Kristine 16 - Hasta La Proxima Vez (Till Next Time) (UNEDITED) (COMPLETED)

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INIHATID ni Jewel ang asawa sa labas hanggang sa umangat sa lupa ang chopper. Kapagkuwa'y pumasok na uli ito sa villa. Sandali itong nahinto sa paghakbang nang makitang nakatingala sa larawan ni Don Leon si Dana.

She frowned at the loneliness that she saw on Dana's face. Na lalo pang nagpadikit sa mga kilay nito nang itaas ng dalaga ang kamay at hinaplos ang larawan.

"My grandfather..." marahang sabi ni Jewel at humakbang palapit.Bahagyang napapitlag si Dana. She was too engrossed watching the portrait and talking to him by herself.

"Y-yes." She cleared the lump in her throat. "My mother said she never had the chance of meeting him..."

Tumango si Jewel. "Dalawa o tatlong taon nang namamatay si Lolo nang magkakilala sila ni Bernard."

"What was he like?" tanong niya sabay tingala sa portrait.

Jewel smiled. A mixture of sad and happy memories filled her mind. "A tyrant." Isang tawa ang pinakawalan nito. "But you should meet the men, they all are." Pagkatapos ay sumeryoso ang mukha at tumingala sa portrait. "Yes. He was. And he manipulated people's life. But only because he wanted what is best for them. He was a very good judge of character and he was seldom wrong. Most of all, he loved us all. Even in death, he wanted to protect those he loved..." Jewel swallowed to clear her throat. Muling tumingin kay Dana. "Oh, I loved him. Many times I have wished na sana'y buhay si Señor Leon hanggang ngayon."

"W-what do you mean when you said he wanted to protect those he loved... even in death?"

Sandaling natigilan si Jewel. Hindi niya namalayang nasabi niya iyon. Naalala niya ang araw na napahamak siya dahil kay King. She thought she heard Leon's voice not to enter the villa. But of course, no one would believe her. Ni hindi niya sinabi iyon kay Bernard sa mga taong nagdaan. At siguro'y imahinasyon nga lang talaga.

She smiled at the younger girl. "Nothing. Just pure imagination. I sometimes thought I heard him speaking to me." nagkibit ito ng mga balikat.

Tumango si Dana. "H-how did he meet y-your... grandmother?" She couldn't contain her curiosity.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Jewel sa tanong niya.

"I'm sorry... Plain curiosity, that's all. M-mahilig akong makinig ng mga kuwento kung paano nagkakakilala ang dalawang tao," mabilis niyang sabi.

"Oh, well..." She looked up at her grandparents' portrait thoughtfully. "As a matter of fact, I haven't given it a thought. Malibang sa dinami-rami ng babaeng napaugnay sa Lolo, si Lola Esmeralda lamang ang minahal at pinakasalan niya."

You're wrong. He loved me first! kontra ng bahagi ng isip ni Dana. Kahit ang kabila rin niyon ay naghuhumiyaw sa pagtangging hindi siya kundi si Donya Isabelita ang unang babaing minahal ni Leon.

"Well, if you are really that curious about old stories and romance about my grandfather then perhaps you should talk to Tiya Margarita, his daughter. Tiyak na marami siyang ikukuwento sa iyo."

"I'd like to meet her one of these days," seryosong sabi ng dalaga. At muli'y nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Jewel. She could sense that there was more to it than plain curiosity. Hindi nga lang nito malaman kung ano.

"PARTY?" Kunot ang noong nahinto sa pagbubukas ng aparador si Lenny at nilingon ang ina. "I thought you will celebrate your anniversary by yourselves. What happened to the plans that you will celebrate your anniversary aboard Precious? Then set sail to the Carribean?"

Umiwas ng tingin si Jewel. "Your father's too busy these days, Lenny. There's only a trimester left before Christmas and—"

"'Ma, there's Uncle Zandro and Tito Marco and Papa's top executives," agap nito sa sinasabi ng ina. Nawala na sa isip ang balak na pagbibihis at humarap sa ina. "Kaya nga hindi kami tumutol nang sabihin ninyong sa yate kayo magse-celebrate ng anniversary. Julianne even thought it romantic."