AnseRa: Mga Huling Sandali

The Ruse

Senyora Ariana has been the monster head, the dictator, the tyrant  of the Zobeyala's, most especially of her daughter, Nidora, who has done nothing wrong but to love a peasant. Since she got hold of her daughter's life again after she caught her and Anselmo in a Baile in a native town, she immediately decided to send Nidora to one of their properties in Cebu with Yaya Mot, her child's helper to assist her in all her needs. Senyora Ariana is confident enough that Yaya Mot cannot do anything to help Nidora and Anselmo anymore since she threw them  in a very far place, where there are no other means of travel, most especially that she isn't providing monetary allowance to them aside from the supplies that they'll be needing there. Besides, she has shown Yaya Mot the brutal possibilities that may happen to her again if she choose to betray her once more.  

"Maraming salamat, Beyonce! Isa kang tunay na kaibigan!" Nidora hugged Beyonce as they silently make their way out of their Cebu Mansion. True to her words, Beyonce never abandoned Nidora and Anselmo. She has been very supportive of her alaga's romance with the farmer in their local town. Through her , Nidora and Anselmo still have contact with each other. She never thought of the dangerous acts that she's done like sneaking out of the mansion just to bring the Nidora's letters for Anselmo through a friend of hers in the farm who regularly visits Tarlac, their native town, to deliver goods from Cebu. 

"Wala yun, Nidora. Alam mo naman na kaligayahan mo lang ang tangi kong hangad." Beyonce said, handing Nidora the latest letter that she just received from her friend from Anselmo.

"Bakit ba hindi ka na lang sumama sa akin patungo kay Anselmo? Maari ka namang manirahan kasama namin at ng aming mga magiging supling. Masyadong delikado para sa'yo kung maiiwan ka dito. Kilala natin pareho ang Mama." Nidora cried, convincing her faithful friend to come with her. She has been her confidante ever since. She's like a bestfriend and a sister to her all throughout. 

"Hayaan mo na ako, Nidora. Ang importante ay matagpuan niyo na ni Anselmo ang kapayapaan at masayang buhay na inyong matagal nang inaasam." Beyonce said, wiping the  tears away from Nidora's beautiful face. Right then, Nidora knew that she can't do anything to change her friend's decision: to stay in Cebu, to be under her Mama's control. 

"Ayan na si Tonyo, Sumama ka lang sa kanya. Pagdating niyo sa pier ay makakasama niyo ang kanyang kapatid na si Nila. Huwag kang mag-alala, tutulungan ka nila. Alam na nila kung saan ka ibababa pag dating ninyo doon. Susunduin kayo ni Miguel mula sa daungan patungo sa kanilang bukid ngunit ika'y kanilang ibababa sa kung saan naghihintay si Anselmo tatlong bayan bago ang atin, sa may kubo kung saan maraming ala-ala ang inyong binuo. Mag-ingat ka sa iyong paglalakbay. Ikamusta mo na lamang ako sa iyong irog. Papaano? Paalam, aking Nidora. Maging tunay kang maligaya sa piling ng iyong minamahal." Nidora gave Beyonce another hug, as if trying to translate all her unsaid gratitude to her. She was then ushered by a middle-aged man to the back of his tractor.

The skies won't stop from pouring since evening came. Despite the stormy weather, Anselmo settled himself in a small nipa hut, patiently waiting for the love of his life to arrive safely. Sure, he has been through a lot. From his life status to his current health situation,  but not having Nidora by his side for the past 6 months has been the hardest struggle that he's encountered.

"Panginoon, wala na akong ibang hihilingin pa sa inyo kung hindi ang maging ligtas aking irog sa kanyang paglalayag. Nawa'y bigyan niyo po kami ng lakas ng loob para harapin ang bawat pagsubok ng buhay na aming haharapin sa aming pagsasama. Wag niyo pong hahayaan na muling kaming masaktan ng mga pangyayaring nagpapatatag sa amin bilang mga indibidwal, at bilang magkasintahan na pinagbuklod ng tadhana." Anselmo silently prayed while waiting for Nidora's arrival. Just then, he saw a light coming.