Dark Side

CHAPTER TWO

CYAN watched Mr. Roberts' back in utter bewilderment. Nagmamadaling sumunod siya rito at tumayo ilang metro sa harapan nito na para bang hinaharangan niya ang daan. As if her small form could do that. Well, she actually thought she could do it.

Matalim niya itong tiningnan.

"You can't go inside until you have proven that this house is not my property anymore!" she exclaimed angrily.

Mr. Roberts glared back at her. "And what if I did?" he challenged.

Her gaze wavered.

"Paano kung mapatunayan ko nga sa 'yo na kasama ang mansyon sa binenta mong property? Will you leave, then?" he challenged, his eyes cold with deep warning and... regret.

To what? She didn't know, and she does not want to know. She angrily looked up at him as he is so tall.

"Kahit na. It's a mistake, then. I-I'll return your money—" she blinked, realizing belatedly what she just said. "T-the money that I will owe you if you let me still have this house," she cleared.

Gusto na ring batukan ni Cyan ang sarili. Saan naman kaya siya kukuha ng ilang milyon para pamalit sa mansyon kung sakali ngang naisama ito sa naibenta niya?

An overwhelming sadness came over her. Kahit alam niya sa sarili na wala na siyang perang pambayad sa lalaki, ayaw pa rin niyang pakawalan ang mansyon. Ito na lamang ang nagsisilbi at natitirang alaala niya sa mga magulang. Ito na lamang ang nakakapagpaalaala sa kaniya ng mga panahong kaya pa niyang maging masaya. Kaya paano naman niya ito isusuko?

She wanted to cry. She wanted to burst into tears from the fact that she had no more left to treasure.

Kung bakit ba naman kasi hindi niya nai-check mabuti kung anu-ano ba ang mga binenta niya? Ngayon pati ang mansyon na siyang natitirang pag-aari niya ay mawawala pa. She had so many questions for her deceased parents that will forever be left unanswered.

"Ms. Salvatore." Mr. Roberts called her attention. "My sister will arrive in a minute to show you all the documents," basag nito sa malalim niyang pag-iisip.

Cyan glanced at him and the man was taken aback by the sadness flooding in her brown eyes, but was quick to vanish.

"Fine," was all she answered.

Napahinto siya sa tangkang pagsasalitang muli nang maisip kung paano nasabi ng lalaki sa kapatid na magpunta ito ngayon din. Ni hindi niya ito nakitang naglabas ng cellphone. She opened her mouth to speak when she suddenly saw him tense for a second before glancing towards the direction of the tall gates.

"Senyorita?"

Napalingon din si Cyan nang marinig ang pagtawag ni Manang Mina na siyang nakapasok na pala sa loob ng gate nang hindi niya namamalayan. Bitbit nito sa dalawang kamay ang mga pinamili sa palengke. Bakas sa 'itsura nito ang magkahalong pag-alala at pagtataka habang tinitingnan ang kanilang estrangherong bisita.

Cyan forced a smile.

"Manang Mina," she acknowledged the newcomer. "Ito nga pala si Mr. Roberts, ang nakabili ng rancho," she introduced him, giving the man a warning glare not to tell the old woman anything.

Mr. Roberts only looked at Cyan though, and it made her really nervous, in a very strange way. Manang Mina smiled kindly at the man when Cyan said that.

"Kumusta ho kayo, sir?" magalang na pagbati ng matanda.

The man smiled down at the woman, a kind and warm smile that surprised Cyan. It was the first time that she saw him actually smile, a kind and genuine smile.