Kabanata 1

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ENEMY'S PROPERTY
Kabanata 1
''De Leon''

Ang hacienda na pag-aari ng mga Montecarlo. The enemy's property. Ang itinuturing na mortal na kaaway ng mga De Leon.

Bakit ko nga ba makakalimutan? It was also well-known in Manila. The feud between the De Leons and Montecarlos, along with the Sarmientos.

''Hanggang ngayon?'' Mula sa maaliwalas na tanawin ay inilipat ko ang tingin kay Kael. ''Hanggang ngayon magka-away pa rin?''

''Habang buhay na siguro.'' he said, chuckling softly after.

Umawang ang labi ko. Hindi ko alam na hanggang ngayon pala ay hindi pa rin nagkakaayos ang dalawang angkan. Na hanggang ngayon magka-away pa rin ang turing sa isa't-isa. Siguro nga tama si Kael, habang buhay na sigurong may hidwaan sa pagitan ng dalawa.

''Sa tagal ko dito isa lang ang nalaman ko tungkol sa mga De Leon.'' Bumaling siya sa'kin. Seriousness was written all over his face. ''Hindi nakakalimot ang isang De Leon. Maaring magpatawad pero hindi nakakalimot.''

I stayed silent.

Hindi dahil sa walang pakialam, kung hindi dahil 'di ko naman alam ang lahat, at hindi ko rin masyadong napagtuunan nang pansin iyon. I just know that there has been a feud between the three families in the region, the De Leons, the Montecarlos, along with the Sarmientos. And that it somehow started with our ancestor. Pero hindi ko gaano kaalam ang lahat ng detalye at mga mga malalalim pang impormasyon.

Siguro na rin ay dahil sa Maynila kami namuhay, malayo sa lahat. Dito man ako ipinanganak, pero hindi lumaki dito. May mga araw lamang na bumibisita kami noong bata pa ako pero panandalian iyon. Ang alam ko ay hindi palaging nakakasama si Papa kaya hindi rin kami pwedeng magtagal dito. Dalawa o tatlong araw lamang at minsa'y sa isang taon ay wala. Kung noong bata ako ay sobrang dalang na, lalo na noong magdalaga, wala na talaga. Kaya halos wala rin akong ala-ala sa lugar na ito.

Napagpasyahan naming pumasok na sa mansyon nang maramdaman ang pag-ambon. But before we could even finally step in, we heard the galloping of a horse. Ang bawat talon ng kabayo sa lupa ang tanging naririnig sa mapayapang paligid. Inilibot ko ang tingin, hinahanap ang pinagmulan ng ingay.

Malawak akong napangiti nang makita ang isang pamilyar na lalaki habang sakay ng kabayo. Bumaling siya sa kinatatayuan namin bago expertong bumaba sa kabayong sinasakyan. Sandali niyang kinausap ang isang tauhan bago tumakbo papalapit.

''Georgianna!''

My lips stretched more for a smile. ''Javier!''

Isang mainit na yakap ang sumalubong sa'kin. Marahan akong natawa nang halos inikot niya pa ako. Napasimangot nga lang nang mapansin na parang ang liit-liit ko kumapara sa kanya. He can easily squeeze me against him with just a snap.

''Javier, I can't breathe anymore!'' natatawang daing ko, marahang hinahampas ang kanyang likod.

''When did you arrive?'' tanong niya nang humiwalay sa yakap. He eyed me sharply. ''You should've told me. Ako na sana mismo ang sumundo sainyo.''

Among my cousins, I am the closest to Javier and Jakob. At si Javier, hindi man ako madalas dito pero lagi niya akong binibisita sa Maynila. My mother and his father are siblings and we have the same direct grandfather, Juan Francisco de Leon. While our other cousins are the direct grandchildren of our other Lolo, Juan Antonio de Leon.

But still, we are all a De Leon. Nagkikita-kita naman kaming lahat lalo na kapag may mga okasyon na sa Maynila ginaganap. Tuwing doon ang selebrasyon ng pamilya, nakakapunta naman kami nina Mama. Kaya kilala ko rin ang iba ko pang pinsan.

''Okay lang...'' marahan kong sabi at ngumiti din. ''Kakadating lang rin namin kanina.''

He suddenly averted his eyes from me. I saw how he nodded arrogantly at Kael, acknowledging his presence without even a greeting.

Marahan ko siyang siniko. He only gave me the 'what' look. Napailing nalang ako. Kahit kailan talaga hindi pa rin siya nagbabago. Still the same arrogant Javier, who thinks he owns and rules the world.

''Sir Javier.'' ani Kael sa formal na tono.

Hindi pinagtuunan ng pansin ni Javier, si Kael. I looked apologetically at Kael. He only smiled at me understandingly. Maybe somehow, he knew how this man in front of me works around like a boss. Or not only this man but most of the men around this mansion.

''It was my father who told me of your arrival.'' he said. "I was busy with the distillery but I went here right away when I learned that.''

''Okay lang nga. Sinundo naman kami nina Mang Conrado at Kael sa terminal.''

''I see.'' he said, nodding. ''I got busy already. I wasn't able to visit you anymore even when I was in Manila. But I'm happy to see you again, Georgianna.''

I stared at him when he said that. No matter how he hid it, I saw how restless he was. Javier Alexandro de Leon left the family once. And even now that he is back, I feel like he's still not around. He wasn't just the same anymore. And I somehow know the reason why.

Before we could even get inside, I saw another man in the De Leon family. Jakob Alexis, the most playful among these men, smiled mischievously at me before he went for a hug as well.

"Good heaven, you are finally back!''

''Ikaw din naman.'' sabi ko. ''Kailan ka pa umuwi? Labas masok ka ng bansa, hindi ko na alam kung kailan ka na naman mawawala at magpapakita.''

''Oh, well. Sa susunod, isasama na talaga kita.'' He chuckled, pinching my cheeks. ''Just live with us abroad. Ayaw mo ba?''

''Hindi pwede-''

Ngumisi siya, inakbayan ako at iginaya papasok, stopping me from saying more. Napairap ako sa pinsan.

Javier also followed us silently. Pero bago pa man kaming lahat na tuluyang makapasok sa loob, nakita ko ang pag-iwas ng tingin ni Kael sa gawin namin. Umayos ito nang tayo at mas lalong sumeryoso. 

''I can already foresee a broken-hearted man because of you.'' he whispered playfully on my ear.

Hindi niya man sabihin pero alam ko kung sino at ano ang tinutukoy niya. Isa rin si Jakob sa mga madalas na bumisita sa amin sa Maynila kaya kilalang-kilala ko rin. Carolina, her mother, is very fond of me too. Madalas sinasama niya ako sa bahay nila kapag umuuwi sila ng bansa. Mas malapit kami ni Javier bilang magkapamilya, si Jakob naman malapit kami tila ba magkaibigan.

''Stop it,'' asik ko. ''Pareho kayo ni Mama. Tigilan niyo nga ako. Kahit sa Maynila kung sino-sino ang pinagbibitangan mo.''

''What?'' he laughed mockingly. ''I'm just stating facts I can clearly see and observe.''

''I'm not like you,'' pabiro at pairap kong sambit. ''I don't play with love like you do, Jakob.''

''Hindi ako mapaglaro sa pag-ibig, Georgianna.'' aniya sa baritonong boses. ''Dahil simula pa lang, alam na nilang laro lang ang lahat. No string attached.''

Still, imposibleng walang mahuhulog sa kanyang babae. Little did he know, they're already falling for his charm. Not being bias, but who wouldn't fall for a man like my cousins? Among all, Javier is the most serious and ruthless one. Rhys Alexander is the softest. While Jakob de Leon is the most playful, that's why girls like him.

He is clearly one of the few men that every girl dreamt of having. Physically, walang kapintas pintas. Wealth? He's rich even without his surname. Isama mo pa ang mabulaklak niyang bibig. One of the things he uses to lure women. He would have been perfect but he's too playful in everything. Well, sabagay wala namang taong perpekto. At some point people still have flaws and imperfections.

But oh, I pity those women who will or already did voluntarily flock to his feet. No one can and would ever tame this man, no matter how they tried.

''And are you implying that you're already serious with that boy, Anya?''

Natigilan ako sa kanyang tanong. How ridiculous can this conversation get? That's not even what I'm trying to point out! But it seems like he got the wrong message.

''Stop that.'' saway ko.

''Bakit ka ba masyadong seryoso? Who falls in love with someone they just met, anyway? I call bullshit on that. We're not in some Disney film.'' he laughed.

Maya-maya'y binigyan niya ako ng isang nanunuyang tingin. I rolled my eyes at him.

''Huwag kang mag-alala, Georgianna. Marami ka pang makikilala dito. Magiingat ka lang at baka ang mapili mo ay hindi dapat na para sa'yo.''

I stilled. He gave me a dangerous lingering deep stare. Why is he looking at me like that? What is this all about?

Umiling na lamang ulit ako.

The three of us settled in the dining room. There was a little feast prepared. Wala si Mama dahil nagpapahinga daw. Kaya kami lamang ang nandidito. Our grandfather wasn't around yet, too.

Javier was very silent, like he doesn't want to be in this place but he's just forcing himself. Mukhang napilitan lamang siya pumunta para salubungin ang paguwi namin. I heard he doesn't sleep anymore in this house.

''Where are you staying, Javier?''

He lifted his eyes on me and only smiled a little bit.

''Hotel.'' he replied shortly. ''I don't stay here that long, just for a day or two in a week to check the distillery. I will travel back to Manila after.''

Jakob let out a small snicker. Hindi pinansin ni Javier, pero ako napalingon sa kanyang gawi. It looks like he wanted to say something, but I glared at him to shut him up.

''Not just the distillery.'' he still uttered with a smirk.

Hindi ko man na nakakasama si Javier madalas nitong mga nakaraan, hindi tulad noon, kilala ko pa rin ito. I can sense that any utter about the Sarmiento gets in his nerve and changes his mood. He doesn't like our family talking about her. Si Javier lamang ang tanging magbabanggit ng pangalan na iyon, hindi ang kung sino man sa aming pamilya. He made it that way. He made it very clear to everyone.

I was there when he declared the things he can do for the woman he deeply loves. I was there when he somehow threatened our family, when he took every work just to keep the whole De Leon sew their mouth in exchange for his beloved's peace of mind.

Sobrang nakakagulat iyon. Sobrang nagulat ako roon. Hindi ko kailanman inaasahan ang pag-ibig na tulad nang ganoon. At hindi ko inaasahan sa isang Javier de Leon.

He is the most ruthless among the cousins. He doesn't like to play. He likes to treat everything with seriousness. If he just doesn't spend time with me before in Manila, hindi siguro ako lalapit kay Javier. Minsan kasi pati ako ay natatakot tuwing tahimik o galit siya. And he is the spitting image of our great-grandfather, Juan Franco, who I also heard fearful stories about.

But Javier's kind and very thoughtful, and that's what I always like about my cousin. He just really takes everything so seriously, even in terms of love.

Vernaise Sven Sarmiento. I haven't met that woman yet. I haven't even seen her. I only knew her name. Nakakakuryusong makilala ito. The woman who made a De Leon fall helplessly in her hand. Kitang-kita ko kung paano hulog na hulog ang pinsan ko.

Carolina always tell me that Javier would either bring this family glory or be its downfall. And she's even so thrilled to see what will happen.

''Hindi ba dito ka na din mag-aaral, Georgianna?'' si Jakob.

Tahimik lamang akong tumango.

''Then you'll meet her. It will be her last year in that school this coming school year.''

Agad kong nasulyapan si Javier. It seems like he doesn't mind Jakob talking about the Sarmiento. He's focused on his food but I know he's listening, too. Siguro ay ayaw na ayaw niya lang kapag iyong mga nakatatanda?

''Aside from the women in our family, most especially your beauty,'' Ngumisi si Jakob nang tumaas ang isang kilay ko sa huli niyang sinabi. ''Vernaise is also one of the most beautiful maiden I have ever seen. She has an expensive face and refined movement. You'd instantly know it's her once you see her in school.''

''Fuck off.'' si Javier, na nagalit na.

Jakob just laughed at the reaction. Umiling-iling ito nang nakangisi. Pinagmasdan ko lamang silang dalawa sa aking harap. They are both emitting a dangerous aura.

''What a territorial ass. If she did not just keep her eyes on you, I'd probably be also on the side, where Rhys Alexander is until now, waiting for a chance. Women like her are my type.''

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig at nalaman. Tila ba natigilan ako, pati ata ang oras ay natigil.

Anong ibig sabihin doon ni Jakob? Gusto niya din si Vernaise? At pati si Rhys Alexander... ay gusto si Vernaise? Lahat nang binata sa pamilyang De Leon ay gusto ang babaeng Sarmiento?

Galit lamang ang tinging ipinukol ni Javier kay Jakob... parang hindi siya nagulat doon. Alam niya rin iyon?

''Putangina!'' sigaw ni Jakob.

Suminghap ako nang makitang malakas itong binatukan ni Javier bago umalis ng hapag. Jakob continually soothed the back of his head while still uttering curses for Javier.

''Damn you, Javier! I'm still older than you, asshole!'' he shouted even though Javier wasn't there anymore. ''Respect the hierarchy in this god-damned family!''

Huminga na lamang ako at umiling. ''Hindi mo dapat sinabi iyon. Nagalit tuloy si Javier.''

''Well, it's true.'' mayabang niyang sabi. ''I really liked Vernaise before. She's just someone you can't notice when she's around. Not just her pretty face but the confidence and elegance she carries. I like that type of girl. Confident, strong, and somehow bossy.''

Umirap ako. There's a wide grin on his lips while telling me this. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa pa na nagustuhan rin ang babaeng Sarmiento.

''It's just that, Vernaise's eyes are only fixed at Javier. She won't turn her head to any man who doesn't carry the name, Javier de Leon. She branded him hers even before. It's either him or no one, that's what she told me once.''

''Pero hindi na hinawalay sila ngayon, Jakob?''

He laughed again.

''Nah, Javier's just letting her run and rest. But never did he break up with her. She's still his girlfriend for him. That's how fucking whipped he is.'' he continued, shrugging his shoulders. ''And they are already fated ever since. You really can't mess up with fate.''

''Then, bakit kailangan pang humantong sa ganito ngayon?''

''Ask your grandfather about that.'' he tsked. ''He's such a pain in the ass. Hindi lang kay Javier pati sa'kin. That's why I don't stay with this family. I'd rather live abroad.''

Natahimik na lamang ako. Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at nagpatuloy na rin sa pagkain.

It seems like my life would really change here in Santa Monica.
 
   
#ENEMYSPROPERTY