Naputol ang pag-uusap ng mag-ina nang kumatok ang maid sa kwarto ni Henrietta. Binaba ni Henrietta ang bowl ng pagkain at inutusan ang maid na kunin ang mga ito.
"May naghahanap sa'kin sa baba? Sino raw?" Tumingin si Henrietta sa ina dahil wala naman silang pinagsabihan ng iba kung saan sila ngayon. She knitted her brow and pursed her lips before going downstairs.
"Sige, papasukin mo."
"Hindi natin sila kilala, anak. Hindi ka dapat nagpapapasok ng kahit na sino," paalala naman ni Mila. What if masamang tao 'yon at maaaring mga naghahanap sa anak dahil sa jade? Kinakabahan siya.
"Mom, they spent time finding us. Why would I not invite them in and know their purpose? At kung kalaban nga sila, masyado naman yatang malakas ang loob nila para maghasik ng dilim ngayong umaga? Huwag kang mag-alala. Hindi naman ako pababayaan ni Enzo," she assured and held her mother's hand before going down.
Nang tuluyan makababa ang mag-ina ay nakita nila ang dalawang lalaki na parehong nakatayo sa sala at tila ba hinihintay sila. Isang may katandaan na kasing-edad lang ng kanyang ina at ang isa naman ay siguro'y nasa mid 30s.
Mila on the other hand let go of his daughter's hand. Shock and disbelief was written on her face the moment her eyes went to the man who she never imagined to see again. Gano'n din ang ekspresyon nito at napahawak pa sa kasama nito. Pareho silang namimilog ang mata at 'di makapaniwala sa isa't-isa.
Henrietta was utterly confused as to who were the two and who are they to her mom dahil gano'n na lang ang naging reaksyon nito. Nang tuluyan s'yang nakapunta sa sala ay doon lang nagsalita ang matandang lalaki.
"M-Mila... y-you're alive? H-how did this happen?" he asked, still in disbelief. Hindi naman siya nakainom kagabi para mapanaginipan ang babae.
"Caleb? I-ikaw ba 'yan? Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito? How did you come up here?"
"Oh god!" Napahawak sa puso si Caleb at agad naman s'yang inalalayan ng lalaki sa kanyang tabi.
"Ako nga 'to, Mila. A-akala ko patay ka na. I... I was there when the ship exploded," he murmured, his eyes were full of uncertainty.
"I survived," sagot naman ni Mila at ngumiti. "Someone saved me from the explosion. Paano mo nalaman ang nangyari?"
"Sandali lang," singit naman ni Henrietta at tinitigan ng taimtim ang matanda na nagngangalang Caleb. Mukhang kakilala ito ng ina at hindi naman masama ang pinuntahan dito. "Sino ang p'wedeng magsabi sa akin kung kaano-ano mo siya, Mom? And he even knows what happened to you."
"He's one of my closest friends in life, anak. He's your Uncle Caleb. He's a very supportive one that everything you do he's always there cheering for you even in silence," paliwanag ni Mila.
Caleb just smiled and looked at Mila's daughter.
"I came here to find your daughter, Mila. I promised to you and myself after that incident na hahanapin ko si Henrietta at tatayong magulang nito. It took me a long time to do that. Katulad mo ay malala rin ang injury na natamo ko noong sumabog ang barko. I was there at that time. Hindi mo ako nakita dahil may kausap kang iba. Katulad mo ay pauwi na rin ako noon, unfortunately, we couldn't predict that something big and unpleasant will happen. I am sorry." Caleb sighed and looked down. Nakakuyom ang kanyang kamao at inaalala ang nangyari five years ago. Malala rin ang natamo n'yang injury. Nalapnos ang kanyang likod dahil sa pagsabog at kung hindi siya nakita ng nagre-rescue ay baka wala na rin siya ngayon.
"Why are you saying sorry, Caleb? Wala kang kasalanan. In fact, I'm grateful for what you're doing today. Hindi ko alam na gagawin mo 'to." It made her feel relieved that someone wants to take care of her daughter if she didn't survive.
"Mom, let's get them to sit first, okay?"
Mila snapped and giggled. "Ah! Oo nga pala. Pasensya na. Upo kayo at kukuha muna ako ng makakain. Anak, talk to them first."
Henrietta nodded her head. Ngayon lang niya nakita ang ina na magiliw at excited. Tumaas ang kilay niya na tumingin sa matandang lalaki.
"You've grown up such a fine lady, Henrietta. Kamukhang-kamukha mo si Mila," komento nito.
"Thank you, Uncle Caleb."
Lumaki ang ngiti ni Caleb. Mukhang hindi naman siya kinasusuklaman at ayaw ng dalaga. That's good. On the other hand, his driver/assistant was shaking his head. Nagpapahalata masyado ang amo niya sa harap ng anak ng babaeng gusto nito. He doubt that Henrietta would notice his behavior,
"Paano niyo po nalaman na dito ako nakatira?" tanong ng dalaga. She unconsciously touched her stomach at doon lang napagtanto ni Caleb na buntis pala ito.
"We searched for you habang nagpapagaling si Mr. Caleb," sagot ng assistant nito. "It was hard since something is blocking us to get your information. Fortunately, your grandmother gave us access— not literally, we just found ways through her," dagdag nito.
Her grandmother? Of course, she is infamous. Her name was known in the country.
"Iyon lang ba ang purpose mo sa paghahanap sa akin? To take care of me on behalf of my mother?" Masyado namang malalim ang pagkakaibigan nito. But if that's really the case, she's grateful that someone of this kind of man was with her mother.
"Hmm."
"I guess you're not going to pursue that since my mother is alive."
Natigilan si Caleb at tinitigan si Henrietta sa mga mata. Seryoso ito. She seems to be trying to figure something out. He faintly smiled.
"No. I'm here now. I can help your mother to take care of you," wika nito kasunod nang paglabas ni Mila sa kusina dala ang juice at tuna sandwich.
"Ano bang pinag-uusapan niyo?" usisa nito nang mailapag ang tray. Tinulungan naman kaagad ito ng assistant.
"We're just getting familiar with each other," nakangiting sagot ni Henrietta sa ina at kumuha ng tuna sandwich. Hinayaan niya ang mga ito na mag-usap habang siya ay nakikinig lamang. Inutos niya sa maid kamakailan na kunin nito ang kanyang mobile phone sa kwarto. Ilang sandali pa ay nasa kamay niya na ito at mini-message si Enzo.
"We have visitors."
Her husband immediately replied, causing her to lift her brow. Hindi ba ito busy?
[Who? Are they men?]
She chuckled and texted, "Yes."
Lumipas ang isang minuto bago niya nakuha ang reply nito na nakapagpahalakhak sa kanya.
[I'm on my way home.]
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© _eysteambun
BINABASA MO ANG
Henrietta's Blade
Romance"Divide your enemy so you can reign approach." Upon rebirth, she returned to the time when she was twenty-four years old. As she recalled the torture she had through, memories filled her head. Smarter, feistier, and more daring! She became the cold...
