53: Vague truth

CAMERON'S POV

"Actually, tinatapos ko pa lang ang engineering course ko sa college kaya naman minsan lang akong umuuwi rito."

"Ohhh. So ganun pala."

A groan instantly escaped from me when I heard her uttered that, nodding her head while looking at Bryan with doe-eyes and a stupid smile. Na para bang hangang-hanga ito rito, hanging on every words this intruder would say.

This witch! Nakita lang ang taong 'to, bigla na lang sinaniban ng kung anong elemento! Kept smiling at him with a stupid smile on her lips!

The gritting of my teeth tightened as my hold at the cup tightened as well. Hindi pa nga namin nagagawang pagsalitain si Mang Doming, nagagawa na niya talagang makipaglandian sa lalaking 'yan!

"Okay ka lang ba, Sir Cameron?"

That interrupted my malicious glare at the two nang magsalita si Aling Loring na kasalukuyang nakaupo sa kabilang upuan, looking at me with query look and a cup of coffee in her hand.

After her son, Bryan, had came awhile ago, Samantha Javier had quickly introduced herself before Bryan could even ask our names.

"Samantha Javier. I'm Samantha Javier but you can call me Sam. And you are??"

When I thought about her flirtatious introductory again, di ko mapigilang mapatiim na lamang ng bagang.

She better prepare for my ire later!

"Gusto mo bang kumain, Sir Cameron? Ipagluluto kita kung nagugutom kana---"

"No. Hindi ako gutom aling Loring."

Putol ko agad rito when she was about to get up from her seat. Agad namang tumango ito and just smiled at me as she sat back on her seat. I know she was glad to see me again but heck, ayokong tinatawag nya'kong Cam-cam o patpating 'di pa tuli because I am from far that now!

"Kumusta kana pala? Doon ka pa rin ba sa mansyon niyo nakatira ngayon?"

"Hindi na.. May sarili na'kong bahay ngayon, Aling Loring at doon na'ko namamalagi."

"Eh Si Austin? Nandun parin ba hanggang ngayon?"

"Sya na ang namamahala sa buong hardin at mansyon ni Papa." I replied with a nod.

Agad namang tumango-tango ito saka nagsimula na namang magsalita maya-maya. Mga ilang sandali rin itong nagkukwento lang about her memories working in our mansion.

I just kept nodding at her, not really listening to her stories as I just kept glaring at the two outside, talking like they had known each other that long.

"Kung hindi lang sana pumanaw ng maaga ang mama mo---"

"I thought you don't have a son, Aling Loring..."

Napakurapkurap na lamang ito when I suddenly cut her off with that question. Pero mga ilang sandali lang, she gave me a motherly smile then glanced at the two outside.

"Maliit pa lamang 'tong si Bryan noon nang iwan namin ito sa lola niya kaya naman hindi namin ito kasamang manirahan noon sa Maynila, Sir Cameron. Kailangan naming gawin 'yon para mapag-aral namin ito sa magandang paaralan.... Pero simula ng pumanaw ang papa mo, pinili na lamang namin ni Doming na umuwi at mamuhay na lamang rito."

"Kaya ba natagalang makapagtapos sa kolehiyo ang anak niyo?"

Her face suddenly looked sullen the moment I'd asked that. Hindi naman ako malapit sa mga katulong namin noon kaya naman hindi ko halos maalala ito. But with them giving me another name--that fucking 'cam-cam' name, I could clearly remember that so well. Yan naman talaga ang palayaw nila sa'kin noon.

"Hirap na hirap ang buhay namin noon, sir Cameron.. lalo na no'ng maaksidente at mapilayan si Doming.. Mas lalo kaming naghirap dito kaya naman kailangang huminto na muna ni Bryan sa pag-aaral."

"Ano ho bang nangyari sa binti ni Mang Doming? Bakit bigla nalang kayong nawala pagkatapos mamatay si papa, Aling Loring?"

"Masyadong magulo ang mga pangyayari noon... Kahit patay na ang papa mo noon, hindi parin kami tinitigilan ng mga taong kaaway ng papa mo sa negosyo. Palagi parin nilang ginugulo si Doming at pinipilit na sabihin ang nalalaman nito tungkol sa----"

That got me narrowed my eyes at her and straightened up on my seat nang bigla na lamang itong tumigil sa pagsasalita, looking at me with wide eyes, probably realizing her slip.

But I don't need to know kung anong ibig sabihin nito. She had given out enough information para malaman ko 'yon. Making me more curious to know the other details.

Alam kong sasabihin din naman 'yon ni Mang Doming but why wait for that time to come kung pwede ko namang alamin ito by making her wife talk?

"Tungkol sa ano, Aling Loring? Anong kailangan ng mga kaaway ni papa kay mang Doming?"

"W-Wala. Wala, sir Cameron." She denied in a haste while avoiding to look at me. A reaction that made me grit my teeth and heave a deep breath, calming myself not to lash at her and forced her to talk.

God knows how much I wanted to know that. Pero dahil nakapagbitaw na'ko ng salita kay mang Doming na maghihintay ako hanggang bukas, then I guess I just have to be patient here. Mang Doming would tell it to me anyway.

Huminga na lamang ako ng malalim and then leaned my back against my seat, looking at her pointedly.

"Okay. I won't force you to talk, Aling Loring. Aantayin ko nalang si Mang Doming tungkol dito at----"

"Are you sure na sasama ka talaga sa koprasan?"

I was cut off when Bryan had loudly asked that with disbelief in his voice.

"Ahuh.. I'm sure as hell I'd go there with you! Tiyak masaya do'n."

My lips thinned in line in an instant when I heard that flirtatious answer from the very witch na ngayoy nakangising nakatigin kay Bryan.

This woman! Talagang mas pipiliin niya pa talagang makipaglandian kahsa gawin ang pakay namin rito!

A silent curse instantly escaped from me when Bryan had sweetly smiled at her. Looking so satisfied with her answer.

At maya-maya lang, agad na itong tumango saka agad ng tumalikod ito with some stubborn woman just following his lead, heading to the north. To the more upscaled part of this place.

At saan naman kaya pupunta ang mga 'to??

I just followed their retreating backs with malicious glare.

"Mukhang papunta sila ngayon sa koprasan...."

My gaze shifted to Mrs. Ganzan with creased brows na kasalukuyang nakamasid din pala sa mga ito.

"Koprasan?"

"Oo. may maliit kaming koprasan malapit lang dito. Halos lahat ng mga kalalakihan kasi rito ay nagkokopras doon ngayon."

"Kalalakihan?"

So there were men out there and that stubborn woman was heading to that way right now??

"Sinasabi mo bang maraming kalalakihan doon ngayon, Aling Loring?"

Nang tumango ito, I couldn't stopped myself but silently muttered a curse under my breath as I glanced back at the direction where she was heading to.

That woman!

Talagang inuuna nya pa talagang---

"Wag kang mag-alala.."

I gazed back at her when she added that. My brow shot up when I found her looking at me with a knowing smile on her face.

"Anong hindi ako dapat mag-alala, aling Loring?"

Again, she smiled at me that made me wonder why she was giving me that teasing look now.

"Gusto ko lang sabihin sa'yo na wag kang mag-alala dahil may mga asawa na naman 'yong mga lalaking nandun kaya wala kang dapat ipagselos, sir Cameron."

"What??!"

Isa pa ang matandang 'to!

"Hindi ako nagseselos, Aling Loring!"

The gritting of my teeth tightened when she just smiled at me more then waved her hands off, as if telling me na hindi ko ito maloloko.

This darn old woman!

"'Wag mo ng ikaila pa, Sir Cameron. Kahit hindi mo pa sinasabi, kitang-kita naman diyan sa mga mata mo.."

"I said I am NOT!"

"Sus! Itong batang 'to talaga oh!" Panunukso pa nito, smiling at me with a tease, making me just tightly closed my eyes in exasperation.

Jesus! Sumasakit ang ulo ko dahil sa matandang 'to!

"Wala namang masama kung gusto mo siya, sir. Wala pa naman sigurong asawa si Ms. Samantha at binata ka naman, kaya anong problema doon?"

"Kakilala ko nga lang kasi ang babaeng 'yon, Aling Loring!" I growled at her, not wanted to even hear more of her stupid assumptions.

Why does everyone kept saying na gusto ko ang babaeng 'yon? Kanina, it was Mason. And now, itong matandang 'to na naman?

I glared at her when she just gave me another teasing smile. But then I frowned nang bigla na lamang kumunot ang noo nito as she gazed back at the direction where Ms. Javier was heading to.

Na para bang may bigla itong naalala habang nakatanaw lang sa malayo.

"May problema ba, Aling Loring?"

That pulled her back from her thoughts saka napapangiting tumingin uli sa'kin while still holding her cup.

"Wala.. may bigla lang akong naalala.." napapailing-iling na saad nito before she sipped on her coffee.

Sipping my own coffee, I studied her with scrutinizing stare.. Mukhang may malalim itong iniisip ngayon.

"Anong iniisip nyo?"

Agad na ngumiti ito sa'kin then shook her head.

"Naalala ko lang kasi yong kakilala ko noon,."

"Sinong kakilala mo noon,? Isa rin ba sa mga nanilbihan sa'min noon?"

He quickly shook her head for an answer then smiled.

"Nakilala ko lang ang babaeng 'yon kasi nakikita ko 'yon minsan na kasama ni Sir Nickandro kapag nagpupunta 'yon sa bahay niyo noon, sir Cameron."

I frowned at that, stopping the sipping of my coffee as I looked at her with creased brows.

Hell! So kilala nya rin pala ang ang ama ni Ms. Javier?

"Sinong babae, Aling Loring?"

"Hindi ko naman talaga kilala ang babaeng 'yon pero naaalala ko lang 'yong mukha niya kapag nakikita ko si Ms. Samantha. Kamukhang kamukha niya kasi ang babaeng 'yon."

"If I hadn't mentioned it yet, Samantha Javier is Nickandro Romero's one and only daughter. Siguro naman, mama niya ang nakilala niyo noon."

Her eyes slowly widened in surprise with that information.

"Ahhh... Kaya naman pala!!!" Saad nito habang napapatango-tango...

"Aba'y ang liit ba naman pala ng mundo oo.!.hmmm... akalain ba namang makikila ko rito ang anak ni sir Nickandro at baka nga nanay niya nga ang babaeng 'yon....kaya naman pala magkamukhang-magkamukha ang mga ito, na para bang pinagbiyak na bunga."

"Pinagbiyak na bunga?" Naguguluhang tanong ko rito.

Di ko lang kasi matandaan kung saang parte ng mukha ng mama nito ang kapareho kay Ms. Javier. Ang papa niya siguro, oo. But her mom?

No. I'm sure it's not. Kitang-kita naman 'yon sa family picture ng mga Romero.

"Aba'y oo, sir!Magkamukhang-magkamukha sila ng mama niya!"

That made my frown deepened. She sounded like she was so sure about it.

Dala-dala ko pa nga hanggang ngayon ang litrato ng mga Romero so I think she just mistook someone as Ms. Javier's mom.

"Baka naman nagkakamali lang kayo, Aling Loring. I've seen her parents' in their family picture pero hindi naman niya kamukhang kamukha ito gaya ng sinasabi mo.." I replied with pointed voice while shaking my head, now not wanted to hear more of her stories.

Hindi naman ako nandito para alamin ang buhay ng mga Romero so why would I waste my time for that matter?

Hindi agad ito umimik sa upuan nito, looking as if she was trying to consider my words. Pero mga ialng sandali lang, agad namang tumango-tango ito.

"Hmm. Kung ganun nga. Baka kamag-anak niya nga lang talaga ang babaeng 'yon.. "

"Yes. Kamag-anak niya lang siguro ang babaeng 'yon. I heard she had an aunt in Tagaytay, kapatid ng papa niya kaya baka ang babaeng yon ang napagkamalan mo, Aling Loring."

"Ah ganun ba.. baka nga talaga.." she quickly agreed with a shrug.. "Magkakamukha naman ang magkakamag-anak kaya siguro nagkamali lang ako."

Yes, you are.

"Loring? Aalis na muna ako.."

Our gazes were snapped to Mang Doming na ngayo'y papalabas mula sa maliit na silid na nandun with his crutches with him.

Pagkatapos ng komprontasyon namin sa kanya kanina, agad ng nagpaalam ito na magpapahinga muna sa silid nilang mag-asawa.

"Saan kaba pupunta, Doming?"

"Muadto sa'ko sa kalubin-an.. tan-awon sa na'ko kung pahuman naba sila sa pagkopras." ("Pupunta muna ako sa niyugan.. titignan ko lang muna kong patapos na sila sa pagkokopras.")

Then with that, nagsimula na itong naglakad patungo sa pintuan. I don't understand him so well pero alam kong may pupuntahan ito.

"Sasamahan ko na kayo, Mang Doming."

Napatingin agad ito sa'kin with a frown on his face, siguro hindi nagustuhan ang sinabi ko.

"Babalik naman ako mamaya at wala naman akong balak na takasan ka, bata kaya dito ka nalang---"

"Hindi naman kita sasaman dahil sa gusto kitang bantayan, Mang Doming. Gusto ko lang makita ang niyugan niyo and talk to Ms. Javier as well." Agad na putol ko sa iba pa nitong sasabihin sabay tayo at saka lumapit na rito, ignoring his disapproval glare at me.

"Isama mo na yan, Doming. Para naman makapamasyal 'tong si Sir Cameron sa lugar natin. At saka baka nagkakasiyahan na naman sina Kaloy dun kaya isama mo na siya para makilala naman siya ng ibang tao rito.."

He made a groan when her wife had insisted that. Hindi na ito kumibo at tuluyan ng lumabas ng pintuan while shaking his head. Lumabas na rin agad ako and just followed him where he was heading to.

The sun was starting to set now at the west kaya naman nagsisimula naring lumalamig pa lalo ang paligid. And add to the fact na nasa itaas na bahagi nakapwesto ang lugar na'to kaya naman ganito kalamig dito.

Hindi naman masyadong matao sa lugar na'to, mangilan-ngilan lang rin ang mga bahay rito. At sa dami ng mga puno ng niyog na nadadaanan namin, I think pagkokopras ang isa sa ikinabubuhay ng mga tao rito.

I just kept following him kung saan ito papunta. He just remained silent habang parang hirap na hirap itong maglakad.

"...Kahit patay na ang papa mo noon, hindi parin kami tinitigilan ng mga taong kaaway ng papa mo sa negosyo. Palagi parin nilang ginugulo si Doming at pinipilit na sabihin ang nalalaman nito..."

When Aling Loring's words had echoed in my head, my gaze then shifted to his left leg. He was wearing a faded black trouser kaya naman hindi kita ang binti nito ngayon.

But I'm certain his leg was the price of knowing something about that file. Those people had made this to him no doubt.

"Yong kasama mong babae..."

I straightened up when I suddenly heard him talk habang dirediretso lang sa paglalakad.

"What about her?"

"Kaninong anak ba kamo 'yon?"

I frowned when he asked that out of a sudden. Nakikinig ba ang matandang 'to sa usapan namin ng asawa nya kanina?

"She's Nickandro Romero's daughter, Mang Doming."

For a while, hindi agad ito umimik which caused my frown to deepen.

"Dalagang-dalaga na pala ngayon ang batang 'yon."

Hearing that, I quickly hastened my steps to kept up with him. Suddenly curious with this topic.

"Parang kelan lang, sanggol pa lamang ito nang dumating sa buhay ng mag-asawang Romero."

"Baka ang ibig niyong sabihin ay 'mula ng isilang ito ni Mrs. Romero'."

My brow arched up to the side when I heard him scoffed beside me.

"Hindi mo pa nga siguro ganun kakilala ang kasintahan mo,."

"She's not my girlfriend."

When I growled that, he just gave me a shrug saka nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad nito. Completely ignoring my insistence.

"Hindi ko nga sabi kasintahan ang babaeng 'yon, Mang Doming."

Hindi parin ito kumikibo and just shook his head saka nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad, na para bang sinasabi nito na hindi ko ito maloloko.

Damn with this old man!

I couldn't stop but mutter a curse under my breath while following on him.

"Advice ko lang sa'yo, bata.. kung gusto mong ipagpatuloy ang kung anumang pinaggagawa niyo, mas mabuting 'wag mo ng isali ang batang 'yon."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

Hindi agad ito sumagot and just continued walking with his crutches without even looking back at me.

Pero kahit naiinis na'ko dito, I waited for his answer--patiently.

"Masasaktan lang ang batang 'yon kapag ipinagpatuloy niyang alamin ang mga bagay-bagay."

I groaned when he was at it again, kept giving me that vague information.

Is he that closed to Nickandro Romero para maging ganito nalang ito kaconcern sa anak nito?

"If you're talking about her being hurt physically, hindi talaga maiiwasan 'yon dahil alam naman niya kung ga'no kadelikado ang bagay na'to, Mang Doming. And besides, finding that file was just part of her mission para mahanap ang mga maaaring pumatay sa mga magulang niya kaya wag mo ng alalahanin pa 'yon." Paliwanag ko rito, reassuring him though I'm still slightly confused with him.

"At kung nag-aalala ka nga sa kanya, that's unnecessary dahil sanay na ang babaeng 'yon sa pakikipagbasagan ng ulo."

"Hindi 'yan ang ibig kong sabihin, bata."

I halted with my steps when he suddenly whirled around without difficulty, looking at me with no nonsense in his face.

"Gusto kong pigilan mo ang batang 'yon."

"Pigilan? Nagpapatawa ka ba, Mang Doming? You don't even have an idea kung ga'no na niya katagal hinahawakan ang kasong 'to, ang kaso ng mga magulang niya and now you want me to stop her? " I scoffed then shook my head at him.

"I don't think so. I prefer na hayaan na lamang 'yon kaysa pigilan ito. Hindi mo alam kung ga'no katigas ang ulo ng babaeng 'yon." I stated while still shaking my head, not believing this old man would really spout that nonsense.

He must be out of his head to even think about that idea. I'm certain Ms. Javier would just lash at me before I could even finish telling her so.

He just groaned in disapproval and just looked at me without even a tinge of joke in his face.

"Sinasabi ko lang na pigilan mo sya, bata..." He hissed with pursed lips.

"Alam kong masyadong nasaktan ang batang 'yon pagkatapos mangyari ang aksidenteng syang kumitil sa buhay ng mga magulang niya noon.... . At kapag ipinagpatuloy niya pang alamin ang mga bagay-bagay na nangyari na, siguradong mas lalo lang siyang masasaktan sa huli."

With how serious he had said that, I couldn't resist but listen to him intently. Listening to him now with my furrowed brows.

I know Ms. Javier's past was what made her this way, made her this tough and hungry for the truth. At kahit hindi ko man nakikitang umiyak man lang ito o makitang naging mahina sa paningin ko, I know she was hurting inside. Her desperation to solve her case was the proof of that.

'...I'm only living for one reason, but not for that...'

When her words echoed through my head, I'm certain she was living her life just seeking for that truth. And now that she was closed to that, why would this man wanted me to stop her to pursue this case?

"....baka nga nanay niya nga ang babaeng 'yon....kaya naman pala magkamukhang-magkamukha ang mga ito, na para bang pinagbiyak na bunga."

Nang maalala ang mga sinabing yon ni aling Loring kanina, hindi ko maiwasang mas lalo pang mapaisip ng mabuti.

"Ms. Javier had lived all her life seeking for the truth and justice for what happened to her parents, Mang Doming..." I answered maya-maya...

"At ngayon, gusto mong pigilan ko naman siya? That woman was unstoppable. At sigurado akong hindi mo gustong malaman ang maaari niyang gawin if I tell her to stop.." I refused with a shook of my head, not wanted to even dare na gawin yon.

Tiyak malilintikan lang ako kapag ginawa ko'yon. Not when I don't know what's the exact reason.

"Yang hustisyang hinahanap niya sa buong buhay niya, yan lang ang mas lalong sisira sa kanya."

"Bakit? Alam mo ba kung saan at sino ang hinahanap ni Ms. Javier?"

He didn't talked at nanatili lang itong nakatingin sa'kin, looking at me with a knowing look in his eyes.

But he was hesitant with something.

Mukhang may mas maraming nalalaman ang matandang to kaysa sa inaakala namin.

"Isipin mong mabuti, bata.." saad nito maya-maya after a few seconds of his silence.

"Isipin mong mabuti ito.. Naging kasa-kasama ko ang papa mo at si sir Nickandro ng maraming taon. Kahit noong hindi ka pa naisisilang sa mundong 'to, nanilbihan na'ko sa pamilya niyo. Kaya naman alam na alam ko rin kung ano ang problema ng mag-asawang Romero noon."

"Ano? Ano ang problema ng mag-asawa noon?" Curious na tanong ko rito, now completely piqued with it, intrigued to know what he was going to say.

"Ang magkaroon ng anak."

My brow instantly raised at that bits of information.

"Anong kalokohan ang pinagsasabi mo, Mang Doming?"

"Sinabi ko na, Bata. Sinabi ko na. Hirap magkaroon ng anak ang mga Romero noon.."

I gritted my teeth when he had uttered that with no nonsense in his face.

Ano ba talagang pinagsasabi niya? May tama ba sa utak ang matandang to?

With narrowed eyes, I studied him for awhile under my scrutinizing stare.

And I groaned out when ai couldn't even detect any joke in his face.

"Okay. Sabihin na nating hirap nga talagang magkaroon ng anak ang mag-asawang Romero, mang Doming. But then, they were able to have Ms. Javier kaya tingin ko walang naging problema ang mag-asawa noon----"

"Hindi mo ba narinig ang sinabi ng asawa ko kanina, bata? 'Di ba sabi mo hindi magkahawig ang nanay niya at ang batang 'yon----"

He was cut off when suddenly, a laughter from a close distance sounded off in the background. A noise that made us turned to that way and greeted with an appalling view. A view of a few halfnaked and sweaty men in a distance.

Laughing so loud while sitting around the wooden table with a glass in their hands.

Nandito na pala kami sa koprasan ng hindi man lang namin namamalayan dahil sa mga pinagsasabi ng matandang to.

At base sa nakikita ko, mukhang nagkakasiyahan ngayon ang mga tao rito. Mukhang nag-iinuman pa yata ito.

"Ms. Samantha, tama na'yan.. nakakalasing 'yan."

With Ms. Javier's name being mentioned, my gaze quickly snapped to that familiar voice.. And then a disapproval groan instantly escaped from me when I found Bryan, laughing with those people while sitting beside Ms. Javier.

That darn woman who were gulping the liquid in her glass like a thirsty drunkard.

"Hooh! Ang saraaaappp!!"

My hands instantly balled in fist when she exclaimed that, glaring at her habang napapatiim ng bagang. Mang Doming's revelation completely forgotten.

This woman!!! Nawala lang saglit, nakikipag-inuman na sa kung sinu-sinong lalake lang!

I think Mang Doming was right. Kelangan ko ngang pigilan ang babaeng 'to but not with her case, kundi ang malasing at makilaglandian ito sa harap ng mga kalalakihang ito.

~~~~~~~~