Agad siyang napatayo nang makita kung sino ang kasama ni attorney Labrador na papasok sa presintong iyon. Her Father's dark eyes bore directly into her. At sa klase ng titig nito alam niyang pinipigilan lang nito ang sarili na hindi siya pagalitan sa lugar na iyon. It's not so usual that her father get mad at her like this. Ngayon lang. At sa titig pa lang nito ay halos manginig na siya."I..I'm s..sorry 'Pa, believe me I'm not-- ""Let's talk about it at home Arabella!" Matigas nitong sabi. Isang nagbabantang tingin ang ibinigay nito sa kanya bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng opisina ng hepe na noo'y kita niyang kausap na ni attorney Labrador.She bit her lip hardly as tears begin to pool in her eyes. Wala siyang magawa kundi iyuko nalang ang ulo at ihanda ang sarili sa galit ng kanyang Papa mamaya pagdating nila ng mansion.She heard a commotion not far away from her kaya napalingon siya, just to see Maggie's father slap Maggie right before everyone's eyes, kasabay ng hindi matata
It was almost five o clock in the afternoon, but she remain there sitting on the terminal bench. Nag-aalalang nagpalinga-linga sa paligid. Hoping so much that her knight in shining armour will appear and save her from that distress. Kanina pa siya doon. Almost an hour at nawawalan na siya ng pagasa na pupuntahan pa siya ng taong hinihintay niya. Naka ilang tawag na rin siya rito, and as asual ringing tone lang ang maririnig niya sa kabila. He ignore her calls like always.She feel like crying as she stare at her phone. Particular sa inbox ng message niya. Nakatatlong text na rin siya at ni isa ay wala man lang reply.'Where are you Clark? I need your help.. Please answer my call..' That was her first text to him when he didn't answer her first call. Nasa bus pa siya ng i-text niya iyon. Pero walang reply mula rito. She just thought that maybe he's busy that's why he didn't has the chance to saw her message. Kaya nang makarating na siya sa terminal ng Santa Monica ay nag text siya ul
"ANONG kabaliwan ang pumasok sa utak mo at pumunta ka rito hah?" Marahas siya nitong binitiwan."I texted you." Sa mahinang tinig na sabi niya. "Oh, yes.." He said mockingly. "Nag text ka.. na naglayas ka. And may I know the reason why señorita?"Napakagat-labi siya. Kung sasabihin niya rito ang dahilan kung bakit siya umalis ng mansion ay baka mas lalo itong magalit o di kaya naman mas lalong bababa ang tingin nito sa kanya. "C..Can we talk about it tomorrow? I..Im so tired Clark. I travelled almost six hours to came here." "Fuck!" He hissed angrily, saka tiimbagang na napapikit. Hinilot-hilot muna nito ang batok bago muling bumaling sa kanya. He open his mouth to say something pero muli ring iyon itinikom.Malalim itong bumuntong hininga bago nagpatiunang maglakad. Agad naman siyang sumunod. She walked just step behind him. Hindi niya hinayaang maka-agwat sa pagitan nila. She was scared he might leave her if she walk slowly.Tumigil ito sa harap ng isang motorsiklo. Sumampa ito
After Simon brought her in some cozy restaurant and have dinner, they went on riding again on his motorbike. It takes almost half an hour of ride before they stop infront of a gate made of bamboo.Not far away from the gate is a two storey house which the second floor were made of hardwood. It was like those houses in the Spanish era. Sa gilid ng bahay ay may hagdan papunta sa ikalawang palapag. Her eyes follow the stairway and saw some reflection of lights from their closed windows upstairs.So this is his house. A typical province house. She really can't believe that she is with him now. In his home, and in his arms. "Kailangan mong bumaba para mabuksan ko ang gate señorita."Napapitlag pa siya ng marinig niya ang baritono nitong boses. It was his first talk to her since the restaurant. "As you can see, we don't have a housemaid here to open our gates for us." Taas kilay nitong sabi.She pouted at his remarks. But she didn't react. Marahan siyang bumaba. Bumaba rin ito pagkatapos
--SIMON--Napatigil siya sa paglalakad ng makitang bukas ang ilaw ng banyo. Mula sa labas ay dinig niya ang agos ng shower sa loob.'So his unexpectedly guest is showering.'He was really dumbfounded when she texted him that she was at their terminal earlier. Noong una akala niya, gawa-gawa lang nito ang text na iyon for him to answer her calls.Hindi iilang beses itong tumawag sa kanya magmula noong umalis siya sa mansion, and if he didn't answer her, she will text him later on. Mga text na hindi rin naman niya nirereplayan. Of why he do that? Well, he have his reasons. Hindi lingid sa kanya ang mga advances o ang pagkakahumaling nito sa kanya. Katunayan inamin nito iyon mismo. And at first, he was annoyed and irritated. Hindi niya gusto ang pagiging agresibo nito lalo na ang mga ginagawa nito. Particularly with boys. He remember how his blood boils the first time he ever saw her in the garden if their mansion. He knew Don Armando. Mula pa man noong maliit siya. His father was on
"Inay gisingin na natin si ate ganda, tanghali na po.""Hayaan mo muna siya na magpahinga, pagod pa iyon sa biyahe kahapon.""Baka gutom na po si ate ganda inay." Napakunot-noo siya ng marinig ang mga boses na iyon. One was of a woman and the other was of a child. Maybe they were just outside of her room's door.'Ang ingay-ngay naman!' Maktol niya sa isip 'sino na naman kaya sa mga katulong nila ang nagdala ng anak sa ikalawang palapag?'She open her eyes slowly at nagtaka pa siya ng makitang nasa hindi pamilyar na kwarto siya."Gigisingin ko lang naman si ate ganda para kumain inay." Pamimilit pa ng bata.'Ate Ganda..'Doon lang siya parang nahimasmasan at nagising ng tuluyan. There's only one girl who called her that endearment. And it was since last night.Ang batang kapatid ni Simon!Agad siyang nagbalikwas ng bangon. Oo nga pala, nakalimutan niya, naglayas pala siya kahapon sa kanila at ngayon nasa bahay siya ng binata.She immediately run through the door at nagmamadaling binuk
IT was almost eleven thirty when they reach the rice field. Sa maliit na bakanteng lote, may nakatayong isang kubo na maaaring pahingahan ng mga magsasaka. May iilang babae silang nadatnan doon na naglalatag ng mga pagkain sa isang pahabang kawayang mesa. They all stop mid air when they saw her and Lia approaching. Lahat ng mga mata ay nasa kanya. "Sino yang kasama mo Lia?" Tanong ng isang medyo may edad ng babae doon. Probably the oldest of the five."Si ate Ella po anti Mery, kaibigan po ni kuya galing Manila." sagot ni Lia. Kinuha nito mula sa kanya ang basket at inilagay sa bakanteng espasyo sa mesa.She saw how the other woman look at each other as if there are something fishy on what Lia has said. "Naku, ang ganda-ganda mo ineng." Di napigilang sabi nong babaeng tinawag ni Lia na anti Mery."Thank you po.." She smile gently. Ngumiti rin siya sa mga babaeng kasama nito, they all look at her with astonishment and wonder. Lia introduced her to the other woman, may pangingilag
She struggle so much to get up from that muddy field. She fall with her back on it. Kalahati halos ng katawan niya ay nalubog doon at dahil malambot at malalim ang taniman ay nahihirapan siyang itukod ang mga kamay para makatayo dagdag pa ang kumikirot niyang kaliwang paa. She groaned from pain as she tried to get up once again. But still, she couldn't. She look at Simon as slowly walking towards her with his mocking grin. She closed her eyes tightly. Unti-unting lumalala ang kirot sa kanyang paa. At ng subukan niya iyon muling puwersahin para tumayo ay lalo iyong sumakit."Ahh!" She groaned painfully. Sweats are forming in her forehead. May pakiramdam pa nga siyang namumutla na ang kanyang mukha ng sandaling iyon.Dumilat siya ng maramdamang may mga bisig na umangat sa kanya mula sa putikan. Simon scoop her in his arms. He is in his usual dark face, wala na ang pangungutya sa mga mata nito."I..I think I broke my right foot." She whisper almost teary."Ganyan ang napapala ng mga mat