A Tale of Destiny

Decision

What’s with this new?” tanong ni Leonard habang nasa video call kasama si Rupert at ang dalagang kapatid nila. Kakarating lang nito sa bansa. At isang balita na agad ang bumungad sa kanila. Balita tungkol sa pagkakatigil nang kasal nang isang sikat na Apo nang isang Hospital Direktor. Sa balita sinasabi ding isang di kilalang dalaga ang bigla nalang lumitaw sa simbahan habang idinaraos ang kasal. Sa balita sinabi din na ipinakilala nang Binatang Surgeon ang Dalaga bilang Girlfriend nito.

“I think you should just come back home. I don’t feel like -----” wika ni leonard na naputol.

“I can’t.” agaw nang dalaga.

“That incident will surely affect your stay there. Even if you say you have something you want to finish or promise to fulfil. Do you think they will let you be at peace knowing what happen.” Wika ni Leonard. “And don’t tell me nakalimutan mong galit siya sa pamilya natin. Baka ibaling niya saiyo ang galit niya.” Wika ni Leonard.

“He was all the right to get mad. Besides, it was his girlfriend na Nawala sa kanya.” Wika pa nang dalaga. “Please. Just for a couple of months. I promise I won’t do anything to attract their attention. I will finish my mission then come back home. Please.” Wika nang dalaga.

“No.” Wika ni Leonard.

“Leonard. Rupert Please.” Wika nang dalaga sa mga kuya niya. “I’ll be good promise. I won’t attract their attention. I won’t even let them know that I am you’re a royalty. I’ll blend in as a normal person.”

“But you already did catch their attention. You face is even in every news. We are lucky no one has known about your existence, or the Royal family will be on trouble.” Wika Leonard.

“That news will die out eventually. They won’t even remember my face.” Wika nang dalaga.

“Stubborn as always.” Wika ni Ruper sa kapatid.

“Please.” Wika nang dalaga.

“Rupert, you decide.” Wika ni Leonard. “Because if you ask me. I will immediately fly and get this stubbord young lady.” Dagdag pa nito.

“Please.”

“Did you bring your medicine?” tanong ni Rupert dalaga. Napangiti naman ito nang marinig ang tanong nang kapatid.

“Rupert?” Gulat na wika ni Leonard.

“You just said it. She is a stubborn young lady. The only way to get her out of that place is if we tie her and drag her home.” Wika ni Rupert.

“The let’s do it.”

“Leonard no.” wika nang dalaga.

“You can stay there, But. If I think, this little mission of yours is not going well. I will be the one to bring you home. Even if you beg on your knees, I will drag you home. Is that Clear Princess.” Wika ni Rupert sa isang maawtoridad na boses.

“I understand.” Wika nang dalaga.

“As to Dr. Montefuego. You're meeting with him is inevitable. As much as possible don’t draw so much of his attention. He is still blaming us after what happen to his fiancée. Even if you explain. Reasons will not reach if you can’t avoid him since you will be working on on the same hospital. Just don’t attract his attention.” Wika ni Rupert.

“I don’t feel at ease with this.” Wika ni Leonard.

“None of us is.” Sagot ni Rupert. “But this is a decision she has to make. This is his life. She has to decide how she wants to live.” Wika ni Rupert.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me just yet. I am not in convinced yet with this little mission of yours.” Wika ni Rupert. I will only allow you to do this. Because I know you feel responsible because of what happen. But you have to realiz that none of that was your fault. It was an accident. No need to torment yourself or feel burden about it. But if you feel, by doing this your guilt will be lessen than do what you like. Just don’t get hurt in the process.” Dagdag pa nito.

“I’ll do that.” Wika nang dalaga.

“Hey Lizzy.” Wika ni Leonard. Nabaling naman ang dalaga sa kapatid niya.

“Call me if anything happened. I will be there in an instant.” Wika ni Leonard.

“I will. But I think you should stop treating me like a little girl. I am all grown up.”

“Yeah, remind me about that if you really are acting like a grown up.” Biro ni Leonard. Simply lang na napangiti si Rupert.

Simula nang maka recover ito mula sa heart transplant. Iginugol na nang dalaga ang panahon at oras niya sa pag-aaral. She even studied medicine para suklian ang kabutihan nang taong nagbigay sa kanya nang pangalawang buhay. She decided na pumunta sa bansa nito bilang isang intern sa hospital kung saan nag tatrabaho ang head doctor nang mga volunteer noon sa Costa Estrella. Ito din ang nagbigay nang imbestasyon sa dalaga na doon mag trabaho.

****

What was that all about?” asik ni George nang dumating si Alexander sa mansion nang mga Montefuego. Nasa sala ang lolo niya at ang pamilya ni Erika ay nandoon din. Nang mapatingin siya sa mukha nang dalaga mugto ang mata nito at halatang kakagaling lang sa pag-iyak. Matapos ang eksena sa Simbahan. Bigla siyang umalis at hindi na bumalik hanggang sa mga oras na iyon. Alam niyang it was wrong of him na umalis nang hindi nagpapaalam. Pero, naisip niyang Mabuti nalang at nangyari iyon dahil hindi niya kailangang magpakasal.

He was in that church. Supposed to marry the granddaughter of his grandfather’s business partner at isa sa mga boss nang Hospital kung saan siya nagtatrabaho. Five years ago nang makabalik siya mula sa Costa Estrella. Hindi paman siya nakakabawi mula sa pagkamatay ni Elize. Sinabi nan ang lolo niya na kailangan niyang Pakasalan ang dalagang apo nang Hospital Director. Simula pa nang mga bata sila. Talagang gusto na nitong ipakasal siya sa dalaga, Hindi ito boto sa relasyon nil ani Elize dahil hindi naman mula sa kilalang pamilya ang dalaga.

Ang lolo niya ay isang typical na businessman. He would do everything to honor the promise and to keep his business kahit ang ibig sabihin pa nito ay wala siyang pakiaalam sa nararamdaman niya o kung nagluluksa pa ito sa pagkawala ni Elize. Something that he hates about his Grandfather.

“You saw everything, Do I have to explain it again?” Ani Alexander sa matanda.

“Are you doing this to rebel against me and my decision?” Tanong ni Leandro sa apo. Napatingin naman si Alexander sa lolo niya.

“From the start, you knew that I don’t like to get married. You forced me into doing something I don’t like. It happens that my girlfriend appeared at the right place and time.” Wika ni Alexander. Na simulan na niya ang pagsisinungaling kailangan na niya iyong panindigan or else hindi niya magagawang makumbinse ang lolo niya. Alam niya kung gaano ka stubborn ang lolo niya. At sa isip nang binata hindi na niya kailangan puntahan ang dalaga para singilin ito. Mukhang ang panahon na ang gumagawa nang paraan para sa kanya.

“You never mentioned a girlfriend.” Wika ni Erika. As he looked at her alam niyang labis niyang nasaktan si Erika. Sapalagay din niya mas Mabuti na ito kesa pareho silang matali sa isang relasyong kapwa nila pagsisishan sa huli. ALam nang dalaga ang nakaraan niya. Simula nang mawala si Elize. He was too focus sa propesyon niya. Wala na siyang panahon para sa sarili so it was no wonder na magtataka ito sa sinabi niya.

“Ano ba ang kulang sa anak ko? She is the most ----” putol na wika ni George sa binata.

“Dad, it’s okay. I know Alexander has someone in mind. I saw the girl. She is young and pretty. Pero gust kong malaman kung bakit pinaabot mo hanggang sa araw nang kasal? I know you don’t like to get married. But to humiliate me and my family.”

Napatingin si Alexander sa dalaga. Wala naman siyang maipipintas sa dalaga. Matagal na silang magkakilala at nagtatrabaho sa parehong Hospital. She is pretty, intelligent and stable. Ngunit hindi niya gusto ang dalaga. Hindi niya kayang buksan sa iba ang puso niya. Nang mawala si Elize. Pakiramdam nang binata maging ang abilidad nang puso niya na umibig ay Nawala na din. Galit, iyon ang nasa puso niya at paghihigante sa mga taong may kagagawan nang pagkawala ni Elize sa kanya.

“That girl! I mean the girl na sumira sa kasal siya ba ang girlfriend mo?” tanong nang ama ni Erika.

“Who is she anyway?” tanong nang ama ni Erika. Napatingin naman si Alexander sa mga ito. Costa Estrella is not famous gaya nang ibang bansa. Kaya maaaring hindi rin kilala ang royal family doon. He is still safe Mabuti nalang hindi gaanong kilala ang Costa Estrella bukod sa Head doctor at ilang mga volunteer Doctors na naiwasn sa Costa Estrella wala nang ibang nakakakilala sa dalaga. They would not suspect her as someone very important.