All Falls Down

Veintinueve

Craig's

"Hey! What's with the rush?" tanong ni Marco matapos kong kabigin ang kabayo pabalik sa dinaanan namin kanina.

Now that I have seen it, there's no reason for me to stay there. I have been waiting for the private plane to land in the airport for about three hours now. Just to make sure they're really coming. Well, At least it arrived safely in time. That's all I want to see.

"S'an na ba tayo ngayon n'yan?" hinihingal n'yang tanong. Muli kong kinabig ang kabayo para huminto, agad naman itong tumalima.

"Let's go back to the mansion."

"But why?" humarang siya sa unahan ko, katulad ko nakasakay din siya sa kabayo. "Pagkatapos nating tumunganga d'on babalik na naman tayo sa hacienda?"

"Did I tell you to come with me?"

"No. But.."

"Then, wag kang magreklamo." dahan dahan kong pinaandar ang kabayo ko, nakasunod naman s'ya.

"Let me get this clear. Ano ba talagang ginawa natin d'on? Did we just wait for that plane? Why? Is someone you know riding on that plane?"

I didn't like the way he said the word. Someone? Anger creep inside me.

"I don't think so." I said smugly as I continue galloping my horse.

Imbes na dumeretso ng hacienda, dumaan muna kami sa tabing dagat para magpahangin nang nakita ko ang isang nahihirapan na mangingisda. Bumaba ako para lapitan ang mga mangingisda na nakita.

"Oh, Señorito. Bakit nandito kayo?" tanong ng isang medyo may katandaang lalaki. Si mang Gustin.

"Napadaan lang ho.." I politely said before helping him with his styro box full of fishes.

"Pasensya ka na, hijo. Umalis kasi si Biron kanina kaya ako lang ang mag isa dito." he seems having trouble with those fishing nets over his shoulders kaya nilapitan ko na siya para tulungan.

"Ayos lang ho. Pwede ko ho bang bilhin ang nalang ang salmon na nahuli n'yo?"

"Ah? Oo naman, sige. Malaki nga ito at mukhang mahihirapan ako kung ako lang ang mag isang magbubuhat."

"Wow. Ang laki naman n'yan!" biglang sumulpot si Marco kaya ibinigay ko na ang bayad ko sa mangingisda.

"Ah, wala pa ho kasi akong panukli.._"

"That's okay. Sunod niyo na lang ho ibigay kapag may nahuli ulit kayong isda." nakangiti kong sabi kay mang Gustin.

"Naku salamat talaga, hijo." nagpasalamat din ako sa kanya at sumakay na muli sa kabayo.

"What are you going to do with the fish?" si Marco, with his usual annoying curiosity.

"Bring it back to the ocean."

"Ano?--"

"Of course, lulutuin, ano ba sa tingin mo."

"Tsk."

Bumalik na kami sa hacienda dala dala pa rin ang malaking isda. Habang tinatahak namin ang daan pabalik, three convoyed cars were passing through us. The black 718 Cayman porsche in the middle was very familiar. Pati na rin ang mga naka sakay sa loob n'on.

"Sino 'yon?" usisa ulit ni Marco.

"I dunno.."

Pagdating sa hacienda agad kong pinatawag si Bart para sana kunin ang isdang binili ko pero sinabi ni Alma na umalis daw ito papuntang bayan dahil sa inutos ng mayordoma. So then I have no other choice kundi dalhin ang isda sa kusina.

Just when I was about to open the backdoor bigla itong bumukas at bumungad ang isang pamilyar na babae. I sorely regret coming in here. I should've seen this coming. Her gaze landed on the big fish over my shoulder.

Napa arko ang kilay ko nang makitang hindi man lang s'ya gumagalaw sa kinatatayuan.

"Yes? Miss?" malamig na tawag ko sa kanya.

Tila naman natauhan ito at umisod sa tabi. Nakita ko ang sunod sunod niyang paglunok bago hinawi ang hibla ng buhok na tumatakip sa kanyang dibdib. I frowned a bit. Well, she seems did it unconciously.

"Hindi ka ba aalis sa daraan ko?" tiim bagang na sabi ako. I was a bit amused when she still standing at the doorway doing nothing but oddly staring at me.

"Sorry." nakangisi siya. Napatiim bagang muli ako.

Nilapagsan ko na s'ya ng tuluyan, hindi naman nakaligtas sa'kin ang nakaka akit niyang amoy.

Fvck it.

"Oh, Sir Craig! Bakit naman ho kayo ang nagdala niyan dito. Naku! oo nga pala at nasa bayan si Bart." nag aalalang salubong sa akin ni Aling Tess.

She's the mother of that woman earlier. At ang mayordoma ng hacienda ng mga Trevisano.

"Kayo na ho ang bahala sa riyan sa isda."

"Ah, oh sige." aniya.

Palabas na muli sana ako sa pinto na pinasukan ko kanina nang muli niya akong tawagin. "Maraming salamat nga po pala sa ginawa nyo--"

"That's fine. Kahit sino naman ho gagawain 'yon." I replied calmly.

"Oo nga po, pero kung hindi dahil sa inyo, mala-"

"I just did it out of humanity. Just don't mention it to anyone.."

And when I say 'anyone' I meant your daughter.

"O-osige, naiintindihan ko."

That is when the time were we always bumped into each other. Alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi lang nagkataon ang mga 'yon. Because I purposely get in her ways wherever she goes. And that always didn't go prettily as I planned.

Things had gone okay at first. Of course, her appearance had attracted a lot of attention. Discreet glances, whispered comments as she passed. Na kahit ang mga kasambahay ay nag iiwas ng tingin sa kanya kapag nasa hapag na kami. Ang laki nang ipinagbago niya. But I can still see her as a little girl whose always conciuos about herself. Still lack of confidence.

She was so engaged in their conversation that she didn't even feel my presence. Beautiful little girl with golden brown hair and an angelic face.

This little girl, however seemed more cautious than scared.

Sa hindi inaasahan, biglang nabaling sa'kin ang kanyang atensyon. I tensed, preparing myself to a similar reaction.

As rage urge came up inside me, it took every ounce of self control to maintain a surface calm when she spoke.

"We're planning about a garden wedding, Tito.. Since you can't travel abroad, we're just going to make it an intimate wedding here..."

The old man's eyes twinkled as he took his glasses off. Very obvious he's happy about the news.

"Kung ako lang ang ikakasal--I'd rather choose to do it in the most solemn place.." napatin silang bigla sa akin. I swallowed my inner cheecks when I saw they're offensive face. "Of course that is only if I were the one whose getting married." 

Namamanghang napaismid si Arrysa sa 'kin. She mouthed 'dumbass' though.. aww.

"I thought so," Tito said.