Embers From Within (Casa Fuego Series #6)

Chapter 24

Numb and Frail

What is wrong?

Where are we going wrong?

"S-Senyorita, ayos ka lang po ba?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Anna nang umuwi ako sa manor, gabing gabi na.

Wala na ang mga kasambahay at mga tauhan, maging si Mama ay tulog na sa kanyang kuwarto. Si Anna lang ang naabutan kong naghihintay sa may bulwagan. At nang makita niya ang sasakyan na pumarada, agad siyang tumakbo papunta sa akin.

I was walking lifelessly. Tulala ako, at tila namamanhid. Nang naakyat ako sa bulwagan, saka lang bumagsak ang pagod ko. Tumigil ako sa may likod lang ng double doors. My bag fell and tears formed in the corners of my eyes, forcing me to close my eyes so Anna won't see my tears. Because honestly, I have no energy to answer all her questions out of worry right now. Not after what happened.

"Hindi ka po hinatid pauwi ni Sir Art?"

I gasped at the mention of his name. Pinilit ko ang sariling hindi imulat ang mga mata dahil sa oras na gawin ko iyon, alam kong bubuhos ang aking mga luha. Ilang beses akong tumikhim para hindi mabasag ang aking boses.

"I'm fine, Anna. You may go to your room and leave me be," I said in a raspy voice.

"Wala po ba si Sir Art? Hindi ka na po naihatid? Ayos ka lang po ba?"

"Just..." I shut my eyes tightly. Thank goodness the yellowish dimmed lights from the porch attached in the pillar gave shadows to half of my face, she couldn't see a tear fell. "Just leave me be. Please, Anna."

Ilang sandali siyang hindi nagsalita at hindi rin ako umimik. Naramdaman ko na lang na naglakad siya papalayo. I opened my eyes and saw her hesitantly leaving me. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at wala sa sariling nagtungo sa music room.

As I sat on the velvet chair and started strucking the strings of my violin, I could feel my heart cold and my whole body numb. It hurts so bad that not one ounce of energy was left on my body. It feels like I was stranded in the middle of a storm that won't pass anytime soon, getting numb from the cold and pain, nowhere to go, not having even one slightest idea of what to do next.

The melody of the music I was playing failed to fall on a rhythmic pattern as I tried to trace back where this all started.

Was it after that particular business function?

"Don't let that old man's words get into your head, Art. We both know you're not a failure. The lawsuit will be reviewed under a trial and all of these will be solved."

Pinagmasdan ako si Art na tahimik habang hinuhubad ang kanyang sinturon. Hinubad niya rin ang kanyang relo at ang suit. Nang hinuhubad niya ang kanyang dress shirt, hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita. Kanina ko pa siya pinapakiramdaman. Nasa sasakyan pa lang kami, wala na siyang imik. And for the first time, I felt so uneasy in silence with him.

I sighed and walked towards him. Papunta na sana siya sa banyo nang niyakap ko siya mula sa likod. He stiffened.

"You're not a failure. You'll prove in the court that the formulation of the products were correct. Don't let his words bring you down-"

Nagulat ako nang tumango siya at marahang kinalas ang aking pagkakayakap sa kanya mula sa likod.

"Yeah," sagot niya at dumiretso na sa banyo para makaligo, ni hindi na ako niyaya kasabay niya.

Pinalipas ko ang gabing iyon na wala siyang imik sa akin. Iniisip ko na baka marami lang siyang iniisip dahil sa kasong kinakaharap ng kanyang kompanya. Pati na rin ang nakakakilabot na pagkikita nila ni Senator Guazano.