The betrothed (COMPLETED)

35

Ang akala ko dati nang umalis ako rito, hindi na ako makakabalik pang muli. I never imagined I'd set foot on Hacienda Di Marco again, nor did I ever imagine that one day I would fight for love.

I wasn't the type of woman who always fights for what I want. I was always scared, never really got out of my shell to voice out what concerns me. Parati ko nalang tinatanggap kung ano man ang binibigay ng buhay sa akin, whatever life throws at me, I try to live on with it.

But this time, it's different.

Ibang iba pala talaga kapag nagmamahal ka na. You go beyond your way just for the person kahit pa masaktan ka. Right now, I feel livid, I feel nervous, too. Hindi na iyon maiaalis. What if Rexes misunderstood everything and he didn't really want me? What if it was just one of the reasons and he badly want his freedom?

But what about all the drinking, Xerxes?

That little voice in my ear voiced out. No sane man would drink to death just to celebrate, you know.

Habang papalapit ang kabayong sinasakyan ko sa bahay ay mas lalo akong kinakabahan. I didn't miss the look of suprise in the faces of the workers when they see me. Siguro ay alam na ng lahat rito na naghiwalay na nga kami.

Hindi ko pa nga nakakausap si Mama Stella, hindi rin yata alam ni Rexes na nandito na ako, sumunod isang araw matapos na umuwi siya. She didn't ask me to come with her, siguro ay akala niya hindi na rin mababago ang desisyon naming dalawa ng kanyang kapatid. Kita niya sa mukha ko ang pagkalito habang nagpapaliwanag siya ng lahat.

I didn't get much sleep that night. I was contemplating. I need to see him, I need to know the truth, and to confirm. If he really pushed me away just for that or he simply didn't want me.

Itinali ko ang kabayo sa tapat ng bahay lamang. It certainly looked like the house we wanted. Tears started to well up in my eyes for unknown reason.

Akala ko talaga, hindi ko na makikitang matapos ito kailanman.

Nilunok ko ang lahat ng kaba habang kumakatok sa pinto ng bahay. Ilang minuto pa at walang sagot na narinig, walang nag bukas. I knocked again, this time, a little louder. Parang walang tao ang bahay.

I sighed, natawa na lamang nang pihitin ko ang door knob at hindi naman pala iyon naka lock.

Gosh. Hindi ba marunong mag lock ng pinto ang lalaking ito?

The first thing you'll see once inside is the large living room, may kagamitan na doon. Couch, may tv rin at ilan pang appliances. They all looked new but the area was a trash. Nagkalat roon ang pakete ng pagkain, bote ng beer at alak na hindi pa nga natatakpan, some other half empty bottles of whiskey, and a broken glass.

A broken glass! Damn it, where is he?

Hindi ganito si Trevelyan, he didn't like mess. He was always minimal and organized. Biglang natandaan ko ang aming kwarto sa mansyon.

Right. He must be in his room.

Hindi naman ako nabigo dahil ang unang kwarto na nabuksan ko ay naroon siya, malalim ang tulog at malakas pang humihilik. He is sprawled in bed making it small, walang damit pang itaas at naka maong.

I've never seen him in a beard this long.

Hindi ganoong makalat ang kwarto niya ngunit may mga damit sa sahig. Pinulot ko iyon isa isa. Not even bothering to be silent. I want him to wake up so we could talk, pero mukhang mahimbing talaga ang tulog niya.

I was relieved when I didn't find any female's clothes, though.

Naisipan kong mag linis nalang habang inaantay siyang magising. Somehow, I didn't have the heart to wake him up. I found a washing machine in the wash area, inilagay ko doon ang kanyang mga damit at bumalik sa sala para mag linis. Nag walis ako at nag mop ng sahig, he had days old dishes sitting in the sink, untouched. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mainis sa sitwasyon niya rito. Is this the new him now? Eto na ba ang plano niyang gawin sa buhay niya?