Raging Affection (Isla Contejo #1)

Prologue

TININGALA ko ang maaliwalas na kalangitan. Hindi ko na pinagkaabalahang itaas ang kamay upang proteksyunan ang mga mata sa maaaring pagkasilaw dahil hindi na gaanong maliwanag ang langit. Anong oras na ba at tila bumababa na ang araw?

"Fleury! Naku, nariyan ka lang pala! Alas kwatro y kinse na, kailangan mo nang maghanda!"

Nasagot ang tanong sa aking utak nang tawagin ako ni Ate Leng, ang pinakabatang tagapagsilbi namin na siyang pinakamalapit din sa akin. She was just 22 -- four years older than me, so we could really relate to some things.

Bumuntong hininga ako at tamad na umirap bago nilisan ang terrace ng study room. Nilapitan ko ang payat na kasambahay na agad naman akong hinila palabas ng silid na iyon.

"Nai-stress na ang Mommy mo! Kanina pa hanap nang hanap sa 'yo. Alam mo namang alas sais ang umpisa ng party--"

"Fleurysa!" singhal ni Mommy nang makasalubong namin ito sa corridor. "My God! Saan ka ba nagsususuot? You haven't even taken a bath yet! Our glam team is already here!"

Bakas na bakas ang gigil sa magandang mukha ni Mommy. She was angry, but her gestures were very disciplined. I didn't know how she managed to do that every time. Her sophistication was still very evident even when she's almost on the verge of pulling my hair.

"Mom, it's still very early," I managed to say before getting in to my room.

"Pero aayusan ka pa! Babiyahe pa tayo papunta sa mga Contejo!"

I pouted. "Malapit lang naman iyong mansyon nila."

"Hay naku, maligo ka na nga! Hurry up, okay?"

Tama nga si Mommy na dapat ay naligo ako nang mas maaga. 5:30 nang subukan pang ikulot ang buhok ko ngunit hindi na talaga kaya ng oras. We'll gonna be late! That would be embarrassing!

"See? I told you, Fleury! Babagal-bagal ka! Look at your hair! Oh, my God! It looks so plain!" maarteng bulyaw sa akin ni Mommy nang nasa kotse na kami.

Napayuko na lang ako at bahagyang nalungkot. We've already planned to curl it, but since we're gonna be late, we just left it as it was. Nakalugay lang ang medyo maalon kong buhok. Ni hindi man lang kinaya na i-french twist.

"Mom, it's okay. Fleury still looks so beautiful. Her make-up and dress are nice." Kuya smiled at me, trying to lighten up my mood.

"Hay naku, Ysmael! Isa ka pa! Where have you been, by the way? Alam mong may dadaluhan tayong party pero nakuha mo pa ring maglamyerda!"

"Nangabayo lang ako saglit, Mom."

Napailing-iling na lamang si Mommy at nagbaling na kay Daddy. Mula sa mga magulang ay inilipat ko ang mga mata sa mga nadadaanan namin. Pine trees, clear surroundings, villages, and massive fields were everywhere.

Isla Contejo was located in the first parts of Visayas. I was born here because my father was originally from here. My mother was from Manila. Ang kwento, hindi naman daw talaga Isla Contejo ang pangalan ng lugar na ito noong araw. Ngunit nang mabili ng mga ninuno ng mga Contejo ang halos buong lupain ng probinsya, tuluyan na nila itong inangkin at pinamahalaan.

The Contejo clan were obviously sleeping with a bed of billions and more for them to finally own a big island and province like this. Their power was spitting on every corner of this place. They didn't only own big hotels and resorts. Some of them were also into politics.

Ilang dekada nang namumuno ang mga Contejo sa lugar na ito. Magmula sa Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councillor, Governor, at kung ano-ano pa. Syempre, buong pamilya nila ang nagmamay-ari ng buong lugar, so sinong pangahas ang magtatangkang kumalaban sa kanila sa eleksyon?