Midnight Momento (Astalièr Series I)

MDT 25

Chapter 25

Before I could even reach the phone it stopped ringing. Bumaling ako kay Rohen na tahimik na kumukuha ng ulam. Instead of causing another scene, I just exhaled deeply and pulled another chair to sit next to him. Tama siya, tama rin ako, we should not act childish with this kind of thing. It's just a call.

Nang hindi na ako umimik ako at kumuha na lang rin ng ulam ay doon lang napalingon sa akin si Rohen. Hindi rin siya nagsalita pero kinuha niya sa akin ang serving spoon, tinulak niya ang plato niya sa akin at pinagpalit ang kanya. Binigay niya sa akin ang platong may pagkain na.

"Avena is our accountant in Hacienda." biglang sambit nito habang nagsasandok na ng para sa kanya. Hindi ko napigilan ang mapatingin sa direksyon nito. "Manong Hulyo got hospitalized and the Hacienda is paying for the hospital and his medication."

My mouth parted. "What happened to him? Ayos na ba siya?"

Tumango ito, "Nagkaproblema sa binti niya, it's either excessive walking o na-infection. But he's fine now, pauwi na rin at inaayos na lang ang bayarin sa ospital."

"O, thank God. Hindi na dapat kasi siya nasosobrahan sa trabaho. Mahihirapan na talaga siya sa age niya,"

"That's what I said too. Avena is taking care of it, the finances and her Lolo." huminto ito sa ginagawa at humarap sa akin. "Cali... the hacienda is now yours." anunsyo nito na parang hindi ko pa alam.

Napatikom ang bibig ko at umiwas ng tingin. "You know I can't handle the Hacienda. Alam mong hindi ako magaling sa ganoon isa pa, that's not my priority. Mag o-opening pa lang ang law firm, paano ko hahatiin ang oras ko?" hindi ko na nakatasan ang usapan na ito.

These past few days, Rohen has tried to come up with this topic but I always shove it away. I feel like I will not be ready anytime soon to face the responsibility in Astalier. He can do all the work for me, or he can already just take the land from me.

Ayoko maging gahaman. Alam kong hindi ko maaalagaan kaya wala akong balak angkinin iyon.

He pursed his lips and looked at me, "I will help you. I'll guide you."

I shut my eyes firmly before I turned to him again. "The land is not mine. Please, just take it away from me. I'll transfer the name to you—"

"No. Cali." mariin niyang putol.

Napa-awang ang bibig ko. Anong ibig niyang sabihin? E, ayoko nga.

"I will—"

"I still own some of the land." pag-amin niya.

Natigilan ako. Kumunot ang noo ko at napatitig sa kanya. He massaged the bridge of his nose like he said something he's not supposed to say. I faced him more, my chair squeaked because of it.

I should feel bothered or threatened as to how a land owner would normally react, but I was actually delighted. But something was just not right, at hindi iyon nakalampas sa pandinig ko.

"W-What do you mean? Can you explain to me what is happening?"

He lifted his gaze on me, he looked down and leaned back to his chair before darting his eyes on me again. "I meant it that I want you to own the land, it's rightfully yours." he reached for my hands above the table, "But I need the people to hear about it as much as they can. I think the mastermind of the burning the field will—"

Napatayo ako. Hindi na nito natuloy ang sasabihin at napalunok nang makitang seryoso na ang mukha ko. Nagpamewang akong humarap sa kanya. "You went to this extent to find the mastermind?" hindi makapaniwala kong saad.