#DS5Unbowed #EmbRace #DaggerSeries
CHAPTER 3: SOBER
EMBER'S POV
Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko nang huminto ang kotseng kinaroroonan ko sa tapat ng mansyon at may nahagip ang mga mata ko. Hindi pa pinapatay ni Trace na siyang nagmaneho ang makina ay binuksan ko na ang pintuan para lumabas.
I looked at the huge shed on the opposite side of where I'm standing, but there's no way that I could really see them from here for sure. The door of the barn is closed though. I let out a sigh of relief, and I closed the gate of the tall fence. Baka may nakakalimot na naman at naiwan iyon na bukas.
"That's a huge corral. Do you raise farm animals here? According to our file, you're not really in the business."
"Because I'm not." Nilingon ko si Domino at binigyan ko siya ng maliit na ngiti. "The property is called a ranch, but we don't do livestock farming or animal husbandry."
Lumibot ang mga mata niya sa paligid. "The place seems quiet."
I looked up at the house. There's a reason why my father calls it a mansion. It has sixteen rooms. It's old but well maintained, and the surrounding land is vast. It's beautiful... and yet it's just a piece of structure to me.
"That's because I live alone."
Kumunot ang noo ng lalaki at nakita ko na ganoon din si Trace na nakalapit na sa amin at mukhang narinig ang pinag-uusapan naming dalawa.
"You live alone in a house this huge?" Domino asked.
"I have seven employees. They help me with everything, pero umuuwi din sila sa mga bahay nila pagkatapos ng trabaho nila bukod kay Miss Asencio." Fidela Asencio has been with me for years. Siya ang tumatayong mayordoma ng mansyon. She might be the only mother figure I have, but I'm used to calling her "Miss Asencio" dahil iyon ang nakasanayan kong itawag sa kaniya dahil na rin sa ama ko. "So I'm not really that alone per se."
"And your family?" Trace asked.
Tinapunan ko ng tingin ang hawak niya na binder folder. "If you've investigated me, then you're probably aware that not one of my family members is here. They're all in Manila. I've been living alone since the moment my stepmother decided that she couldn't stay in a boring ranch anymore and because she wants my half-sister to study at a prestigious school. They haven't stepped foot here since."
"When was that?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Since when did they leave you here?" Trace clarified.
"Since I was ten."
My half-sister was five then, and my stepbrother was twelve. My father got my stepmother pregnant not long after my mother died. As in months later. Emmiliano Calderon is a very traditional man. Pinanagutan niya ang responsibilidad niya at pinakasalanan niya ang stepmother ko na si Angelina kahit na bunga lang iyon ng isang gabing pagkalimot niya habang lango siya sa pagdadalamhati sa pagkamatay ng ina ko. Or so I heard.
I couldn't say that my stepmother took on the role of being a mother to me after that. I'm more of an outsider in the family.
I was too young to be left alone at that time, but I insisted. I was of course included in moving, pero pakiramdam ko noon ay makikigulo lang ako sa pamilya nila. I'm pretty sure that my stepmother would prefer that I don't go with them anyway, even if she doesn't say the word.
Bumabalik naman si Papa rito minsan at kapag bakasyon ay pinapahatid nila ako sa Manila. But as I grew older, it became easier to find a reason to keep my distance. Lalo pa at naging abala na rin ako sa archery.
I didn't stay here because I loved the house. I didn't care where I stayed. As long as I'm in a place where I don't feel every second that I'm not wanted, it's fine with me. Even if it means living by myself.
Isa pa ay talaga namang nasa Manila ang negosyo ng ama ko. My mother, Callista Estremera, inherited the ranch from her parents. Since she's an only child, she's the sole heiress of the land. Ang lupain naman ng mga Calderon ay kadugtong lang ng sa mga Estremera. There were once two mansions built here, separated only by the ownership of the two families. When my parents got married, they renovated the houses to create one giant mansion.
Nang mamayapa ang ina ko ay ang ama ko ang humawak sa mga pag-aari niya, pero nang umapak ako sa tamang gulang ay inilipat niya sa akin iyon.
The employees remained on his payroll though. Maybe his way of telling me that I'm still under his control.
"Iniwan ka nilang mag-isa sa ganoong edad?"
I was taken aback for a moment by the anger I could hear in Trace's voice. I've seen him smile before, and I've seen a glimpse of his sadness, but I haven't seen him angry. Maging ang kapatid niya ay napalingon sa kaniya na mukhang nabigla rin sa paraan ng pagtatanong niya.
"I wasn't really alone at that time. My father hired people to stay with me. When I became of legal age and my father allowed me to compete internationally, it wasn't necessary to have two dozen of employees around me. And like I've said, I have Miss Asencio."
Those people were aging. They deserve to retire with a good pension so that they could be with their family. Not stuck with me in a remote place like this. Si Miss Asencio lang talaga ang matagal ko ng nakasama dahil hindi naman na siya nakapag-asawa pa.
Napatingin ako sa langit nang maramdaman ko ang pagpatak ng ulan. "Let's go inside." Akmang papasok na ako nang makita ko ang bulaklak na nasa gilid ng pintuan. "Mauna na kayo sa loob. May aayusin lang akong sandali."
Hinayaan kong pumasok ang dalawa at yumuko ako para titigan ang halaman. Inayos ko iyon dahil parang patumba na iyon. I've decorated the front of the house with plants and they grew beautifully. Especially the roses. Isa lang naman ang may lakas loob na sirain ang mga rose ko.
Napadiretso ako ng tayo nang makarinig ako ng sigaw mula sa loob ng bahay. Kaagad na pumasok ako at sunod-sunod na napakurap ako nang makita ko si Trace at Domino na magkayakap habang napapaligiran ng mga alaga ko.
"They're going to eat us Kuya!" Domino shouted.
Maging si Trace ay napasigaw din nang dumikit sa tenga niya ang nguso ni Ruby. Emerald on the other hand is busy nibbling on one of his shoes.
Pumito ako at kaagad kong nakuha ang atensyon ni Ruby at Emerald. Even if I can't speak their language, I could swear that there's guilt in their eyes. "What are you two doing here?"
"Moo."
"Don't moo me Ruby. Alam kong ikaw ang kumain ng rose ko. I told you to stop eating them, didn't I?"
"Moo!"
"They're not yours and they are not food. Pinakain ka na kanina."
"Mooo!"
"Stop talking back to me, Ruby," I warned.
Binalingan ko sina Trace at Domino na magkayakap pa rin. Why do they look so adorable? Parehas silang namumutla na para bang natatakot sila na any moment ay basta na lang silang lulunukin nina Ruby at Emerald.
"Y-You have cows," Domino stated.
"Yup."
"You talk to them."
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Nagkibit-balikat ako. "People talk to plants just because they can. Animals are more fun to converse with since they actually talk back."
"Why do you have them?" Trace asked this time.
"Para kapag naubusan ako ng supply ng corn beef."
He looks horrified. I don't know if it's the thought of having cows or if it's the thought of having them as pets and then killing them.
"I'm kidding. I don't eat meat." Pinaningkitan ko ng mga mata si Ruby na dinunggol ulit ang tenga ni Trace dahilan para humigpit ang yakap niya sa kapatid. "But I might change my mind now. Lalo na kapag hindi pa umuwi iyong dalawa riyan sa bahay nila."
"Kuya... kuya uwi na raw tayo," sabi ni Domino.
Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko para mapigilan na mapatawa. Laugh. How long has it been since I've laughed for real?
I know the answer to that question. One year and four months ago.
"Pwede kayong umupo," sabi ko sa dalawang lalaki. "They won't bite. Harmless sila."
"They want to eat me," Trace said.
So cute. "They don't. They are friendly creatures. Bumabati lang sila."
Tumingin si Domino kay Emerald na siya naman ngayon ang pinupuntirya. "I thought you're not in the business?"
"They're my pets. I don't use them for business."
Pumito ako at inangatan ko ng kilay ang dalawa kong alaga. If a cow could sigh, Ruby would have done that. She gave me a look before she started walking toward the door. Emerald, of course, followed her sister. I opened the huge door and let them out.
Nang makalabas kami ay inunahan ko sila para buksan ang gate ng kural. I pulled out my phone and sent a quick message to one of my employees, Cristiano, who lives near the barn, to tell him that the cows got out again. Mapapagalitan na naman siya kapag nakauwi na si Miss Asencio.
"They know how to open and close doors?"
Napapitlag ako at tumingin ako sa likuran ko. Hindi ko naramdaman na sumunod pala si Trace sa akin. "Iyong gate hindi nila alam buksan. Someone probably didn't close it properly. But they do know how to close the doors of the main house, so their invasion is very stealthy. Lalo na si Ruby."
"This happen often?"
"Yup. Just be thankful that the goats didn't get out too. The cows are friendly, but Ranger and Turbo are a bit territorial."
Sandaling nakatingin lang siya sa akin. The way he stares at me feels uncomfortable. Not because there's something inappropriate about his gaze, but rather because one look from him sends everything inside me into a complete catastrophe.
I broke the silence when I couldn't handle it anymore. "What?"
"Nothing... it's just that you're a little different from the woman I met a year ago."
Of course there's no way that we won't talk about that. Maybe this is for the better. It's better that we get it out of the way. Because what happened that night was a one-time thing. Now he'll see that I'm not really as interesting and fun as the person he met at that bar.
I'm not stupid to not realize why one look at him always rattles me. I am attracted to him. If I'm being more honest, I like him. I just know that it won't be long for him to see that there's not much of me to like.
"That night, I was drunk. I wasn't me. I'm this. I'm just a boring person living a hermit boring life."
"Or maybe the real you was the person I met that night and you're just scared to let her out."
He took a step forward, and I automatically stepped back, but there was nowhere to go as the cold gate touched my skin.
"I told you. I was drunk—"
"You're sober now. Should I remind you then? Maybe you were too intoxicated that you needed reminding of one of my favorite parts of that night?"
Pakiramdam ko ay nahigop ko lahat ng hangin sa paligid nang halos wala ng matirang espasyo sa pagitan namin. I could feel the heat coming from his body that was looming over me.
Yes! That's the answer from the part of me that I'm not acquainted with. But the rational side of my brain is telling me to stop him, one that appears to be losing to the scream of the other.
I saw a gleam cross Trace's eyes, and I know that he sees the answer to his question even without me telling him. I could smell his aftershave, and I could feel his hot breath fanning my face, when the sound of a door opening shattered the silence.
Kumilos ako para lumayo sa kaniya pero dahil sa bigla kong paggalaw ay muntik akong matalisod. Mabuti na lang ay mabilis na pumalibot ang braso ni Trace sa bewang ko at hinapit niya ako palapit sa kaniya.
Nakarinig ako ng tunog at sabay kaming napalingon ni Trace. Napangiwi si Domino nang makita niya ang ayos namin. "Oops. Sorry," sabi niya at nagmamadaling pumasok siya ulit ng bahay.
Nang maiwan kami ni Trace muli ay kaagad na kumawala ako sa kaniya. "T-This can't happen again."
I expected the hostile remark that most men make when being turned down, but instead he just gave me a warm smile without any hint of malice.
"I gave up on a lot of people in my life, while others just passed by without the intention of staying. Now I realize that it's not because I'm a good person for giving way. It's because I haven't really asked anyone to not leave, nor do I want to be with someone so much that I fight for them to stay." Umangat ang kamay niya at dumampi ang daliri niya sa pisngi ko para marahang palisin ang kumawalang hibla ng buhok ko. "I don't really know what it's like to want someone so badly that losing that person is like never having the ability to breathe."
"Trace—"
"Until you."
My lips parted, but no words came out. The soft flame in his eyes ignited more as his gaze dropped to my lips. But he didn't tower over me like he did awhile ago, and instead he let me have the space I needed as if he knew that everything was becoming too much for me.
"I won't kiss you." He gently tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. "But you should know that I have no intention of losing this time."
"What... what do you mean?"
"This time, the prize is not just a kiss. I also plan to win your heart."
NAPAPANSIN ko ang palipat-lipat na tingin ni Domino sa akin at kay Trace ngunit pilit na iniignora ko silang dalawa habang binabasa ang hawak ko na file. When I reached the end of the documents though, I had no choice but to look at the both of them.
"My father hired you?" I asked.
"The people dying on your property are beginning to get concerning," Domino answered.
"Dead on our property. You don't know if they died in here or if they were just dumped here. The land we own is pretty huge and a large part of it is not being used." Ibinaba ko sa coffee table ang folder. "If a person die in his own house, does that make whomever live with him there a killer?"
"We are not here because we think you are the suspect," Domino said gently.
"Then why are you here?"
"Gustong paimbestigahan ng ama mo ang mga nangyayari. Haven't you talked to him recently?"
As much as possible kapag katatapos ko lang sa isang competition ay hindi ako nakikipag-usap sa kahit na sino. I want rest, and that won't happen if I talk to my father.
Tanging ang manager ko lang ang nakakausap ko. Hindi na ako nagtataka kung bakit hindi niya alam kung anong pakay ng pagbisita nina Trace at Domino rito. Hindi sasabihin sa kaniya ni Papa kung tungkol sa pamilya o sa pag-aari ng pamilya namin ang problema. He's probably trying to reach out to me, but I keep ignoring his calls.
"I haven't."
"It's our professional opinion that you don't stay here at the remaining time of the investigation."
Napatingin ako kay Trace na siyang nagsalita. "What?"
"You also need to stay in a safe house."
"Am I the target? Iyon ba ang ibig mong sabihin kaya hindi ligtas na manatili ako rito?"
"We don't know that yet, that's why we can't take any chances."
"Alam ba ni Papa ang mga 'to?"
Kung alam ng ama ko na ganito ang sitwasyon, even if I'm ignoring him, won't he at least come back here so that he could convince me face to face to leave? O wala lang talaga siyang pakielam sa akin?
"We were told that you just got back from a competition. We were gathering preliminary information for a week, and now that we're here, we have more concrete decisions." Sandaling pinagmasdan ako ni Trace bago siya muling nagsalita, "Your father said that he had authorities often conducting drive bys around the property. You weren't in any danger."
It's like he could read my mind. Na para bang alam niya kung anong kailangan ko na marinig. "But you still want me to leave this place?"
"The investigation could take a long time. The drive bys could help but not for long, and I think your father knew that that's why he let us come here. Masyado ring malaki ang lupain niyo para i-set up namin dito ang kailangan namin para masiguro ang kaligtasan mo. There's also the risk of not knowing the purpose of the situation. Though you weren't in danger, that doesn't mean that you couldn't be."
Sumandal ako sa kinauupuan ko at niyakap ko ang sarili ko. According to the file, three bodies were discovered in Rancho Callista. They were found in different areas at iba-iba rin ang date kung kailan sila nahanap.
But was it really intentional? Sa laki ng sakop na pag-aari ng pamilya namin ay talaga bang alam ng kung sino man na gumagawa no'n na amin ang lupang pinagtapunan ng mga bangkay? It might not even be one person. Maaaring coincidence lang ang lahat. Bukod sa areas kung saan maraming may naninirahan ay may malaki ring parte ang lupa namin na nananatiling hindi nagagamit.
The risk of not knowing. It really has its own terror.
I was so busy with the thoughts in my head that I didn't notice the look Domino was giving his brother. "You also need a bodyguard."
"What? Why? Akala ko ba hindi ako target?" tanong ko kay Trace.
"I didn't confirm that. I said that we don't know yet."
"Well... that would be absurd. Who will do this just to threaten me?"
"Purpose of a crime can appear on different forms. There's a lot of motivation, and anything could be a motive. Kahit gaano pa kaliit ang dahilan na iyon. Can you really guarantee that you don't have any enemies or anyone who could hold a grudge against you?" Trace asked.
Hindi ko nagawang makapagsalita. My hesitance confirmed what he needs to know. I have a life where tension could be high. Maraming mga tao ang hindi ako gusto. Some probably hates me. I don't know if that's enough reason to kill, but what do I know?
"This is crazy," I whispered.
"To be honest, we don't have a lot to tell you. The investigation is still early. We don't even have the full report of the autopsies," Domino explained. "But there are few possible angles as of now. It's either it's really just a coincidence, it could be a warning for an escalation that would mean that there would be a next victim, it could be someone wants to frame the owner of the property which is your family, or one of you is the perpetrator."
"Regardless of the angle, staying here is not something we would advise," Trace said.
"Would my employees be safe?"
"According to the file, two of the victims didn't lived here in Laguna. Hindi nga lang iyon garantiya na ligtas ang mga empleyado mo. We really can't know for sure because we don't have much information yet, but it's best that they won't frequent the main house for the mean time."
I'll just continue to pay them even if they won't be working for me while the investigation continues. They can't lose their source of income just because of this. Pwede ko ring isama ang ilan sa kanila.
"Where would I stay? I need to bring my animals with me if the mansion needs to be vacated. I would also need to bring at least two of my employees."
There's no way I'm going anywhere with the babies without Cristiano if I want a peaceful life, and if I want the world to have a peaceful day. Siya kasi ang nagmamaneho para sa akin kapag wala ang manager ko. May lisensya ako pero sa tingin ko hinayaan na lang nila akong pumasa dahil sa pangalan ko at hindi dahil sa talagang pasado ako. Which is very irresponsible of them I must say.
Hindi ko rin pwedeng iwan si Miss Asencio. Aside from me, she's the only resident in this house. Duda ako kung gusto niya na tumuloy muna sa kapatid niya na minsan niya lang binibisita sa kabilang bayan.
"That won't be a problem," Trace assured me.
"They can't stay in a garage. I have two horses, two cows, two goats, two hens, and a rooster."
Napanganga si Domino. "Kulang na lang aso na ang pangalan ay Bingo," napapakamot na sabi ng lalaki. "Do you have a dog?"
"Not yet," I told him.
Napapakamot sa ulo niya na tumingin ang lalaki kay Trace. "Si Kuya meron—"
"You don't need to worry about the safe house," Trace said, cutting off his brother.
"I don't think there's a safe house big enough to house my animals."
"We have one that could."
Domino looked at his brother. "We have?"
"My house."
Sa pagkakataon na ito ay ako naman ang napatulala sa lalaki. His house? He wants me to stay in his house?
"Anong—"
Inakbayan ni Trace si Domino dahilan para maputol ulit ang sasabihin ng nakababatang lalaki. Trace gave me a reassuring smile. "Everything would be okay, Ember."
"But... I can't use your house."
"It's just a house. It has a barn and a field that your animals would love. They would be safe since there's a corral already set up. Aside from that it barely has anything yet since it's new. You can just treat it like any normal safe house."
"Do you have animals there?" I asked.
"No."
"Then why would you have a barn and a corralled field?"
Sandaling natigilan siya. "I have a... horse."
"But you just said you don't have animals?"
"I don't." Nang makita niya ang pagkalito na bumadha sa mukha ko ay kaagad siyang nagpaliwanag, "Not yet. Hindi pa kasi nakakalipat iyong bagong bili ko na kabayo kasi kabibili ko lang din ng property kung saan ako pwedeng mag-alaga ng malaking hayop."
For some reason, the image of him riding a horse entered my mind. Ginapangan ng init ang magkabila kong pisngi at tumikhim ako. "You ride?"
Imbis na sagutin ang tanong ko ay nginitian niya lang ako. "There would be enough area for you to ride your horse if you want. Hindi nga lang siguro kasing laki ng lupain niyo ang akin."
"I don't bring them out of the corral. They are rescued horses and they're old. They have health issues as well. But having enough space to walk around and ride for a bit is wonderful." My horses were the first animal I had. There's a sense of freedom when I'm with them that not many could give me.
"You must love riding horses," Domino reckoned.
"I do."
"Pangarap ni Kuya na maging kabayo aray—" Napapitlag siya nang kumilos si Trace. Pilit na nginitian lang ako ni Domino nang mapatingin ako sa tagiliran niyang sapo-sapo niya. "I mean pangarap ni Kuya na magkaroon ng kabayo kaya ayun, binili niya si... si Choc Nut. Saka kaya nga farmhouse ang binili niya. Iyong sobrang bago niya na farmhouse na hindi pa namin nakikita."
I looked at the two of them alternately. There's something weird with them, but I just can't pinpoint what it is.
"So that's settled then?" Trace asked me. "You agree to moving there at the remaining time of the investigation?"
Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga. "If that is what's needed."
"Great. Then I'll be your bodyguard since you'll be with me anyway."
"Wait. What?" Napamulagat ako. "I thought I'm just staying at a safe house?" That happened to be his house.
Nagniningning ang mga mata niya nang salubungin ang sa akin. "Yes. Since it's my house, you'll also be staying with me."
_________________________End of Chapter 3.