Imperious Series 3: As Always

Chapter 3

"Can I talk to you for a second, hija?" bungad ng kanyang ama nang pasukin siya nito sa kanyang kwarto habang nagbabasa ng kanyang lessons. Nalalapit na ang exam nila kaya puspusan ang pag-aaral niya.

Itiniklop niya ang librong binabasa. "Yes, Dad? Tungkol saan? Don't tell me mag-a-out of town ka na naman?" nakangiting tanong niya sa ama.

Her father went to sit beside her and held both her hands. Her father was a bit serious which she wondered why. May pinagdaraanan ba ito? O may sakit ito?

"Are you sick, Dad?" She was worried. The memories of her sick mother came to her especially her sudden death. Ayaw naman niyang mangyari iyon sa kanyang ama. She loved him dearly. Ito na lang ang natitirang pamilya niya.

"No! No! No! I'm okay and I am not sick. I am as healthy as a raging bull," sagot ng kanyang ama.

She looked questioningly at her father because he was hesitating. Pinipigil niya ang kanyang hininga habang hinihintay ang kung anumang sasabihin ng ama.

Her father cleared his throat then faced her, looked into her eyes. "You know it's been some time since your mother passed away," simula nito. "She was my only love, aside from you of course. She will always be my queen and always be in my heart. But you see I am getting old and I---"

"You found someone," she interrupted her father. And a long sigh confirmed it.

"I have been seeing this wonderful lady," his father fully confirmed it but his facial expression showed worriness.

Iniisip siguro ng kanyang ama that she will be against it. On the contrary, she was glad that finally he found someone to share his everything. May makakasama na ito lalo na't nagiging busy na rin siya sa pag-aaral na kung minsan tanging sa hapag-kainan na lamang sila nagkakasama ng ama. She was really glad.

"I'm happy, Dad," she sincerely shared her thoughts about it and the expression of his dad was priceless. "Alam ko namang hindi mawawala sa puso mo si Mommy. If you're worried about me, don't. It's finally time na isipin mo naman ang sarili mo. You've been taking care of me since Mom was gone and I am grown up now. It's time naman na ikaw naman ang alagaan." She smiled at her father to assured him she was okay with it. "So when am I gonna meet her?" tanong niya sa ama.

"Well, I am just asking for your approval. But, hija it's quite complicated." Her father was still hesitant despite the fact that she already gave her blessing to him.

"Is she married?" tanong niya rito na ikinailing nito. "Then what's the problem, Dad?"

Her father explained to her that the woman he was seeing is a widow with a daughter of her age. Wala namang problema roon. Kung gusto talaga nito then she will have a mother and a sister as well. That would be fun dahil nag-iisa lang siya and she wanted to feel how is it to have a sister whom she can share her thoughts and feelings. Then her father mentioned that they will soon settle in their house. Sa makalawa raw ang dating ng mga ito, on the day they will have their civil wedding.

And days passed, and she was now waiting for her father and her stepmother and stepsister. Hindi na siya sumama pa para saksihan ang simpleng kasal ng kanyang ama dahil na rin sa may exam siya. She wanted to come ngunit pinilit siya ng ama na huwag na lamang dumalo. So after her exam, she hurriedly went home to help in the preparation. Magkakaroon ng simpleng salu-salo sa kanilang tahanan as welcome party to them.

"Okay lang ba talaga sa’yo na ikinasal ang Daddy mo, Isabelle?" tanong ng kanyang yaya Mila.

"Matanda na ho si Daddy, Yaya. At sigurado naman akong mabuting tao ang pipiliin niya," nakangiting sagot niya sa matanda.

"Hay sana nga, hija. Sana nga."

She was also hoping na mabuting tao nga ang napili ng ama. She trusted him and she wanted him to be happy. Then she saw the gate opened at iniluwa nito ang sasakyan ng ama. She was expecting na may kasunod iyon ngunit wala. Tumigil ang sasakyan sa harap nila ni Yaya Mila at lumabas doon ang nakangiting ama. Sumunod dito ang isang napakaeleganteng ginang. Based sa kwento ng ama, galing sa mayamang angkan ang dating asawa nito na business partner ng ama. Sumunod dito ang nakapasosyal na dalaga na kasing-edad niya gaya na rin ng sabi ng kanyang ama. Both women smiled at her when they saw her. Iginiya ng kanyang ama ang ginang na kung pagmamasdan mong mabuti ay mukhang napakabata keysa sa hustong gulang nito.

"Hija, I want you to meet Alicia." Pagkatapos ay bumaling ito sa ginang. "This is my daughter, Lyka Isabelle."

Walang sabing niyakap siya ng ginang. "Napakaganda mo, hija. And you can call me Mommy from now on. Pamilya naman na tayo," nakangiting wika nito sa kanya na ikinatango niya. "This is your sister, Brigette. I heard magkaedad daw kayo, so I know you'll get along," dagdag pa nito.

She looked at the young lady and mukhang mahiyain ito or maybe she was a bit shy dahil kakakilala lang naman nila.

"I'm Lyka." Inilahad niya ang kanyang kamay dito. Nahihiyang tinanggap nito ang kanyang kamay. "So let's go inside. Nakahanda na ang food." Nagpatiuna na siyang pumasok ng bahay at sumunod naman ang mga ito.

As they enjoyed the meal, she was silently observing the new members of her family. Masayang nagkwekwentuhan ang mga ito and of course nakikisali rin siya. She wanted to make sure that her father was in good hands at mukhang nasa mabuting kamay naman ang ama. Maasikaso ang ginang sa kanyang ama maging sa anak nito but not neglecting her too.

The once silent atmosphere of their mansion became lively again because of her stepmother. Naging mas maaliwalas din ang kanilang bahay dahil na rin sa pag-re-redecorate nito na hindi naman niya tinutulan. Mas mabuti na ring may nag-aasikaso sa mansion nila dahil wala talaga siyang oras para gawin ito lalo na't malapit nang matapos ang semester na ito. Next semester, she will be on her third year. And she will be busier then.

Matuling lumipas ang mga araw at halos isang taon na rin pala ang lumilipas mula nang mag-asawa muli ang kanyang ama. So far, wala naman siyang reklamo sa mga ito dahil maayos naman ang pakikitungo ng mga ito sa kanya. Iyon nga lang may mga napapansin lamang siya kung minsan na hindi naman big deal sa kanya. Her stepmother sometimes became bossy and demanding at ganoon din ang anak nito, mas malala lang iyong anak nito. Nakakarinig din siya ng reklamo mula sa kanilang kasambahay at sa kanyang yaya ngunit natural lamang siguro iyon dahil ilang taon din na ang mga ito ang nag-ma-manage ng kanilang tahanan. Now that her father has a new wife, they felt threatened and worried.

"Are you okay, Dad?" nag-aalalang tanong niya sa kanyang ama nang aksidente nitong mahulog ang basong hawak dahilan para mabasag ito. Tumawag siya ng kasambahay at pinalinis ang nagkalat na basag na baso samantalang inasikaso naman ng kanyang stepmom ang ama.

"Pagsabihan mo iyang daddy mo, hija dahil hindi nakikinig sa akin. I kept on telling him na magpa-check-up ngunit hindi ko mapilit," her stepmom said to her.

"Okay lang naman ako, Honey. Stress at pagod lang ito," sagot ng kanyang ama sa asawa nito.

"Dad, you better listen. Para sa’yo naman 'yang sinasabi ni Mommy Alice. Why don't you go tomorrow?" pangungumbinsi niya sa ama.

"Marami pa akong gagawin sa opisina. At tsaka andiyan ka naman---"

"Dad, nag-aaral pa lang ako," sagot niya.

Her stepmom and sister was just listening to them habang ikinumbinsi niya ang ama. Tahimik lamang ang mga itong kumakain habang sila ng ama ay nakikipag-argumento sa isat isa. Hindi rin siya nagpatalo sa ama at napilit din niya itong magpakonsulta na ikinatuwa naman ng asawa nito.

The following day, her father and stepmom went to see a doctor. He was healthy then but was referred to an eye specialist because her father complained of having difficulty in seeing. Maayos naman ang resulta ng tests na ginawa sa kanya but then, her father's eye condition worsened as months passed by. Kahit ilang ulit na itong nagpatingin sa iba't ibang doctor sa mata ay halos walang makapagbigay ng dahilan kung bakit nawawala ang paningin nito hanggang sa tuluyan nang mabulag ito.

Good thing, her stepmother was always there for her father dahil sa sobrang busy niya sa pag-aaral. Her father became weaker and weaker at halos maglabas-masok na rin ito sa pagamutan. Then, a miracle happened. Her father got better after a month of staying in their mansion with a private doctor and a private nurse hired by her stepmother. Bumalik ang dating sigla nito at ang pangangatawan dahilan para muli na naman itong bumalik sa trabaho. They even had a party to celebrate his recovery.

The next day, her father did travel for his business trip despite the disagreement he got from them. Hindi ito nagpapigil sa kanila at pilit na nagpumilit na a-attend ng business conference sa Thailand.

"What happened?" habol ang hiningang tanong niya sa kanyang yaya who was now crying.

Everyone in the living was now weeping especially her stepmother na halos mahiga na sa sahig habang hawak-hawak ang dibdib nito. She went closer to the policemen and calmly asked what happened then her eyes started to water as the news dropped like a bomb.

Her father, her loving father met an accident on his way to the airport for a business trip. He died on the spot. Halos wala na siyang maintindihan sa sinasabi ng pulis dahil tulirong-tuliro na ang kanyang sarili. Her knees became jelly at kung hindi siya nahawakan ng isang pulis ay baka bumagsak na siya sa malamig na sahig. Her heart tightened at the thought that she was now alone in this world. Halos buong gabi siyang lumuluha dahil sa pagkawala ng kanyang ama hanggang sa dumating ang bangkay nito sa kanilang tahanan. She held another funeral. This time it's for her father. His resting place was beside her mother. At least magkasama na ang mga ito.

"Hija?" malungkot na pukaw sa kanya ng kanyang yaya habang tahinik niyang pinagmamasdan ang himlayan ng kanyang mga magulang. "Umuwi na tayo. Kailangan mo na ring magpahinga."

For the last time, she took a glance at her parents' graves. Grief, sorrow, alone.

When they arrived the mansion, her stepmother and her stepsister gathered in the living room together with their family lawyer. Gusto niyang magalit sa mga ito dahil kakalibing pa lamang ng kanyang ama ngunit mamanahin na ang nasa isip ng mga ito.

"Hindi ba pwedeng ipagpabukas na lang ‘yan, Attorney? Kakalilibing pa lang ni Daddy," hindi na niya mapigilan ang iritasyon sa kanyang boses.

"I'm sorry, hija pero bilin kasi ito ng Daddy mo na pagkatapos ng libing niya, in case something might happen to him, I'll read his will," hinging-paumanhin nito sa kanya.

She had no choice but to sit and listen to him. Her head ached as she listened to him. Halos lahat ng ari-arian ng ama ay napasakamay niya kabilang ang businesses nito, properties, trust fund niyang nagkakahalaga ng twenty-five million pero makukuha lamang niya kapag tumungtong siya sa edad na twenty-one, maging ang buong villa at mansion. Her stepmother has all the rights to manage the finances and the businesses habang wala pa siya sa nakatakdang gulang. Her stepmother and stepsister have their own trust funds too. But iyon lang at wala ng iba. All his father's assests were given to her. She was rich beyond imagination as of now. But then that will be when she'll reach the age of twenty-one. Sa ngayon, bahala muna ang kanyang stepmother sa mga ito.

"Is that all, Attorney?" mahinahong tanong ng kanyang stepmom sa abogado.

"That would be all."

"Very well," sagot nito sa abogado bago bumaling sa kanya. "Would that be okay, hija? Na ako muna ang mag-ma-manage ng mga iniwan ng Daddy mo?"

There was something on her voice that she could understand. May hinanakit kaya ito sa kanya? Was she dissappointed?

"Wala naman akong magagawa. It was written on his will so we need to comply. And I am sure, you can handle it well so it's okay with me. Aside from that, pagiging doctor talaga ang gusto ko." Alam naman iyon ng ama niya pero hindi niya malaman ang dahilan kung bakit sa kanya pa niya iniwan ang business nila samantalang andiyan naman ang asawa nito.

Matapos ang usapan ay nagpaalam na siya sa mga ito at pumanhik ng kwarto. She was exhausted that she fell asleep. It was passed midnight when someone woke her up.

"Yaya, bakit?" inaantok na tanong niya sa matanda.

"Bumangon ka na, anak. Bilisan mo," humahangos na wika nito sa kanya. Nababanaag ang pag-aalala nito. "Umalis na tayo ngayon na!" May inabot itong maliit na bag sa kanya habang hila-hila siya palabas ng kwarto. Bawat galaw nila ay maingat.

Hindi niya maintindihan ang nangyayari dahil sa antok na nararamdaman niya.

"Ano ba ang nangyayari, Yaya?" mahinang tanong niya rito. Nasa garden na sila at palayo sa mansion.

Tinahak nila ang daan patungo sa kakahuyan. Nagmamadali ang kanilang paglakad. She was really confused kaya naman hinila niya pabalik ang matanda at bahagyang tumigil.

"Yaya, I can't understand?! Ano ba ang nangyayari?" she asked frustratedly.

"Ipapaliwanag ko sa iyo mamaya. Ang importante, makaalis tayo rito." At hinila na naman siya nito.

Ilang minuto rin nilang tinahak ang kakahuyan bago nila marating ang kalsada patungo sa bayan. Tahimik na binaybay nila ito hanggang sa marating nila ang terminal ng bus. Her yaya motioned her to climb up at the bus. Pagkatapos ay nagpaalam na kukuha ng ticket patungong Maynila. Hindi talaga niya maintindihan ang nangyayari ngunit may tiwala siya sa matanda. Sigurado naman siyang may dahilan ito kaya nandito sila ngayon. Her yaya returned and joined her while waiting for the bus to depart.

Hinarap siya nito. Seryoso. Determinado. "Isabelle, kalimutan mo na ang buhay mo rito sa probinsiya. Magsimula tayong dalawa sa Maynila."