Speak for Me (book version)

Chapter 2- Story Behind My Stay

Diane

"Taga-Negros ako." Simula ko. Parang nanonood ng sine ang mga timang, kumakain pa ng chichirya.

"Bakit wala kang puntong bisaya?" tanong agad ni Kaye.

"Shhh," saway ng iba.

"Ano ba, Kaye? Maya na ang tanong," pangaral ni Cheska.

"Okay. Sure. Sorry. Grabe, mga galit agad?" Kaye replied while surrendering.

"Namatay si Mamá sa panganganak sa akin. So, my Lolo and Lola basically were my parents. My Papá was always— let's say preoccupied during my grown-up years. So, my Lolo and Lola took charge."

Kumuha ako ng isang bote ng softdrinks at tinungga ito. Nauhaw ako bigla, hindi pa man ako nakakausad sa kwento.

"My Lola was an heir of Hacienda Soledad. A land in Negros that only a daughter can inherit. So, when my Lola died, the Hacienda automatically became my inheritance because my Mamá was an only child and died before my Lola."

Walang kumikibo sa kanila. They encouraged me to continue, so I did.

"My Lolo is an heir also of another hacienda. It is another hacienda aside from my Lola's land. They call it Hacienda Vicente. This hacienda has no special rules or whatsoever unlike on my Lola's land. Kahit kanino, pwedeng ipamana."

Huminga ako ng malalim at muling ininom ang softdrinks hanggang mapangalahati ko ito bago ako nagpatuloy.

"I studied at London for my Veterinary Medicine. Every vacation, I went back to Negros. My Lola died before I went to London, so I was reluctant to study abroad but Lolo took charge of Lola's land on my behalf. My Papá thought that when my Lolo died, sa kanya mapupunta iyong hacienda ni Lolo dahil kasal sila ni Mamá. But my Lolo asked my Mamá to sign a contract before she marries. The land will go to the firstborn and not to the spouse. We didn't know that until my Lolo died a few years ago. The contract was legally bound that Papá can't do anything. So, I inherited two haciendas."

"Wow," Cheska commented after a while.

"So why are you here in Country Club and not in one of your Haciendas?" Sam, the lawyer herself, asked. "Don't get me wrong, D. We are happy that you are here. We are just curious why you are here."

"When my Lolo died, I haven't finished my studies. My Lolo took care of everything before he died. My tuition fees were fully paid until I graduated. My apartment was already paid for. I have an allowance that was transferred to me by the bank on behalf of my Lolo's instruction. I had a horse that my Lolo gave to me. I helped my Lolo with the delivery of that horse. And Papá sold that horse because he found out about the will. It was Lolo's gift to me. So, I packed my bag and went after my horse." I was crying. Damn, I am crying while telling them what happened.

"That horse is ThunderBolt," I informed them.

"Tristan's horse," Trisha said as a matter of fact.

"Yeah. I can't afford to lose that horse. I tried to buy him back, but Tristan didn't want to sell it. So, I applied for a vet position to be with my horse because that's the only gift that my Lolo left. He said I should take care of ThunderBolt. So... I left Negros. And now, the Hacienda Vicente is in debt," I exhale. "I have a feeling that my stepmother has something to do with this."

"Does Red know about this?" naguguluhang tanong ni Marie.

"Yes. Pina-back ground check niya ako bago niya ako tanggapin."

Napabuntong hininga ang mga kaibigan ko.

"You have to go back," Lise murmured that made me nod.

Huminga si Lise ng malalim bago tumango.

"When?" may lungkot na tanong ni Cheska. "God, kababalik ko lang, aalis ka? Is this for good?"

"I don't know," naiiyak na sagot ko.

"Aw, huwag kang umiyak, D," ani ni Kaye at yumakap sa akin. Nagsisunuran ang iba maliban kay Marie na hindi na makatayo sa kinauupuan.

"Ang lapit lang ng Negro, 'nu ba! Kaya ka naming puntahan at dalin ang party sa inyo, 'di ba, girls?" Trisha said that made my friends agreed. Pinunansan ni Cheska ang mga luha ko at inayos ang ilang hibla ng buhok ko na kumawala sa ponytail.

"Let's celebrate," Lise suggestion that made Marie groan.

"Hindi naman ako makainom eh. Mag-kape na lang muna tayo," kontra ni Marie.

"Bukas ng maaga, sa Downtown," yaya ni Sam.

"'Yan ka na naman tapos late ka," biro ko na ikinaikot ng mga mat ani Sam pero ngumiti rin sa huli.

Pag-alis ng mga kaibigan ko bandang alas-singko, tinawagan ko si Red para magpaalam.

"Boss, magpaalam sana ako."

"Gaano kalala ang situation sa inyo?" tanong niya sa akin. Ang laki na ng pinagbago ni Red. Kung sa ibang pagkakataon ito nangyari baka on the spot tinanggal na niya ako sa trabaho.

"Hindi ko pa alam sa ngayon. Hindi ko rin alam kung kailan ako makakabalik. Baka kailangan mo na akong palitan?" I gave him a hint and he knew what I was saying.

Bumuntong hininga si Red. "Any recommendations?"

"May kaibigan ako na pwedeng i-recommend."

"A woman?"

"A guy. Fifty-fifty."

He chuckled. "Tell him to send his resume directly to me."

"Thanks, Boss."

"Let me know if you need help, Diane."

Nangilid muli ang mga luha ko. "Salamat, Red."

"Anytime."

Huminga ako ng malalim at binuksan ang laptop pagkatapos. Kailangan ko ng humanap ng ticket pabalik ng Negros.