Ang Barako at Ang Prinsesa (ONGOING)

Chapter 12

Savannah woke up feeling refreshed that morning. Tumayo siya mula sa bintana at binuksan ang sliding window papunta sa maliit na terrace ng unit niya. She was greeted by a gust of cool morning breeze. Huminga siya nang malalim. Alas singko y medya pa lang kaya't di pa mausok ang hangin.

Unti-unti nang lumalabas ang araw. May mga sasakyan na sa daanan sa ibaba ng condo building.

"Another day." Bulong niya. Nagtimpla siya ng kape at tahimik na ininom ito habang nakamasid sa siyudad na unti unti nang nagigising.

Naligo na rin siya pagkatapos at nagpahatid na sa opisina.

She was going through some company records when she heard a knock. Bumukas din ang pinto at bumungad sa kanya ang kanyang asawa at isa pang lalaking nakangiti sa kanya.

"Hey, I hope we're not interrupting something. This is my friend, Atty. Sebastian Mallari. He'll be helping us with your company just for the time being."

Inilahad ni Savannah ang kamay at tinanggap naman nito.

"We finally met. Savannah Villagracia, and just recently, Altamirano."

" Just call me Basti. Everyone calls me that," Sebastian laughed. Parang na-relax ito ng mapansin ang pabiro niyang tono.

"Yeah. I didn't make it to the wedding because of a personal errand. But Lucio  was there, right?"

Tumango lang siya. Pinaupo niya ang mga ito sa sofa. They briefly talked about the status of the company and what she wanted to do. Alam niyang sa pagpayag niya sa "business arrangement" nila ng asawa ay kailangan niyang ipaubaya ang control ng kompanya dito at sa mga associates nito. He had an agenda that he still hasn't discussed with her yet. Yet, she's here keeping her end of the bargain.

"Sebastian already went over the reports. He's very well versed about the company's status. I already appointed him as the acting CEO while you lay low. I know you have questions. Again, you'll know it eventually." Camilo told her when Sebastian left to attend to a meeting with the company's shareholders.

" I can't do anything anymore, can I? I've already sold my soul to the devil," biro niya sa asawa. Ngumiti lang ito at sinabihan siyang ayusin na ang gusto niyang kunin sa opisina. She didn't need to be in her office for a while anyway.

"Also, pack your bags. We're going away for a while." Dagdag pa nito na ikinabigla niya.

"But-"

Pinutol nito ang plano niyang mag-protesta.

"Baby, hey – do you remember the contract that you signed?" She raised her hands up in exasperation and conceded.

He smiled smugly at her.

"Yeah, yeah. I know, I know. And stop calling me that," mataray niyang sabi.

Inihatid na siya ng asawa niya sa unit niya matapos kunin ang ilang essential materials sa opisina. Pero bago ito umalis ay may pahabol pa itong "utos."

"Hey, I was serious earlier. Pack your bags. We will be gone for a while. And it's not for a honeymoon if that's what you're thinking. Dadaanan ka namin ng driver. You should be ready by 5 AM."

She was still speechless when he drove away.

"He's right. He's back being his assh*le self. Ugh." Nagmamadali siyang umakyat para mag-empake.

Sinundo nga siya nito sa condo niya eksaktong alas singko ng umaga. They stopped at the at a private hangar . She didn't ask him about it. Hinila lang nito ang mga luggage niya at pumasok na sila.

Tahimik lang din siya nang pinaakyat na siya nito sa isang maliit na private plane.

"Are you nervous?" Tanong nito. Umiling naman siya but the truth is she's quite nervous. She didn't know where they were going and she was too anxious to ask. Too anxious that she didn't notice the young woman seated behind her.

Habang palipad ang eroplano ay nakatingin lang siya sa labas ng bintana. Hindi niya rin namalayang lumapag din ito makalipas ang hindi lalampas sa apatnapu't limang minutong biyahe.

Nagising lang siya ng maramdaman ang mahinang tapik sa kanyang pisngi.

"We're here, Sav. There are people waiting for us for a quite late breakfast. At least, for their standards." She heard him chuckle but she was still sleepy. Nagpahila na lang siya dito pababa. She was still disoriented and quite groggy from the interrupted sleep.

Pagbaba nila ay sinalubong siya ng mainit na sinag ng araw. Tiningnan niya ang wristwatch niya. Alas otso na ng umaga. The "airport" was not really an airport but a private air strip owned by a local banana plantation. Nang makalabas na ang Nissan Patrol na sinakyan nila palabas ng plantasyon ay parang nagging pamilyar ito sa kanya.

"Wait. I think I know this place - "

"Damn right. Welcome to San Simon, my dear wife!"

Nilukob ng lamig ang katawan ni Savannah.

What exactly are his plans? Why did he bring me here? Napuno na ng iba't ibang tanong ang utak niya kasabay ng kaba. May masama ba itong balak sa kanya? But she doesn't feel anything alarming when she's with him. Her instincts are good when it comes to judging people's motive. But her husband can also be very hard to read. One day he's an assh*le, then another day he becomes a sweet thoughtful boyfriend material – Gurrrl?! Sumabad na naman ang mahaderang utak niya. Anong boyprend boyprend material na naman yang naiisip mong gaga ka. You stupid b*tch. Baka mamaya plano ka na niyang kidnapin para ipatubos sa daddy mo – wait, pero like, what if really?

Napailing siya. Nah, probably not. How could that happen when we come from very different backgrounds.

"Hey- Hey! You've been spacing out for a long time now. Bumaba ka na." Binuksan na nito ang pinto ng kotse.

Napatingin siya sa labas. Huminto na pala sila sa isang lote na may dalawang bahay na hinahati lang ng mababang fence. Ang isa ay two-storey at ang sa kabila naman ay isang simpleng bungalow na may maliit na bakery sa harapan. It seemed cozy and very green dahil sa landscaping nito.

"We're home." Pahayag nito na ikinahinga niya ng malalim.

____

Author's Note:

Maraming salamat po sa pagtangkilik sa aking maliit na nobelang ito. Marami pa pong susunod na chapters nandito lang po sa imagination ko (and hopefully sequels, ahem,curious ba kayo kina Chantal and you know who?) mahirap lang kasing isulat. Chus. 

Pa-like na lang po if you enjoyed it and follow na rin po (if you want lang naman walang pilitan) para maging updated. Comments are highly appreciated. Stay safe, everyone!