Fragmented Rhapsody

Fragment 28

28
List of Power

"I'm getting better, Cyprus. Not as strong as before but it'll do for now. I need to start working soon because the senate's been handicapped for so long already at hindi na pwedeng magpatuloy 'yun. We all know that."

I silently sliced the steak on my plate horizontally, cutting it into halves, and poked it with my fork. Isinawsaw ko rin ito sa brown butter sauce bago isinubo, tahimik na nakikinig sa usapan nina Papa at Ninong Cyprus.

"Alejandro the Great?" Ninong Cyprus joked, earning a sigh from Papa. "You shouldn't force yourself, Alejandro. Mind over body, sky is the only limit - name it all, yes I do know. But you have to put a limit on your body. Baka kusa siyang bumigay kung bira ka ng bira."

"I'm already fine."

"Who said that? You?" Ninong grabbed the bottle of wine and poured an amount of it on my glass and Papa's, before pouring at his.

I smiled at him. Hindi na ako nagsalita dahil ayaw kong sumingit sa usapan nila.

"I already got my go signal from both of my cardiologist and therapist," Papa sighed like he's tired of arguing with Ninong Cyprus.

Kanina pa sila nagbabangayan at mangha rin ako kay Ninong. Siya lang naman at ang Papa ni Caitlyn ang kayang sumagot-sagot kay Papa nang pa-biro kasi matalik silang magkakaibigan.

"Si Princess Natalia, payag ba?" nangingiting baling sa akin ni Ninong Cyprus. Nilingon ko rin siya at nakitang sumesenyas na umiling ako. Natawa naman ako roon.

"If it was just me, I'd disagree with Papa actually. But as long as he's permitted to, then it's fine with me...basta ba mas mahigpit ang security this time, I'm fine with it, Ninong," pagpapaliwanag ko.

Ninong Cyprus sighed in defeat. "Alright, alright."

The dinner went on until I finally bid my goodbye to both of them. Kailangan ko na ring magpahinga dahil sa nakakapagod na linggo. Mag-uusap din silang dalawa at alam kong hindi ko na dapat 'yon marinig dahil si Papa rin ang may suhestiyon na pwede na akong magpahinga.

"Nice seeing you, Natalia," Ninong Cyprus gladly hugged me. "I know you're doing great and I don't need to tell you that anymore. Just don't push yourself too much. Have a rest sometimes and always know that you have a wide room for errors. 'Wag mo tularan ang Papa mong bira ng bira!"

Ninong Cyprus's warm eyes caressed my heart. It's been a while since someone said that to me. Si Octavian dati ang nagsasabi pero ngayong hindi na kami nag-uusap, wala nang taong nagpapaalala sa akin no'n.

"Thank you, Ninong. Please drive safely on your way home."

A month unfolded surprisingly smooth and sublime after that day. Papa eventually got his 100% go signal to resume working at the Senate while I just focused on school and nothing more. He's back on track even if his ambush case is still pending.

It may look like the investigation's on pause but the truth is, it's vehemently running. Hindi ko alam pero mas naging mahigpit sila sa impormasyon dahil wala na akong makuha ni katiting dito. Niko slowly became clueless of everything too until we were both disconnected to the case.

Isa lang ang ibigsabihin nito – whatever they recently found was too massive that they can't risk opening a bit of it to the public. Papa knew I'd have my own way of finding things, so I am certainly sure that he has completely turned down all of my fuses to go in.

Papa may seem to be too relaxed too or not showy of the control he has on running his own ambush case, but I knew better – the Dela Merced clan has its own roots and pedigrees of social power and dominance. We've got a lot of connections and I wouldn't want to know everything.