Kristine Series 49: Alessandro Leon

Chapter 13

LUMALIM ang mga gatla sa noo ng heneral. "Only that your mother had been the cause of Hestercita's father's death. She hadn't explained how. She would clam up whenever the subject of your family come up. And when your parents died, you were dumped on her and she had no choice and was forced to bring you back with her to America." May pagdududa sa tinig nito habang nanatiling nakatitig sa kanya.

"That did not give her the license to be abusive though. It could have been easier for her to have left you at the hands of the social welfare back in the Philippines." Mataman siyang tinitigan nito at pagkatapos ay umiling.
"It was as if bringing you with her was some sort of a vengeance."

Sinasang-ayunan niya ang huling sinabi ng ama-amahan. Iyon mismo ang nararamdaman niya mula kay Hestercita. Pero ilan sa mga sinabi ni Hestercita sa asawa ang katotohanan? At ilan ang kasinungalingan at gawa-gawa lang?
"We've been wasting precious time, my boy," patuloy ni General Grayson. "You have to go now. I've been preparing this escape for two weeks now."

Tinangka na niyang tumakas mula kay Hestercita maraming taon na ang nakaraan nang makakita siya ng pagkakataon. He must have been nine years old. Iyon na iyong mga panahong hindi na siya nito sinasaktan at ipinababahala na niya sa pagkakataon kung saan siya makakarating.

Subalit hindi niya inaasahang makasalubong niya ang ama-amahan sa daan at ibalik sa bahay. Pinayuhang higit na mapanganib para sa isang tulad niya ang tumakas.

"I cannot promise that my wife would change her attitude towards you, Xander. What I can promise is that I'd treat you like my own son, kung paanong ganoon din si Maurice."

Tinupad ni General Baron Grayson ang pangakong iyon. Hindi dahil nangako ito kundi totoong napamahal na siya rito. Higit siyang malapit dito kaysa sa tunay nitong anak na si Maurice. lyon ay dahil na rin kay Hestercita.

Somehow, sa disimuladong paraan ay inilalayo ni Hestercita sa isa't isa ang mag-ama. She had controlled and manipulated her own son to do her every biding.
Niyuko ni Xander ang ama-amahan. Ngayong ibinibigay sa kanya ang pagkakataong tumakas at makalayo sa lugar na iyon ay nag-aatubili siya.

"You're ill, Dad! I don't think-"

"It's an order, Alexander!" he told her in his no-nonsense military voice. Pagkatapos ay paika itong humakbang patungo sa loob ng study. May dinukot itong susi sa bulsa at binuksan ang top drawer ng mesa nito. May kinuha itong envelope mula roon at pagkatapos ay tumingin sa kanya na nakatayo sa may entrada ng silid at balkonahe.

"Take this, son."

Atubili siyang humakbang papasok at huminto sa tapat ng mesa nito. Ang mga mata niya ay natuon sa brown envelope na iniaabot nito sa kanya.

"Inside is a direction to a small apartment in Mexico City, Xander. You'll get there by yourself. It was paid in advance by my solicitor. There's also Tom Manning's address and telephone number. You've met my solicitor twice. Get in touch with him, my son, if you need any help. But do it discreetly.

"I am very confident he won't tell Hestercita of your whereabouts since he has a certain dislike for my wife. Besides, Tom Manning is more than just my solicitor. He is my friend and comrade. We were in Nam together and I saved his life not just once but twice."

Tinitigan ni Xander ang ama-amahan. He was in his early seventies. Tumiim ang mga bagang niya. It's so unfair! he thought angrily.

His adoptive father was a good man. He had served his country for years. Kung mamamatay ito ay dapat na dahil sa katandaan. Not because of some stupid cancer.

Higit sa lahat, he didn't deserve a wife like Hestercita, who had no compunction when it came to murdering her husband.

"There's an ATM card inside that envelope," patuloy nito. "The money would last years if you use it wisely. When I die, you will inherit-"