"Patawarin mo ako Lolo. Wala akong magawa to save our company." Sambit ni Vladimir sa kanyang lolo.
"Wag kang mawalan ng pag-asa apo. We can still find a way. This is not your fault." Sambit ni Don Rafael na pinanghihinaan na rin ng loob.
"Kasalanan ko 'to lahat. Kung hindi ko sinaktan noon si Zera hindi mangyayari ang lahat ng ito. Gusto kong sisihin si Count Marcos pero hindi ko magawa. If I were in his shoes at may gumawa non sa anak ko baka mapatay ko pa." Sambit ni Vladimir.
Lingid sa kaalaman ni Vladimir ay nagkausap na skna Don Rafael at Count Marcos.
"What can I do for you Don Rafael?" pormal na tanong ni Count Marcos.
"About the company Count Marcos. I came here to ask a favor hundreds of people will lose their job and they have families that would suffer if you will continue this." Sambit ni Don Rafael.
"You're a good man. How I wish your grandson got that from you. But I have no plans of stopping to tell you the truth." Sambit ni Count Marcos.
He's really a man so powerful that there has no been any hint of second thoughts with the words he says. Yan ang tumatakbo sa isip ni Don Rafael ng mga oras na iyon.
"But... There is something that you can do so I will give in with the favor your asking Don Rafael..." Sambit ni Count Marcos.
"What would that be?" Tanong ni Don Rafael.
"Annulment papers. I want your grandson to sign those papers and we have a deal." Sambit ni Count Marcos na walang pag-aalinlangan.
"That... That is something that I can't interfere with. It's his decision." Sambit ni Don Rafael.
"Maybe you can give him a push. A little favor I ask in return for those hundreds people of employees you have. Think about it... Hundreds of them for a signature." Sambit ni Count Marcos na walang pag-aalinlangan.
Naalala naman ni Don Rafael ang pag uusap nila ni Count Marcos.
"Lolo are you alright?"Tanong ni Vladimir.
"Ah yes hijo... I'm alright..." Sambit ni Don Rafael.
"Wag ka mag-alala Lolo. Gagawa ako ng paraan..." Sambit ni Vladimir.
"Vladimir... Hundreds of our employees will lose their job. I'm really worried about that." Sambit ni Don Rafael.
"Lolo..." Sambit ni Vladimir.
"Do you... Do you think it's time to let Zera's go...?" mahinang tanong ni Don Rafael.
"What are you saying Lolo... Pag pinirmahan ko yun malaya ng mapapakasalan ni Andrew ang asawa ko I'm not gonna let that happen dahil pag ginawa ko yun it's as if I'm taking my own life away..."Sambit ni Vladimir.
"Sorry hijo... I can't think straight anymore. Naiisip ko ang lahat ng mawawalan ng trabaho kasabay ng pagbagsak natin... Wag mo nalang ako pansinin. Maiwan na muna kita dito, Magpapahinga muna ako." Sambit ni Don Rafael.
Nang mapag-isa si Vladimir ay hindi niya mapigilang mag-isip.
"Is it really the time to let you go Zera...? Or can still be selfish kahit kapalit noon ang mga empleyadong mawawalan ng trabaho para lang hindi ka tuluyang mapunta sa iba?" Sambit ni Vladimir sa kanyang sarili.
Sa Villa Kontessa naman ay naroon sina Andrew at Chandria.
"Andrew, I want to see Lolo Rafael. I'm worried about him. He's already old enough to think about all this that has been happening." Sambit ni Chandria kay Andrew.
"I know your worried my lady. I'll set up a meeting for the two of you. I know how much the old man means to you." Sambit ni Andrew.
True to his word ay gumawa nga ng paraan si Andrew para makausap ni Chandria si Don Rafael na hindi nito makikita si Vladimir.
Nasa isang restaurant sila ngayon at hinihintay ang pagdating ni Don Rafael.
"Lolo Rafael..." Sambit ni Chandria.
"Hija... I'm happy to see you..."Sambit ni Don Rafael pero nababakas mo ang pag-aalala.
"I'll leave first My lady... You two talk... I'll be outside. If you need me..." Sambit ni Andrew.
"Thank you Andrew..." Sambit ni Chandria...
"Thank you your highness..." Sambit ni Don Rafael.
"Don't mention it Don Rafael. You've done a lot for Chandria and this is a simple thing that I can do for you..." Sambit ni Andrew bago lumabas para makapag usap ang dalawa.
"He's a good man Zera..." Sambit ni Don Rafael.
"Yes he is... A little bit far from good I must say..." Sambit ni Chandria.
"No wonder your father likes him for you. Any father would..."Sambit ni Don Rafael.
"There's no doubt about that... But... But how are you Lolo... I'm worried about you..."Sambit ni Chandria.
"I'm alright hija... Nothing big that this old man can't take... "Sambit ni Don Rafael.
"Don't give me that lolo... I know what's happening. Because my father's words all this are happening to your company..." Sambit ni Chandria.
"We're coping up hija... Not an easy task but I don't know really... Your father is very powerful man. I'll give him that. But I'm not an easy target you know that... We can find a way." Sambit ni Don Rafael na tila mo walang kasigaruduhan sa mga binibitawang salita.
"I'll try to talk things out with my father... At least that is something that I can do... Sorry for this Lolo..." Sambit ni Chandria.
"Thank you hija... Thank you..."Sambit ni Don Rafael.
"How... How is he lolo...?" Di mapigilang mag tanong ni Chandria.
"Vladimir.... He's coping up.. But I bet he's not taking it lightly. Hundreds of employees are on his shoulders... But I know he can take it... He's strong and I know kaya niya ito." Sambit ni Don Rafael nababakasan din nag pag-aalala.
"I know... I know he's strong my father can't easily bring him down... Vl-Vladimir can get past through this. You have to believe in him..." Sambit ni Chandria.
"I always have... And I will never lose faith in him..."Sambit ni Don Rafael.
"I'll see you again lolo... We have to go. Dad's waiting for us. "Sambit ni Chandria.
"Go on hija... You take care and thank you for meeting me..." Sambit ni Don Rafael.
Habang nasa byahe pauwi sina Chandria at Andrew ay hindi napigilan mag tanong ni Andrew.
"How is he?" Tanong ni Andrew.
"He looks though but I know better... He's worried... So worried that I'm afraid would take troll on his health..." Sambit ni Chandria.
"He's a strong man my lady... I know how much he means to you and I really don't want this to happen..." Sambit ni Andrew.
"I talk to dad Andrew... I have to..." Sambit ni Chandria.
"You sure about this? This can cause a reverse effect my lady..."Sambit ni Andrew.
"I know but I have to take thsi chance Lolo Rafael is old and he can only take so much... Too much can harm him and I won't let that happen to someone who took care of me when nobody does." Sambit ni Chandria.
"Well then, I'll support you... Let's go home and talk to your dad alright? And for you please make yourself at ease. It ain't gonna do you good if you worry to much..." Sambit ni Andrew.
"Hi dad... Can we talk?" Tanong ni Chandria sa ama.
"Sure my princess... You wanna go to the study?" Tanong ni Marcos.
"That would be great..." Sambit ni Chandria.
Nang makarating sila sa study rokm ay hindi alam kung paano sisimulan ang sasabihin sa ama kaya si Marcos na nagsimula magsalita.
"So Whatis that my princess would like to talk about?" Tanong ni Marcos sa anak.
"About the... About the Monteverde Inc. Dad..." Sambit ni Chandria.
Napatingin naman ng matiim si Marcos sa anak bago nag salita.
"What about it Chandria?" Tanong ni Marcos naging seryoso ang mukha.
"Their company is going down right after the presscon was released. Help... Help them out dad. One word from you and I know it'll be better..." Sambit ni Chandria.
"And why I should do that Chandria if I wasn't impressed at all?" seryoso tanong sa anak.
"It's... It's because... I owe Don Rafael a lot dad..." Sambit ni Chandria na hindi inaakala na masasabi sa ama.
Tinitigan siya mabuti ni Marcos at hindi agad kumikibo.
"So my daughter is really willing to go this far. I guess you're ready to spill everything to me for their sake." Sambit ni Marcos sa kanyang isip bago sumagot kay Chandria.
"Why is that the Countess Of La Marche owe something to someone like old Monteverde?" direchong tanong ni Marcos.
"Dad... Remember what I've told you way back when we were still in France? That... That I have been married...?" Sambit ni Chandria.
"Yes what about it?" Tanong ni Marcos.
"It's... It's Vladimir Monteverde... He was the man I married dad..." Sambit ni Chandria at doon niya nakita ang pagyukom ng kamay ng ama..
"Sorry dad if I didn't tell you... I just... I just don't want to complicate things... I kno-" Sambit ni Chandria pero pinutol na ni Marcos ang ano pa man ang sasabihin niya.
"Enough Chandria..." Sambit Marcos nanakapikit ang mata nakayukom pa rin ang dalawang kamay sa ibabaw ng lamesa.
"Dad..." Sambit ni Chandria.
"You don't have to say a word Chandria. I know everything about the bastard who made you cry which happens to be the same asshole who killed my grandchild." Sambit ni Count Marcos na ikinabigla ni Chandria.
Hindi niya inakala na alam lahat iyon ng kanyang ama. A tears fell down from her eyes.
"And you are doing this... Because of me...?"Sambit ni Chandria.
"Yes, And I will make him pay for all the tears you've wasted." Malamig na Sambit ni Marcos.
Hindi agad nakapag salita si Chandria. She knows how scary and powerful her father is if he's mad but she never saw him this way. With the look on her father's face, it makes her want to step and run out of the room but she gathered her guts and speak up.
"Dad... Everything's all in the past now... I'm... I'm already moving forward... Can't... Can't you do the same?" Tanong ni Chandria sa pagitan ng pagluha.
"It may all be in the past but it will never change the fact that you've been through hell Chandria. It doesn't mean that it will bring back my grandchild. It doesn't mean that it can erase the bruises that you had. It won't change the fact that you nearly died as well. So no, I will make it to the point that he will experience the same hell you've been through." Malamig na Sambit ni Marcos.
"Who are you?" Sambit ni Chandria.
She can't believe that the man in front of her is her father.
"A father Chandria Margaretha, a father who is in the pain that can't forgive himself for I let all those things to happened." Sambit ni Marcos.
"I have forgiven you dad... And so as grandma... I never blamed you for what happened to me in the past. I never did and never will. If not for all the things that happened, I wouldn't be able to see you. To have a family. Please dad..." Sambit ni Chandria na umiiyak pa rin.
"Drop it Chandria. I won't change my mind. "Sambit ni Marcos.
"No dad. Tell me... If you can hold such grudge. Have you forgiven Grandma Margarret? Have you?" Tanong ni Chandria.
Hindi naman nagsasalita si Marcos kaya sinamantala iyon ni Chandria.
"Why can't you answer me dad? We have faults. All of us. Grandma for making mom leave. You for not standing by her side. Mom, for not fighting for you. Vladimir for hurting me and even me because I chose to let him go..." Sambit ni Chandria.
"Stop it Chandria." Sambit ni Marcos.
"No dad... You're not just hurting one person. A person I owe my life with is hurting too. Lolo Rafael didn't have any seconds thoughs of choosing me that his own so that he can take care of me. He's hurting and I'm hurting too... You think I would just stand here and watch you ruin everything that he put up with his own blood? No I won't dad... I won't let you... I won't give it a second thought... To take his side..."Sambit ni Chandria.
"What are you saying Chandria?" biglang pagtataas ng boses ni Marcos.
"I'm saying that you have to stop dad. You have to stop this now. Lolo Rafael haven't done anything wrong to suffer in your hands." Sambit ni Chandria.
"His grandson has a lot of Unforgivable things Dammit! Can't you see that?" Sambit ni Marcos.
"Yes he did! That's Vladimir and not Lolo Rafael! Why would you go to the extent of hurting people that did not nothing wrong? Unforgivable? Who are you not to forgive? When I went through that myself can put it behind and let go for the sake of what I have right now! "Sambit ni Chandria.
"Princess..." Sambit ni Marcos.
"Dad... Please... Don't make me change the way I look at you. You're not a monster... You have to stop this... Hatred right there in your heart is eating you up..." Sambit ni Chandria habang tinuturo ang puso ng ama.
"Let him sign the annulment papers Chandria, after that, I promise to let this go... I don't want you to have anything to do with him anymore..." Sambit ni Marcos.
Hindi agad nakapag salita si Chandria sa sinabi ng kanyang ama.
"Chandria, you have to let him go right? He is just a part of thr past now who has no place in your present right?" seryosong tanong Marcos sa anak.
"Yes dad and I will make him sign the papers that you want." Sambit ni Chandria.
"Don't make me hate him even more Chandria." Sambit ni Marcos.
"I know dad. I'll go ahead..." Sambit ni Chandria saka lumabas ng study room at nakasalubong naman niya si Andrew.
"Are you alright my lady?" Tanong ni Andrew.
"Yes Andrew,I'm fine. Please excuse me. I'm tired." Sambit ni Chandria.
"Alright... You want me to bring you to your room?" Tanong ni Andrew.
"No Andrew. I'm good. Thanks but I'll go ahead... I'll see you later."Sambit ni Chandria.
Dumirecho na siya sa kanyang silid.
Wala ng nagawa si Andrew kung hindi hayaan ito pero may kung anong kakaibang kaba ang bumalot sa puso niya. Parang ang layo ni Chandria sa kanya.
________________________
-TITANIAMAGNUM