🌹 THE PROTECTOR 🌹

🌹 kabanata 13 🌹

Marquez

“O nandyan ka na pala Arashi. Umuwi na ba si Paul?”

“He’s outside gram’s. Talking to Jundrix.”

His voice is deep and almost cold. Kung hindi lang ito tipid na ngumiti kay Lola Antonia ay iisipin na ni Hera na galit ito. It was not even considered a smile but considering how he looks, maybe it would pass. She can hear a Russian accent from him.

“Kung ganon sasama ka ba sa kanya o dito ka narin matutulog?”

“I was, summoned. Gram’s. I will not leave. Unless my job has been done.”

Napa-angat ng tingin si Hera at natigilan siya nang magtama ang mga mata nila. He is looking at her, coldly. It’s as if he could snap her head in just a blink. There is something about what he just said. Summoned? Job? He even looked like a devil in disguise. Napahawak siya sa kamay ni Lola Antonia.

“Arashi.”

Parang doon lang nakahinga si Hera nang pumasok si Jun. Madilim ang tingin na ipinukol nito sa lalaki at kinabahan si Hera. Para silang galit na nag-uusap gamit ng mga mata at walang nais bumitiw. Makalipas ang ilang segundo ay unang nagbaba ng tingin ang lalaki. His eyes turned from cold to a blank stare.

“Sir.”

“Bumalik ka na kay Aled. Hindi ka pwedeng magtagal dito.”

Mas naging tuwid ang pag-upo ng lalaki. Para siyang isang sundalo na naghihintay ng utos.

“I won’t leave Sir. He wants to talk to you. I have been ordered to take you to him. Sir.”

Napahagod sa buhok si Jun at saglit na muling nakipagsukatan ng titig sa kaharap bago bumaling ang tingin kay Lola Antonia. Napansin ni Hera ang makahulugang tingin ni Lola Antonia dito at unti-unting tumango.

“Bumalik kayo agad Jun, mag-uusap tayo.”

Tumayo si Lola Antonia at hinawakan ang kamay ni Hera. Bahagya niya itong pinisil at hinalikan siya sa noo na ikinagulat niya. Ramdam ni Hera mula pa nong pag-uwi nila na may hindi siya nalalamang nangyayari. At kahit si Lola Antonia ay medyo iba din makatingin sa kanya. Bawat tingin at ngiti ay lumalamlam ang mga mata. Lumapit naman ito kay Jundrix at tinapik ito sa braso.

“At saka iho, hindi ko nagustohan ang mga ginawa mo. Marami kang dapat ipaliwanag sa akin.”

Sakay sa itim na SUV ay tahimik na nakatingin lang sa labas si Hera. Katabi niya sa back seat si Jun na kausap si Paul na siyang katabi naman ni Arashi sa harap. Kanina pa sila nag-uusap tungkol sa isang nagngangalang Aled. And that made her feel like her memories happened like yesterday. And it even confused her to hear that Jun is somewhat close with these people. Alam niyang sundalo si Paul, and maybe Arashi too, then Aled. And she thought that Jun is a policeman who was hired by her Mom to protect her. Now she is not really sure.

Hindi nagtagal ay pumasok ang sasakyan sa isang higanteng gate. If she’s not mistaken she read ‘Marquez de familia' on top of it. Agad siyang namangha sa lawak ng lugar. The place is well developed. Fountains, a lot of flower pots and white sand caught her attention. May mga puno din ng niyog na paisa-isa. Sa kaliwang banda ay ang di kalayuang dalampasigan.

She had been wondering so much why such a beautiful place did not catch anyone’s attention for development and she understands that the people would like to preserve the Island. This place would most likely be a Private part of the Island then.

Hindi niya mapigilang mamangha. It reminded her of Hacienda DeSilva. For quite sometime she was able to forget how it felt to be in a place like this, and she was even surprised that she did not miss it that much. It just feels... surreal. It had been only a month or two, but it felt like ages ago.