Adamantine

Chapter 42

Under Your Name

"Goodness gracious! Thank goodness you're alright." Agad akong yinakap ni Tita Karen.

Tita Karen did not seem to grow old. She looks exactly how she looks the last time we met. Sa kanilang dalawa, si Tito Joel 'ata ang tumanda.

"I am," sabi ko. Wala namang rason para hindi ako maging okay.

I saw how Tito Joel's eyes were averted to Manong Jun.

"Alam ba nila?" Tanong ni Tito Joel.

"Hindi po namin alam." Napayuko sina Manong Jun.

"Pero umaaligid ba sila?" Tanong ni Tito Joel.

Nagpasalin-salin ang titig ko sa kanilang lahat. Sila lang ang nagkakaintindihan sa pinag-uusapan nila. May kailangan ba akong malaman?

"Kanina pang umaga na walang senyales na umaaligid po sila," sabi ni Manong Jun. "Baka mamayang hapon po."

"Sana nandoon ka na lang sa Cebu," sabi sa akin ni Tita Karen. "The situation is not yet safe for you here, hija."

"Pero nasa paligid lang naman po ang mga tauhan ni Sir Lyon," agap ni Manong Jun. "Mas lalo pa pong pina-igtingan ang seguridad lalo na sa likod na parte ng farm. Lalo na at nandito si Ma'am Erina."

"I just hope they won't know," ani Tita Karen. Binaling niya naman ang tingin sa akin. "You have to get away as soon as possible."

"Mamayang hapon, uuwi rin ako," malamig kong saad. Bakit ayaw nila akong nandito?

"Lyon will be with her Karen. Papunta na si Lyon. I'm sure she'll be alright," Tito Joel tapped tita Karen's shoulder.

"Why are you talking like I'm not here?" I asked. "Why can't you tell me? What's happening? What is all of this about?"

Nagkatinginan ulit silang apat. They're like giving each other knowing looks.

"Your parents death is not an accident, Erina," sabi ni Tita Karen.

Namilog ang mata ko. If it isn't an accident then...

"We have already accepted the fact that they died because of a car crash... of an accident. Si Lyon lang ang umungkat ng lahat," sabi ni Tito Joel. "Fenrir planned all these."

Ano?

"I don't know if you'll be able to take it all in one seating, Erina," sabi ni Tita Karen.

Hindi ko napigilang umirap at inismiran sila. "I'm not the young Erina anymore. At kung may masama mang nangyayari, it won't affect me that much anymore."

"You already know that Lyon bought your farm," Tito Joel started.

"Correction," ani ko. "Sinangla sa kanya. Nang tubusin na, hindi niya na binigay."

"I don't really know what happened between the Alegrados and Maxwells. The thing is Lyon have the farm," pagpapatuloy ni Tito Joel. "He bought some neighboring lands. He expanded the business, I must say. He was very good in running and Fenrir was impressed by him."

Lyon has everything. Hindi na ako nagulat.

"Lyon studied his last years in Manila at doon sila nagkakilala ni Dimaria. I've heard they were acquainted. Lyon became close with Fenrir."

"So ano'ng nangyari?"

"Fenrir trusted Lyon. Akala niya siguro maaakit ni Dimaria si Lyon. Of course, kung magkakatuluyan ang dalawa, he can have this farm! He even introduced Lyon to some of his friends. Lyon is a young bachelor. Akala niya siguro mamamanipula niya si Lyon. He did not know. He was the one that was manipulated."