CHAPTER 23
VICTORIA
Victoria was finally able to get a glimpse of where she was the morning after her dinner with Hector. Pumayag sya sa gusto nito. Nangako sya ritong sasama nang kusa at hindi tatakas. Dahil ang kapalit ay buhay nya at ng mga mahal nya sa buhay. Hector was very pleased.
Pagkatapos kumain ng konti ni Victoria, hindi na sya ibinalik sa madilim na kulungan. Hinatid sya ni Hector sa magiging kwarto nya kung saan sya unang nagising sa loob ng bahay. Tinanggal na ang lock ng bintana at maging ang pinto leading to the veranda.
Nang magliwanag, una nyang binuksan ang pinto palabas ng veranda. Naintindihan na nya kung bakit confident si Hector na hindi sya tatakas. Dahil bukod pa sa banta nito, his mansion was situated in an island surrounded by the sea with very very strong current. Rinig mula sa kinaroroonan nya ang malakas na hampas ng alon sa mga matutulis na bato sa dalampasigan. Kahit malaking yate ay delikadong humampas sa mga bato.
Victoria couldn't appreciate the beauty of the Roman and Greek inspired mansion and it's well manicured lawn. She couldn't admire the beautiful flowers on the Japanese themed garden nor the blue ocean. Despite the splendor around her, she felt that the place was uncanny. That something ominous was prowling ready to hurt her.
What made her more nervous was the thick woods behind the mansion. She found it eerie. Tila hindi ka na makakalabas kapag pumasok ka roon. Kita rin nya mula sa kinatatayuan na may helipad sa may di kalayuan sa hardin. May dalawang helicopter syang nakita. Maybe that's how could Hector get in and out of the island.
The cold morning breeze made her shiver and wished it could numb the fear and desperation she felt. She automatically touched the golden locket inside her shirt. "Baby, I miss you," she whispered in the wind. She closed her eyes and imagined Ramcel hugging her from behind.
She had a conversation with Ramcel in her dream last night. Sa kagustuhan nyang makita ito, kahit sa panaginip nakakausap nya ito.
In her dream, they were sitting on the sand facing the beach. Hawak ni Ramcel ang kamay nya habang nakahilig sya sa balikat nito.
"I'm sorry for deciding without consulting you. I had no choice," sambit nya. Tumingin sa kanya si Ramcel at nagsalubong ang mga mata nila. Pinisil nito nang marahan ang kamay nya. "Ayokong masaktan ka."
"I know and that's okay, Baby," Ramcel said and smiled at her kindly.
"Ayokong gawin to but I'd rather break your heart than see you..." Victoria couldn't bring herself to say "dead".
"Naiintindihan ko, Vi."
"Will you wait for me?" Natatakot kasi sya sa paghihiwalay nila. Ramcel didn't answer. Ngumiti lang ito sa kanya saka sya hinagkan sa labi. "I don't feel like watching the sunset today."
"Bakit naman?" Alam kasi ni Ramcel na pareho nyang gusto ang pagsikat at paglubog ng araw.
"Parang ang lungkot lang. Parang ayokong matapos ang araw nato," tugon nya. Victoria wished to be stuck in that moment forever with Ramcel.
"Tomorrow is a new day, Baby," Ramcel playfully pinched her cheek.
"I know, but will you be there when I wake up?"
"I am always here." Ramcel pointed at the golden sun-shaped locket she was visibly wearing.
Of course, Racmcel wasn't there when she woke up. Victoria allowed herself to cry silently before getting up from the bed. Tinungo nya ang veranda para sana panoorin ang pagsikat ng araw. Unfortunately, the mansion wasn't facing the East so she couldn't see it. Puro paglubog lang ng araw ang makikita nya.
Kahit ano pang ganda ng lugar na ito, kung demonyo naman ang kapiling nya hinding-hindi nya hahangaan ang kariktan nito.
"Vi." Hindi nya nilingon si Monica, na noo'y nilapitan sya at tumingin rin sa karagatan. "Ironic isn't?" Napatingin si Victoria rito. There was a bitter smile on Monica's lips. "That a devil owns this beautiful place." Nais nyang malaman kung anong kwento nito. Kung bakit nasa tabi ito ni Hector. "I guess that's how devil in disguise lures his victim. A promise of paradise and it would be too late when you realized, you're in hell." Tumingin ito sa kanya. "Welcome to hell."
Planado ang lahat ni Hector. Hindi malaman ni Victoria kung anong nakita ng lalaki sa kanya but whatever his reasons, were no longer important to her. Ang mahalaga ay maging ligtas si Ramcel. She couldn't let him hurt her wife and her mother. Kailangan nyang ilayo si Hector sa mga ito.
Sakay ng chopper, umalis sina Victoria at Hector sa private island nito. Napansin nyang bukod sa lalaking may dala-dala laging shotgun, tatlong o limang tauhan lamang ang nakita nya sa isla, na pawang mga hardinero at tagalinis ng mansyon. Kunsabagay, bakit pa ito babantayan ng mabuti kung napakahirap puntahan at lisanin ang lugar na iyon? It reminded her of Azkaban.
Hinatid sila sa mansyon ng mga Sebastian. Ipinakilala sya agad ng lalaki as his girlfriend sa mga household staff nito. Dumiretso sila pagkatapos nun sa bahay ng Daddy nya.
Pinagbuksan sya ng pinto ni Hector nang maiparada ang kotse nito sa driveway ng mga Alonzo. She had to look inlove and radiant. Kailangan nyang makumbinsi ang mga ito. Mabuti na lang magaling umarte ang asawa nya at isa rin itong magaling na direktor. Ang sabi ni Ramcel, ang sikreto ng mga nakakakilig na loveteams bukod sa natural chemistry ay eye contact.
Nagulat ang mga Alonzo nang dumating sila ni Hector na magkahawak- kamay lalo na ang Daddy nya. Confused itong nakatingin sa kanila. Kasalukuyang kumakain ang mag-anak nang dumating sila.
"Anong ibig sabihin nito?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Mayor Alonzo. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin nito sa kanila. Marahil nagtataka ito sa nangyayari since the last time she was here, she was on her way to Norway to be with Ramcel.
"Hector and I are..." Victoria smiled sweetly and looked adoringly into Hector's eyes. "...together."
Natahimik ang mga Alonzo. Her Dad, Conrad and Tita Connie were stunned.
"What about your wife?" Nakakunot ang noong tanong ni Maristela.
"I need to keep my wife safe," Victoria wanted to say. "It was a mistake marrying her," she told her sister instead. "Akala ko mahal ko sya." Walang nakapagsalita. Alam ni Victoria na maraming tanong ang kapatid pero pinili nitong manahimik. Kita nyang nagdududa ito sa mga sinasabi nya.
"Where are your manners?" Basag ni Tita Connie sa katahimikan. "Hector...Vi...umupo muna kayo. Pwede naman nating pag-usapan ang lahat habang kumakain. Saluhan nyo kami."
Magkatabing umupo sina Hector at Victoria. Walang nagtanong nang mag-umpisa silang kumain. She had to keep up with the pretense kaya magiliw nyang ipinaglalagay ng pagkain sa plato nito si Hector. Paminsan-minsan nilang tinatapunan ang isa't-isa nang malalagkit na tingin at ngiti.
Inoobserbahan lang sila ng mga Alonzo. Maya-maya nag-umpisa nang magkwento si Hector ng tungkol sa kanilang dalawa. He was an excellent liar. He made the Alonzo's believed they fell in love at first sight. Her dad and his family fell to Hector's lies about Victoria tried to stop her feelings for him because she's committed.
Sinabi pa nitong imbes na sa Norway pumunta si Victoria, magkasama sila nitong nagbakasyon sa Palawan. Gumawa pa ito nang drama na hinabol kuno sya ni Hector sa airport. Naabutan sya nito bago pa man makasakay ng eroplano patungong Norway at kinumbinsi syang ito ang mahal nya at hindi si Ramcel. Victoria just followed her heart and chose to be with Hector instead.
Nakita ni Victoria ang unti- unting pagsilay ng ngiti sa mga labi ng Dad nya. Nakita rin nyang may relief sa mukha nito. She did her best to hide her anger from her father.
"That's good to hear ate. Mabuti naman at natauhan ka na. Hindi ka nababagay kay Ramcel," masayang bulalas ni Conrad. Victoria took all of her strength not to shoot her brother with a sharp look. Nang makita nya ang mga sugat sa pisngi nito at braso, nagpigil syang sagutin ito. Sa halip ay matipid syang ngumiti rito. "Imagine kapag kumalat sa public na may anak na lesbian si Daddy. It would ruin his reputa..."
"What about R.M?" Maristela suddenly asked to cut her brother off. "Kasal kayo di ba?"
Gustong maiyak ni Victoria the moment she saw her sister's wounds and bruises. Sya ang dahilan kung bakit ito nasaktan. Kahit pagkukunwari lang ang pakikitungo sa kanya ng Dad nya o ni Conrad, hindi maaatim ng kalooban nyang masaktan ang mga ito because of her.
"I can file for a divorce. Isa pa, our marriage is not being recognized here," Victoria answered casually.
"Nakapag-usap na ba kayo ni R.M?" Tanong ulit ni Maristela.
"Hindi pa. Mag-uusap kami pagbalik nya." And Victoria was dreading that moment. She would need all of her will power to break up with Ramcel.
When Hector discussed his plan, Victoria figured he was very meticulous and organized. Pwede sya nitong kidnapin na lang at ikulong habang-buhay ngunit gusto nitong makapamuhay sila ng malaya at normal. Na pwede sya nitong dalhin sa labas at ipagmalaki bilang asawa.
They had to convince her Dad and his family that they were really together so he could continue his deception over the public. He's more power hungry than the Mayor and Governor combined. He prided himself with being the King's maker. He loved controlling the King.
Naging madali ang lahat sa Daddy nya but the toughest was to face Ramcel. It broke her heart when she wrote her the letter. She didn't mean every word. Bawat letrang sinusulat nya ay tila matalim na kutsilyong unti-unting sumusugat sa puso nya.
Writing a letter to Ramcel wasn't enough of course. She told Hector that she needed to tell Ramcel face to face. Para mas mapaniwala ito. Para hindi na ito maghabol pa. She had to push Ramcel away from her as far as possible.
Nakabantay sa kanya si Hector habang isinusulat nya ang liham para kay Ramcel. Binasa pa nito para siguraduhing walang nakatagong lihim na mensahe. What she wrote would surely devastate her wife.
Kinuha nya ang ilang mga gamit sa condo nila ni Ramcel. She managed to take one of Ramcel's soft leather jacket and button down with her without Hector's knowledge.
Kilala nya si Ramcel. Hindi ito papayag na daanin lang nya ang lahat sa sulat. True enough, despite the heavy rain and thunderstorm, Ramcel came looking for her. Victoria had to fight back the urge to go running to her wife and kiss her.
Ramcel's eyes were troubled and pain was all over her beautiful face. But with Hector beside her, Victoria had to be cold towards her wife. Kita rin nya sa mga mata nitong gusto sya nitong yakapin at halikan.
"Can we talk alone?" Ramcel asked when she noticed Hector was coming with them so they could talk in Mayor Alonzo's office.
Nagtatalo ang damdamin ni Victoria. Gusto rin nyang masolo ito pero hindi pwede dahil baka hindi nya makayang gawin ang dapat gawin. "Pwede mong sabihin sa kanya kung anuman ang sasabihin mo sakin."
"Please?" Ramcel pleaded. "I want to talk to you alone."
Victora wanted so much to caress her wife's face and take away her sadness but she had to ignore it. She looked at Hector to ask permission. "I can handle this," she told him. Alam nyang ayaw nitong pumayag.
"Are you sure?" His eyes seemed to be warning her not to do something he wouldn't like.
Pinilit ngumiti ni Victoria nang matamis rito. Kailangan rin nyang umarte sa harap ni Ramcel para mapaniwala ito. "I'll be okay, Babe." To hurt her wife more, she forced herself to kiss Hector's lips quickly. Satisfied with her gesture, he nodded smiling.
Victoria dismissed the hurt on Ramcel's eyes. Kinailangan nyang ipaalala sa sarili nyang ginagawa nya ito para sa kaligtasan nito.
Mabigat ang paang tinungo ni Victoria ang opisina ng Daddy nya kasunod si Ramcel. Dumiretso sya sa malaking glass window at hinawi ang kurtina. Medyo nasilaw sya nang may kidlat na gumuhit sa kalangitan. It was raining hard outside. A strong wind pounded against the windowsill. Tila nangangalit ang kalangitan kagaya na lang ng kanyang kalooban. She couldn't think of a way out of her situation.
Hindi sya makahingi ng tulong sa mga pulis dahil alam nyang hawak ni Hector ang mga ito. Kita nya kung paano batiin ng mga nagbabantay sa labas ang lalaki nang dumating sila sa bahay ng Daddy nya. Maging ang hepe ng mga pulis ay kakampi nito.
Pwede nyang piliing tumakas kasama ni Ramcel pero paano naman ang pamilya nila? He would turn his attention on them. When Hector revealed himself, mas malinaw na nyang nakikita na dito nakadepende ang Dad nya. Kapag nag-uusap ang mga ito, laging hinihingi ang opinyon ni Hector bago kumilos ang Mayor. Kaya rin inis si Abby sa lalaki dahil mas nakikinig ang Dad nya rito.
Kasalanan naman nya ang lahat kung bakit sya nasa sitwasyon na ito. Kung hindi sana sya naghangad ng mga bagay na wala sya, hindi sya mapupunta sa kung saan sya ngayon. Kung hindi sana sya nanabik sa pagkakaroon ng ama. If she could have been contented, she wouldn't be making this decision.
Ramcel had always been her happy place. Sinabi nito sa kanya nito noon na tila sya araw sa buhay nito. But the truth was, it was the other way around. Ramcel had been her sun since the day they first met. Ipinakita nito nang paulit-ulit kung gaano sya nito kamahal and in return, she only gave her pain. She didn't deserve someone so good like Ramcel.
Her decision would shatter both their hearts but it was inevitable. Because she made many mistakes like having feelings for Hector no matter how fleeting, it would be enough to convince her wife that she no longer loved her. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them, rain poured more heavily.
"Just send me the papers and I'll sign them," kaswal na sabi ni Victoria patungkol sa divorce saka humarap rito. She made sure to stare at Ramcel coldly. Wala dapat itong makitang emosyon sa mga mata nya.
"You know that's not what I came for," Ramcel said softly. "I came for you. I came for us."
"You can do it, Vi. You're doing this for her," sabi nya sa sarili habang pinagmamasdan ang nagsusumamong mga mata ni Ramcel. "There's no more us, Ram. I already made that clear on my letter." She injected more iciness on her tone and the pain on Ramcel's features became more evident.
"Hindi mo na ba ako mahal?"
"I love you so much, Baby," Victoria responded in her mind. "Unfortunately I fell out of love," she said instead. It seemed that Ramcel crumbled inside. There was no turning back for Victoria. She had to make a stand and that was choosing to let her love ones lived. "I hope someday you would understand why I did what I did, Ram. I love you."