Dulling Glisters of the Diamond (Casa Fuego Series #5)

Chapter 30

This story is comprised of 40 chapters.

Little Princess

It took us a while before we all calmed down a bit. Pinagmamasdan ko silang dalawa na nasa balkonahe, nag-uusap. Nakakalong si Javion sa binti ng kanyang ama habang may pinag-uusapan silang hindi ko marinig dahil nasa loob ako, kausap si Papa.

"What do you mean they met just now?" rinig ko ang taranta sa boses ni Papa.

"Julius and I talked. I told him about Javion and he wanted to see him right away. They met already, Papa."

"What..." hindi makapaniwala si Papa. "Are you alright? Gusto mo bang puntahan kita r'yan-"

"Your celebration isn't done yet, Papa. Pasensya na bigla akong nakawala. Hindi ko alam kung makakabalik pa ako. But I'm doing fine. They're talking right now. Javion handled it pretty well."

I heard Papa's heavy sigh. Muli kong binalingan ang dalawa. Julius was sitting on a wooden chair, and Javion was sitting on his right leg. Julius' arms were wrapped around his son, whispering things to him. May tinuturo si Javion sa langit at sinasagot naman ni Julius. My heart feels warm watching their back against me while they were facing the sky with just the moon and a lone star. Ang puting kurtina ay nahihipan ng pang-gabing hangin.

"Call me if you something happens, okay? Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm alright, Papa. You have to go. Baka hanapin ka pa," I said before I cut the line.

Binaba ko ang aking cellphone sa kama at niyakap ang sarili habang nakatingin sa kanila. Naupo ako sa dulo ng kama, hindi tinatanggal ang mga mata sa kanila. Javion said things I couldn't fathom and I saw Julius smiled before leaning to his ear for a whisper. Napatingin sa kanya si Javion at may sinabi ulit.

Ngayong medyo kalmado na ako, ngayon ko pa lang napapagtanto ang mga nalaman. The Manriquez's were betrayed by their own employees. They targeted us because they know how cruelly powerful our family is. Ayon kay Papa, nasa kulungan na ang mga suspek ng ambush. I am sure Julius put them all to rot in jail. Julius may be gentlemanly in some ways but he's more of a cruel and imposing person in all ways.

Their engagement was called off. Astrid Lopez was already pregnant when she went home. That means my mother, once again, lied to me! Hindi ko alam kung mali lang ba talaga ang balitang nasagap niya but knowing my own mother, I think she manipulated the truth again. She does that all the time in order to get what she wants.

Hindi siya kasal kahit kanino man. Wala siyang ibang anak kundi si Javion. Wala siya ni isang sulat na natanggap mula sa akin. I don't know why easily believed him despite the pain I went through all those years ago. Maybe because somehow, I still believe in the man I saw of him. Pero alam kong ibang-iba na rin siya sa lalaking nakilala ko noon. He feels familiar yet different, but still feels like... home.

Bakit wala siyang natanggap na sulat? Halos araw-araw akong nagpapadala ng sulat sa kanya. Mapagkakatiwalaan si Lourdes kaya sino ang gagawa noon?

Napahinga na lang ako nang malalim. Pakiramdam ko ang daming nangyari nitong mga nakalipaas na araw na kailangan ko muna ng kaunting panahon para pag-isipan ang lahat ng ito. Hindi pa kami nag-uusap si Julius at pakiramdam ko hindi siya papayag na malayo kay Javion. Pero paano 'yon? Nasa ibang bansa ang mga trabaho ko. Ang dami ko pang dapat pag-isipan at sa tingin ko hindi ko kakayanin kung pipilitin ko lahat ngayong gabi.

"Mama!" kumaway sa akin ang anak ko nang nalingunan ako.

Napatingin agad sa akin si Julius. He was looking at me intently. Pakiramdam ko gustong-gusto na niya akong kausapin pero sinusulit muna ang panahon kasama ang anak.