Shifting Glances

KABANATA 2

"So you were saying? I am a victim of fraud?" Sabi ni Regan habang nakaupo sa single sofa nitong mansyon.

Malalim akong napabuntong-hininga. Normal lang na mahimigan sa boses niya ang galit, he's even looking sharply at Sheila, ang babaeng nadatnan ko kanina na syang malayo ko nang kamag-anak at nagsiwalat ngayon ng buong pinlano nila nu'ng nagpakilala abogado niya.

"Please calm down." Mahinahong sabi ko at humarang sa harapan ni Regan at ni Sheila na takot na nakahalukipkip sa mahabang sofa ngayon.

Tumingin saakin si Regan at nagbawi na ng tingin. What a small world it is. Siya ang gustong bumili nitong bahay at lupa.

He was accompanied by someone. His lawyer which is now trying to contact the police to track down the lawyer who ran away with the money.

"I will make sure to put you in jail." Seryosong sabi ni Regan ng hindi nakatingin, he is referring to Shiela. Umiling-iling ako nang biglang humagulgol ng iyak si Shiela at sa isang iglap ay nakaluhod nanaman ito.

"Shiela!" I called her name and tried to get her up, pero nakaluhod pa rin siya sa sahig, sa harapan ni Regan na pirme ang kunot ng noo, hindi man lang ito nakatingin na hindi man lang naaaawa kay Shiela. I know he's mad, pero naniniwala akong hindi naman siya ang tipo ng taong walang simpatya.

"Please Regan, don't scare her too much. Nadala lang siya sa mga salita nu'ng abogado, mahirap lang sila at napakapit lang siya sa patalim." Pakiusap ko habang dinadaluhan si Shiela.

Umiling si Regan, "Paano naman iyong perang naitakbo ng abogado? Kung maibabalik ang pera na iyon ngayon din, I wouldn't make a fuss about it. I will remain in silence, hindi ko paiimbestigahan ang babaeng 'yan."

Bakit ako 'yung nanlulumo? Wala naman akong kasalanan. Pero mas wala akong 120 million para ipambayad kay Regan!

Hindi ako nakaimik sakaniya.

"Shiela, umupo kana ng maayos, magagawan natin 'to ng paraan." Bulong ko kay Shiela at sa wakas ay nagpahigit na ito.

Inupo ko itong muli na todo lang ang iyak. Hinarap ko si Regan na nakaupo pa rin habang nakapirme ang magkasalubong nitong kilay. Tumingin na ito saakin kaya nagtama ang tingin namin.

"Sinusubukan naman i-trace iyong abogado, hindi ba? Ang pinakikiusap kolang, ay huwag mo nang takutin si Shiela."

Regan was looking at me when his frown disappeared, bigla itong tumayo sa mismong harapan ko kaya bahagya akong napatingala dahil sa tangkad niya. We were eyeing each other.

"You are the real owner of this property, right?" Wika nito sa mismong harapan ko.

I nodded.

He suddenly glanced at Shiela who's behind me. Saka muling ibinalik ang tingin saakin.

"Mapapalampas ko ang ginawa ng pinsan mo. I can even pretend that there was no fraud, since the real owner is here, kaya natin mapag-usapan ito. I want the property, sell it to me, just deduct the 120 million from the original price. Sounds fair? Hindi ko na isasali ang abala at tinangkang panlolokong dinulot saakin."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Regan. For a moment I was staring at his face while he was talking. Hindi ako nakapagsalita. He really wants the property.

Umiling ako at nagbawi ng tingin. I can't.

"W-Wala akong balak na ipagbili itong mansyon, maging ang lupa." Seryosong sabi ko.

I already promised myself to take care of this ancestral land until the day I die. No one can take this away from me. Hindi ko ito ipagbibili.

"Fraud or not. I will buy this property."

Nangunot na ng tuluyan ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Regan ng may katigasan. I was grateful to him because of the help he did to me this morning. I still look up to him and respect him, sobrang pakiusap na ang ginawa ko sakaniya, but I can't let him do whatever he wants, wala naman akong kasalanan, nadamay lang ako.

"Fraud or not. Hindi ko ipinagbibili ang kahit na katiting na buhangin rito." Matigas na sagot ko.

Nagkatitigan kami ni Regan hanggang sa mapalitan ito ng pagtatagisan ng tingin. Wala akong balak na magbawi ng tingin.

"I traced the address, and sent someone to check him out. Rito mismo sa laguna, but I doubt that we'll catch him, lalo na at aware na siya sa ginawa niya. He was able to run, he can hide for sure."

Nagbawi lang kami ng tingin nang lumapit ang kasamang abogado ni Regan at magsalita. We both looked at him, napbuntong-hininga ako.

"Pwede natin siyang ipa-wanted, peak of it is to broadcast him to national tv, hindi naman kasi biro ang halaga ng natangay niyang pera. But to do that, we need a solid evidence for his crime, kailangan din ng testimony and witness, which is Ms.Shiela, ma-iimbestigahan ito."

Even Regan let out a breath after hearing that. Muli ko siyang sinulyapan na nakatingin saakin. I shook my head. Pwede naman akong sumang-ayon sakanila, pero sobra akong naaawa kay Shiela.

"We can wait until we find out if he has really gotten away or not, you sent someone to check on him, right? Let's not be rash-

"Bakit hindi mo nalang hayaan ang pinsan mo? Hindi ba't sabi mo hindi ka naman kasali sa pinlano nila? Why are you defending her anyway? Or are you guilty of fraud too? You're the real owner? And kahapon mo lang nalaman? Isn't that a ridiculous claim? You're part of them."

Nanlaki ang mata ko at bumangon ang inis ko kay Regan sa mga pinagsasabi niya. I glared at him.

"Ngayon ay inaakusahan mo na ako? Tch." I laugh mockingly. Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin at ganoon rin ako sakaniya.

Matalim ang tingin kong hinagod ko ng tingin ang kabuuan niya hanggang sa magtama ang tingin namin. Kumibot ang noo niya sa ginawa ko. "This is my last thanks for what you did for me earlier this morning, but accusing me like that is unacceptable. I am not part of it. I am humbly asking for your consideration until the real culprit which is the lawyer is caught. "

He smirked and glanced pass me again, in my back where Shiela is, tapos ay sinalubong niya ang tingin ko. "The real culprit is here, whom you are defending! That makes you two accomplices, right? Come to your senses, why don't you just turn her over?" Galit na ani niya.

He's making sense but why can't I turn over Shiela? Natameme ako sa sinabi nito pero pinanatili ko ang pagmamatigas ko.

"I have nothing to do with the fraud. Isa pang ulit mo, I will make you leave in any possible way." Banta ko sakaniya.

He doesn't seem to waver, "You don't have to make us leave, we can leave but expect the authorities to come for you afterwards." Banta rin nito pabalik saakin.

Naikuyom ko ang kamao ko. Abot na ang inis sa ulo ko. I am not scared, I just don't want Shiela to be in jail. What should I do? You need to calm down Ice.

Mariin akong pumikit at huminga ng malalim. Nang magmulat ako ay peke akong ngumiti sakanila, maging sa kasama niyang lawyer.

"Aren't you rich? An Elite? How they were able to make prey out of you two? Paano nila kayo nagawang lokohin sa simpling pekeng kontrata? Nagbayad pa kayo agad." I questioned them back.

Regan doesn't look dumb enough to be fooled, not to mention his lawyer. Pero parang ang natamaan sa sinabi ko ay ang Lawyer niya na bigla akong dinuro.

"This woman! How dare you question my profession?!" Galit na palahaw nito pero kinrus kolang ang mga braso ko sa dibdib. I stared at him provokingly and he looks like he's about to hit me, but I know he won't do it.

Regan stepped infront of his lawyer but facing me.

"Mukhang mali ang pagkakakilala ko sa'yo, Icely."

My heart was pinched when he said that with a disappointing look. I was triggered. Ako rin naman! He was so rash to accuse me! Galit ko siyang tiningnan.

"The feeling is mutual, Regan. Mukhang mali rin ang pagkakakilala ko sa'yo. Oh no, it was the image I had of you in my mind. Hindi naman kasi tayo magkakilala." Matalim kong sagot. Muli niya akong sinamaan ng tingin.

"Sharped tongue are we? Seems like this can no longer be solve with a simple peace talk." Lumamig ang boses ni Regan nang tumalikod ito at dinukot ang phone sa bulsa.

He will call the police!

Mabilis akong humarang sa harapan niya. Regan doesn't seem to care. He still tried to dial someone, not minding me. Ni hindi niya ako tiningnan.

"Don't call the police! Ano bang pwede kong gawin?! Aside from turning over Shiela or involvng her to the investigation!"

Mukha siyang natigilan nang salubungin ang tingin ko. Hindi natuloy ang pagtawag nito sa pulis.

"Sinabi ko na, sell the property to me." Kunot noong sagot niya. Umiling ako.

"I can't. Hindi ito for sale, not until I'm still breathing. Ito lang ang naiwan saakin ng lolo at lola ko, my mother loves this place, and she values this alot, hindi ko ito ipagbebenta." Seryosong sabi ko.

Regan stared at me for a moment as if trying to think what's best he could do. Nang bigla nitong ilapit ang mukha saakin na hindi ko inasahan. Few inches away, he's still staring at me so deep.

"No matter what you say, I am getting this land. makiusap ka o hindi. Mahuli man iyong abogado o hindi, kulang man ang presyo o sapat man ang presyo, magmakaawa ka man o hindi,. ipagbibili mo man o hindi, I AM GETTING THIS LAND BY ANY MEANS." Madiin niyang sabi, as if a villain who wouldn't give any mercy.

Lumayo na siya pagkatapos no'n. I own the property, wala siyang karapatan na sabihin iyon saakin habang ako ang may-ari, I am not intimidated by him.

"Then you need to erase me from this world before getting what you want, bakit hindi nalang ibang lupa ang bilhin mo? I will pay for the money you've lost, just leave Shiela alone, and leave this place alone!"

Nanatili ang malamig niyang tingin saakin kaya't pinantayan ko iyon ng masamang tingin. I don't have millions, not to mention 120 million, are you out of your mind Ice? But this is no longer just about Shiela, this is also about this property.

"Not to mention the fraud, the shame, the time wasted from this scheme, I'll still get this property. Now you choose, I'll let you live in peace, I will not mind the money, you won't have to pay for it, your cousin will get away from this, but sell me the land."

Umiling-iling ako. He really wants this property, but why?

"Fine, retain it to the original price. Not to mention the 120 million, just sell this property to me." Huminahon ang boses niya.

Suminghap si Shiela na ikinasulyap ko sakaniya. This is ridiculous, that sum of money wasn't a joke, ano bang meron rito sa lugar na ito at ito ang gustong bilhin ni Regan?

His offer was too good to be true, but I can't sell this place. Umiling pa rin ako, he look at me with disbelief, kahit naman siguro sino. All the favor was in me, pero tatanggihan ko parin.

"Hindi pwede." Mahinang sabi ko.

"Then you leave me no choice." Malamig na sabi nito at tumalikod.

"Why do you want to get this land? May ginto ba rito? May kayamanan ba rito? Babayaran ko naman ang perang nanakaw sa'yo! Just buy another property!" Napalakas ang boses ko.

"Let's go Denver." Aya nito sa lawyer niya. They're leaving, but I know this doesn't mean they're backing out.

"I will get this land by any means, hindi ko na kailangan ulit-ulitin pa 'yon. Magkita nalang tayo sa korte." Malalim na sabi ni Regan nang makatungtong ito malapit sa pintuan habang nakatalikod.

I want to scream in frustration. Galit na ang nararamdaman ko. He's provoking me, he's really gotten into my nerves. He's so pushy that he wants to get this land, hindi ko naman nga ipinagbibili.

"You!" Sigaw ko at napadabog.

He put his hand on his pocket and glanced at me with a smirk on his face. Natigilan ako.

"And I don't believe that you could pay me 120 million in an instant. You can't even afford a decent car."

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi nito. He's already insulted me to the core. Nagpupuyos na ako sa galit nang tuluyan na itong naglakad palabas kasama ang lawyer.

I was determined to hurt him, even physically. Hinubad ko ang sandals ko na may isang pulgada ng takong, I ran after him to throw it in his head.

Pero ibabato ko palang ito nang bigla akong hinigit at pigilan ni Shiela kaya hindi ito tumama kay Regan na napalingon muli saakin. We're already in the porch, habang sila ay malapit na sa sasakyan. Regan eyed my shoe in the ground and glanced back at me.

"Hindi ko ipagbibili ang lupang ito habang nabubuhay ako! At kung dumating man sa puntong kailangan ko itong ipagbili, hinding-hindi sa'yo! Regan Lozano!" Galit na sigaw ko. Shiela's just restraining me, dahil kung hindi ay hinabol ko na ang mga ito.

Biglang pinulot ni Regan ang sapatos na binato ko sakaniya. It made me fuming mad even more, lalo na nang iwagayway niya iyon.

"I'll make sure to give this back to you in the court." Diretso lang ang ekspresyon niya nang sabihin niya iyon at bitbit ang sapatos ko ay sumakay na ito ng sedan.

My eyes widened. Kung nakakabuga lang ng apoy ay sunog na ang nasa paligid ko.

"D!mn you!" Sigaw ko.