Naked Series #3: Unleash My Soul (COMPLETE)

Chapter 7

I feel a bit tired when I woke up the next day. Wala naman akong masyadong ginawa kahapon pero pakiramdam ko pagod na pagod ako. May be because I couldn't stop thinking last night.

I'm bothered about the ring. Wala naman sa akin kung itatago ko lang ang sing sing pero maraming bilin si Tita Alana sa akin kadikit ng pagtatago ko ng sing sing na ito. She said that I shouldn't let Dimitri see that I have his ring. Iyon ang laman ng isip ko kagabi pa. Why would Tita say that?

Kami lang ni Tria ang nasa hapag ngayon para mag-agahan. Umalis daw si Dimitri at bumalik naman si Tita sa Manila kaninang madaling araw dahil may aasikasuhin daw ito. Naiwan kami ni Tria dito, pero ayos lang naman sa akin. Mas magaan ang galaw ko kapag alam kong wala si Dimitri kaya pabor din sa akin 'to.

We tried horse back riding again and I could say that I'm a fast learner. Maganda din kasi ang balanse ko sa katawan kaya mabilis akong nasanay sa likot ng kabayo.

"Keisha! We're going somewhere. Follow me!" Sigaw ni Tria sa akin at pinalakad ang kabayong sinasakyan niya patungo sa kung saan.

I move my horse to follow her. "Where are we going? Hindi tayo pwedeng lumayo sabi ni Manong."

"Dyan lang! Hindi naman malayo. Magugustuhan mo doon, sigurado ako!"

Sinundan ko na lang siya kahit na nag-aalinlangan ako. I still doubt myself riding on this horse. I'm not afraid of heights but I'm afraid of injury, so...

"We're here!"

Namilog ang mata ko ng makita ang malinaw na tubig ng ilog. Kitang kita ang sahig at sa tingin ko mababaw lang ito. I instantly fell in love with the rushing sound of the water and the fresh smell here. Pinaghalong amoy ng halaman at lupa ang malalanghap mo dito.

"This is our safe haven. No one knows about this part of the land aside from Kuya and me. I want to show this to you because you'll be one of the family soon." Nginitian niya ako.

Nawala ang pagkamangha ko sa magandang ilog dahil sa sinabi ni Tria. I remember Dimitri's words about our engagement. He will never marry me.

Umiwas ako ng tingin kay Tria at pilit na ngumiti. "Thank you for sharing your safe haven."

Tahimik lang ako habang nagkukwento si Tria tungkol sa kabataan niya. I remember Tita Alana's words. Kinuha daw ni Tito Demetrius si Tria noon, kaya niya iniwan si Dimitri sa States. If I'm not mistaken, she also said something about being locked here.

"I was eight when I met Daddy and he bought me here. I wasn't aware of his existence until he came in my school to fetch me. We rode in an airplane and next thing I know, we're here. Ilang araw lang at dumating si Mommy, then three years later, my brother came. We became whole!" Kumislap ang mata niya.

She was eight when Tito Demetrius got her and Tita Alana followed them here. Tatlong taon bago nila nakasama si Dimitri. Ibig sabihin, tatlong taong mag-isa si Dimitri sa ibang bansa. I wonder what happened to him. Galit siya sa pag-iwan na ginawa ni Tita Alana sa kaniya dahil may nangyari nung mga panahong mag-isa siya sa ibang bansa. I want to know what happen so I could understand why in spite of Tita Alana's kindness, Dimitri loathed her.

"Dinala ako dito ni Kuya. He discovered this." Lumakad siya palapit sa tubig. "He's always here because he hates our house. Galit siya kay Mommy dahil nag-away sila noon at hindi naman sila magkasundo ni Dad."

"Hindi halata."

Tria chuckled on my remarks. "People would automatically cover themselves if they want to hide something. It's an instinct in our family. We're civil, but not close. Mom hates my Dad but recently, they became pretty close. Kuya talks to everyone but that's it. I, on the other hand, became close to everyone here. That's based on my observation." She shrugged.