"PUWEDE bang maiwan muna kami rito, Manong Sammy?" kalmadong pakiusap ni Ernesto sa trabahador.
Magalang itong tumango. "Sige ho, señor."
"Kung gusto mo ng tubig o kape, makiusap ka lang kina Mona."
Pigil nito ang paglapad ng ngiti. "Sige, señor. Salamat ho."
"Bumalik ka rin agad dito," aniya sa lalaki nang patungo na ito sa pinto.
"Opo, señor."
As the door closed, he shot a brooding underlook toward Joan. "Why here?" sandal niya sa swivel chair.
Nakuha pa nitong magulat. "Nanong 'here?'" Anong 'here?'
"Tapos na ang pakay mo rito," paghigpit ng kaniyang boses. Ernesto crossed his arms. "Bakit hindi ka pa umaalis sa hacienda? Pinapunta ko rito kahapon si Kyle pagkatapos ng karambola. Sinabihan ko na siyang ibalik ka na sa bahay ninyo."
"Sinabi niya naman 'yon sa akin."
"Kung gano'n, ano pa ang ginagawa mo rito?"
"Ang sabi ni Kyle, mga Dela Fuente at trabahador lang ng hacienda ang puwedeng tumira dito kaya nararapat na bumalik ako sa Nilabanan. Kaya para hindi na ako makitira kina Kyle o bumalik doon, mag-a-apply ako ng trabaho rito."
He just could not believe this woman. She sounded so innocent, like a child explaining a simple logic. But it seemed like she was mocking him for having to laid out the obvious to him.
"Maraming oportunidad at trabaho sa labas ng hacienda. May bahay ka sa Nilabanan. Bakit ipinagsisiksikan mo ang sarili mo rito?"
"Siyempre, bakit lalayo pa ako, 'di ba? Kaya dito na ako nag-apply ng trabaho."
He was speechless. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa itinatagong apog ng babae. That pride in her voice did not escape his ears though.
"Nani? Ang wais ko, no?" magaan nitong ngiti sa kaniya.
Ah, he was no fool. Such looks, innocent eyes, and carefree smile would never outsmart a Dela Fuente.
His eyes narrowed. "Ang sabihin mo, tuso ka. Ipipilit mo na naman ba na makialam ako sa paghahanap diyan sa kapatid mo? Gusto mo bang maglagi rito para konsensiyahin ako sa bagay na wala namang kinalaman ang mga Dela Fuente? 'Tulad ng pagkawala ng kapatid mo?" He sat straight and untangled his arms. 'Because . . . what else can be her agenda here?'
"Tuso? E, sino ba 'yong madaya na kaya nanalo sa karambola kasi hindi nakipaglaban 'yong manok niya? Patago-tago lang. Paiwas-iwas masaktan."
Pinanlakihan niya ito ng mga mata. Ernesto was holding in his irritation.
"Si Kapitan talaga ang tunay na panalo," dugtong pa ni Joan.
May himig na naman ng pagmamalaki sa boses ng babae. For Ernesto, she sounded very immature.
How dare this woman question Siki's win. Siki who was well-trained, who sprung from the finest hybrid of majestic chicken breeds. Siki always held a special place in Ernesto's life—a symbol of his excellence as the eldest child of the family, a symbol of being a victor in many cockfights.
It was the main unspoken rule in cockfighting—to never attach yourself to your fighting cock. Loss would be easier to deal with that way. But Ernesto took the risk with Siki, because he had no plans to lose anyway. And it was worth it.
His aim was to always be on top of all things—to be the victor in every battle, whether within the arena or in life. So, how dare this woman belittle Siki—the fruit of his extensive research, studying, and years of attempt to breed the finest rooster of all? The product of his sweat and hard earned money?
BINABASA MO ANG
Pinagsoltada
General FictionErnesto Dela Fuente did everything to please the people around him, particularly his father. He even tied himself into a marriage that was purely for their business' convenience. Eventually, he was already fathering a child. He became this responsib...
