Heat Wave (Disaster Series #2)

Kabanata 7

"T-that's good then. Now that the marriage seems to be really happening, carry out our plans as soon as possible. Mas mabuti nga kung agawin mo iyang panganay ng mga Cavallero habang nandiyan ang babaeng iyan!"

Mama laughed. Almost hysterically. Almost unfamiliar to me. I stared warily at the ceiling. This is what they did to my mother. This is what the oppression and anger that they gave to her, did to her.

Natapos ang usapan naming iyon ni Mama sa masigla niyang tono. Like her mood completely shifted from hatred to pure enthusiasm for the revenge.

I can't even tell her that our plan doesn't seem to be working. Gon doesn't like me. Yes, sometimes I feel that he cares for me. But I realized that that's because it's part of who he is. He is a good person. So, part of his nature is being kind to me. Hindi ko malagyan ng kahit na anong kahulugan iyong mga pinapakita niya sa akin.

In the morning, despite waking up feeling heavy, I got up to prepare breakfast for our guest. Kagaya ng pinag-usapan kahapon ng mga kasama kong kasambahay, dadating nga rito iyong kapatid ni Gon, si Arcus.

It's the same Arcus that invited Quinn, Quan's brother, to the welcome party of Gon at the barn house back then.

Hindi pa ba siya nakauwi ng mga panahong iyon? Maybe he's still in abroad that time. Reason why I haven't seen him the whole time at the party.

Narinig ko rin sa usapan nila kagabi na apat ang apo ni Don Primero sa panganay niyang anak. It's Gon, Arcus, and their younger brother and sister that I didn't even get the names. Pareho ang apat na nakatira at lumaki sa abroad kasama ang parents nila.

Umuwi lang si Gon dito sa El Valencia dahil tumatanda na ang Lolo niya at kailangan niyang direktang tumulong sa pag-aasikaso ng kompanya. I heard Gon still helped with their companies back when he was still in abroad but he needed to be hands-on now.

Kaya siguro ngayong ikakasal na siya, napauwi na iyong kapatid niya. Arcus is the second eldest grandchild of Don Primero. So, maybe he needs to help with their companies now that Gon will be busy with his wedding...

"Tequila, tapos ka na diyan? Kung tapos ka na, maligo ka na. Tumawag kagabi si Don Primero, inihabilin na ikaw na raw ang bahala na mag-welcome kay Arcus," si Ate Ofelia.

"Ha? Ba't ako?"

I'm supposed to be allowed to go home now that it's a Saturday. Pagkatapos kong tumulong ay plano ko na sanang pumunta kina Tita Reesa para bisitahin si Mama at umuwi na rin sa bahay para matingnan ito saglit.

"Alam mo namang hindi kami masyadong marunong mag-Ingles. Eh, laking abroad iyong si Sir, paano kami magkakaintindihan niyan? Ikaw lang ang alam naming marunong makipag-usap diyan. Tutal palagi naman kayong nag-uusap ni Sir Gonsalvus 'di ba? Kaya, kaya mo na 'yan," sabat ni Ate Dina na tinutulak pa ako paalis ng kitchen.

Sighing, I have no choice but to go upstairs ang get prepared. Nakakahiya rin naman kung pipilitin ko pang makauwi ngayon. Siguro bukas na lang.

It's already nine in the morning when we all lined up outside to welcome Arcus Cavallero.

The sun's heat isn't present and the skies are a bit gloomy when a sleek black Donahue Alcuesta entered the gates. Saktong paglampas nito sa gate ay siya ring pagbuhos ng malakas na ulan.

Ate Dina handed me an umbrella, like urging me to be the one to immediately go now that the car's door is opening.

Bago pa man tuluyang makalabas si Arcus ay kaagad ko na siyang sinalubong ng payong. When he finally got off his car and stood on his height, I instantly struggled to lift the umbrella over his head. He's much taller than me. I bet he's just and inch shorter than his brother.