ENEMY'S PROPERTY | ES:2

Kabanata 33

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ENEMY'S PROPERTY
Kabanata 33
''Red Roses''

''May kinatatakutan lang sina Lolo sa mga Sarmiento kaya tutol sila kay Javier at Vernaise. Pero hindi ganoon ang galit nila . . .'' Rhys paused, glancing at Carlos's way. ''. . . hindi tulad sa mga Montecarlo, Anya. Their family is a different story.''

Napahilot ako sa aking sentido. I know that. Noon pa. The Montecarlos are a different story. And until now, I know that. Hindi ko man alam ang lahat o pinakamalalim na detalye, pero hindi mapagkakaila na matindi ang galit ng mga De Leon sa mga Montecarlo. Pero hindi ba pwedeng palampasin ito . . .  kami?

''You can't. This can't be,'' dugtong pa ng aking pinsan. ''This will cause a big uproar in the family, more than Javier's.''

My heart deeply sank when I heard that. Ramdam ko na agad ang pagod at paghihirap kahit pinakinggan lamang iyon.

''We've been together for some quite time now. Last year pa, Rhys. And . . . and you think I didn't know those things? Of course, I knew . . .'' pahayag ko, humihina ang boses. ''I saw Javier in a situation like this one too. And we saw the reaction of our family about that. I tried to stop and prevented everything, Rhys. I really did . . . but . . .''

My eyes watered, and small tears escaped from it. Mas lalo akong naiyak nang yakapin niya ako.

''Rhys . . . please. Don't tell anyone, please . . . at least not yet.''

Rhys may look like he does not agree with this, but he would still support me. And knowing that somehow eased me. I know, him and Solenn are someone I could really trust. I know that even before.

''Our grandfather will go bersek if he finds out, Anya,'' mahina niyang bulong. ''Alam ba ni Javier? If not, you know he will not turn a blind eye to this one, too. We all know how much he treasures you.''

Mariin akong napapikit. Kahit paulit-ulit ko pang sabihin na maintindihan ni Javier dahil siya mismo ay pinagdaanan ang ganito . . . I know he doesn't or probably would never want me to take that path too. It wasn't easy. I know he did everything but it wasn't easy and smooth. And knowing that cousin of mine, I know that he'd rather push me away from the pavement than let me take the same road.

Sinabi na niya iyon sa'kin. Pinaalala na niya sa'kin. Yet, still, here I am. And I feel like I betrayed him.

Kumawala kami sa yakap. Mas lumapit din si Solenn na nakikinig lamang sa aming tabi kanina. She handed me a handkerchief which I gladly took.

''Hindi alam ni Javier. No one knew . . . aside from Lukas, Carlos' brother,'' sagot ko. ''But now, you and Solenn as well.''

''Is Carlos hiding you, Anya? He doesn't want to fight and face our family—''

Agad akong umiling. ''Hindi, it's not like that. It's me who cannot face the family. I've been pushing and running away from Carlos even before because of that. But . . . we still ended up together.''

I saw my older cousin sighed heavily as if in deep trouble. Napakagat ako sa aking labi sa kaba.

''I-I told him to be quiet about our relationship. He doesn't like the idea. Wala lang magawa, Rhys.''

''He likes you that much, huh?'' ani Solenn.

Wala akong naging reaksyon o nasabi dahil tila walang pumapasok sa isipan ko.

''He's known to be territorial and possessive, Anya. Iyon ang mga sabi-sabi. If he's indeed a man like that, he wouldn't let the chance pass not to announce to the world about you being as his to warn other men. Pero mukhang hindi niya ginawa dahil mas takot siya na kumawala ka sa kanya,'' aniya tila ba nakaisip ng napakagandang ideya. ''It still shows how possessive he is. Hmm, let's try something.''