A True Dela Torre

Naramdaman ni Yumie na may tila mabigat na bagay na nakayapos sa kanya. Napasinghap siya sabay ang unti-unting pagmulat ng mata. Napangiti siya nang makitang mahimbing pa ang tulog ni Zeek na nakayapos pa sa kaniya.

Last night was a blissful evening. Halos magmamadaling araw na nang bumalik sila sa mansion. They became official last night and ayaw na humiwalay ni Zeek sa kaniya kagabi. Kaya't nang pumasok siya sa silid na tutulugan niya, sumama na ito sa kaniya at nagpumilit na matulog sa tabi niya. Hindi na niya ito nakontra when he soundly sleep ng nakayakap sa kaniya.

Tila naramdaman ni Zeek na nakatitig siya rito. Napaungot ito and slowly opened his eyes as well. He smiled nang makita siyang nakatingin rito.

"What a great way to start my day? Seeing you first thing in the morning is the best morning I had in my entire life," anito in a groggy voice and pulled her closer to a tight embrace.

"Ang cheesy mo na naman. Maaga pa, baka maubusan ka ng keso sa katawan," biro niya rito.

He gave him a kiss on her lips.

"Hmmm... This will be a great day for sure," anito as he close his eyes again and hugged her tighter. "I wanna sleep more. Wag muna tayo bumangon."

"We have to wake up. We need to join you're Tita Mina to breakfast," aniya na bahagya pa itong itinulak para bumangon na.

But Zeek just hugged her tighter at parang batang nagmaktol para pigilan siyang bumangon. She chuckled at Zeek's childish act. Nasa akto sila ng paglalambingan nang may kumatok sa pinto.

"Yumie, are you awake?" tawag ni Mina sa kabilang parte ng pinto.

Mabilis na napabangon si Yumie at Zeek. Natatarantang sinenyasan ni Yumie si Zeek. Kahit alam nilang magugustuhan ni Mina ang katotohanang may namamagitan na sa kanila ni Zeek, Yumie still feels that Mina will not like the idea na magdamag silang magkasama. Like Mina said yesterday, she is still old fashion. And gaya ng isang tunay na anak, Yumie respects her mother's command.

"Y-yes po. Kagigising lang!" Sagot ni Yumie.

"I'm coming in," turan ni Mina.

Lalong nanlaki ang mata ni Yumie mabilis na pinatayo si Zeek sa kama. Sumenyas lang si Zeek na wag siyang maingay.

Bago pa sumagot si Yumie, Mina opened the door and came in. This time, hindi ito naka-wheel chair but she had her cane to guide her on where to go.

"I have prepared our breakfast. Sabay na tayong kumain," ani Mina pagpasok.

"S-sige po. Mag-aayos lang po muna ako, susunod na rin po ako," aniya na minatahan pa si Zeek.

Zeek just keeps still sa tabi niya, trying his best not to make a sound.

Tumango-tango si Mina. "I'll wait for you downstairs," anito.

"Opo. I'll be there in 15 minutes," turan ni Yumie.

Dahan-dahang kinapa ni Mina ang daraanan palabas ng silid ni Yumie. Nasa may pinto na ito nang panadalian itong huminto saka umikot paharap ulit sa kaniya.

"You too, Zeekcarias. Sumunod ka na rin. Let's have breakfast," Mina said with a sarcastic grin. Tumuloy na ito palabas ng silid ni Yumie na may patagong ngiti sa labi.

Napatanga si Yumie at napakagat labing nilingon si Zeek. Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Zeek and silently giggled. Napailing-iling na lang ang dalawa.

Sabay na bumaba ng komedor ang dalawa. Yumie sat beside Mina while Zeek sat in front of them. Nasa likuran nito ang nurse na umaalalay rito. Yumie saw the nurse assisting Mina in eating. Inagaw niya rito ang inaabot na juice kay Mina at nagkusang tulungan na itong kumain.

"Let me do it," mahinahong turan niya sa nurse. Ngumiti lang ang nurse sa kaniya and let her be.

"I can totally feel the brightness of your aura today," turan ni Mina na napapangiti. "Lalo ka na Zeekcarias."

"Hmmmm... It's a beautiful day, Tita. Don't jinx it," ani Zeek as he was putting butter on a toast.

Mina chuckled. "I told you to go home last night. Why are you still here this early?"

"That was before Yumie and I become official. Sinagot niya na ko kagabi, Tita. I have all the right now to sleep with her," mayabang na turan ni Zeek. Pinandilatan ito ng mata ni Yumie.

Lumapad ang ngiti ni Mina. She is happy for the two.

"Kids these days... They were so liberated as they can be," komento nito. "When my husband used to court me, he can't even touch my hand..." nasabi ni Mina.

Ikinalingon iyon ni Yumie. Zeek was also surprised upon hearing it from Mina. Mina doesn't usually talk about her past since she had forgotten about it because of her amnesia. This is the first na tila may incerpts ito ng nakaraan.

"Y-you remember that?" ani Yumie.

Mina didn't reply but she was somewhat thinking. "I t-think, I do," turan nito somewhat in doubt.

Aminado si Mina that these past few days have been slightly different. There are bits of something in her past na bigla-bigla na lang niya naiisip. But she couldn't clearly remember. Yet, she doesn't force herself to do it. Somehow the insecurities in her that she became blind overpowers her will to remember everything. She is ok with what she has now. She is scared that if ever she remembered what actually happened, she might lose it.

Yumie can't help but be happy for her mom. Napatingin siya kay Zeek. Her heart was somewhat overjoyed. Muli siyang humarap kay Mina and held her hand.

"I'm so hoping that you will remember it all. Please know po that we will always be here helping you get through it," she said warmly. She loves her mom so much. She looked forward to the day na makasama niya ulit ito as her only family in this world.

Mina held also Yumie's hand. "I am always grateful to Zeek and his Dad for taking care of me. But with you around, it's warmer. Zeek," nagseryoso ang mukha nito. "I'm warning you. Make her cry and you will never step foot in Hacienda Dela Torre again."

Natawa si Zeek sa banta ni Mina. "That's harsh. But I'll keep that in mind."

Natawa na lang silang tatlo sa hapag.

Matapos ang almusal, niyaya pa siya ni Zeek na mag-ikot sa Sejanos. Somehow, kahit na bakasyon ang pinunta nila rito, Zeek has still have duties to do sa Rancho Callejos. Thus, tumanggi siyang sumama rito. She wanted to be with her mom for now. Gusto niyang samantalahin ang pagkakataong makasama muli ito kahit panandalian muna. Saka na niya iisipin kung pano aaminin kay Zeek na siya ang anak nito at kung paano siya makakabalik sa Hacienda Dela Torre.

Even though Yumie feels at ease na everything will work out fine kapag inamin niyang isa siyang Dela Torre, there's a feeling na tila holding her back. She can't really figure it out. But tila hindi pa iyon ang tamang panahon na ilagay sa lugar ang lahat. Hindi niya alam kung papaniwalaan siya ni Zeek o tatanggapin siya ni Ismael. Isa pa'y hindi pa niya sigurado kung ano talaga ang tunay na dahilan ni Ismael at naging kaibigan ito ng ina niya. Magulo pa para sa kaniya ang katotohanan.

Ngunit ang makasama ang kaniyang ina ngayon ay sapat na to give Yumie hope that she will becoming home soon.

She looked for her mom sa iba't-ibang parte ng mansyon nila. She may have been gone for 12 years but she can still remember the parts and rooms ng buong mansyon. It didn't change at all. Bukod sa mga dekorasyon at gamit na naroon. The rooms that she used to go to are still the same.

Pumasok siya sa isang silid na ang tanda niya'y ang tinatawag ng Daddy niyang Family Crest noon. In this room, alam niyang nakatago ang mga bagay at larawan ng mga alaala ng angkan ng Dela Torre. Narito sa silid na ito ang mga bagay na maaring makatulong sa ina niya na maalala ang lahat. But since Mina got blind, hindi nito iyon makikita.

Yumie slowly walked in around the room. She looked at old photographs and old family heirlooms. She sighed upon seeing the memories of her clan inside this room. Napahinto siya sa tapat nang isang glass cabinet. Sa loob noon are some portraits of her family in generations. Napatitig siya sa litrato nila kasama ng mommy't Daddy niya. She took it from the glass cabinet and held it. The picture was taken when she was 7 years old. She had totally changed from her old look. Siguro because she looks happier in old photos. And for the past 12 years, pinagtibay siya ng panahon with a different perspective and a different personality. She remembered it was her father and mother's wedding anniversary. She ran her fingers sa mukha ng Daddy niya sa litrato.

"Hi, Dad. I missed you so much," aniya ng pabulong. "I wish you were here too like mom."

She was thoroughly looking into the photo when she heard soft noises from one of the small rooms. Napalingon siya sa direksyon kung nasan nagmumula ang kaluskos. She saw one door slightly ajar. Mabilis niyang binalik ang litrato saka tinungo ang nakabukas na pinto. Dahan-dahan siyang sumilip upang sinuhin ang nasa loob. She saw Mina standing in front of a jewelry display. Tila kinakapakapa nito ang mga stone heirloom sa display case. She knocked on the door to inform Mina that she's there.

"Andito po pala kayo. I am looking po everywhere for you."

"Come in," turan ni Mina na pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa.

Napatingin si Yumie sa iba't-ibang medallion na naka-display sa case. She knows what each stone meant. That's the different stone medallion mula pa sa mga kinanunuan nila. Each generation represents each stone. It's a tradition for the Dela Torres to have at least one medallion per generation as a symbol that you are a true Dela Torre.

"A-ano pong ginagawa niyo?" Yumie ask.

Ngumiti lang si Mina. "This is a family heirloom. Once in a while, I visit this room to randomly check on this. I cannot actually see it. But somehow, I was able to get familiar with the feel of it."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Yumie. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang unang itatanong. Nalilito siya sa inaakto ni Mina and at the same time may mga naalala ba ito sa nakaraan?

"B-but... h-how did you know po that this is your family heirloom? D-did Sir Ismael told you this?" As far as Yumie knows hindi alam ng Callejos ang tungkol sa Family Crest room na iyon. They might have seen it kung nakakapasok at nakakalabas na ang mga ito sa Hacienda Dela Torre but would they know what these medallion symbolizes?

Mina smile at her. Then she took a deep breath. "Can you keep a secret?" anito.

Yumie looked at her mom. Lalo siyang naguluhan.

"I know you are now Zeek's girlfriend but you are like a daughter to me. At least that's how I feel toward you. And somehow deep in my heart, I know I can trust you," seryosong turan ni Mina.

Yumie was touched by her mother's words. She believed that her mother could feel their bond and that they truly have one blood flowing in their very own veins.

"I promised to be loyal to you po," sagot niya.

"Honestly, there are memories in my past that I do quite remember. not totally all but somehow it's there," amin ni Mina.

"Y-you can remember?"

Mina nodded her head. "I do. I cannot tell Ismael yet since the memories that I have is somewhat different from what they know. And alam kong wala silang kinalaman sa lahat ng memories ko. The Callejos are not part of the family. But they are friends."

"P-pero... ano po yung mga naalala niyo?"

"My husband," mabilis na sagot ni Mina. "Hernan Dela Torre. I remember him. Well, just mostly the part about marrying him and living with him. My husband is a very kind man. Adorable in his little way. He made me fall in love with gifts and acts of service. Hindi lang ako ang nilagawan niya but all my family even our neighboors," nanatawang kwento ni Mina. "And when he brought me to Hacienda Dela Torre, he showed everyone how proud he is for marrying me. He used to say I am his most-priced possession. Until we had a daughter. He really wanted a daughter because like he said, he had too much love for me that he wanted another me."

Yumie felt like crying pero pinigil niya iyon.

"Our daughter did become his favorite person in the world. He cherished her like no other. But, my husband might be a loving father to our daughter but he was a not-so-good businessman. He had made wrong decisions in his life that almost cost us to lose our only child," patuloy ni Mina.

It was somewhat close to what Zeek had told him last night. But like Mina said it might be somewhat different. Bata pa siya no'n she didn't really know anything about their lives.

"What did your husband do?"

"Honestly, I can't fully remember. But I remember getting mad at him and sinabi ko sa kaniya, I will leave him kapag may nangyaring masama sa anak namin," sabi ni Mina.

Napayuko si Yumie. Hindi niya alam ang mararamdaman niya. His father had done something that could almost lost her. Kung siya ang tatanungin, ayaw niya ng malaman yun. Ayaw niyang bahiran ng sama ng loob ang alaala niya para sa ama.

Mina reached out again sa display case. Kinapa ulit iyon isa-isa. "These help me remembers. You see, every time I touch this some bits of memory comes to me. Not all the time but somehow it gives me one piece of information. It's like the family spirit is helping me. Call it magical or creepy, I just don't know how," sabi ni Mina. "But, there's one missing," anito saka kinapa ang isang bakanteng space na nasa pinakababa ng display.

Napalingon din doon si Yumie. And it came to her. That empty space was for his father's medallion na nasa kaniya ngayon. She had it with her nang umalis sila sa Sejanos 12 years ago. She had forgotten about it, but she kept it all these years.

"I know that medallion was my husband's. Probably because it's not here, kaya hindi ko maalala. But I remember that medallion very well. I know what it looked like and if I ever got to feel it, I would know if it's the actual one," turan ni Mina.

Then she realized it will be her only key para makabalik sa Hacienda Dela Torre. If her mom was correct, she will remember her. She didn't have the medallion with her at this time. Naiwan niya iyon sa bahay na tinutuluyan nila. She now have the reason to come back sa Sejanos. And she promise to bring it sa pagbabalik niya.

"It will come back. I know for sure," turan niya. Mina just smiled at her.

Bumuntong hininga ang ginang saka tila pagod na kinapa ang stick na gamit nito.

"I'm a little bit tired. It's exhausting at times kapag pinupwersa ko ang sarili ko to remember it all," turan ni Mina.

"Wag niyo po pilitin lahat. Let's take it one step at a time," turan ni Yumie na mas patungkol sa sarili niya.

Inilahad ni Mina ang kamay niya towards Yumie. Yumie understood that she wanted to hold her. Inabot niya iyon.

"Thank you for staying here with me. And for keeping my secret."

Yumie smile to her mom. Hindi niya napigil, yumakap siya rito. Gusto niyang iparamdam dito na siya ang tunay na anak nito. She wanted her mom to know that she will not be going anywhere anymore.

Nagulat man sa inakto ni Yumie, Mina just hugged back Yumie. She seemed drawn to the warmness na binibigay nito sa kaniya. It does feels like their family. But then, with her condition, she has doubts. But Yumie made her feel she can trust her. Pagkuwa'y humiwalay na rin ito sa kaniya.

"Anyway, hindi ka ba sumama kay Zeek sa pag-iikot sa Sejanos?"

"He's doing his son of the Callejos duties. Nasa bakasyon po ako. Ayoko pong magtrabaho," tugon niya.

Natawa naman si Mina sa sinabi niya. "Samahan mo na lang ako, at tulungan natin ang mga kusinera na maghanda ng pananghalian para kay Zeek."

Inalalayan lang ni Yumie ang ginang sa paglalakad palabas ng silid.