The Magnate's Holiest Sin (Cavanaugh #3)

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12

Road

"Laki? Who's Francesca?" hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong magtanong.

Halos isang oras na kaming bumabiyahe papuntang Barangay Daraitan.

Earlier, we stopped to take a break and have our lunch in a random karinderya. The women were complaining, most especially, Francine. She was kvetching about the idea of eating in that place. She wanted us to eat in a certain restaurant, which was impossible. I meant, just by looking at the place where we were? Far from the city? There was no such thing as a first-class restaurant here, if that's what she was searching for.

Kasalukuyan akong nakaupo sa front seat dito sa mamahaling sasakyan ni Laki. Si Francine naman ay mas pinili na lang na sumakay sa sasakyan ng mga babae since tatlo lang naman silang nakasakay doon.

"She's my brother's ex-girlfriend," was his honest answer, without taking his eyes off the road.

"And yours too?" How I wanted to sew my mouth shut. Why was I being so loud every time that I was having a conversation with this man? Clearing my thoughts, they were absolutely on haywire. I hesitantly opened my mouth, careful with my choice of words. "Uhm. . . Ayos lang kung ayaw mo'ng sabihin, siguro ay nag-mo-move on ka pa-"

Just as I was about to end the conversation, he started it by cutting my words off.

"I knew that Francesca had a relationship with Kuya Law, the eldest of us. Habang sila pa rin ni Kuya Laz," was his introduction of the main subject. Hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang paghigpit ng paraan na pagkakahawak niya sa manibela. "Nahuli ni Kuya Laz si Francesca na balak halikan si Kuya Law roon sa mismong mansyon. Galing sa paglalayas si Kuya Law no'n, umuwi lang dahil sa isang event pero umalis din agad."

Was I the only one who felt chills running down my spine the moment I heard his brothers' names? There was something about their family that I couldn't say or put into words. It was undescribable, now that I haven't met them.

"And?" Surely, I couldn't really stop myself from asking further questions. The curiosity was like an earthworm being inserted inside my brain. Controlling my mind and my mind was controlling my mouth.

This was not me. Did I show too much interest to know more about his life? If I did, then I would pray and hope for him to simply ignore me from being such a meddlesome nuisance.

I was just a curious citizen. I was not a gossipmonger, could not endure myself to hang out with quorum of such quidnunc longer than ten minutes, but I listen to them anyway. Still, I would not consider myself as one. Not even seeing myself as a blabbermouth. That would be all.

"Naghiwalay sila. Nalaman kong may nabuntis si Kuya Laz pagkatapos ng dalawang buwan na paghihiwalay nila. Alam kong alam niya na rin, pero kilala niya si Dad. He decided to stay away from them. He's still a student that time. He had nothing to protect the woman against our father," mariing paliwanag ni Laki at saglit pang sumuluyap sa banda ko ngunit hindi sa mukha ko, kung 'di ay sa hita ko. Parang pinapahiwatig niya sa akin na gusto niya itong hawakan. "He hurt her emotionally and physically-"

"Wait what? That's too much!" I exclaimed.

Naaalala ko na naman ang tungkol sa mga magulang ko tuwing nakakarinig ako ng mga kuwento tungkol sa isang lalaki na sinasaktan ang isang babae.

Binura ko ang lahat ng mga pangyayaring bumabalik sa isip ko nang muling nagsalita si Laki.

"It's either he'll hurt her or she'll be forced by our father to abort the child. He was forced to hurt her," patuloy ni Laki gamit ang kaniyang matigas at malalim na boses. "Simula kasi noong umayaw si Kuya Law na siyang mag-ha-handle ng Cavanaugh Finance Corp. ay si Kuya Laz na naman ang binabantayan ni Dad. Bawat galaw niya ay makakarating kay Dad. If Kuya Laz showed kindness to a certain person, Dad would show otherwise or worse."