Belle Ame: A Beautiful Soul (DS Auxiliary)

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

"If I do what I don't want to do, this means that I am no longer the one who does it; instead, it is the the sin that lives in me."

-Romans 7:20

***

Year 1969.

"SANTINO, hurry up!"

Dinig sa buong mansyon ang sigaw ni Papa, halata ang inis sa tono niya.

"Coming," walang gana kong tugon habang pababa ng hagdanan.

"Wala ka bang pagpapahalaga sa oras? Pagdating ng panahong ikaw na ang maghahawak ng kompanya ay napakahalaga ng bawat segundo, Santino," maikling sermon pa niya na para bang isang oras akong nahuli.

"Pa, it's just 11:01 AM. Nahuli lang ako ng isang minuto."

"Tignan mo at ganyan ang mentalidad mo. If you view a minute as a mere minute, then you don't get how important time is." Tumalikod na si Papa at lumabas ng pintuan.

Napailing na lang ako. Siya pa ang may ganang magsabi niyon habang siya naman ang nagsayang ng lahat ng oras at pagkakataon para maging mabuting ama.

Sinundan ko lang siya hanggang sa parehas na kaming lulan ng sasakyan papunta sa residente ng mga Salamanca.

This is the day my father's starting to use me for that damn investment. I'm only fifteen but if I date that Salamanca heiress, my father won't beat me up. And a huge sum of money.

Pagbaba ng sasakyan ay sinalubong kami ng ilang kasambahay, giniya papasok sa loob ng magarang mansyon.

"Sancho! I knew you'll be right on time!"

He could be Mr. Salamanca, based from his looks. Halatang magkasing-edad lang sila ni Papa. He's tall, wearing a corporate brown coat, slacks, and leather shoes. He also has that black but short beard and moustache.

Then, a middle-aged woman came out from a dining room. Wearing a simple brown dress but shining jewelries are all over her. She must be the Salamanca matriarch.

"Is that your son already, Sancho?" she asked while taking a glance at me.

"Ah, yes." Nilingon ako ni Papa at sinenyasan na lumapit. "Braullo, Philomena, this is my unico hijo—Santino delos Santos."

"Good day, Ma'am, Sir," magalang kong bati. Showing a reserved smile I practiced every time in front of the mirror.

"Oh, he looks like you when you were younger, Sancho!" Mrs. Salamanca said, so pleased. She looks at me. "Lamang ay tila mas malakas ang dating ng binatilyong ito. Agaw-pansin ang presensiya mo, hijo."

Should I be glad with that?

"Hmm." Mr. Salamanca eyed me from head to toe and back. "Maybe that's why my unica hija cannot stop talking about you. Tila siyang sirang plaka na kuwento ng kuwento tungkol sa'yo, na para bang matagal ka na niyang kakilala. Our daughter is creeping us out sometimes."

That's damn creepy. I don't even know their daughter, yet the girl has a lot to say about me? Is she a stalker or what?

"Is it true that you belong to the cream of the crop?" tanong pa ni Mr. Salamanca.

My father tapped my shoulder. "My son's always at the top of his class, Braullo. Always. Always," sagot ni Papa na may tono ng pagmamalaki sa kanyang tining. "Santino will always out-stand every one in his class. He is the cream of the cream of the crop."