A The Mark Of A Stallion Novel: SEDUCTIVELY YOURS (Published)

Chapter 3.2

Maayos na ang lagay ni Aling Elena nang dumating siya  sa ospital.  Totoo ang sinabi ng kanyang nakababatang kapatid, nakalipat na nga ito sa semi-private ward mula sa operating room.  Mang Arman, his kindhearted stepfather was there together with Renz, her seventeen year old half-brother. 

                She politely  grasped the calloused hand of her stepfather and slowly brought it to her forehead.  Ang magaspang na kamay, maugat na mga braso at malalalim na gitla sa mukha ay palatandaan ng angkin nitong kasipagan sa pagtatrabaho.  But she could still trace the manly beauty on him that was brutally stolen away by poverty and old age.

He smiled at her and she smiled back.  Parang tunay na magulang ang turing niya rito kung paanong itinuring din siya nito na parang tunay na anak.  Ito na ang nakagisnan niyang ama at sapat na ang ipinakita nitong pagmamahal sa kanya upang hindi na niya naisin na makapiling pa ang tunay niyang ama, si Don Fernan Custodio.

                “Kumusta  na ang pakiramdam mo ,inay?” She asked to her mother while slightly touching her forehead. Hapis ang mukha ni Aling Elena at namumutla pero katulad ni Mang Arman, bakas pa rin sa kanya ang iwing kagandahang noong kabataan.  She was an exact replica of her mother. At labis niyang ipinagpapasalamat iyon.  Ni katiting sa kanyang panlabas na kaayuan ay wala siyang namana kay Fernan Custodio at ipinagpapasalamat niya iyon. Para sa kanya, mas makabubuting walang anumang bahid ng pagkakakilanlan sa kanyang katauhan na siya ay  isa ring Custodio. Heaven knew how she hated that name.

                “Okay naman ang pakiramdam ko, anak.” She replied almost in a whispering tone.  “Saan ka nga pala galing at ngayon ka lang nakapunta rito?”

                Suddenly, she held her breath.  She couldn’t answer as much as she couldn’t  meet the eyes of her mother.  She felt as if she did a mortal sin against her mother and to herself.  She knew, guilt was gradually striking her.

                “M-may kailangan akong tapusin, inay, requirement  sa  graduation ko.  Pero lagi naman akong nag-tetext at nangungumusta kay Renz tungkol sa lagay mo dito, di ba, Renz?” She looked at Renz as if asking for an ally.  He slightly nodded his head and smiled shortly.

                “Saan ka kumuha ng napakalaking halagang pambayad dito, anak?” pagkuway tanong nito.

                She was caught flat-footed again.  Hindi niya napaghandaan ang mga ganitong uri ng tanong ng ina. 

 Mang Arman came to the rescue as what he was always doing before.  Every time there was a confrontation between her and her mother, Mang Arman would always meddle to take side on her.

                “Kararating lang ng anak mo, Elena.  Maano bang papagkapehin muna natin siya.” he said while giving her a mug of hot coffee.  Alam na alam din ng amain niya ang kanyang weakness. Kape.  Mainit at matapang na kape. 

“Pasensiya ka na, Lei.” Masuyong umakbay sa kanya si Mang Arman para bahagya siyang mailayo sa nagtatanong na ina.   “Ako dapat ang gumagawa ng paraan sa pinansyal nating problema pero heto ako at walang magawa.  Nahihiya ako sa iyo, anak.”

                 “Itay, huwag ninyong sabihin iyan.” malugod siyang  ngumiti sa butihing amain.  “Iyong pag-aalaga ninyo ni Renz kay inay ay sapat na.  Hindi ninyo kailangang magpasalamat sa akin.  Pamilya tayo, ginawa ko lang ang tungkulin ko.”

                “Napakabuti mong anak, Lei.  Siguradong pagpapalain ka ng Poong Maykapal dahil sa kalinisan ng puso mo.”

                “At iyon ay dahil sa maayos na pagpapalaki ninyo sa akin, itay, sa amin ni Renz.” bahagyang ngumiti siya sabay baling sa nakangiti ring kapatid.  She walked towards him.  She had this fondness to her younger brother who, in turn, loved and respected her very much.  He was also tall and handsome though poverty stripped off the youthfulness on his face.  At his age, he had to accompany their father in fishing, working in sugarcane plantations, doing some constructional works and other odd jobs just to augment the family income. He even stopped from schooling just to give way to her collegiate education.  And she never heard any complaint from him.  He, just like Mang Arman was blessed with a good heart. God knows,  how much  she loved these two men.