Racing Hearts (De Silva Series: 2nd Generation)

Prologue

Racing Hearts (De Silva Series 2nd Gen)

***

Prologue

3rd Person’s POV

A secret. Every family has their own dose of secrets. Some openly known but some remained cage in the eyes of a dead human.

Nakita ni Dylan ang kulay brown na gate ng De Silva mansion. The old but standing proud heritage of their clan. Ang mansyon na dating tinirhan ng kanyang ama at mga magulang nito. His grandparents. He knew that even his Auntie Jahcia was once a house helper in that old house. Just years ago, it became their hideout. Silang magpipinsan ay madalas na nagsasama-sama rito sa mansyon. They held parties and even just casual reunion they agreed every once in a while.

He even brought some girlfriend there for a wild make out or to have s*x. He knew his cousin Nick brought one too. They enjoyed and rode their teenage life so well and the mansion was one witness of it.

He smirked at the memory. It felt like it was just yesterday. When he could still watch his most favorite cousin. In his head, she was the only member of the De Silva he thought was different. His feelings for her was vital. He couldn’t compare his thoughts about her to any women he had met. Since he was a young boy, Dylan liked to annoy her. To completely make her wept in his arms. But she didn’t. She always went to her Mom. To his twin Deanne. To Red. To Nick. But not to him.

Pagtuntong niya ng high school ay nagsikap siyang maging magaling na estudyante. He liked airplanes. He liked the sky and the feeling of being floated in the air. He liked the drive whenever he was in the cockpit. His Uncle Rix encouraged him to be a Pilot.

Deanne would always excelled in their classes. At siya naman ay palaging kumukopya sa kung anong meron sa kakambal niya. It was fun. He really enjoyed his high school life and annoying his favorite cousin. He liked her wavy hair. Beautiful and tantalizing eyes. The eye lashes he addicted to look at. Her pink to red small lips. And her pretty smile.

Pinarada ni Dylan ang kanyang sasakyan sa harap ng mansyon. Sobrang tahimik ang paligid na para bang nakalimutan na ang bahay na iyon. But he liked the house. He was interested to redesign it and make it his own since no one in the family wanted it. He just needed to modernize what was left inside and outside. He would scrape the paint, throw old appliances and or change the tiles. Cut the growing grasses and clean all of them.

Bumaba siya at tinanggal ang suot na shades. Tumingala siya para makita ang kabuuan ng bahay. Once, he ran outside fully naked. Natalo siya sa pustahan nilang magpipinsan at iyon ang parusang napagkasunduan nila. But her shy cousin Ruth saw him. She screamed the hell out of her.

Tinakpan ni Dylan ang ibaba dahil sa tili ni Ruth. He was only sixteen at that time. Umiiyak na tumakbo sa loob ng mansyon si Ruth at nagsumbong kay Jahcia. Napagalitan siya ni Aaliyah at kinurot ang magkabila niyang tainga. Dylan cursed. Nakita niyang bumalong ang luha sa mga mata ng Mommy niya kaya kusa na siyang humingi ng tawag at nangakong hindi na uulitin ang ginawa.

At first, Dylan blamed Ruth for it. Kung hindi nga naman nagsumbong ang babaeng iyon ay hindi siya mapapagalitan at hindi siya magmumura sa harapan ng Mommy Aaliyah niya. When he got older, his thought about Ruth changed. And he finally learned that Ruth was not a real De Silva. She was an adopted child of Matteo and Jahcia de Silva.

So, he should make some corrections in the family.

Noong tumuntong siya ng kolehiyo, hinanap niya ang pamilya Melaflor. Lalo na si Jake. Her real father. Ruth’s biological mother has already died years ago. Jake went from a rehabilitation center and lived in Valenzuela. Nagkaroon siya roon ng bagong kinakasama. Naubos ang lahat ng kanyang kayamanan magmula nang mawala sa kanya si Denise. Sometimes, we only cared about things and people when they were already gone. And that had happened to Jake. He was once a millionaire and a husband. But now living in a crowded place where he needed to drive a cab in order for him to stay alive and to pay for foods, rent and necessities.

When Ruth turned eighteen, Dylan thought she could now live on her own without the name of their family. The name she only earned from his Uncle Matteo. She wasn’t a real De Silva. And he didn’t like it. He wanted to erase her in the family.

Boys would only chase her because of her name, Dylan thought. And she would only use the perks of that for her own good.

So, Dylan kicked her out of their family.

At the night of his father’s birthday, Johann de Silva, he grabbed the chance and announced to everyone Ruth’s real identity. Dylan broke out their family secret to public. He unboxed Ruth’s. He made her cried. He saw her wept. Got angry. Even his cousins got mad at him. Especially Red and Cam. They loved their sister so much. But Dylan remained hard as the rock.

He did. He finally did it. Magmula no’n ay hindi na napuno pa ng tawanan nilang magpipinsan ang mansyon. Alikabok at katandaan na lamang ang natira sa loob ng bahay.

“But not anymore.” He murmured and closed the door of his expensive and shiny black car.

Dinukot niya ang susi sa bulsa ng suot na pantalon. Nilapitan niya ang front door at binuksan iyon.

**

Ruth

“Nasaan ka na ba?” wala sa sarili kong hinilot ang noo at pumikit. “Alam mo namang may trabaho tayo ngayon, ‘di ba? Kulang ako sa tao.” paalala ko sa kausap. Nag-uumpisa pa lang ang negosyo ko pero pakiramdam ko ay nagsisimula na ring sumipa ang pagbagsak nito.

A friend advised me to build a cleaning services around Metro Manila. Nauuso na raw kasi iyon at pwede pang mag-boom kalaunan. I just needed to fund for equipment, uniforms and skilled workers. I wanted to try and took a risk. Pero hindi ko na kailangang galawin ang pera ko para sa pag-aaral dahil sinagot ito nina Ate Deanne at Kuya Nick. In this way, pwede akong kumita habang nag-aaral. I shouldered my own tuition fees after I dropped out from Business course and shifted to Journalism. At twenty-two, I felt so old and experienced in life.

Pero dahil na rin gusto kong magamit ang business course na natutunan ko ay sumige ako at nagtayo ng negosyo. I was once a de Silva. I was once a heir. I was once the eldest daughter of a businessman. Sa tingin ko kasi katungkulan ko ang pumalit sa Daddy ko kaya business course ang una kong kinuha. But changes happened.

I was named as the Dethroned Princess of Matteo de Silva. My face was on the newspapers, magazines and evening news during that year. Kahit sa mga showbiz talk show ay pinag-usapan ang balitang iyon.

Napakapit ako sa manibela at tiningnan sa labas ng bintana ang malaking gate ng De Silva Mansion. “Sinadya mo ba ‘to?” bintang ko sa kaibigan kong si Esther.

She laughed. “Nag-full paid agad, Sis. Malaki ang rate kaya kinuha ko na. Saka, ayaw mo ba? I’m sure kabisado mo pa ang bawat sulok ng bahay na ‘yan, Sis.”

Umirap ako sa kawalan. Pero natigilan din ako nang mapansing bahagyang nakabukas ang gate. “Sinadya mo ‘to.” Bintang ko ulit. “Sinong kumontak sa ‘yo?”

Si Kuya Nick? Ate Deanne? Pero wala naman silang interest na sa mansyon. Si Uncle Johann? Uncle Reynald? Kung ganoon naman, ako na dapat ang tatawagan nila at hindi sa office namin.

“Ang dami mong tanong, Ruth! Magtrabaho ka na lang. Papunta na ‘ko, oh. Pasakay na ‘ko ng tren!”

“Bilisan mo. Hindi ko kayang linisin ‘to mag-isa.”

“Okay. Okay. Sige na.” sabay patay nito sa linya.

Bumuntong hininga na lang ako at binalik ang cellphone sa bag ko. “Dapat talaga Milk Tea shop na lang ang tinayo kong negosyo.” Bulong ko habang binababa ang mabigat naming rainbow vacuum mula sa likod ng sasakyan at malaking bag na pinaglalagyan ng iba’t-ibang gamit sa paglilinis. “Ako na nga ang driver—ako rin ang magbubuhat nito. Hay Esther titirhan kita ng alikabok sa loob.” napangisi ako nang maisip ang magiging reaksyon nito mamaya.

My few employees said I was a hands-on owner. Kahit hindi ko trabaho ay ginagawa ko rin ng kusa. I thought, magandang advantage naman iyon sa akin at sa negosyo. Lalo pa at nag-uumpisa pa lang ako rito. Kapag may booking at sa malaking bahay ang lilinisin, masaya ako. kasi may perang papasok. Mostly, sa recommendation kami nakakakuha ng client. I avoided to use my former last name. Dahil baka may marinig na naman ako kay Kuya Dylan.

Ni hindi ko na nga kailangang hanapin ang ama ko. Ang tunay kong kadugo dahil ang mga reporter na rin ang gumawa ng research. Hindi para sa akin kundi para sa trabaho nila. Sa pera. Binungkal nila ng binungkal ang pinanggalingan ko at saka ko nalamang dating drug addict si Jake Melaflor.

My Mommy Jahcia told me about my real mother. Denise Melaflor. Wala siyang sinabing hindi maganda sa kanya. Hindi ko alam noon kung paano tatanggapin ang katotohanan na hindi nila ako tunay na anak. Magrerebelde ba ako? Hindi. Dahil puno ng pagmamahal at masayang pamilya ang naranasan ko sa mga De Silva. Kahit kailan ay hindi nila pinaramdam na iba ako. Maliban sa isa.

I hated him to the bones. Umiyak nang walang tigil si Mommy Jahcia nang pinili kong umalis. My father got mad and fought with Uncle Johann. It was a messed and disaster day in the family but no one knew what really happened.

The media could speculated anything. But most of them were false accusations. Their job made me wanted to be one of them. And I hope by my new name, they would let me.

Who would accept a dethroned princess? Who would accept a drug addict's daughter?

In this kind of world, having a title was a f*****g important.

Sinubukan kong mamuhay at tumira sa bahay ni Jake Melaflor. May kinakasama siya no’n at may mga anak din sa unang asawa. Kung mayroon man akong mapupuna pa sa kanya maliban sa dati nitong buhay, iyon ay ang tinatago nitong galit Kay Daddy Matteo. I could see it in his eyes.

Sa kanila ko rin naranasan ang kumain ng panis na kanin. Wala silang refrigerator at ang bubong ay malapit nang dumikit sa bumbunan.

“Ang arte mo naman! Pwede pa ‘yan.” Inis na inagaw sa akin ni Geneva ang plato ko at dinurog-durog ang kaning panis doon ng kamay niya. “Alam mo, kung gusto mong mabuhay, matuto kang i-appreciate ang mga bagay na mahirap makuha. Hindi lahat ng tao nakakain ng ganito.” Sermon niya sa akin. Wala noon si Jake at namasada.

Lumunok ako. Pinanood ko siyang kainin ang kanin na iyon. Malabsa na ay kinain pa rin niya. Pwede namang magsaing ng bago.

“Nagdagdag ng palamunin pero hindi nagdagdag ng budget.” Bulong pa niya habang kumakain.

Nakita kong bumili siya ng isang plastic ng kanin sa labas. Iyon ang binigay niya sa kanyang dalawang anak.

Tumayo na lamang ako at pumasok sa maliit na kwarto. Hinatid ako rito ng Daddy ko. At nakita kong nagbigay siya ng pera kay Geneva. Kaya anong sinasabi niyang walang budget? Sinungaling. Pareho lang sila ng ugali ni Kuya Dylan. Pareho silang galit sa akin kahit wala akong ginagawang masama.

Humiga na lang ako sa manipis nilang kutson at niyakap ang bag na dala ko. I had with me my branded clothes, some jewelries, pocket money and my cards. I had my latest model of cellular phone. I could call my Daddy ang brought me back in our house. I could complaint. I could beg. I could. But I didn’t do it. Kasi rito ako mas nararapat. Wala talaga akong karapatan na maging kapamilya ang De Silva. Dito ako nararapat.

Kuya Dylan’s evil face flashed in my head. He was wearing his branded dark suit and very handsome while announcing to everybody that I wasn’t belonged to them. He didn’t like me. No. He never liked me. He was the ruthless, heartless and evil De Silva.

I hate him. I hate him. The words buried in my head.

Geneva confiscated my bag. Kinuha niya ang mga mahahalagang laman no’n na pwedeng gawing pera. I fought for my ring. Bigay iyon sa akin ng Mommy ko. Sinampal niya ako. Nanginig ako sa takot at mangha siya nang tinitigan.

“Palamunin ka lang dito tandaan mo ‘yan! Kung hindi sa ‘kin ay hindi ka makakapasok dito! Letcheng ‘to.” Isang beses pa niya akong sinipa sa binti at binato ang bag ko.

Kinagat ko ang labi at binungkal ang laman na natira. Sa secret pocket ko nilagay ang cards ko. Dinukot ko iyon at tinago sa bulsa ng suot kong pantalon. Bumalong ang luha sa mga mata ko at naupo na lamang sa sulok ng kulungang iyon. This was not a home. A home was safe. A home has love. There was no love in here.

Kaya siguro hindi ko masisisi si Denise Melaflor na ipamigay ako dahil alam na niya ang magiging buhay sa ama ko. She just made the right decision. My mother saved me. She only wanted me to be loved back. Not to be used. But at eighteen, I was sent back to where I should belong.

On that night, tinawagan ako ni Red. My younger brother. I missed him and Cam so much.

“Nasa labas kami, Ate Ruth. Punta ka rito.” Masaya at excited niyang tawag sa akin sa cellphone.

Nagmadali agad ako at tumakbo palabas ng bahay. Sinigawan ako ni Geneva pero hindi ko siya pinansin.

Hinanap ko sa kanto sina Red. Nakita ko ang sasakyan ni Kuya Nick. Para akong batang tumakbo palapit sa kanila sa kabila ng mga tingin sa akin ng ibang tao.

Nakaupo sa hood ng sasakyan niya si Kuya Nick. Kinawayan at nginitian niya ako. Mula sa passenger seat ay lumabas naman si Ate Deanne. Natigilan ako. Baka kasama rin nila si Kuya Dylan? Bumagal ang takbo ko at naging lakad na lang. Sinalubong ako ni Ate Deanne at mahigpit na niyakap. She kissed my cheek and combed my hair.

“We missed you—wait, what happened to your cheek, Ruth?” hinaplos at pinagmasdan niya ang pisngi ko.

Hindi ko na nakita ang pagbaba nina Red at Cameron mula sa sasakyan. Agad nila akong nilapitan. Inalis ko ang mukha sa kamay ni Ate Deanne at niyakap ang mga kapatid ko. “Na-miss ko kayo agad. Kahit isang gabi pa lang tayo nagkakahiwalay.” Naiiyak at ngiti kong salita sa kanilang dalawa.

Kuya Nick towered us. “Deanne, we should call Dylan and talk about this.” Turo niya sa pisngi ko.

Napatingin ako kay Ate. Inis nitong sinuklay ang buhok at namaywang. “He will pay for this! That f*****g twin brother of mine!” galit niyang litanya.

“Who did that to you, Ate Ruth?”

Napatingin ako kay Red. He was still a boy but his voice told me that age was just a number. He was the son of Matteo de Silva and definitely could fight for anybody he dearly love.

Matiim niya akong tinitigan. He inherited his father’s eyes. The dark and the danger were all shown in his face.

“Tell me, Ate.” Ulit niya.

“Red,”

“No one has the right to hurt my sister. You’re still my Ate Ruth. So, tell me who the f**k has laid the hand on your face.”

“You don’t need to curse. Mommy will . . .” ako man ay natigilan sa sinabi. I was on my Ruth de Silva mode but after I remember my Mommy Jahcia, my heart ached. I missed her. I missed them so much that it hurt right in my chest and it was so painful to think that I don’t belong to them. My cousins argued and Red summoned his anger and confronted Geneva . . .

Bumuntong hininga ako at tinulak ang malaking gate. My memories were too sharp. The pain was still here. As well as the anger I had for one man. He was older now. Successful both in chosen careers and love life. Hindi naman naputol ang koneksyon ko kina Red at Cam. Tini-text at tinatawagan pa rin nila ako. Kahit ng mga pinsan ko. Malapit na ngang magpakasal si Ate Deanne at kasama ako sa wedding entourage niya. At malamang na makikita ko roon si---ang kontrabida sa buhay ko.

Ngumisi ako. Dylan earned several ugly words from me. Na ako lang ang nakakaalam.

Pagpasok ko ay natanaw ko ang sasakyang nakaparada sa tapat ng mansyon. Tumango-tango ako. May tao na pala sa loob kaya bukas ang gate. Sino kaya ang pinadala roon para mag-supervise? Excitement finally drawn in me. Kilala ko ang mga kasambahay sa bahay nina Uncle Johann at Uncle Reynald. Hindi ako mabo-bored sa paglilinis kung sakali.

Binuhat ko ang rainbow vacuum at sinunod ang malaking bag namin. I was wearing our yellow T-shirt and a jeans. Nakaputing rubber shoes din ako para magaang kumilos. Kumatok ako sa pinto at pinihit pabukas ang door knob. Once, I fallen in love with this house. It was so big and elegant. It was already abandoned. And I felt sad about it. Pero masaya pa rin akong maglilinis dito para bigyan ng panibagong buhay ang mansyon.

Nadatnan kong natatakpan ng mga puting kumot ang mga gamit na naiwan. Binaba ko ang sukbit na bag sa sahig at pumihit ako paikot para tingnan ang kabuuan ng bahay. I reminisced all the unforgettable memories I had since childhood. Our family reunions, get together and even parties in this house. All seems like were just happened yesterday. Ang sarap alalahanin lahat. Ang sarap balikan ang mga masasayang ganap sa buhay ko noon.

Pero kasunod no’n ay ang kirot na gumihit sa dibdib ko. Pilit kong inalis ang sakit sa lalamunan at kinagat ang labi ko. This family will always be in my heart.

Napatingala ako sa engrandeng hagdanan nang makarinig ng pagbukas ng pinto sa isa sa mga kwarto roon. Naalala ko noon, kinuwento ni Mommy Jahcia na may narinig siyang nagmumulto raw sa mansyon. Akala raw niya ay ang spirit ni Lola Angeles. Ang Mama nina Uncle Johann at Uncle Reynald. Na pinabulaanan naman ni Daddy Matteo.

Naghintay akong may lumabas mula sa magkabilang hallway. Ilang sandali pa ang lumipas ay walang nangyari. Kumunot ang noo ko. Tumikhim ako. “Ako po ay galing sa cleaning service na pinapunta rito. Hello?” sigaw ko sa hagdanan.

I tilted my head. Pinakinggan ko ang mga sumunod na tunog. Narinig ko paglapat ng pinto at ang palakas na palakas na yabag. Umayos ako ng tayo at hinanda ang itim kong apron.

“You’re late.”

Natigilan ako. Tila ako nakarinig ng kulog mula sa masamang panahon. Nanindig ang mga balahibo ko. Nalusaw ang excitement ko. Maging ang ngiti sa labi ko.

No. Not him, please.

Binaba ko ang mga kamay at tumingala sa puno ng hagdanan. Doon ay nakita ko ang apo sa talampakan ni Satanas. Alive and still kicking. He was wearing his expensive pants, shiny shoes and properly ironed dark polo. Kumikinang na relos sa pulsuhan at rayban na nakasampay sa kwelyo ng damit niya.

He grew stubble around his squared and prominent jaw. It started to darken the half of his face. His proud nose was pointed at me. He inherited that from his father. He always sported that muscled arms and body. But the evilness was lurking around his aura.

He put his hands in his pocket. His lips twitched like as if he made fun of me because he caught me checking every part of his body.

“You’re late. I overpaid your little business but the service is so poor. Any explanations?” he said in an intimidating tone.

He was trying to intimidate me. He was trying to swallow me--whole. I haven’t seen him for years since he moved me out. Changes suited his looks. He became a man he intended to be. The ruthless and heartless man of their Empire. But I will never let myself be defeated once again. Maaaring napalitan niya ang mga legal kong dokumento sa Melaflor pero hinding-hindi niya ako mababago dahil lang sa makapangyarihan siya. I didn’t even use that name anymore.

I lifted my chin up at him. “I am not late, Mr de Silva. You’re just early.” Matapang kong sagot.

Hindi siya kumibo. Tinitigan niya ako. Matagal. Ako ang unang nagbaba ng tingin at sinuot na lamang ang black apron.

“Magsimula ka rito sa taas. Lahat ng kwarto linisin mo at ayokong may maiiwang alikabok, Miss Melaflor.” Tawag niya sa akin.

Ngumisi ako. “Correction. Miss . . . Hilario ako.” tiningala ko siya.

Nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya. Mukhang hindi siya updated tungkol sa akin. Mabuti naman at tinantanan na niya ako.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. “Are you married?”

I sarcastically smiled at him. “No, Sir. I chose to use my mother’s.”

He then tilted his head. “Miss Whatever. Magtrabaho ka.” Utos na niya sa akin.

Umalis ito sa kinatatayuan. Nang mawala siya ay saka ako nagpakawala ng hininga. Napapikit ako sandali at ini-steady ang isipan.

Trabaho ito. Trabaho. Walang personalan.

Tinext ko si Esther.

Ako:

Bilisan mo. Nandito si Hitler.

Binalik ko ang cellphone sa bag at kumuha na ng panlinis sa malaking bag.