77: Protection

SAM'S POV

Pagkatapos kong magbihis, agad na'kong lumabas ng silid ko and then headed to the elevator in a wheelchair.

Yes. This house has an elevator kaya naman hindi ako nahihirapan na mag-akyat baba mula rito sa pangalawang palapag.

This bastard really knows how to spend his fortune.

Pagkalabas ko ng elevator, my brow instantly arched up when I heard a familiar voices from the living room kept talking in a hush tone.

"We have to wait til she recovers. Wag mo munang sabihin sa kanya."

"No. I can't take this anymore. Gumagaling na siya and later on, hindi mo na siya maitatago rito, Cameron!"

It doesn't take a genius for me to understand kung sino ang pinag-uusapan ng mga pamilyar na boses na'yon.

They were talking about me.

"And why would he hide me here?"

Agad na nagsipaglingunin ang mga ito sa gawi ko when I asked that, interrupting their quite serious talk habang palapit na'ko sa kanila. A surprised look were on their faces.

"Samantha!" My mother exclaimed in surprise saka agad ng lumapit sa'kin. While Cameron himself just kept heaving an exasperated sigh with his hands rested on his hips.

Something wrong was going on here.

I've concluded that in my mind while closely studying their faces. Lalo na sa gagong hindi man lang tumitingin sa gawi ko ngayon while he kept grunting.

"How are you? How's your stay here? Hindi ka ba nahihirapan rito?"

My eyes focused back to my mother when she asked that incessant questions habang puno ng pag-aala ang mukha nito.

For a few days na hindi ko man lang ito nakikita, I think she had aged so much with his wrinkles becoming more visible now. Mukhang hindi rin maganda ang mga araw nitong hindi ko ito nakikita.

"I'm fine. At hindi naman ako nahihirapan rito because Mr. Del Fuero was kind enough to hire a therapists for me and there's Manang Rita to tend my needs kaya okay lang ako rito.."

Agad namang tumango-tango ito, looking relieved with my news.

"Good, good. Then what about, Cameron? Wala bang ginawa sa'yo ang taong 'to? Something like seducing you?"

Napapakurapkurap nalang ako when she suddenly asked that matter while pointing the 'guilty' bastard behind her. The bastard that was now throwing us a laser look.

Oh-oh.. Mukhang delikado tayo nito..

"Hindi ka ba pinagsamantalahan nito while you were in your weak state, Samantha? Did you make sure to lock your door every night before sleeping? Baka naman----"

"I did not!!!"

I almost laugh when the bastard snapped that with a thundering voice saka agad ng lumapit sa'min, looking like he was ready to sack my mother dahil sa mabigat na akusa nito sa kanya.

"I am not desperate enough to rape her, Ms. Romero! Hindi ko pinatuloy rito ang anak mo para pagsamantalahan ito and if I had touched her, that's because I have her permissions!"

Oh shit!

Just hearing that, I almost smacked his head dahil sa katabilan ng bibig nito!

With exasperation, napapapikit nalang ako ng mga mata while gritting my teeth so hard.

Talagang ipapahamak pa talaga ako ng gago!

But as bastard as he was, parang hindi man lang nito napansin ang gulat na reaksyon ng nanay ko pagkarinig sa kanya.

"I don't need to force her para---

"Wait. Anong ibig mong sabihing 'you had touched her'????" Agad na putol nito sa gago habang natitigilan.

"Sinasabi mo bang ginalaw mo ang anak ko and Samantha had even given you her permissions??"

A horror look was all over her face face now as her gaze shifted down on me with a question mark boldly drawn on her face.

Can I kill some bastard now?

"No. No. Hindi." Agad na kaila ko rito while vigorously shaking my head, firmly denying that fact dahil ayokong makasal dahil lang dun!

"Mali yang iniisip niyo. Walang nangyaring galawan gaya ng iniisip niyo."

"What are you saying, woman??"

The want to smack his head now heightened when the bastard growled that beside me, dahilan para mas lalo pang magtagpo ang magkabilang kilay nito.

Kahit gusto ko ng upakan ito, I opted to just stop that strong urge saka humarap nalang rito habang pilit na ngumiti rito. Smiling at him with a threatening look in my eyes.

"I am just saying kung ano ang totoo, Mr. Del Fuero kaya umalis ka nalang rito, pwede? May kailangan pa kaming pag-usapan rito." Saad ko rito with calm voice but with a murderous look.

Agad namang tumalim ang tingin nito sa'kin while groaning in protest. Obviously not liking my denial.

I can feel my mom's suspicious stares at us. And when I think na wala itong balak na sundin ang sinasabi ko, mas lalo ko pang tinaliman ang tingin ko rito.

"Mr. Del Fuero.. Aalis kana hindi ba?" Malambing na tawag ko uli rito though my eyes telling him to 'FUCK OFF' now dahil kung hindi, malilintikan talaga 'to sa'kin mamaya.

For a while, nanatili lang itong nakatayo na parang poste sa tabi ko while he kept groaning with his lips tightly pressed together. Pero mga ilang sandali lang, wala ng imik na tumalikod ito. Leaving us with his rigid back and his tight fists as he strode away.

Sa higpit ng pagkakakuyom ng mga kamay nito, alam kong nagpupuyos na ito sa inis ngayon.

Well, serves him well. Kung hindi lang sana nito muntikan ng sabihin na may nangyari sa'min kagabi, then he would've been fine now.

I just followed him with my eyes until he disappeared behind the door, slamming the poor door on his way.

"May nangyari nga sainyong dalawa.."

That made my gaze shifted back on her nang bigla nalang itong magsalita sa tabi ko. And it wasn't a question this time but a statement.

Nakatingin rin ito sa nakasarang pintuan kung saan lumabas si Cameron.

"Walang nangyari--"

"Don't even try to deny that, Samantha. Babae rin ako at alam ko kung kailan binibigyan yon ng halaga ng isang lalake ang nangyari sainyo at nakikita ko yon sa lalaking 'yon."

Napapabuntong-hininga nalang ako while looking at her na ngayo'y seryoso ng nakatingin sa'kin. Quite convinced with her conclusion.

Okay fine. Mukhang wala na naman akong ibang choice ngayon so why not just leave it that way, na may nangyari nga talaga.

"Nag-ingat ba kayo, Samantha?"

That made me looked at her with furrowed brows.

"Nag-ingat? What do you mean?" Litong tanong ko sa kanya, not having a tiniest bit of idea kung anong ibig sabihin nito.

Mas lalo pang napapakunot ang noo ko dahil sa pagkalito when she squeezed her eyes out before she gazed down at my way, now with a stressed look in her eyes.

"Wag mong sabihing hindi kayo nag-ingat, Samantha?" Parang galit ng tanong niya sa'kin.

"At ba't naman kami mag-iingat? May kailangan ba kaming katakutan para gawin namin 'yon?"

"Oh my God, Samantha! Then does that mean na hindi man lang kayo gumamit ng condom or any sort of contraceptives para hindi ka mabuntis?"

At the mention of that, realization instantly slapped me in my face. Dahilan para magsilakihan ang mga mata ko while looking at her.

HO-LY-SHIT!

She's right! Condom! Ba't hindi ko man lang napansin na gumamit ng lintik na condom ang gagong 'yon kagabi??

I bet shock was all over my face now dahil napapailing-iling nalang ito habang nakatingin sa'kin.

"I know you are a grown up woman, Samantha at alam kong wala akong karapatan para pangaralan ka bilang nanay mo but as your aunt, gusto ko lang sabihin sa'yo na wag kang padalos-dalos sa mga ginagawa mong 'to. Alam mong maaari kang mabuntis ng lalaking 'yon kaya dapat nag-iingat kayo."

That prenancy thing made my heart started to thud loudly in my chest now.

Because she was right. Absolutely right! Maaari ngang mabuntis ako ng gagong 'yon with my carelessness. And just the thought of that possibility, natatakot at kinakabahan na'ko ngayon sa maaaring mangyari.

I don't want to become a mom hangga't magulong-magulo pa ang buhay ko. Pero hindi naman siguro ako mabubuntis dahil isang beses lang naman nangyari 'yon kaya imposible namang mangyari 'yon.

At that thought, I mentally nodded my head at that. Trying to convince myself na imposible ngang mangyari 'yon kahit hindi na'ko mapalagay ngayon dahil dun.

"I was just telling you this dahil ayokong magaya ka rin sa'kin noon. Ayokong maging magulo rin ang buhay ng magiging anak mo kapag nabuntis ka ng lalaking 'yon..."

Now that made me gazed up at her at the mention of that. Desperate to hear her story now. Kung ano talaga ang nangyari sa kanya noon at kung bakit kailangan niya' pa akong ipaampon sa kapatid niya. Kina dad..

She was looking down at me now with hurt creeping into her eyes. At nahihirapan ito ngayon.. no doubt..

With the want to comfort her, agad ko ng hinawakan ang kamay nito which she quickly held my hand firmly while giving me a tormented smile.

"Why don't we continue this talk outside? I have this feeling na may magandang view sa likod ng bahay na'to."

Tumango na'ko agad bilang pagsang-ayon rito. Pagkatango ko, she quickly stepped behind me saka nagsimula ng itulak ako palabas ng bahay and out to the backyard.

The sun was shining too brightly in the east now, making the wide landscape at the backyard so picturesque to look at. Grasses were so green and were neatly trimmed. Large oval shape swimming pool at the right corner with a water on it that were so blue. A few white chaise lounge chairs were neatly arranged on the side of it and a set of outdoor chairs around the round table was on the other side of the pool. That pool na may lalim siguro na sakto lang malunod ang kung sinumang pilay na magtatangkang maligo rito. Gaya ko.

I can't help but throw that pool a dirty look at that thought. Shaking my head, I continued scanning the place around as my mother brought me towards the chairs near the said pool.

May malalaking bakod sa buong bahay kaya naman hindi mo iisiping may masasamang loob na makakapasok rito. Sa pinakadulong bahagi naman, a single tree was standing proudly at that corner. So proud that I think no one had ever attempted to climb that tree dahil wala man lang konting indikasyon na may umakyat rito. At dahil sa ilang araw na halos nasa loob lang ako ng bahay kasama ang mga therapists ko, I have almost miss the chance to ogle with this view.

"WARNING: BAWAL UMAKYAT RITO."

Napapaarko nalang ang kilay ko nang masagip ng mga mata ko ang karatulang yon na nakasabit sa katawan mismo ng punong 'yon..

I wonder why not. Ganito ba kaimportante ang puno na'to para maging off-limit ito? Tsk, tsk...

"Did he treat you well here?"

That interrupted my thoughts when I heard her queried that beside me pagkatapos nitong umupo sa isa sa mga upuang nandun.

Seryoso ang mukha nito and I know she was talking about Cameron.

"Cameron may appear so cold and intimidating bastard to anyone pero hindi naman niya ko pinabayaan rito." Though he was almost out of his house these past few days para pagtaguan ako.

I wanted to add that but knowing na uusisahin niya lang ako tungkol dito, I opted to just keep it with me

I frowned when she just remained silent in her chair habang maigi lang siyang nakatingin sa'kin with a slight cock of her brow, as if she was closely studying me.

"What? May problema ba sa sinabi ko?"

Agad namang umiling ito when I asked that in confusion bago ito ngumiti.

"I can just see that happy glint in your eyes right now habang binabanggit mo ang lalaking 'yon. At alam mong hindi pa kita nakikitang ganito at nakakapanibago lang."

"Happy glint? I did?" Maang na tanong ko rito while blinking my eyes at her in confusion.

"Of course, you did. Mahal mo na ba ang kumag na'yon?"

That straightforward question made me face instantly heated up in embarrassment.

Oh shit. Kailangan nya ba talagang itanong 'yon like she was just asking me a 'one-plus-one' kind of question.

"Is this an interrogation na kailangan ko talagang sagutin ngayon?" Kunot-noong tanong ko rito, trying to divert the topic.

"I just wanted to know, Samantha dahil ayokong matulad ka rin sa'kin noon."

Mas lalo pang kumunot ang noo ko when she suddenly spouted that. Alam ko na kung anong tinutumbok nito.

She was talking about her past. Her tragic past. With me and with my biological father. At iniisip nito ngayon na baka katulad rin ng napili nyang lalaki noon ang napili ko ngayon.

Oh no. Walang katulad ang gagong 'yon. Dingding siguro, oo.

"Cameron is nothing like a man you think he was. Mainitin man ang ulo ng taong 'yon, I can assure you na hindi sya ang tipo ng lalaking sasaktan lang ako gaya ng nangyari sa'yo noon..."

Hurt instantly crept into her face pagkasabi ko dun. And I feel guilty about it.

"I was just trying to protect you from being hurt, Samantha. Ayoko lang na magkamali ka rin sa pagpili ng lalaki."

"Anong klase ba ng lalake ang napili mo noon?"

Agad namang ngumiti ito kahit na halata ang lungkot sa mga mata nito.

"A kind of a man that was already tied up with someone else. Isang taong kailangan ko na sanang layuan..."

That made me straightened up on my seat, surprised with that piece of information habang nanatili lang akong nakatitig sa kanya with wide shocked eyes.

"Tied up? Then does that mean----"

"Yes. He was a married man, Samantha and I was just his mistress."

Mas lalo pa'kong napatda dahil sa impormasyon na'yon. Causing me to just stare at her with gaping mouth, gaping like a fish being deprived with water.

Hindi ko lang alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko sa kanya because heck! Hindi ko alam na ganun pala ang nangyari sa kanya. Kaya naman pala takot itong magkamali rin ako.

Seeing my shocked expression, she just smiled and shook her head at me. She was smiling, yes. Pero kita ko naman ang sakit at lungkot sa mga mata nito ngayon.

"You heard it right. Kabit lang ako ng tunay mong ama. Naging kabit lang ako ng mismong taong sumumpa sa'kin noon na ako lang mamahalin nito." She bitterly stated, now with her voice low and sounded tortured habang nakatingin ito sa malayo with a pained smile curved in her lips.

With my curiosity being piqued, nanatili lang akong tahimik sa kinuupuan ko, desperate to listen more of her story. Dahil nararamdaman kong may malalim pang kwento ang nakaraan nila ng tunay kong ama kaysa sa inakala ko ngayon at gusto kong malaman kung ano 'yon.

"Kung hindi lang sana ako naging tanga noon, I could've just stayed away from him at the time na kasal na ito sa iba. Dapat hindi na'ko bumalik pa noon nang malaman kong kasal na ito sa iba but as stupid as I was, pinilit ko paring bumalik sa kanya kahit na ayaw na ayaw 'yon ng lolo't lola mo. Lalo na ng dad mo."

"My dad?"

Agad namang tumango ito when I queried that with furrowed brows.

"Tutol na tutol sila sa'min noon kahit sa simula palang. At first, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ayaw na ayaw nila sa papa mo. Maybe I was just too blinded with love kaya hindi ko agad makita kung anong kinaaayawan nila rito."

"Maybe they were just trying to protect you dahil alam niyang kasal na ito kaya naman gusto kalang nilang ilayo sa kanya noon?"

I frowned when she suddenly let out a dry laugh, looking so amused with my comment though it sounded sarcastic.. Dahilan para malito ako sa reaksyon nya.

"Kung hindi ko pa nababanggit sa'yo, we were love team since highschool at it was years before he decided to marry someone else. Tutol na sila sa'min sa simula palang, Samantha.."

Mas lalo pa'kong nalito dahil dun. I was just too lost with her story now at tingin ko makikita 'yon sa mukha ko ngayon dahil muli na naman itong ngumiti while slowly shaking her head.

"Dati na kaming magkarelasyon noon pa man. Even before I became his mistress. He is an ambitious man. Marami itong pangarap sa buhay niya kaya naman hindi ko kayang iwan ito noon kahit tutol na tutol sa kanya sina mama't papa.. "

I can't help but just kept nodding my head in that bits of information. I hadn't had the chance to know well my grandparents but I can still remember a few hazy memories of me as a kid being with them. At base sa pagkakakilala ko kay dad, sya yong tipong susuportahan ka sa lahat ng bagay na tingin niya makakapagpapasaya sa'yo. Kaya kung kahit siya ay tutol sa relasyon ng mga tunay kong magulang noon, then maybe they have their reasons why.

And that's what I wanted to know now.

"They probably have their reasons kung bakit nila ginagawa yon."

Agad namang tumango ito as she gazed back to staring blankly at nowhere. A pained smile curved on the side of her lips.

Mukhang mabigat nga ang dahilan na'yon. I can see that in her face now.

"He's an ambitious man kaya gustong-gusto ko sya. Galing lamang sya sa isang mahirap na pamilya kaya hindi ko sya masisisi kung gustong-gusto nyang umangat sa buhay. Sa kagustuhan kong magtagumpay ito sa buhay, I have to be there for him always. To the point na halos napapabayaan ko na ang pag-aaral ko noon."

I just remained silent on my seat habang maigi ko lang na pinagmamasdan ito, wanted to hear everything she'd tell dahil gusto kong malaman kung bakit kinailangan nyang itago ang buong pagkatao ko.

"Alam kong galit sya sa pamilya ko dahil sa tingin nya, minamaliit sya ng mga ito lalo na ng dad mo. Kaya naman mas minaigi nya pang magsipag pero alam nyang hindi sapat 'yon para umangat agad." She continued while staring fixedly at nowhere, reminiscing those memories in the past.

"I wanted to make him feel na hindi ko sya kailanman iiwan so I decided to leave the house and live with him. Nagalit ang lolo't lola mo noon, especially your dad, kaya naman sapilitan na nila akong kinuha mula sa kanya. Ayokong iwan sya, ayokong malayo sa kanya that's why your grandparents had to make a sudden decision. They had to send me to States just to keep me away from your father. Nagtatrabaho sya ng mga panahong 'yon so I hadn't even get a chance to say goodbye to him."

This time, her lips began to tremble and her voice now faltering while her hands were tightly balled in fists over her lap.

Alam kong nagpipigil lang itong maiyak dahil hanggang ngayon, nasasaktan parin ito sa mga nangyari noon. And my hands are now itching to pull her and comfort her. Pero sa kagustuhang marinig ko lahat ng gusto nitong sabihin ngayon, pinigilan ko ang sarili ko.

"Wala akong nagawa noon. Wala man lang akong nagawa para hindi mapalayo sa ama mo. And your father thought I had abandoned him dahil sa biglaan kong pagkawala. Gusto kong umuwi noon dito but they won't even allow me kahit na anong pagmamakaawang gawin ko. God knows how much I beg just to see him that time." She paused as her lips pursed in a thin line. Tears were now threatening to fall from the side of her eyes habang matalim lang itong nakatingin sa malayo. As if she travelled back to that time again.

"Inabot din ako ng higit isang taon sa States noon bago nila ako pinayagang makabalik rito... Ang saya ko ng mga araw na'yon because finally, makikita ko na uli ito pagkatapos ng halos isang taon pero siguro, hindi lang talaga kami itinadhana para sa isa't-isa.."

I frowned when a bitter smile curved up in her mouth, a hint which tells me na hindi maganda ang nadatnan nito pagbalik nya.

"Dahil pagkawala ko, he was able to find another woman to marry.. at ang malala pa, he was able to impregnate an heiress woman sa ganun lang kaikling panahon na nawala ako kaya naman pag-uwi ko, magkakanak na agad ito sa iba..."

At the mention of that thing, tears had finally rolled down on her cheeks. I can feel her agony now kaya naman hindi ko na napigilang lumapit rito and pulled her balled hand from her lap for a support. Agad naman itong lumingon sa gawi ko and then smiled at me before she sniffed and continued.

"Dahil sa galit nya sa pamilya ko at sa inakala nyang pag-iwan ko sa kanya, nagawa nyang gawin yon just to be on top. He had only married that woman for her money, Samantha. Just to get the power over everything na syang pinakaaasam nya.....At nang magkita kami uli, ibang-iba na ito sa nakilala ko noon. Binalot na ng galit ang puso nito and that's because of my family!" may halong galit ang boses nito ngayon. Probably hating my grandparents dahil sa ginawa ng mga ito sa kanya

"Gusto kong sisihin sina mama noon dahil dun. Gusto kong ipakita sa kanila kung ano ang ginawa nila sa'kin, sa kanya.. kaya naman kahit kasal na ang taong mahal ko, pinili kong bumalik sa kanya kahit hindi na sana pwede. Kahit na maging kabit nalang nya'ko. He became a desperate and a mesirable man that he wasn't before dahil sa akala niyang itinakwil ko na sya. Dahil sa kagagawan nila mama."

This time, halatang-halata na ang galit nito ngayon by the way how she had utterred that. Of course, dahil yon sa nangyari sa kanya. At kahit hindi nya pa ituloy ang kwento nya, parang alam ko na ang mga sumunod na nangyari.

She wanted him to take her in again which was he did and eventually, she became his mistress. And then I came in the picture. Isang anak sa labas. Isa akong anak sa labas.

At yon siguro ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw nyang malaman ko kung sino ang tunay kong ama. Dahil ayaw niyang masira ko ang pamilya ng tunay kong ama..

Well, I can understand that pero di ko lang maiwasang malito sa sinabi nito sa'kin noon.

"...This is just to protect you from him."

When I remembered her words, I frowned more.