Betrayals

Rigor was drowned in his memories...

"Nakahanda na ang lahat para mamayang gabi." Aguiluz was on the phone. Rigor was just listening on the side. Hindi niya kilala ang kausap ng ama. But he knows about the plan.

Ang plano, pabagsakin ang Hacienda Dela Torre.

Aguiluz is connected sa isang sindikato na siyang kumakalaban sa mga Dela Torre. He may be Hernan's trusted second hand right man, but he was ambitious. Kahit pa pinagkatiwalaan na sila ng mga Dela Torre mula sa kinanunuuan niya, pinangarap pa din ni Aguiluz na maangkin ang Hacienda Dela Torre.

Sabay silang lumaki ni Hernan. At nasaksihan niya ang marangyang buhay na kinalakhan nito. Kahit pa pinag-aral at binigyan siya ng maalwang buhay ng mga Dela Torre, may hinanakit naman siyang kinimkim na nakatalaga lamang siyang maging kanang kamay kapag nagretiro amg ama. Aguiluz didn't like that idea. But he kept it in. Thus, when an opportunity came in. He grabbed it.

Hernan was an aggressive businessman. He wanted to expand the wealth of Dela Torres all around the globe. Kung saan-saan ito nagtungo to look for opportunities and investments. Hindi ito nakuntento sa Sejanos lang. He wanted more. He even risked the land of Dela Torres in Sejanos, makamit lang nito ang makapag-invest globally.

He met a businessman from China. They offered a very interesting partnership for Hernan. It deals with Navigation Programming. Malaking proyekto ito that would put the names of Dela Torres globally. Hernan was very eager to take it. Kaya't he risked everything to get it. He put the Hacienda Dela Torre as collateral. But it wasn't enough. Kahit gaano pa karangya ang yaman nila, sa sobrang taas ng pangarap ni Hernan, hindi kaya ang kung anong meron sila. Thus, everything went south.

The partnership came in at a wrong turn and Hernan was put on the hot seat. The people behind the investment were actually using him. And when he can no longer provide, they wanted to take the Hacienda.

This is Aguiluz chance. Lingid sa kaalaman ni Hernan, Aguiluz was double crossing him. Ito ang nag-uudyok sa mga inakala niyang investors na idiin si Hernan. And as Hernan tried to escape, he helped them plan the attack that happened 12 years ago.

Natapos ang usapan ni Aguiluz at ang kausap nito sa telepono. Humarap ito sa kaniya.

"Alam mo kung anong gagawin mo mamaya," turan nito sa kaniya. "Make sure na makuha mo ang anak ni Hernan. Alam ko kung san siya dadalhin."

"Pano 'tay kung may pumalya?" nag-aalangan siya.

"Siguraduhin nating magtatagumpay tayo. Walang tutulong sa mga Dela Torre. Kapag nailabas mo ang anak ni Hernan siguraduhin mong dalhin siya sa Maynila. May nag-aantay doong tao na susundo sa inyo. Doon na tayo magkikita."

It was supposed to be a solid plan. But things happened. The Callejos stepped in. Hindi nila inaasahan ang pagtulong ni Ismael kay Hernan. Thus, the plan failed. Pinalabas na lang ni Aguiluz na ang mga Callejos ang nagdulot ng kaguluhan ng gabing iyon. But Aguiluz died that night.

Rigor was left unprepared. He tried sticking with the plan. Gaya ng utos sa kaniya, he has to bring Yumie away from Sejanos. Ngunti pagdating niya sa lugar kung saan dapat kakatagpuin niya ang ama, Callejos men showed up. Wala siyang nagawa kundi ang makipagsundo sa mga ito. He promised to take care of Yumie instead kesa ang ibenta ito sa taong dapat na kukuha rito.

The Callejos offered him some wealth just to hold on for Yumie for a while. Hangga't maayos ulit ng mga Callejos ang Sejanos. The Callejos took over Hacienda Dela Torre and all he can do was to succumb to their command.

He tried running away from the Callejos clutches, but he has no power, no resources. That's why he just made up stories to brainwash Yumie. Pero mukhang malabo na rin niyang matagumpayan yun. Ngayong pang Yumie had become closer to Zeek.

He is becoming frustrated. He had fallen deeply in love para sa Unica Hija ng Dela Torre. At hindi na niya kakayaning malayo ito sa kaniya. He had to do something para mailayo ng tuluyan si Yumie. He had to make it happen by hook or by crook.

Napabuntong hininga siya. Narinig niya ang pagparada ng sasakyan sa harap ng tinutuluyan nila. Mabilis siyang napabangon para silipin kung sino iyon. He saw Yumie getting out of Zeek's car. Kasunod nito si Zeek na siyang nagbaba ng bagahe nito. They have returned from their trip. Hinatid pa ni Zeek sa harap mismo ng pinto si Yumie. And they kissed.

Napatiimbagang si Rigor. Lalong sumidhi ang kagustuhan niyang ilayo ang dalaga. Hindi pa pumasok si Yumie sa bahay hangga't hindi nakakaalis si Zeek. He was sure nagkakamabutihan na ang dalawa. It took awhile bago umalis si Zeek. Nang makaalis ito, mabilis na lumayo sa bintana si Rigor at lumabas ng silid niya. Balak niya sanang salubungin si Yumie. Ngunit naunahan siya ni Nana Felicia. Hindi na siya natuloy. He heard them talking to each other.

"I am so happy, Nana. Mommy is alive," masiglang kwento ni Yumie kay Felicia.

"Buhay si Rumina?" Di makapaniwalang turan ni Felicia.

"Yes, Nana. And the Hacienda is being taken cared well."

"Naku, Salamat sa Diyos. Kumusta naman siya? Maayos ba ang kalagayan niya?"

She turned a sad face. "Hindi niya ko kilala Nana. She don't even remember me. And she's blind."

Nalungkot din ang mukha ni Felicia.

"But she's ok. Inaalagaan naman siya ng maayos. But Nana, I think we need to come back home. But I don't know how"

Napayakap si Felicia sa alaga. "Hindi ko alam kung ano ang matutulong ko. Pero narito lang ako para alagaan ka."

Napabuntong hininga si Yumie. "Natatakot akong aminin kay Zeek kung sino talaga ako. Kahit pa napatunayan kong hindi sila kaaway, hindi ako sigurado kung maniniwala siya sakin. Lalo pa't nakita ko na ang kalagayan ng Hacienda ngayon. Ayokong isipin nila na pagsasamantalahan ko ang kalagayan ni Mommy."

Napabitiw si Yumie sa yakap ni Felicia. Humarap siya dito. "But I think we need to get ready. Kasi uuwi na tayo. Gagawa ako ng paraan to tell Sir Ismael and Zeek the truth. Also, kahit hindi ako maalala ni Mommy, I know a way." She sounded hopeful.

Ngumiti si Felicia. Nahaplos niya nito ang ulo ng alaga and smiled to her back.

"Alam kong mahaba ang naging byahe niyo, kumain ka na ba?"

She pouted. "We ate along the way but I'm craving for a piniritong isda," ani Yumie na natanaw ang ulam na nasa mesa.

Natawa si Felicia. "Halika, kumain tayo."

Sa itaas ng bahay, Rigor gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. Yumie had been to Sejanos. Saglit na lang at tuliyang malalayo na sa kaniya ang dalaga. He has to start moving? He had to stop them from taking away Yumie from him.