Kabanata 19

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ENEMY'S PROPERTY
Kabanata 19
''Tupa''

''Oh my gosh! You look so beautiful, Georgianna!''

I smiled at my mother. She went to me and hugged me. Hindi ko rin mapigilang hindi tingnan siya nang mabuti. Mama looks gorgeous, tila ba magkapatid lamang kami dahil mukhang ilang taon lamang ang agwat niya sa'kin. She sports a very elegant and sparkly rose gold dress. A faux fur is also wrapped around her shoulders, and her hair is in updo.

''Thank you for spendidly glamming my daughter, Ivy!'' si Mama.

''It didn't even take me any effort. She is already a work of art.''

Uminit ang pisngi ko. Nakita ko rin ang pag-irap ni Lolo sa aming gawi nang mahagip ko siya ng tingin. Hindi naman mukhang iritado, mukha lang walang interes sa mga narinig na palitan ng papuri.

Jakob and Javier are not around. Ang mga dadalo lamang ay si Lolo, Mama, ako, at pamilya nina Solenn. But they live in a different house so we will just meet them at the venue.

Marami na ang tao nang makarating kami. I've been here a few times I am somehow already familiar with their marvelous home. But today, their garden was so grand looking. Tunay ngang napakagarbo ng kanilang mga selebrasyon. Sabagay, kahit nga noong gumagawa lang kami ng group work dito, sa mga pagkain palang tila ba laging may handaan.

Maraming napapalingon sa gawi namin habang naglalakad. It's the first time I attended a party with our family probably after almost eight months of being here, so somehow I already expected a few curious glances... especially on my way. They're probably asking who is the new person in the De Leons group.

I carry my father's surname, Fuentes. Even in school, I'm not even sure if they knew that I am a part of this family. Hindi ko rin naman kasi pinagsisigawan iyon. Kapag mismong nagtatanong lang sila, doon ko lang nasasabi dahil ayoko namang magsinungaling.

My eyes only stayed in front and sometimes on the ground. Kahit anong tingin at baling ng ulo ng ibang tawo sa gawi ko, hindi ko kailanman sinuklian ang mga iyon... takot na may makita. Lalo na't ramdam na ramdam ko ang isang mabigat na tinging sumasabay sa bawat hakbang ko.

His eyes bore on me almost making my whole system malfunction. Pilit kong inignora iyon. But when I couldn't help it anymore, because it was too heavy and intense, I tried to find the eyes that seemed to keenly watch my every move... and even my breathing.

And with just one move of my eye to a far side, I immediately saw Carlos Lorenzo Montecarlo, in his midnight black four piece suit, ruthless and menacing looking with his dark and dangerous eyes, gazing intently at me. Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kanya habang naglalakad. And he did the same. He has a glass on his hand, and his brooding eyes did not even blink as he sipped on it while he was still attentively staring back at me.

He doesn't even look surprised that I caught him looking. It was as if he had been waiting for me, for my eyes to land on him since he has been making his presence known even from afar. Pakiramdam ko malalagutan na ako nang hininga kaya ako na mismo ang unang umiwas ng tingin.

I saw Solenn and Rhys so I hurriedly joined their crowd. We smiled at exchanging a few greetings. Bumati at bumeso rin ako kina Tita at Tito. Ilang sandali lamang ay nasa tabi na namin si Lolo at si Mama.

''Anya!''

I turned my head to look at the person who called my name. Hector Madriaga who looked very dashing in his suit, smiled at me widely.

''Hi, Hector!'' bati ko nang nakangiti rin.

I politely greeted his parents too. Naging malaki ang grupo namin habang nakatayo dito sa may gilid. I stepped back a bit when my grandfather started a small chat with Hector's parents. Ngunit sa ilang beses ko pang pag atras ay tumama na ang likod ko kay Hector.

''Sorry!'' agad kong paumanhin lalo na't natapakan ko pa ata ang paa niya.

Marahan lamang siyang tumawa at umiling. He held me on the elbow this time to guide me as I moved. I thanked him for being such a gentleman, na muli niyang tinawanan.

Mula kay Hector ay lumihis ang tingin ko sa may likod niya. Sa kabilang dako ng hardin, I found a big table with a group of men. I wouldn't have really noticed them... but all of their eyes are on our spot. Nang mapansing nakatitig ako pabalik sa kanila ay agad nilang iniwas ang mga ulo, na tila walang nangyari. One acted like he was whistling. One man even slapped someone beside him and laughed like a mad man. But even from afar, I can hear how fake it was.

Nang pasadahan ko ng tingin ang mesang iyon ay nakita ko si Lukas. Agad akong napangiti ng makita siya kaya napakaway ako. He waved his hand too. Muling lumingon ang mga kasama niya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kumaway din sila sa'kin, ginagaya si Lukas, kahit hindi naman talaga namin kilala ang isa't-isa. I saw that Lukas told them something, and it made them stop mimicking him.

I coughed awkwardly before I averted my eyes away from them.

Naupo na rin kami nang magsimula na ang maikling programa. The round table was so big that ten people fitted it. Kasama namin ang pamilya ni Hector dito. He's seated in front of me, on my left side are Solenn and Rhys, and on my right is my Lolo. Si Mama ay katabi nina Tito at Tita.

When the small program ended and after eating, the socialization started. Mama and my relatives went to talk with other people. Just as much as I saw how Solenn would jump from one table to another, laughing and talking with people our age, it was the opposite case on mine.

Nandito ako sa tabi ni Lolo at hindi pinapaalis. Aniya'y hindi ko naman daw kailangan makihalubilo sa mga hindi ko kakilala. Nakaramdam ako ng kakaiba pero hinayaan na lang rin. If only Javier and Jakob were here, I wouldn't mind staying at this table for the rest of the night. But they aren't here... so I started to get bored and lonely.

And Hector probably noticed that because he went to sit beside me and started entertaining me with stories. Kaya kahit papaano ay may nakausap ako.

''You see the hostility in his eyes, Juan Francisco? It's like the young Montecarlo, who's the spitting image of his great-grandfather, doesn't want you to be here in their land.''

My grandfather scoffed. ''As if I wanted to be here.''

I suddenly got curious. Sinundan ko ng tingin ang tinatanaw nila. I pursed my lips when I saw Carlos again with his hawk-like eyes darting at our table. Nandoon pa rin siya sa pwesto niya kanina. He's leaning on one of the biggest pillars of their mansion, a few steps above from the ground of the garden.

And indeed, there was hostility and anger in his eyes. If only they knew the real reason why... but, hmm... I hope it's really because he doesn't want our family here in their land. Siguro isa na rin iyon... But who am I kidding?

Sa pagtapak ko pa lamang dito, nasa akin na ang mga mata niya. At sa bawat dapo ng tingin ko sa kanyang gawi, gumagalaw siya na parang isang mabangis na lobo at naghihintay ng pagkakataon para sakmalin ako. Madilim ang kanyang mukha at mukhang maninigil sa kung ano man. He's just probably waiting for me to be alone, and once he sees an opportunity like that, he will set some traps to catch and corner me.

''Ganyan ang mukha ni Isaac, but that man always bow down to your father because of what he did. But this young man, kuhang-kuha si Isaac ngunit tila ba dala-dala ang lahat nang naipong galit sa nagdaang mahabang panahon at mukhang maniningil na sa inyong pamilya.''

I played with my champagne glass as I listened to their conversation. I brought my glass to my lips and my eyes drifted to Carlos' way. He moved forward again, and I almost choked on my drink when he did that. I hurriedly averted my eyes away.

''I doubt that,'' si Lolo. ''Hanggang galit lamang ang magagawa niya. Hindi iyan hahayaan ni Amanda.''

From the corner of my eyes I saw Solenn nearing our table. She smiled at me and I did the same.

''Lolo! Hiramin ko lang po si Anya, ah?'' panimula niya. ''I'll introduce her to my friends. Tara, Anya!''

Hindi ko na hinintay pa ang sagot ni Lolo at tumayo na rin ako agad. Our grandfather wasn't able to object anymore, not when Solenn is already dragging me out of there already. Nagpaalam na lang rin ako kay Hector gamit ang aking mga mata.

''Somehow suffocating, noh?'' she whispered to me.

Marahan lamang akong ngumiti.

''Huwag kang mag-alala. Totoong ipapakilala kita sa mga kakilala ko!'' she told me. And indeed introduced me to some people.

Ilang sandali rin kaming nakipagkwentuhan sa mga kakilala niya. Solenn is a very bubbly and clingy person. She's not shy to laugh loudly especially when she hears some amusing jokes. Nakikitawa rin ako sa kanila.

Some of the gentlemen tried to strike a conversation with me. I don't want to seem rude or anything, so I did my best to give back the same energy they give. But that's all, all casual and nothing more. I revert my attention to Solenn after.

''Hi,'' another man from Solenn's big group came to me. ''I'm Warren.''

Marahan akong ngumiti at tinanggap ang kanyang kamay. ''Anya Fuentes.''

''Oh, I thought Georgianna?''

Nagtaka ako ngunit ngumisi na lamang. I told him it's both my name, and I asked him where he heard my real name. Ang sabi niya ay kilala niya daw ako at nakikita sa paaralan, hindi lang sinusubukang lumapit at makipagkaibigan. Our talk revolved around there. He told me a lot of our schoolmates wanted to be friends with me.

I don't know if it was true or what. I'm not even sure if people really took notice of me. I don't think I'm someone who stands out. Tahimik lang naman kasi ako sa paaralan. I'm not really that outgoing either. If it weren't for my group mates who turned to friends now, I don't think I'll be able to have one.

We continued with our small talk. Napansin ko nga lang pagdating ng dalawang lalaki. Solenn stopped laughing but it seems like she knew those men. Agad na natabunan ang kausap kong si Warren, nang pumagitna sa'min ang isa sa mga bagong lumapit.

My eyes went to find Warren. I tried to smile at him apologetically. He only smiled and nodded, as if he understood. Naibalik ko ang tingin sa mga bagong kaharap.

He grinned at me. ''Hello!''

''Deuce and Rake Montecarlo, Anya. Magkapatid sila.'' pakilala ni Solenn at itinuro rin kung sino ang sino.

The one who blocked Warren is named Rake. He is definitely paler than his cousins who are golden tan. He's on the leaner side, not really that muscular, but he's tall, too. Chinito and with a charming smile. I also noticed a few blue streaks on his wavy hair. Ang katabi niya, na kanyang kapatid daw ay Deuce ang pangalan. Sila rin ata iyong isa sa mga kasama ni Lukas kanina, na kumaway rin sa'kin.

I offered my hand to them. ''Hi, I'm Anya.''

Uminit ang buong pisngi ko nang tiningnan lamang nila ang aking kamay. I was about to retreat my hand when that Deuce probably felt bad, he shook my hand but let it go instantly within a second. They are Montecarlos, Solenn says... but why do I feel like they aren't that welcoming? Pero nakangiti naman sila sa'kin.

''Sobrang gandang tupa naman pala talaga. No wonder...'' The man named Rake, whispered to his brother, chuckling a bit. ''Sobrang taas na ng expectations ko ah, nalagpasan pa!''

Deuce, the man who looks very formal with a clean haircut, rigid body and movements, elbowed Rake. Mukhang patago pero napansin ko iyon. Naalala ko iyong sinabi ni Miss Ivy. This Deuce is in the military.

Pero ano bang pinaguusapan nila? Tungkol sa... tupa?

Nailibot ko ang tingin sa paligid para hanapin ang tupa na sinasabi nila. But I can't see any. Hindi ko rin naman matandaan kung mayroon nga silang ganoong mga alaga. Was that a figurative speech or something? I don't understand what they are talking about.

Isda, tupa, ano pa kaya ang hayop na maririnig ko ngayong gabi?

''May tupa kayo?'' I can't help not to ask anymore.

Rake laughed so hard that he already held his stomach. Habang ang kapatid niya ay tinakpan na ang bibig niya. Deuce smiled at me apologetically, bowed his head a little, before dragging his brother away. Sinundan ko lamang sila ng tingin papalayo. Naabutan ko pa ang pagbatok ni Deuce kay Rake. I wonder who's the older brother between them.

''I'm Apollo Manuel.'' another man appeared in front of me again. ''You're Georgianna, right?''

Napakurap ako. Ito ang kasama noon ni Carlos sa coffee shop. Indeed, all the men in their family are beyond praise.

I nodded. ''Bakit?''

''Hinahanap ka ni Lola. Gusto ka niyang makita,'' aniya sa malalim na boses.

Oh... I remember I haven't greeted her yet. Kahit noong birthday niya ay hindi ako nakadalo. I only asked Lukas to greet her for me.

''Okay-'' hindi ko na natapos ang iba pang sasabihin nang mabilis na pumagitna si Solenn sa amin ni Apollo.

''Hep!'' She then acted to slice something in the air, between Apollo and I, before she turned to face the man. ''Where do you think you are taking her, huh?''

Umarko ang kilay ni Apollo at madilim ang mga matang dinungaw si Solenn. Well, he is literally looking down at us because he's tall. Mas mababa si Solenn kumpara sa'kin pero dahil mas mataas siguro ang heels na suot niya ngayon ay halos pantay lang kami. But I'm not sure what she feels at the way Apollo is looking at us, that she literally tiptoed, exaggeratedly, to at least reach his eye level.

Apollo coldly ignored her though. His eyes went back to me looking expectant. He's probably waiting for my answer.

''Let's go?'' he asked.

''Oh, wow. I feel like I was literally seenzoned!'' ani Solenn sa madramang boses. ''How rude!''

I touched her elbow to support her because she's already losing balance. I tried to smile at Apollo, pero kunot noo lamang itong muling tumitig sa aking pinsan. His eyes were sharp and piercing. My cousin on the other hand looked at him arrogantly with a smirk on her face. 

''Solenn, I'll just meet Senyora.'' Ako na ang nagsalita dahil pakiramdam ko may mangyayaring hindi maganda. ''Mabilis lang ako, kapag hinanap-''

''Don't worry, Anya, I got you! Ako nang bahala kay Lolo,'' aniya at nilingon ako nang nakangiti na. ''Pero no offense ha? Sasama ka talaga diyan?'' At pasimpleng nginuso si Apollo na nasa harap lang naman namin.

Ako na ang nakaramdam ng hiya. I don't know why I feel like they have bad blood between them. I gently tugged Solenn. Ngumiti din ako kay Apollo at nagpaalam na saglit kong kakausapin ang pinsan.

He nodded his head. ''Take your time. I'll wait for you here.''

''Magkakilala kayo... Magkaaway?'' tanong ko kay Solenn nang makalayo na kami ng konti.

''Huh? Not really...'' she trailed off. ''He's sorta friends with Vernaise, but we're not close nor acquainted with each other. Mas kilala ko pa ang ibang pinsan niya.''

''Then why... earlier...''

''I just noticed that sometimes whenever our eyes would met, he looks at me as if I murdered him in his past life! I don't know and I don't get what's with the resentful eyes... Maybe because of the issues between our families? Dikit kasi 'yan kay Carlos na may galit sa pamilya natin!'' She then flipped her hair and shrugged her shoulders. ''And well, I always feel attacked because I wasn't even doing anything to him! So to get even, I would attack him, too, whenever I'm given a chance.''

Napailing na lang ako lalo na nang humalakhak siya tila tuwang-tuwa pa. I thought it was something really serious, dahil napansin ko nga rin medyo may galit ang tinging ipinukol ni Apollo... but I guess it isn't really that way.

Eventually Solenn pushed me a bit, reminding me of what I needed to do. Siya na daw ang bahala kapag hinahanap ako ng kung sino man. I thanked her, then watched her run back to her friends enthusiastically as if nothing happened.

Sinulyapan ko si Apollo na nakatayo sa may malayo. Galing kung saan ang kanyang mata bago kami nagkatinginan. Lumapit na rin ako sa kanyang kinatatayuan.

''Sorry about that.''

''No problem.''

He sounded dismissive. Isinantabi ko na lamang ang naisip at nagtanong na lang ako kung na saan si Senyora. He told me she's inside their mansion. Nasa library, aniya. Alam ko naman ang daan doon kaya walang problema. But he offered to accompany me, pumayag na lang rin ako.

Wala masyadong bisita sa loob ng kanilang mansyon, kahit sa living room nila ay mukhang mga kamag-anak lang din ang naroon na sinusundan kami ng tingin ni Apollo. Nandoon din si Rake at ang medyo mga nakatatanda ay nasa isang mahabang sofa. Sigurado akong mga ina o ama ito ng mga magpipinsan.

''Hello, good evening po,'' I politely greeted them.

''Hello, darling!'' A sophisticated woman smiled warmly at me. ''Who is this maiden you are with, Apollo?''

''Georgianna Eleanor, Tita.'' I heard Rake whispered to her. ''De Leon.''

Medyo nangunot ang noo ko dahil alam niya ang buong pangalan ko. I only told him my nickname. Pero sabagay, mukhang kilala naman nila ang mga De Leon.

''Let's go, Anya,'' muling aya ni Apollo.

''Where will you take her, Apollo? If her grandfather finds out...'' Another woman said.

I offered a small smile. ''Hinahanap daw po ako ni Senyora.''

Her eyebrows knotted. ''Ni Mamã?''

I nodded.

''But Mamã is-''

Natigil lamang siya sa pagsasalita nang takpan ni Rake ang kanyang bibig. My eyes widened at what he did. At lahat ata ay ganoon ang naging reaksyon.

''Hinahanap siya ni Lola, Mama! Huwag ka na pong makialam. Magagalit si Lola!'' his voice shouted in such an exaggerated tone.

Halos hindi pa ako nakakabawi doon nang marahang hilahin na ako ni Apollo sa isang pasilyo. Panay ang balik ko ng tingin sa sala. I saw the woman whacking Rake with a big folded fan. I guess all the family members of the Montecarlos are close with one another.

Walang tao dito pasilyo patungo sa library. Apollo was with me until we were already in front of the library. He only knocked one time before he faced me fully.

''Go inside,'' he said. ''Nandyan siya. Hinahanap ka.''

I feel something strange in the way he said those words with a different expression. I was already touching the knob but my eyes stayed at him. Nabitawan ko ang knob nang may nabasa sa kanyang mukha.

''Si Senyora ang naghahanap sa'kin sabi mo, diba?'' I asked nervously.

Before he could even answer, the door already opened. My eyes widened and a loud gasped escaped my lips when I saw who it was. I took a step back but his hand was fast enough to reach my forearm, gripping it firmly.

''Ako ang naghahanap,'' Carlos uttered with a hard tone before he pulled me inside the library, closing the door with a loud bang.

                   
#ENEMYSPROPERTY