Ang Barako at Ang Prinsesa (ONGOING)

Chapter 15

Milo woke up the next day as if he'd been run over by a hundred bulls. He shielded his eyes from the bright sun rays coming from the window. Ang huling naalala niya ay umakyat siya sa kuwarto at kinausap sandali ang asawa, after that everything was black. He didn't remember what he'd told her but it's giving him a bit of anxiety. Tuyong tuyo ang lalamunan niya pagkagising niya kaya't laking pasalamat niya ng makakita ng baso at isang pitsel ng tubig sa bedside table. He drank water like there was no tomorrow. Naghilamos na siya at bumaba. Alas siyete ng umaga at tahimik ang bahay niya.

Where could she be?

"O, Kuya, gising ka na pala!" Nabigla siya nang marinig ang boses ng kapatid. May dala-dala itong tray na may lamang omelette, longganisa, at sawsawan. " Tamang-tama ang gising mo ah, 'eto nagluto kami ng pampatanggal ng hangover mo. Dalhin ko na 'to sa kubo sunod ka na lang."

Hindi pa siya nakasagot ay umalis na ito. Naghilamos lang siya uli at nagpalit ng t-shirt bago sumunod. Napansin niyang tila magiliw ang mga magulang niya sa kanyang asawa. He thought that it would be hard especially for his mother if she knew that it was all a ruse. 

Napabuntonghininga na lang siya.

What have I gotten myself into?

Ipinaghain naman siya ng kanyang asawa pagdating niya. He was surprised na hindi ito nagtataray sa tuwing nandiyan ang mga magulang niya. Next week ay pupuntahan niya si Samson sa Provincial Jail kung saan ito naka detine. Nasa isang separate na detention facility sa loob ng Provincial Jail. Isasama niya ang abugado niyang si Lucio Santander na may dalang new info tungkol sa kaso ng pang-iilit sa dati nilang land grant.

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Matapos mag-agahan ay tinulungan muna ni Savannah na mag-imis ang sister-in-law niyang hilaw na si Carissa.

"Uh, A-Ate, ako na lang diyan. B-baka hindi ka sanay," sabay agaw nito sa mga hinuhugasan niya.

She gave her an exasperated look. " Look. Kahit papano, I know housework. I live on my own for almost ten years now so... I can clearly manage this."

Medyo nanghilakbot ang mas batang dalaga sa tingin niya pa lang at pananalita niya.

Yup, my frickin' bitch face always does its job.

"Eh, concerned lang naman ako, Ate. At saka, baka pagalitan ako ni Kuya pag nakita niyang pinapabayaan kita dito. Kung, 'yan talaga ang gusto n'yo, alis po muna ako."

Akmang tatalikod na ito nang pigilan niya, "Hey,I'm just kidding. People say that I have a resting bitch face. Talagang mataray ako to those who deserve it, but as I've said, sanay naman ako sa gawaing-bahay."

Parang nakahinga naman ito ng maluwag nang makita ang malawak niyang ngiti. Pansi niya kasi na medyo ilag ito sa kanya kaya pinag-tripan niya muna.

"Ay, ah, hehehe, grabe naman 'to si Ate. Parang maiihi na'ko sa panty ko kanina eh." Hawak-hawak pa rin ni Carissa ang dibdib nito nang magkatawanan sila. In the end, they'd decided to split the kitchen work. She washed the dirty dishes while the younger woman cleaned.

Marami siyang nalaman tungkol sa asawa niya sa pakikipag-usap dito habang ginagawa ang house chores. He was a rags to riches man, built everything he had through hardwork, endured many years seeking his family – even Carissa had it rough. May nasabi pa ito about his brother trying to seek revenge against the people who took away everything that they had.

These thoughts ran through her mind even after they had finished their chores. Naisipan niyang maglakad-lakad muna sa dalampasigan habang nag-iisip. Hindi pa masyadong mataas ang sikat ng araw kaya naisipan niya munang tumambay doon. Then it hit her.

Many years ago...

Natutulog pa si Savannah nang ginising siya ng Daddy niya, "Savannah, sweetheart, wake up and pack your bags! Sumabay ka na kina Tito Pablo mo."

Pupungas pungas siyang napatayo sa kama, irritated that her dad had to wake her up in the wee hours of the morning.

"But Dad! Why this early? Next month pa uli ang pasukan?"

Sa isang private school sa Maynila siya nag-high school. Magfo-fourth year high school na siya noon sa susunod na pasukan. She loved the air and everything about her hometown kaya excited siyang umuuwi tuwing bakasyon and now her dad had cut her vacation short.

"Just do what I told you to do. I'll give you an hour to get ready."

Matapos ang isang oras ay sinundo na siya ng ama mula sa kanyang kuwarto.In their household, her father is the law. If he said something, then that's what's gonna happen. She did not protest anymore pero parang may nag-iba dito. Lately, he's cooped up in his office, usually drinking alcohol. Hindi niya na lang ito ginugulo. Something must have been bothering him about his job but what could she ever do about it? Her dad did not want to talk about politics when she's around, when she asks he'd just shrug and say 'you're still very young to understand, maybe when you're older.'

Inihatid siya nito sa sasakyang magdadala sa kanila sa airstrip. Pero bago pa sila umalis ay niyakap siya nito through the car's open windows, "Mag-iingat ka lagi," bulong nito.

That was the last time she saw him free. Isang araw ay hinila siya ng tito at tita niya sa study ng mga ito at sinabing nakulong ang daddy niya because of false charges. Nakausap niya pa ito sa tulong ng abugado nila. Her dad just told her to wait at makakalaya rin ito in no time. Inalagaan naman siya ng maayos ng tito at tita niya, her cousins also treated her well. She finished school just fine- including her MBA.

Her dad is still in jail and he didn't even tell her why.

"Maybe now that I'm older he'd tell me," tahimik na naibulong niya.

"He'd tell you about what?" Napalingon siya. Nasa tabi niya na pala si Camilo.

"Not your business." Malamig niyang tugon dito at naglakad pabalik sa bahay.

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A/N: Salamat sa patuloy na pagbabasa, guys! Pasensya at busy sa work. Ngayon lang uli ako nakapag-update. Please vote if you like! Stay safe always!