One More Night

kabanata 45

Third person's POV

Desa got busier for the passed months. She's involved in charity and voluntary works on the secluded places of different provinces.

But its not the only thing that makes her not going back to Manila gor a long time. Hindi siya nakakauwi sa Maynila dahil na rin ito sa mga kalamidad na dumarating sa mga probinsya kung saan siya naroroon.

May mga oras na hindi siya nakakabili ng ticket pauwi ng Manila. Not because they're out of ticket, but it is invalid when it comes to her. And she doesnt know why.

But after all of that, she's finally back. Nakauwi na rin siya. Nandito na ulit siya ngayon. And all whet she think is to see her lovely daughter in heart. She's missing Ellaine so much.

She's already inside the house. And she saw the whole family is in the living room. Pero, nagtaka siya nang makita ang mama at papa rito sa sala. She thought that they are in London.

"Desa..." rinig niyang sabi ni Cora nang makita siya nito. Kaya napalingon silang lahat.

"You're back." wika ni Benjamin.

Ngumiti lamang siya. "Teka, hindi ko alam na umuwi pala rito sina mama at papa. Wait, where's Ellaine? Hindi ko kasi siya ma-contact. Nasa kwarto ba siya? Pupuntahan ko siya--"

"She's not here." nagtaka si Desa sa sinabi ng asawa. Ellaine is not here?

"Well, may lakad siya? She'll be here later, right?" tanong nito. But she got confused when her husband didnt speak.

Tiningnan niya ang mga kapatid ni Benjamin, pero pati sila ay umiwas ng tingin sa kanya. Even Georgia and Conie didnt look at her.

What's happening here in the house?

It last for a second, at labis niya itong ipinagtaka. She thinks that they're acting so weird today. Akala niya, wala nang sasagot sa kanyang katanungan. But no, her papa answered her.

"Lumayas siya ng bahay." diretso nitong sinabi.

"What?! No. Hindi niya magagawa iyan--"

Naputol ang pagsasalita ni Desa nang bigla na lamang sumabat sa usapan si Cora.

"Hindi? She already did, Desa. Matagal na siyang wala rito. And we're finding her for almost ten months! That brat--"

Hindi na naipagpatuloy ni Cora ang pagsasalita nang pahintuin siya ni Desa. And why did I make her stop? Dahil hindi ko nagustuhan ang itinawag niya kay Ellaine.

"Dont you call her a brat, hindisiya ganon, Cora." ngayon ay unti unting kumulo ang dugo niya dahil sa narinig.

"Whatever."

"Benjamin, can you please tell me why she's not here?" tanong niya kay Benjamin.

He sighed, "We had a fight, noong araw ng pag alis mo. And she escape the day after that."

"Bakit niya naman gagawin iyon? At nag away kayo? Why?"

"Because of that man. She said he liked someone. And it is not right, because she'll be marrying Revierre. Hindi ko alam kung bakit napasok sa utak niya ang paglayas." iyon lamang ang sinagot ni Benjamin.

"And? That's it?" Desa seriously looked at Benjamin, "Look, your daughter likes someone. So we have to support her and be happy for her--"

"Desa... Napagkasunduan na namin ng mga Daucers na ipakasal siya sa anak nila. And besides, she's the only way to make all of us alive." he said.

But Desa just shook her head. Her husband's explanation is not enough for her. She wants to know more, if what really happened.

Until Cora speak again, making Desa look at her.

"Unless, you want to see yourself dead, Desa."

"Shut up, Cora." pagpigil ni Benjamin.

Pero, nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita si Cora at hindi nagpatinag. Ang mga kapatid naman niya ay hindi na nagsalita, even their parents.

"She have to know this dirty little secret, Benjamin. Tutal, she's a Faraon too." she said.

"What secret?" tanong ni Desa.

"Cora!" sigaw ni Benjamin. Pero, hindi pa rin nakinig si Cora. At sinabi niya ang lahat kay Desa.

"Before you and my brother get married, malaki na ang utang namin sa mga Daucers. All what we have is from their pocket. And that debt is still unpaid until now. So, when Ellaine came into this house, mama and papa decided to make her as an exchange for all our debts."

Napailing si Desa habang naririnig ang mga salitang galing kay Cora. No.

"The Daucers also picked Ellaine. Gusto nila ang babaeng iyon para sa anak nila. And it means very good! Dahil kapag naibigay na si Ellaine sa kanila, wala na tayong problema."

Desa found herself disappointed. Hindi dahil sa matagal na palang baon sa utang ang pamilya ng asawa niya, but because Benajamin just agreed to make his daughter as an exchange for freeing them from debts.

"Ang tagal kong nawala rito, pero ni isa sa inyo ay wala man kang nakagpasabi sa akin na ganito na pala ang nangyayari sa bahay na ito. My job is already done but I cant go back here in Manila but I cant--"

"Sinadya kong hindi ipaalam sayo. And also, ako ang may pakana kung bakit hindi ka makauwi ng Manila sa loob ng ilang buwan." Cora said.

Dahil doon ay nagalit si Desa. But, she cant hurt this woman in front of their parents, kaya nagtimpi siya. But deep inside, she's ready to make Cora bald.

"Magtatanong ka kung bakit ko ginawa iyon? Dahil kakampihan mo lang ang babaeng iyon, Desa. Maybe, you will help her in escaping from this house. Kaya hindi na kami nag abalang sabihin pa ito sayo." she added.

Matapos nilang magkasagutan, sandaling nabalot ng katahimikan ang buong bahay. At binasag iyon ng ama nina Benjamin.

"Desa, this isnt only the reason why Ellaine have to be married." sabi nito. Kaya napatingin si Desa sa kanya.

"Kapag hindi sila naikasal, hindi na tayo masisikatan ng araw. O kung masikatan man, may mga nakabaon nang bala sa ulo nating lahat. And our name will be a mess. Mawawala ang lahat sa atin kung hindi natin siya ibibigay sa kanila." paliwanag nito.

But, Desa didnt accept his reasons. Why? Because she loves Ellaine as her own daughter. And she dont want her to suffer, just for the sake of their name.

"Pero, apo niyo siya. Mas matimbang pa rin ba ang pera at pangalan kaysa sa dugo? Pa, Ellaine is innocent. Hindi niya alam ang mga dahilan niyo. May karapatan din siyang mabuhay. You cant control her life just like that. She's not a toy--"

"You're crazy, Desa. Hindi mo alam kung ano ang mga lumalabas sa bibig mo. You didnt even became a mother. Ano ba ang alam mo? Why you're so kind to that woman and you treat her like that. Ni hindi mo nga mabigyan ng anak si Benjamin--"

"Yes, I cant give him a child, but he let Ellaine enter in my life, Cora. At kahit hindi kami magkadugo, I already treated her as my own daughter. Hindi nga ako nagbuntis, but I took care of Ellaine and I already experienced how to be a mother." she said.

And tears flowed out on her eyes. Labis siyang nasaktan dahil sa narinig. Yes, she cant give Benjamin a child. But she thought na hindi iyon isusumbat ng kahit na sino sa pamilya nila pagdating ng panahon.

But she's wrong.

"Huwag mong masabing hindi ako naging ina. Dont ask me if what I know about blood because I damn know it all, Cora!"

Matapos niyang sabihin iyon ay tumalikod siya sa kanilang lahat.

"Maybe I'll be in danger if we didn't find her. But, I'll be more happy with that. Dahil naging malaya at masaya ang anak ko." sabi ni Desa.

"If my death is the exchange of my daughter's happiness, then I'll take it." she added, and walked away.

I will find my daughter. And if I find her, mas tutulungan ko pa siyang magtago at tumakas mula sa inyo.