Desperation

Napakuyon kamao si Rigor as he read the posted announcement sa announcement board ng Callejos Tech. Tiimbagang na paulit-ulit niyang binabasa iyon. And it's making him rage in fury.

Hindi niya alam kung kailan pa totally naging official ang relasyon ni Yumie at Zeek at bigla-bigla na lang nag-aannounce ng kasal ang batang Callejos. They just had a weekend in Sejanos. Pagbalik magpapakasal na agad?

Anupaman ang rason, Tigor felt frustrated and desperate. He couldn't just sit back and wait further. He dialed another number in his phone and waited for someone to answer.

"Ako 'to. Magkita tayo," he simply said when somebody answered from the other line.

******

Nahilot ni Yumie ang batok. Umunat atsaka sinipat ang oras sa suot na wristwatch. Mag-aalas sinko na ng hapon. Malapit na mag-uwian.

She reached for her phone and sent a message to Zeek. Mukhang matatagalan pa si Zeek sa Executive Meeting nito. She don't want to wait for him. She wanted to rest early. Isa pa may kailangan siyang icheck sa bahay nila.

Going home at 5. I'll tell kuya Jun to drop you off. - she typed in and sent.

Hindi pa makakareply sa kaniya si Zeek. But he will read his message. Ibinalik niya ang atensyon sa tinatapos na trabaho. Quarter to six na rin siya natapos sa ginagawa. And Zeek hadn't replied yet. She decided to leave then.

The company offers free service para sa mga employees but it will be a long waiting line. Thus, she decided na pumara na lang ng taxi sa sakayan. Nakalabas na siya ng building when he heard Rigor calling her. Nilingon niya ito and smiled at him.

"Kuya!" She called her back. Her smile faded nang mapansin niya ang suot nito. He wasn't in his security uniform. Naka-civilian clothes ito at nakasuot ng sumbrero.

Rigor didn't smile back. Bagkus diretso itong nakatingin sa kaniya na tila may pag-aalala. Napalinga-linga pa ito sa paligid nang lumapit sa kaniya.

"Kuya? May problema ba?" She asked. Nakaramdam din siya ng pag-aalala.

"Yumie, kailangan nating umalis," Rigor said in what seemed to be almost whispered na tila may tinatago.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Yumie. "Ha? S-san tayo pupunta?"

"Kinuha nila si Nana Felicia," turan ni Rigor.

Bumaha ang takot sa mukha ni Yumie. Ngunit mas lalo siyang naguluhan.

"Saka ko na ipapaliwanag sayo, kailangan na nating umalis dito." Hinablot nito ang kamay niya atsaka siya hinila palayo.

She tried pulling her hand back. She have too many questions to ask. Ngunit bago pa siya nakapagpumiglas, a black van stopped in front of them. In an instant, naipasok sila ni Rigor sa loob ng van against their will. She didn't had a chance to cry for help when one of the guys holding her covered her mouth and she smelled something that made her instantly drowsy. But before she can totally black off, she saw in blur image some guards running towards them. She tried fighting off the drowsiness but she last saw the van running away as the guards, tried to catch up.

Its as if a dream, nagising na lang si Yumie sa isang dimlit room. She slowly opened her eyes. Medyo groggy pa rin ang pakiramdam niya but she remembered what happened. She felt the soft bed covers and smelled a familiar scent. She forced herself to stood up. Hindi niya alam anong oras na, but she knew it was already late at night. Nang makaupo, she tried opening her eyes again. Bahagyang inikot ang mata sa paligid. The room was very familiar. She had been here. It was Zeek's room. She felt at ease.Ngunit kung anuman ang pinaamoy sa kaniya ng mga lalaki kanina makes her brain all blurry and alert at the same time. Nang biglang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Zeek.

"Mayumia!" He said in full worried tone. Mabilis itong lumapit sa kaniya. "How do you feel? Do you want me to call a doctor?" he said as he touched her face.

"What happened, Zeek? How did I got here? Where is Kuya Rigor?" She asked in somewhat groggy state.

"You're not yet ok. Will explain it to you later. Please take a rest," Zeek was about to lie her down ulit but he stopped him.

"No! I am ok. Asan si Kuya Rigor?" She is worried para kay Rigor. She has been almost abducted kasama si Rigor. Hindi niya alam kung anong nangyari sa kuya niya.

Zeek took a deep breath. Tumayo ito and looked at her. She look at him back. Somehow, nawawala na ang epekto ng pampatulog na pinaamoy sa kaniya kanina. She gave him a determined look na gusto niyang malaman kung ano talaga ang nangyari sa kaniya.

"I am in no position to tell everything to you. But it's best that you must know now," Zeek said. "I'll tell Nana Felicia that you're awake." Lumabas ito ng silid.

'Nana?' She thought. Does Zeek knows who Nana Felicia is?

Before she could even asked, Nana Felicia came rushing in papasok ng silid. Her look was dead worried for her.

"Mayumia!" Felicia burst into tears as she flung herself towards her. "Sobrang pag-aalala ko. Natakot ako nang umalis si Rigor sa bahay kaninang tanghali. Alam kong may gagawin siyang hindi maganda sayo."

"Nana? What do you mean? Kasama ko si Kuya when we got abducted," aniya.

"It was staged," sagot ni Zeek na agad ding bumalik sa silid. "He had to do an act. Nasa harap kayo ng Callejos Tech. There could be a lot of witnesses. The guards also saw you with him."

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ni Yumie kay Felicia at Zeek. It got her confused even more. Why would Rigor stage an abduction for her?

"Nana Felicia," tawag ni Zeek sa katiwala. "Yumie needs to know the truth."

Napatingin si Yumie sa tagapag-alaga. She was sobbing but nakatingin ito ng tuwid sa kaniya.

"Mayumia, humihingi ako ng tawad sayo. Kahit ginawa ko ang lahat nang makakaya ko para protektahan ka, ngunit isa lamang akong matandang katiwala na ang tanging kaya lang gawin ay alagaan ka. Umpisa pa lang, iba na ang kuyob ko kay Rigor. Noong araw na umalis tayo sa Sejanos, ginawa ko ang lahat ng paraan para hindi ako mahiwalay sayo. Natakot man ako para sa sarili na baka patayin rin nila ako ngunit ipinilit kong sumama sayo kahit saan ka dalhin ni Rigor," kwento ni Felicia. "Nang bumalik si Rigor sa yate, bahagyang nagbago ang kutob ko sa kaniya. Naging tila padre de pamilya siya para sating dalawa. Tinulungan niya tayong makausad at mamuhay ng maayos sa loob ng labindalawang taon. Ngunit may kaunti pa rin akong pag-aalala. Hindi ko maipaliwang ngunit hindi nawawala ang kutob ko na iyon."

Yumie couldn't ansorb everything at once. But she listens. And somewhat she couldn't find a loophole in Felicia's story.

"Hanggang sa nitong mga huling araw, nakikita ko na lang siyang madalas kang minamasdan. Madalas kong nahuhuling kakaiba ang titig niya sa iyo. At may mga pagkakataong, nakikita ko siyang nagbabantang pumapasok sa silid mo. Natakot ako sa kung ano ang pwede noyang gawin sayo. Alam kong nagiging palagay ang loob mo kay Senyorito Zeekcarias. Isa pa ikinuwento mo sakin ang pagdala niya sayo sa Sejanos. Wala akong ibang pagpipilian kundi ang lumapit sa Callejos. Nakipagkita ako kay Senyor Ismael noong isang araw. Sinabi ko sa kaniya ang lahat ng kutob at hinila ko. Ngunit nagulat ako sa inamin sakin ng Senyor. Nalaman ko ang lahat ng katotohanan. Kung tutuusin, galing sa mga Callejos ang mga pangangailangan na binibigay ni Rigor. Sila pala ang nangangalaga satin. Sa katunayan, pinagpaplanuhan na nilang ibalik ka sa Hacienda Dela Torre. Ngunit nauna lang si Rigor." Felicia burst again into tears. "Kung hindi ko narinig ang si Rigor kanina na nakipag-usap sa telepono, baka kung saan ka na nila nadala. Mabilis kong tinawagan si Senyorito Zeek upang ipaalam sa kaniya. Alalang-alala ako, Mayumia. Hindi ko alam paano ako hihingi ng tawad kay Rumina kung may mangyaring masama sayo."

Yumie felt Felicia's sincerity. She hugged the old lady. Malaking pasasalamat niya sa loyalty nito at kahit hindi ito angbtunay niyang ina, she deserved to be recognized as that. Hindi niya alam that Felicia loved her liked a true daughter.

"Maraming salamat, Nana. Habang buhay kong tatanawing utang na loob ang pag-aalaga mo sakin simula pa nung bata ako," she said in a teary eyes as well.

Lalong pumalahaw ang matanda as they hugged tighter. It took awhile bago siya bumitiw rito. Bahagya din naman itong kumalma.

"Nana, hindi pa ko kumakain simula kaninang tanghali. Maghahating gabi na. Can you cook something for me?" Aniya. It was somewhat true but she just wanted to talk to Zeek alone. She might have heard 75% of the story but she wanted to hear more.

Nilingon ni Felicia si Zeek as if asking permission kung pwedeng pakialaman ang kusina nito. Zeek just smiled and nodded.

"Pwede niyo pong galawin ang pagkain sa ref. It's always stock up pero walang nagluluto," anito.

Tumayo si Felicia and left the room. Naiwan sila ni Zeek. Ibinaling niya ang nakasunod na tingin niya kay Felicia pabalik kay Zeek nang makalabas ang huli ng silid.

"How did you know all these?" she asked instantly. "You knew I am a Dela Torre?"

"I didn't but Dad knew. He told me just recently before we went to Sejanos," he simply replied.

"All along he knew I am a Dela Torre. 12 years. I am longing to come back home. And he just let me----" Hindi niya matuloy ang sasabihin. She somewhat felt frustrated but somehow there's relief.

Zeek slowly walked towards her. Umupo sa kama and faced her.

"I have to apologize as well for not telling you the instant I knew. But you hated us so much. You thought that we were enemies. We have to prove ourselves first before we admit that we actually care for you and your mom," Zeek said in his most serious tone.

"So do you actually love me or is it just your way to tell me that you are not an enemy?" She sarcastically said it but deep inside she got scared kung hindi niya magugustuhan ang isasagot nito. Natakot siyang masaktan.

Zeek twitched his lips and raised his eyebrow. Hindi niya nagustuhan ang sinabi ni Yumie.

"That's not funny, Mayumia! Kinukwestiyon mo ang pagmamahal ko sayo? I loved you before I knew you were a Dela Torre. The night of the ball, when you were all wasted and almost stripped in front of me, hindi mo alam kung anong excitement ang binigay mo sakin nun. I knew that it was my chance to own you. Santong paspasan man matatawag, but I'll take it. Hindi ako marunong manligaw. But you blacked out before we can start the fun. I ended up relieving myself on my own. If something happened to us that night, I'll make sure you will be my wife the next day. Kahit ayaw mo," he said full of himself. "I fell inlove with you even more when I learned that you are Tita Rumina's daughter. It's like destiny. I don't believe in those before. But I do now!"

Hindi nakuhama so Yumie. She felt happiness. "Sinisiguro ko lang," she said pouting her lips.

"Please do not question my love for you. Hindi magandang biro yun. You knew that it never happened to me. I changed my image para sayo, alam mo yun."

Napangiti siya. "Fine!" she said. "But how was I saved earlier?" aniya remembering the incident that happened earlier. "Naisakay kami sa van and I might be drowsy and all but I still saw the van got away habang hinahabol ng mga guards. I blacked out but I knew hindi kami naabutan."

"Nana Felicia called me earlier. I was in a meeting. But I know that nothing will happen to you since I know you are in the office. Kampante akong hindi ka aalis unless I got back. But then, you texted me before five. That's when I started to get worried. Hindi mo alam kung panong basta ko na lang iniwanan ang mga ka-meeting ko when I received your text and rushed back in the office. I contacted the security office to look for Rigor. And they told me he didn't come to work today. I rushed to arrive sa office bago ka pa makauwi. But the traffic almost made me late. Good thing you still left a little later. The van was almost out of the building driveway when I arrived and blocked them. Good thing the security saw you. They responded immediately. I told them to lock up everyone including Rigor," kwento ni Zeek.

"Did Rigor even deny it?" She asked. She wanted to know if Rigor had a little bit of conscience in him.

Napatiimbagang si Zeek. "He didn't. He looked at me as if telling me that he can't be stopped. That you will believe him rather than me. But he didn't know that Nana Felicia does knows. And Nana can explain it to you. HIndi ka man maniwala sakin, but you will believe Nana Felicia."

Napayuko si Yumie. Everything is clear now. But there's still things worrying her. She felt ashamed of the thought that she believed a deceitful truth. She felt betrayed. Nasayang ang labindalawang taon na hinintay niya if she only made all the effort to know the truth.

Napansin ni Zeek ang pagyuko niya. Zeek reached for his chin and raised her head. She is hiding her tears.

"You're crying again, My princess. You have been very tough all night. Ngayong naipaliwanag na sayo ang lahat saka ka iiyak," Zeek said in like a teasing tone but she held Yumie's face with both hands.

Pilit na iniwas ni Yumie ang mukha. But Zeek held it tighter. He gave her a smack on the lips. Then he wrapped his arms towards her shoulders and pulled her to a tight embrace.

"No more crying, my princess. You're going home..."

She sobbed even harder.