His Sinful Duty [SPG]

(17) The Portrait

ELEAZAR SERGIO'S POV

I yawned.

This is getting boring.

Walang gana kong tinignan ang aking lolo na ngayon ay nakikipagkamay sa kasosyo niya sa negosyo.

We’re in the middle of a private party prepared by Dr. Torres, owner of a private hospital. Nabanggit ko na ba na halos lahat ng mga ospital dito ay may shares ang lolo ko?

He loves investing in the medical industry.

“Ayusin mo mukha mo.” Rinig kong bulong sa aking katabi dahilan upang mapatingin ako sa kanya gamit lamang ang aking mga mata.

It's Atlas, my older cousin.

"Can this night end sooner?" I said before shifting my gaze back to my grandfather.

I don't really like getting involve like this but I have no other choice, lalo na't andito na ulit siya sa Pinas. Hindi ako makahindi sa tuwing gusto nitong sumama ako.

My grandfather has the full authority here, so basically, we can't go against him. It's too disrespectful to not obey his orders.

“Eleazar, come here." Kaagad akong lumapit sa matandang lalake nang tawagin niya ako. He's holding his cane while looking at me.

I silently stepped forward and went beside him, leaving Atlas on his position who is now grinning secretly at me.

Nang makita ko ang isang babae sa tabi ni Dr.Torres, mukhang alam ko na ang dahilan kung bakit nakangisi na si Atlas. Heto na naman tayo sa bagay na 'to.

"This is my grandson, Eleazar." Pagpapakilala sa akin ng lolo ko sa dalawang taong kaharap namin ngayon.

I look at Dr. Torres and to the woman beside him. Isang tipid na ngiti ang ginawa ko dahilan upang mapatititg sila sa akin. The doctor is still at his mid-fifties while the lady beside him seems like a little bit younger than me.

"May pinagmanahan ang apo mo, Mr, Montenegro. He looks like an exact replica of you and your son, Sandro, during your younger days." Nakangiti nitong papuri sa akin habang nakangiting nakatingin sa aking lolo.

Sandro Aliezander Montenegro is my father.

Maraming nagsasabi na kamukha ko siya nong kabataan nito. The three generation of Montenegro bloodline have almost the same exact features when it comes to physical structure, so it is indeed easy to distinguish what family I came from.

"By the way, this is my youngest, Jillian. Jillian, batiin mo sila." Pagpapakilala ni Dr. Torres sa anak niya.

The lady smiled and gave us her warm greetings. Pagkatapos non ay tumagal ang paningin niya sa akin bago nahihiyang yumuko.

"You have a beautiful daughter, Dr. Torres, and she seems kind."

"She really is, Mr. Montenegro."

This is boring.

"Eleazar." Muling nabaling ang aking atensyon sa aking lolo nang tawagin niya ako.

"Yes, chairman." I answered, fully aware of what he is about to say next.

"Talk to Jillian for a while, may pag-uusapan lang muna kami ni Dr. Torres." Nang sabihin niya iyon, kaagad kong nilingon ang babae atsaka inilahad ang aking braso sa kanya.

She carefully placed her hand around it, blushing.

As if I have a choice.

"Shall we?" I asked and this girl smiled at me.

Pinagtitinginan kami ng ilang mga babae sa tuwing dadaan kami sa tabi nila. Envy is written all over their faces as they watch this girl being escorted by me.

I have no other idea where to bring this girl, so I decided to lead the way towards the balcony. To be honest, I need a break for all of the attention drawn to me since the moment I stepped a foot inside this place.

Nakakasakal na sa tuwing titingin ako sa ibang direksyon, may mahuhuli akong nakatingin na sa akin.

"Eleazar, tama?" Napatingin ako sa babae nang magsalita ito.

"Yes."

"Your name suits you."

"Thanks."

"May girlfriend ka na ba?" Okay. That was a question I never expected to come out so soon.

"Why do you ask, Ms. Torres?"

"Masyado kang pormal kung magsalita kahit na kung tutuosin ay magkasing-edad lang naman tayo. Just call me Jill." She insisted, almost shrugging my shoulders.

"Sure. Jill." She smiled sheepishly beside me.

"Hindi mo pa sinasagot ang tanong ko, Eleazar." She said with a hopeful voice, but I find it quite... demanding.

I look at her over my shoulder and began examining her face. She got a small round face, soft feminine features and a skin that really complements her.

I heard Dr. Torres have three daughters. He successfully marries her older daughters to a good family. At ngayon, halatang may plano itong ipakasal sa akin ang bunso nito.

This is how it works. Wala itong pinagkaiba sa isang business proposal.

"No." I answered. "I don't have a girlfriend." I continued and I saw how her smile grew wider.

Nang sabihin ko iyon, kaagad na pumasok sa isipan ko si Eveion.

Inaamin kong hindi mawala sa aking isipan ang unang beses na may nangyari sa aming dalawa. Hindi ko inaasahan na aabot kami sa ganon, I'm just playing a game here where I made the rules to keep myself entertained.

But suddenly, during that night, it was as if Eveion took over and ruled the game I started.

Ako ang unang bumigay sa aming dalawa... hind siya...

I am the one who took the bait and when I got a taste of it, it seems like I couldn't stop wanting for more.

"I think we should head back, baka hinahanap ka na," sabi ko atsaka nauna nang naglakad pabalik sa loob. Just when I was about to take another step, I heard the girl gasped behind me which made me look back.

Bigla itong nawalan na balanse dahil mukhang natapilok ito. My reflexes never failed me as I immediately caught her to prevent from falling into the floor.

"What happened, are you okay?" I asked as I look at her.

Mahigpit itong napahawak sa akin habang taimtim na nakatitig sa aking mga mata. I got my father's mesmerizing hazel eyes so basically; it is one of my best assets.

Nang mapansin kong napatulala na ito, muntikan ko na itong bitawan para mauna nang umalis.

But I don't want to cause a scandal in their own party.

When I noticed how she leaned her face closer towards mine, that's the time I realized what she wanted.

Girls like this bore me. Too predictable.

"We should really get back inside, Jill." I stated which made her stop. Bigla itong nahiya sa aking harapan kaya dali-dali itong naapatayo ng maayos.

She's red because of humiliation.

Nang ibalik ko siya sa ama niya, kaagad akong umalis atsaka lumabas ng party. I took out my cigarette inside my suit and lit it up.

Tinanggal ko ang unang tatlong butones ng aking suot na puting pang-itaas sabay tingala sa madilim na kalangitan. I kept silent for quite a while not until I think about Eveion once again.

Kaagad kong naikapa ang aking bulsa atsaka roon inilabas ang isang bracelet na pagmamay-ari nito.

I already found its owner, but I decided to keep it.

“Still looking for the girl?” Mabilis kong nilingon ang aking kanan nang may biglang magsalita roon.

There, I saw Atlas looking at me. Ni hindi ko man lang napansin ang presensiya niya.

“You left the doctor’s daughter in the party.” He continued before showing his smile. “Let me guess, Eli… not your type?”

I immediately put the bracelet back inside my pocket and puff the cigarette smoke.

“May I?” He asked and I gave him a cigarette as well.

Magkatabi kaming nakatayo ngayon sa labas habang naninigarilyo sa sulok. This place is quite dark so I hope no one else will find us here coz that will simply ruin my peace.

“Jillian, tama?”

“Her name? Yes.” I answered.

“Hindi ko na mabilang kung pang ilang babae siyang pinakilala ni chairman sa’yo.”

Chairman is how we address our grandfather most of the times.

“Nasanay na ako, so meeting a random girl like her is nothing to me.”

“Alam ko,” aniya bago ako tinignan. “And that’s the reason why he kept on doing that. It seems like he wants you to continue the legacy as soon as possible.”

Atlas is talking about me producing an heir. My grandfather is already old, he’s old-old. At matagal na naming alam na gusto nitong makasiguro na magpapatuloy ang pamilyang ito.

Supposedly, Atlas must take the role but he already rejected it many years ago. And according to him, he doesn’t want any kids.

The chairman must’ve gone tired of pursuing him so intead, all his attention was focused on me.

The pressure, the authority, everything… is now on me.

Kaya nakatutok lahat ng nga tauhan nito sa kinikilos ko. Minamamanmanan lahat-lahat. Kaya may pagkakataon na nasasakal na ako.

But again… I don’t have a choice.

I scoffed when Atlas said that.

“He’s playing the matchmaker.”

“Ganon na nga.” Natatawang wika ng pinsan ko.

Nang maubos na ang sigarilyo, muli itong nagsalita dahilan upang mapunta ulit sa kanya ang atensyon ko.

“Eli, naalala mo pa ba ang bahay sa Greenwood?” The question was so random.

“Oo, bakit?” Tanong ko.

Greenwood Village is the most exclusive high end subdivision in the city. Bilang lang ang nga pamilyang may kayang bumili diyan.

And my family owns at least two properties in that place.

An old mansion owned by my grandfather, himself, and an annex that my father bought a few years ago.

I heard Atlas and Elaine went to our grandfather’s mansion a few days ago. Kaya siguro naitanong nito ngayon dahil don.

“Naalala mo ba ang mansyon ng mga Blanco?”

I blinked when he mentioned that surname.

Of course, how could I ever forget that place?

Mula nong bata pa ako, madalas akong napapadaan sa lugar na iyon dahil ‘yon lang ang daan papunta sa malaking tennins court na isa sa mga amenities nila.

I used to play tennis with my dad when I was little. Iyon ang unang sport na natutunan ko.

That mansion is quite captivating for me because of how it looks from the outside, and sometimes I wonder how it looks in the inside.

But then, every time I passed that mansion, it feels so empty from the inside. Mula noon hanggang ngayon ay wala akong nakitang tao na pumasok at lumabas doon.

It’s abandoned.

“What’s with the mansion?”

“May nakita akong babaeng lumabas mula roon.”

And just like that, it piqued my interest.

“Babae?”

“Oo, babae. I wonder if she’s the new owner or maybe just the caretaker. It’s quite shocking to see a person coming out from the Blanco’s estate.” Paliwanag nito atsaka tila napaisip. I watch Atlas getting occupied by his thoughts.

“She seems young, but definitely not young like you. Siguro mas matanda pa sa’yo ng kaunti.”

I kept on listening.

“What else? It seems like you’re interested in that woman, Atlas.” Bigla itong napatawa sa sinabi ko.

“Maybe? Maybe not? It’s just that, it was the first time seeing a human being in that dead place.”

He heaved a heavy sigh as he put his hands inside his pockets.

Nakangiti ito habang nakatingala sa madilim na kalangita na animo’y may iniisip pa.

Ito ang unang pagkakataon na makita ko itong ganito ka interesado sa isang hamak na babae.

All because of that Blanco mansion.

“Ah, one more thing Eli.” Muli nitong saad nang magbalak na akong tumalikod para bumalik sa loob.

“Alam mo bang may kwento tungkol sa mansyon na iyon?” Aniya atsaka ako tinignan sa mata.

Atlas had this set of hunter eyes that captivates a lot of preys.

“I heard that mansion have a portrait of a beautiful woman. Nang makita ko ang babaeng lumabas sa mansyon… muntikan ko nang maisip na baka siya ang babaeng nasa painting na sinasabi nila… alam mo na, baka biglang nabuhay.”

My forehead creased when he laughed afterwards.

“Oh s’ya bumalik ka na sa loob. Danica might’ve been looking for you.” He said, mentioning my mother’s name.

I walk away and left him in his place. Muli ko pa itong nilingon bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob.

Was that woman really that beautiful to make Atlas think like that?

I scoffed.

“As long as it’s not Eveion.” I whispered under my breath and headed towards my mother who is now shooting me death glares for leaving the party.

Kaagad kong ikinapa ang aking cellphone sa loob ng aking suot na suit.

I have priorities to make and that is to read Eveion’s last messages.

I wonder how she felt after receiving my gift…