Beginning Of Their End

Kabanata 13

Ibang kasiyahan ang nadarama ni Demeter habang pinapatakbo ang kanyang kabayo pabalik ng mansyon. Nakaharap at nakausap muli niya ang dalaga, hindi man sa paraan na gusto niya't inaasam ngunit sapat na para masilayan ng harapan ito't nagkaroon sila ng usapan.

"Paano kung hindi pera ang gusto kong kabayaran sa nasirang pananim ko? Maibibigay mo ba 'yun, Aya?" Bulong niya sa punong tenga nito.

Sa kanyang ginawang paglapit sa dalaga, mas tumindi lang lalo ang kaba na kanyang nararamdaman. And he knew only the woman in front of him could do that to him. Ever since, he always thought highly of himself. But since they met, he began to have fear and doubt for himself.

Amoy na amoy ni Demeter ang natural na bango nito. Sinipat niya ang leeg nitong makinis at may iilang butil ng pawis. Ganoon na lamang ang pag-igting ng kanyang panga nang sa pagbaba ng paningin, nakita ang nakalantad na bahaging dibdib nito. Agad na iniwas ni Demeter ang paningin roon. Wala siya sa lugar upang sawayin 'to at ayaw niya ring mas magalit ito lalo sa kanya. Hindi naman nakakabastos ang suot nito, sadyang ayaw lang niyang masyadong nakalantad ang dapat ay natatakpan pa sana. Pansin niya ang natirang pilat sa braso nito dahil sa natamong gasgas at sugat sa insedinteng 'yun, na sa tuwing naaalala niya'y umiinit lamang ang kanyang dugo.

"W-What do you mean?" He could feel the nervousness in her voice.

Gone was the Aya he had known before who was talkative and very proud of the way she spoke.

It was more interesting now and gave him excitement.

"Ikaw o ang kinabukasan ng mga trabahador ko? It is easy for me to fire them, Aya."

"If so, do it! Fire them up, and I will hire them. I have many vacancies to accommodate your workers," mariing tugon nito, pabulong.

He was stunned by its answer but he recovered quickly. He was wrong in what he thought.

"Still my Aya, huh?" nakangisi, aniya, inilayo ang mukha rito.

"If I'm still your Aya, why aren't you the one I love now?" Mahina lang 'yun, sapat para marinig niya.

For the second time, he was taken aback by what it said. He admits he was hurt there, but he had even more courage to take her back and let her know that he was still the one she loved and not that bastard. Sa naramdaman niya ngayon, kulang pa 'to sa nagawa niya rito.

Tumango siya bilang pagsangayon sa sinabi nito. "Yeah, right. That bastard really smart, huh?" Tiningnan niya ang kabuuan ng mukha nito.

Beautiful indeed!

"And you are a stupid one." Tumiim ang kanyang bagang, nagtatagis.

"If it is stupid to trust a friend even if he knows the truth, then I accept my stupidity," mariing tugon niya rito.

He saw how her forehead furrowed in astonishment. "Not in trusting you became a stupid, but in how you dealt with your problem."

Yeah, maybe. Pagak na lamang siyang ngumisi. Bringing up their past is not good in this kind of situation. "You have fiesty way of talking, Aya."

Tumayo siya ng tuwid at binalingan ang mga trabahador. Pinag-utos niya sa mga 'to na ayusin na lamang ang mga nasirang pananim. Hindi na niya kailangan pa magpabayad sa mga nasira kung aksidente naman ang nangyari.