakitang ngumiti.

''Even the women in the De Leons are smitten with the one and only Vernaise Sarmiento.'' si Jakob chuckled. ''Let's not forget about the Montecarlos, too.''

My eyes drifted to Jakob when he mentioned that surname. The Montecarlos... too?

Pagkatapos naming mag meryenda ay nag-aya silang mamamasyal. Sumama ako dahil wala naman masyadong ginagawa sa bahay. Javier drove the car and we went to the distillery. Hindi pa ako nakakapunta dito kahit noon kaya nang makita ang malawak na lupain ay agad akong namangha. Lalo na nang pumasok na kami, my lips literally parted in awe.

They toured me around. I know that Javier is the one managing this, pero si Jakob lamang ang panay ang salita. It looks like he knows how to run this too. He's also very knowledgeable with the liquors he has been pointing to. Halos wala nga akong maintindihan sa mga pangalan na binabanggit niya.

''Here, try this.'' aniya at may inabot sa'kin baso na may konting laman ng alak. 

Inabot ko lamang iyon at sinubukan. 

''Good?''

I smiled and nodded. It tastes amazing. Hindi man ako sanay pero kakaiba ang lasa nito. Hindi ako umiinom. Pero nakatikim naman minsan-minsan. But I really don't drink and party. Hindi din ako masyado natuto kahit sa Maynila. I don't have the leisure time to party before. Ang mga nadadaluhan ko lamang na pagtitipon ay ang sa aming pamilya.

Ilang oras ang tinagal namin sa distillery bago napagpasyahan umuwi. When we saw our grandfather from afar, I got confused when I was the only one who got out of the car.

''Uuwi na kami, Anya.'' si Solenn.

Tumango lamang ako. Solenn and Rhys will go home. Javier doesn't stay here. Dumapo ang mga mata ko kay Jakob. He sleeps here. Why is he not going out of the car?

''I don't have the energy.'' sabi niya lamang. He then patted my head. ''Uuwi din ako bukas.''

''I will just visit you again next time, Georgianna.'' si Javier.

Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang tumango sa kanila. Hanggang sa sinundan ko na lamang ng tingin ang papaalis na sasakyan. I just waved a bit at it before turning to my back to greet my grandfather.

Ngumiti ako at nagmano. ''Lolo.''

''Georgianna, how are you?'' My strict grandfather asked, smiling a bit.

''Maayos naman po.''

He nodded. ''Nagpabili ako ng mga bago mong gamit, nasa kwarto mo na. Use them, alright?''

''Opo. Salamat, Lolo.''

Saglit pa kaming nag-usap bago kami sabay na pumasok sa bahay. I saw my mother in the living room with numerous paper bags with different brands scattered around her.

I noticed the changes on my mother in just a short while of being here. Nang ngumiti siya sa'kin ay mas napansin ko ang kakaiba sa kanya. She somehow glowed. Her eyes are still sad but she doesn't look that stressed nor lonely anymore. Tila ba tumingkad din lalo ang kagandahan niya.

''Georgianna, I shopped for you, too.'' she said and waved for me to go near her.

Lumapit ako para humalik sa kanyang pisngi. Hinanap ko si Eli, his nanny isn't here, kaya baka tulog sa kanyang kwarto.

Nanny... Elias has a nanny now. Dati ay pinagsasabay ko pa ang pag-aaral at pag-aalaga kay Eli habang wala si Mama. Being here in the De Leon's Mansion still seems unreal to me.

''Marami akong pinamili para sa'yo. I'm planning to buy more when I go out the next day. Do you want something or anything you have in mind?''

''Okay lang po, Mama. Kompleto pa naman ang gamit ko at may mga damit pa naman ako.''

''It's okay. Those are old anyway.'' she mumbled as she rummaged through the paper bags. Clothes, shoes, bags. May mga mamahaling perfumes din akong nakita, na kay Carolina ko lamang nakikita noon. ''Papa provided these. We are a De Leon so you don't have to feel bad, alright?''

Tahimik lamang ako habang pinagmamasdan si Mama na masaya sa mga ginagawa.

''Pera ninyo iyan.'' si Lolo na nakikinig pala sa'min. ''It's the money of the De Leons family earning as one and the money handed down by my father to our family, so it's not exactly my money, Cattleya. Mahirap lamang akong tao. Hindi naman mataas ang sahod sa pagiging politiko.''

''Si Papa talaga!'' Mama chuckled a bit  ''Oh well, these are the things I missed before, to have a shopping spree without worrying about anything.''

Nanatili lamang akong nakamasid at nakikinig. I shifted a bit on my spot when my grandfather called my attention. I looked at him attentively.

''Georgianna, in your mother's teenage years, she has always been a headache to the family for her shopping spree here and there. Lalo na ni Alejandro dahil siya ang gumagastos ng lahat.'' natatawang paliwanag ni Lolo. I couldn't help not to smile, too. ''But we rather have that headache than to see her be away, than see you and your brother lived a... different life.''

My mother smiled sadly but did not comment anymore.

I know what Lolo is probably saying. I remember the things I heard when he and Mama talked last time.

We aren't well off in Manila. We aren't rich and we only live a simple life. My mother and father work an eight hour job a day. I was mostly left alone when I was still a child. That's where Carolina would take me and bring her to her house especially when they are in the country. O kaya naman minsan ay ang pamilya ni Javier. And I notice how they live differently from us.

But I never did envy, because I was content with what we have. My parents have been really working hard just to provide, so even before, I already learned to appreciate even the smallest things. Dahil alam ko, kita ko, ramdam ko ang lahat ng hirap ng mga magulang ko para lamang may maibigay at may makain kami sa araw-araw. Hindi iyon madali sa kanila. Alam ko rin ang lungkot nila tuwing iiwan ako sa kamag-anak dahil walang kasama.

My mother is De Leon, but she threw the name for the sake of her love. But even with that, I know we didn't live a poor life. Hindi lamang kasing rangya at sagana ng buhay ng mga De Leon. Pero maayos naman ang buhay namin.

But maybe it isn't the lifestyle that my mother lived poorly. But it's the attention and love he gets from my father. Before I couldn't understand things... like why my parents always sleep in a different room, why my Papa doesn't look for Mama whenever he gets home, but he would always look for me. At tuwing umuuwi ay laging sa'kin ang atensyon niya kahit habang kumakain. But when I started to get mature, I saw who is the only one loving between my parents.

My father loves me, that's what I always know. But it is only me who he loves. And I saw how my mother somehow suffered... and when Eli came, it only worsened. To the point my mother couldn't take it anymore... so here we are.

Fuentes... living with the De Leons.

''That's a new dress.'' ani Jakob nang sinulyapan ako habang nagmamaneho.

''Mga bili ni Mama noong nakaraan. Lolo bought a lot of things, too.''

Ngumisi siya. ''Right, you should enjoy the perks of being a De Leon. Spend your grandfather's money lavishly until he doesn't have anything anymore!''

Umiling lamang ako.

We stopped by a cafe. Galing kami sa pamamasyal. Iiwan muna kami dito ni Jakob dahil may pupuntahan siya saglit. Inaaya niya ako pero sabi ko gusto ko munang magpahinga pero ayaw ko din munang umuwi sa bahay.

''I'll fetch you and Eli after an hour or two.'' he told me.

I nodded. I used Eli's hand to wave at him. Pinanggigilan niya muna si Eli bago muling nagpaalam.

Eli and I were silently eating and having a peaceful time when he giggled and pointed somewhere. Agad kong sinundan nang tingin iyon. At halos kumawala ang puso ko sa aking katawan nang makita kung sino ang papalapit sa'min ngayon.

''Mimi, fwend!'' Eli shouted with joy.

What the?!

''Hello, big boy.'' Carlos greeted with the same glee.

Agad niyang kinuha si Eli sa kandong ko at muling itinaas sa ere. Tulala lamang ako habang pinagmamasdan ang mga hagikhik ni Eli. Why is he so happy whenever he sees this man? Habang ako, para akong mamatay dahil nalalagutan ng hininga lagi!

I panicked a bit. Napalingon pa ako sa buong paligid. There aren't a lot of people aside from the staff who didn't mind any customer business. Hindi ako kilala dito pero sigurado akong karamihan ng mga taga Santa Monica ay kilala si Carlos at ang pamilya nila! At kapag nakita kaming magkasama ay siguradong kakalat ang kung ano!

''I'd been waiting here for you, for two weeks now.'' malamig niyang sambit.

My forehead creased. Dumapo ang tingin ko sa tissue na nasa ibabaw ng mesa... Miadonna's Cafe... huh! Ito pala iyong sinasabi niyang lugar? Hindi ko nga alam. I'm not familiar yet with the places here. Si Jakob lang ang nagdala sa'kin dito.

My eyes lifted up to him. Nanatili siyang nakatayo. He's holding Eli using only one hand, and my brother has been playing with his hair, which Carlos seems not to mind.

''Have you decided?''

Mas lalo lamang nangunot ang noo ko. Lahat na lang ng galing sa bibig niya, tila ba wala akong maintindihan.

''Anong bang pinagsasasabi mo?'' medyo inis kong tanong.

''My offer about last time.'' he simply answered, taking a seat beside me.

Oh, the audacity of this man!

''Carlos, I don't have a husband-''

''That's why I'm offering myself.'' putol niya.

I huffed a breath. ''Seriously, what is wrong with you?!''

Napakurap ako nang nagulat si Eli sa medyo pagtaas ng boses ko. Iiyak na siya kaya aabutin ko na sana pero agad nang tinahan ni Carlos. He cradled my brother in his arms while caressing his back and whispering some things. Hindi natuloy ang iyak ni Eli, kaya hindi ko alam kung ipagpapasalamat ko ba iyon.

Malalim na lamang akong napabuntong-hininga.

''You scared him, Anya.'' mariin niyang sabi, mukhang nagalit pa sa'kin! ''Don't raise your voice, please. We can talk without shouting.''

Napatampal na lamang ako sa aking noo. Everything frustrates me. Ngayon lang ata ako nakaramdaman ng matinding frustration sa buong buhay ko. At hindi ko alam ang gagawin.

''Anya,''

I glanced at him. ''Uh, yes?''

I waited for him to say anything. Pero ilang segundo na ang lumipas, tinitigan niya lamang ako. That stare again... the kind of stare that can drown you. I don't know if it's because of his foreign eyes... or it's just how he looks at people. Pero hindi naman ganyan ang tingin niya sa ibang tao? I sighed. I don't know anymore.

From my face, his eyes drifted to Elias. Ilang segundo niya rin tiningnan ang aking kapatid. He fixed my brother's hair in a gentle manner. My brother giggled again, kaya ngumiti rin si Carlos. Nawala nga lang ang ngiting iyon nang muling ibinalik niya ang tingin sa'kin, ngayon seryoso at determinado.

''I'll make Elias and you a Montecarlo.'' he said after a while. ''I'm not asking you right away, but I hope you'd give me a chance to do so.''

Mariin akong napapikit at napakagat sa aking labi. These misunderstandings have been piling up! I wanted to correct him. But I wanted him to get mad as well because maybe... when he learned the truth... he'll stop whatever he is planning or what. Hindi ko rin naman kasi maintindihan kung bakit nga ba talaga ito ginagawa ni Carlos.

Maybe he'd finally stop when he learned I'm a De Leon.

                
#ENEMYSPROPERTY