Ang Barako at Ang Prinsesa (ONGOING)

Chapter 21

Matapos ang 'interesanteng' pagpang-abot nila ng kanyang asawa ay hindi na nakabalik sa pagtulog si Camilo. He looked around his property. Tahimik naman lahat.

He decided to stay for a while in his office. Naka-on ang aircon niya pero bigla siyang nainitan nang maalala ang hitsura ni Savannah kanina habang nagsi-skinny dipping ito. Napailing siya at binuksan na lang ang laptop niya. May email mula sa head office ng Summit kaya sinagot niya na muna ang mga ito.

"What is this email about? Oh no, tumiklop din si Santander. Tsk. Patanggi-tanggi pa sa merger dati, ngayon hahabol-habol naman."

________

Sa ikalawang palapag naman ay pabiling-biling din sa kanyang higaan si Savannah. She couldn't believe how crazy she'd been earlier.

Come to think of it, what I did was reckless. What if there are crazy people around? You stupid, b*tch! Porke ngayon ka lang naglagi sa probinsya...

Kinamot niya ang ulo at ginulo gulo ang buhok niya.

Yes it was reckless, but quite hot at the same time? 'Wag mo itanggi ghorl. Yummy si bebeboi. Sh*t am I crazy?

Suddenly she felt hot all over. That was the first time that she was in a very close proximity with a man. She might look like the ultimate outgoing party girl on the outside but in reality, she lived a sheltered life. She actually never had a boyfriend.

Kahit na nung bumukod siya sa mga guardian niya ay strictly sa bahay at opisina lang umiikot ang routine niya. Minsan ay inaaya siya ni Billie na mag food trip o mag bar hopping pero hanggang social drinking at kain lang sila. No monkey business, no hook-ups. From the time that she inherited their company along with its problems ay halos wala na siyang social life.

Napabuntonghininga na lang siya at patuloy na nagpabiling-biling sa kama niya hanggang sa lamunin na siya ng antok at pagod.

_______

Alas singko na ng madaling araw nang matapos ni Camilo ang binabasang proposal. Ngingiti-ngiting lumabas siya ng opisina. Naabutan naman niyang nagluluto ng kanin ang kapatid niya.

"O, kuya, mukhang maganda ang gising natin a?" Tanong nito. Inakbayan niya naman ito at sinagot:

"Paanong hindi, may bago na namang business deal, bunso! Thanks very much to you!" Ginulo niya ang buhok nito bago umalis. The poor girl was very puzzled.

Lumabas siya sa terasa. Grey-blue pa ang paligid. Di pa lumalabas ang araw. He loves this time in the morning. Tahimik pa lahat pero hindi na rin naman sobrang dilim. Nakakapag-isip siya. Favorite niya ring magtimpla ng kape.

Napaisip siya. I think I'll have pour over coffee today.

Kumuha siya ng coffee filter pati na rin ang pour-over cone niya at sa loob ng ilang minuto ay sila lang ng kape niya ang nag e exist sa mundo. He was engrossed with the circular motion of pouring hot water to the coffee grounds kaya hindi niya namalayang sinisilip siya ni Savannah.

"You're such a freaking nerd." Nabigla siya konti, kaya nabuhusan niya ang paa niya ng mainit na tubig.

"Awww! Wag ka namang ganyan!" Itinuloy niya ang pag-brew habang nakatunghay lang ang babae sa kanya. He served the coffee in two mugs. Binigay niya dito ang isa.

"Here. Andun yung sugar at may gatas sa ref if you want."

"Thanks." Pumasok ito sandal para kumuha ng gatas. Napansin niyang nanlalalim ang mata nito at mukhang kulang sa tulog.

"Strange. You looked tired. Let me see, oh, di ka nakatulog dahil sa akin?" Nginitian niya ito ng nakakaloko. Tuminging ito sa kanya pabalik at walang kagatol-gatol na sinagot siya ng "oo."

Bago pa siya makahuma ay dinugtungan na nito ang sinabi – "Oo, di ko malimutan yung balat mo sa may puwet. Hugis halfmoon" – na dinugtungan nito ng hilaw na tawa.

Tahimik lang itong uminom ng kape. Maya maya ay naisipan niyang tanungin ito, "do you think your dad is innocent?"

Natigilan ito.

"Honestly? I'm confused. Really. Hindi ko alam if mabait si Dad sa akin lang dahil given na kadugo niya ako at tagapagmana – the only child left to him. I honestly do not know how he treats his other constituents but I know one thing. Sa employees namin, he always asserts that they should do what is right. He respects them, kaya loyal din ang mga ito sa kanya. Aside from that he's proud of his accomplishments. Isa na yung land grant. I remembered it vividly. He was so happy the day that he distributed the titles. I don't know what happened after that..."

"Go on," he coaxed.

"After a few weeks, he seemed guarded and aloof. He kept himself in his office. He didn't have time even for a chat during meals. Then a month after, ayun, he had me hauled out of this place. To tell you the truth, I wanted to know why, too."

He looked at her. A brief stroke of emotion passed through her eyes. He wanted to do something to ease whatever discomfort she was feeling but then he remembered: we still do not know if you are an enemy or not, too. May tinatago ka ba, Savannah, ana ng kanyang utak.

"Ay ano ba'to? Ang drama ko. Don't worry. I know my place. You still see me as an enemy, if not a pawn, to get back to the person who wronged you - who you think is Dad." Sagot nito na tila nabasa ang utak niya.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't say sorry. All my life, I was surrounded by people who always said that just to make me feel better. Pero, you know what? I'd prefer it if they'd been honest...so just be honest."

"Oh. Alright then. I'll keep that in mind."

Matapos ang pag-uusap nila ay nabalot sila sa katahimikan. It was actually awkward for him kasi natamaan siya sa sinabi nito. Nabasag lang ang kanilang awkward silence nang tinawag sila ni Carissa para mag almusal.

Savannah sprung from her chair cheerfully to follow his sister as if nothing happened. At that moment he realized that there's actually more than meets the eye.

______

A/N: 

Hanggang dito muna, mga pips! Hope you like the very short update. Pa-vote na lang (if you want). Salamat sa suporta and stay safe always!