In the Shadow of Diamond (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 18

Kabanata 18

Sa tingin ko naman, hindi ko na dapat ipagtaka iyon. Dian, Mona, and Manang Hilda had already told me bits and pieces about their family.

Naiwan ako sa kuwarto dahil lumabas si Cronus. Sa loob ng kuwarto, tahimik ang lahat maliban sa mahinang tiktak ng luma ngunit mamahaling orasan. I sat on the edge of the bed, hands on my lap, staring at the carved details of the headboard. Nang manawa, I stood and crossed the room, brushing my fingers along the window frame.

Nasaan na ba si Cronus? He said he'd only be a minute, but time here seemed to stretch longer than it should.

A knock on the door broke the silence. I turned quickly. Pagbukas ng pinto, pumasok si Cronus.

"Satin," he said gently. "There are people I want you to meet."

I just nodded. We walked down the hallway together, his hand resting on my lower back. Ganoon siya palagi, as if guiding me somewhere I wasn't sure I wanted to go. The hallway felt colder than earlier, or maybe it was just me.

Pagbaba namin sa main hall, tatlong tao ang naghihintay sa amin. Two elderly figures stood tall, dignified, dressed in elegance. Sa pagitan nila, isang babae, nasa forties siguro? with sharp eyes and a smile.

"Satin," he said. "These are my grandparents, Don Maximillian and Doña Elizabeth Morfeo."

Nanigas ang katawan ko, pero ngumiti ako. I lowered my head respectfully.

"Good evening po..."

Don Maximillian gave me a long look, then nodded slightly.

"You're much younger than I expected."

Doña Elizabeth simply gave me a small smile, the kind that made me wonder what she was really thinking.

"And this," Cronus continued, "is Tita Maxima. My father's sister."

Oh, may kapatid pala na babae ang Papa niya? Ang buong akala ko ay mga lalaki sila, base sa kuwento nina Manang Hilda. Hindi niya kasi na-mention.

Maxima stepped forward.

"So, you're Satin," her voice was soft. "Nice to meet you, Satin."

I tried to smile. "Nice to meet you, po."

Cronus gently tightened his hold on me. I kept my face still, polite, calm but inside, my chest was a mess of nerves.

"Come," said Don Maximillian. "Baka lumamig pa ang hapunan."

Cronus nodded for me. Naglakad kami papunta sa dining hall. Naabutan kong naroon na si Hacintha Morfeo at nakikitulong sa mga kasambahay na nakauniporme.

Isang mahabang lamesa ang naroon, already set with silverware that looked ceremonial. Don Maximillian sat at the head, with Doña Elizabeth to his right and Tita Maxima to his left. Sa isa namang dulo ay umupo si Thadeus Morfeo at sa gilid niya ay si Hacintha Morfeo. Ipinag-usog ako ng upuan ni Cronus, napagitnaan nila ako ni Maxima Morfeo.

Maya-maya'y may mag-asawang dumating. The man was tall, and eyes that looked through you rather than at you. The woman wore green and gold. No one acknowledged their arrival aloud but somehow, everyone had expected them.

Cronus leaned toward me. "That's Uncle Victor and his wife, Tita Beatrice."

Victor Morfeo looked at me without expression. Beatrice Morfeo smiled just a little.

"Forgive us," aniya at umupo. "There were some matters that needed attending to."

"No harm done," Don Maximillian replied with a small nod. "Nasaan sina Theodore at Maxton?"