Sevilla's Home

Prologue

"You did a great job on your last assignment Sevilla. Of course, we got worried, but we were all amazed with how good you handled the situation." My boss's praises rumbled along with his laughter and filled every space of his office.

"Thank you, Sir." I smiled.

They were all amazed at what I did during my last assignment that until now they keep on talking about how sassy I was.

My mother wasn't amazed though.

Sino ba naman kasing ina ang matutuwa habang pinapanood sa telebisyon ang anak na nasa kamay ng isang hostage taker?

Yes, I was a victim of a hostage taking two weeks ago.

It's a blessing that my knowledge of taekwondo suddenly refreshed in my mind, it helped me a lot to survive in the midst of that situation. I was able to escape the culprit and save the victims but it wasn't that easy for me dahil nga may armas ang lalake.

Just after I was able to let go of the hostage taker's wife and daughter, who were his victims, he stabbed me with the knife he's holding on my lower back. Mabuti na lang at hindi malalim ang saksak, hindi rin delikadong parte ng katawan, yet I was still rushed to the hospital.

With what happened, I was given a month of leave to take a rest but I did not like it. Ayaw kong manatili sa ospital o sa condo na walang ginagawa kaya naman bumalik na ako sa trabaho after two weeks kahit pa matinding sermon ang inabot ko kay Mama.

I still remember how she purposely ignored me a while ago habang naghahanda sa pagpasok. Tanging ang kapatid ko lang na si Sebastian ang kumausap sa akin bago ako umalis ng bahay.

"Are you sure you're ready for your next assignment? Medyo mabigat rin ito."

"I'm perfectly good, Sir. Kaya ko na po talagang magtrabaho ulit." I assured, the old man nodded and gave me an amused smile.

"Okay...Hindi na kita pipigilan. I know the feeling of doing nothing. Frustrating, right?" Tumango ako, buti at naintindihan niya ako.

"Well, I've read on your files that you're from San Gabriel in Cagayan Valley."

"Y-Yes, Sir." I hesitated confirming it because of the sudden rapid beating of my heart as well as the sudden rush of bittersweet memories of childhood I had when I was in that town.

"Well, the National Election is fast approaching. Kasabay niyon ang paglabasan ng mga kung anu-anong issue laban sa mga tumatakbong politiko...Do you happen to know Don Ramon Villaciete, the Governor?"

I tried so hard not to show how I froze in front of Mr. Tan.

"I...I know him, Sir. I p-personally know him po. I met him when I was in high school."

"Good to know dahil siya ang next assignment mo."

"P-Po?" Suddenly, for the first time, I felt hesitant of doing my job. How will I face that man? After that ungrateful thing I did to his grandson who did nothing, but only good things for me?

"I want you to have an interview with Don Ramon Villaciete of San Gabriel. Mainit ang kasong ibinibintang sa kanya ngayon. I need you to dig deep about him, his family and the issue he's facing now. I want a big scoop. It would be better if you'd be able to get an exclusive interview with the Governor." He said with hopeful eyes.

I have heard about the issue weeks ago, Don Villaciete's inhumanity towards the poor people of San Gabriel, but I just shrugged my shoulders about it.

Alam ko at matindi ang paniniwala kong isa lamang iyong paninira sa kanya dahil isa ang Don sa pinaka-mataas ang tyansang manalo ngayong taon sa posisyon bilang sendador.

I know too well that the old Villaciete man couldn't do such thing. None among them in the family is evil. They're even abused most of the times because they're too good to others. People take advantage of their goodness-- like what I did, eight years ago.

I felt like I was floating all throughout my meeting with Mr. Tan. Sana ay nakinig na lang ako kay Mama na magpahinga na lang muna sa bahay para hindi sa akin napunta ang assignment na ito.

While driving home, I was torn between calling Mr. Tan to reject the assignment or not. Kung sasabihin kong hindi ko iyon tatanggapin, ano ang irarason ko? He'll surely be disappointed at me!

But if I accept it? Will I be able to do the job without facing the Villaciete's wrath against me?

Kilala pa ba nila ako?

'Of course, they would still remember you! Sa tindi ba naman ng panlolokong ginawa mo?!'

"Shit!" Hindi ko namalayang nakatigil pa pala ako while the traffic light is already on the go signal, nagulat na lang ako nang may bumusina sa likod ko. I halted the car on the roadside, I cant drive well if my mind is in this state.

Dahan- dahan akong nagpakawala ng hininga at inabot ang cellphone na nakapatong sa upuan sa tabi ko. I opened my Instagram account and slowly typed his name on the search engine.

Even when I already memorize everything I would see in it, still I got so nervous. Nanlalamig ang mga daliri ko at naramdaman ko ang pamilyar na panlalambot ng mga buto ko.

I spent seconds to just let my phone load his uploaded photos bago ko iyon tiningnan. Bitter feelings rushed in me again, sadness crumpled my heart as I look at his face in the photos--laughing if not smiling.

His recent uploaded photo is a brown horse's silhouette from the setting sun with a wide field of newly grown corn for a background.

'My Tiger', was his only caption with a laugh emoji.

Buti pa siya, masaya na. He seemed to forget what had happened before. Wala nang bakas ng mga pangit na pangyayari sa buhay niya.

"Do you still remember me?" I smiled bitterly when tears started falling.

"I'm happy that you're happy now...I'm so sorry for what I did to you Homer."