VILLAMANOR
NAKAHANDA na ang dalawang malalaking traveling bags ni Safhire na dadalhin ni Vhendice sa mansion. Kanina lang niya iniimpake ang mga gamit ng dalaga. Prior to the chairman's notice that Safhire is in Chrysanthemum mansion. Nakita raw ito nina Leih at Gabrylle sa kalye na nawalan ng malay-tao.
Binitbit ng binata ang dalawang traveling bags at ibinaba sa sala. He's right, Safhire discovered the truth about his second identity. Nabasa nito ang documents na binigay ni Rajive. Damn! He missed her already. He missed her presence in every corner of the villa. And his worried for her, half to death.
Lumabas ng villa si Vhendice at bumaba sa dalampasigan. Pagkatapos ng lahat, posibleng ayaw na siyang makita pa ni Safhire. She might decide to go back to Manila. It's all his fault. He got careless. Last night in the guest room, he smelled her moisturizing lotion and that hateful presence in the atmosphere. Umaalingasaw. Ngunit hindi niya pinansin.
"Damn!" Napamura ang lalaki at sinipa ang buhangin. Nasira na lahat. Bakit ngayon pa? Everything was almost perfect for them. They've got along so well, shared a lot of moments together. Even shared one room and slept in one bed. Just a step away from the realization of his plans.
Narating niya ang batuhan at narinig ang parating na chopper. Natanaw niyang sumulpot iyon mula sa likod ng pampang at lumigid patungo sa airstrip sa ibaba at doon dahan-dahang lumapag.
Si Rheeva ang nakita niyang bumaba. Subalit hindi ito nag-iisa. Kasama nito si Jenni May Amores. His beautiful fiancée. Kaya pala nagkita sina Eddie at ang dalaga. Narito pala ito. And Rheeva as well, the commander of Guardian Square. He is Jenni May's close-in bodyguard.
Sinalubong niya ang dalawa. Tumakbong palapit si Jenni May sa kanya. Nakangiti ng matamis at sabik na yumakap sa kanya.
"I've missed you," animo'y batang nangunyapit ito sa leeg niya.
"Same here, sweetheart." Binigyan niya ito ng smacks kiss sa lips, saka binalingan si Rheeva. "It's good to see you."
"Yeah, me as well." Lumapit ito at mahigpit silang nagkamay.
"I've heard. Thank you for assisting Jenni with the preparations for our wedding. I owe you this time." Tinapik niya sa balikat ang kapatid.
"It's nothing. I'm her bodyguard. Helping her in any way I can is part of my job."
"But still, thank you."
"Oo nga, Rhee. Maraming salamat." Sabat ni Jenni May at bumaling kay Vhendice. "Alam mo,nahihiya na ako sa kanya. His only job is to protect me. But then, I made him my errand boy."
Napangiti si Rheeva. "Don't worry, Ms. Amores. I've accepted this job with equal pride as the other members had. Not to mention that the one requesting me to protect you is the chairman himself."
"He's right. You don't have to worry." Salo ni Vhendice.
"If you say so." Malambing na pumulupot si Jenni May sa baywang ng nobyo.
"Mauna ka na doon sa villa. May pag-uusapan lang kami sandali ni Rheeva," sabi niya sa dalaga. "And kindly tell Eddie we will be leaving in an hour." Instruct niya sa fiancée.
"Alright, sunod kayo agad." Masunuring tumalima si Jenni May at nauna sa dalawa patungong villa.
Pumihit si Vhendice at binaybay ang dalampasigan patungo sa kabilang dako. Bumuntot sa kanya si Rheeva. Binagalan niya ang paghakbang. Hinintay ang kapatid. Nakahabol ito.
"Nandito ba siya? " tanong ng lalaki.
"Sino? " Sinulyapan niya ito.
"The woman who took too much of your time after you came back from your mission. When I and Jenni saw you both at the restaurant and you did'nt even say a word, I started thinking it must be her. Rayden's fiancée."
"You're right. It's her."
"I've explained everything to Jenni but I can't help wondering, do you really intend to keep that promise even if you might end up going against Hheven's wishes?"
Huminto si Vhendice. Tumingin sa malayong bahagi ng dagat. "Ray and I have made a truce. He kept his end of the bargain. Now, it's my turn to close the deal." Nasa tinig ng binata ang determinasyon. "All this time, everything I've done wasn't for my own benefit. But then, it never really occurred to me that one day I have to give up my life for the sake of someone's survival. Yet, Rayden did it without hesitation. Something that we didn't even bother trying. Do you know what I mean? We're Athrun's adopted brothers! We're here to become his shield and protector. Sa loob ng mahabang panahon tayo ang nasa tabi niya at kasama niya. Pero isa man sa atin ay walang nakaisip na isuko ang sarili para siya'y mabuhay. Then here comes the black sheep, appearing out of no where after twelve long years of being lost and worst lay down his life so Athrun could live. He made me realize for sure how useless I can be. I hated that person, Rheeva. I really hated him. But at the same time I can't stop admiring him and his unpredictable nature. We're nothing compared to him. That's why until now, the chairman can't hold himself back from longing for someone like Rayden to be on his side. It's painful though, even if I have learned to deal with it."
"Vhens..." Dama ni Rheeva ang bigat na kasalukuyang pinagdadaanan ni Vhendice. After all he himself had been suffering the same burden and failed getting over it for the time being.
"It's true, I might go against the chairman and defy him in order to protect that girl. Nonetheless, I will never betray him and his pacifism. Safhire Magdalene is a strong woman but she's never been a threat to anyone or anything and she will never be."
"Did the chairman knew about her?"
"I intend to disclose the truth soon. After all, he came into trouble of summoning me back to the mansion right now."
"Nasaan na ang babae?"
"She's not with me anymore. She ran away after knowing the whole truth about my identity. Fortunately, the chairman got her."
"It's becoming a lot more complicated, don't you think?" Pumulot ng maliliit na bato si Rheeva at ibinato sa dagat.
"And yet, it could probably be better this way." Konklusyon ni Vhendice.
CHRYSANTHEMUN MANSION, MELENDRES HILLS
NAHANAP ni Leih si Ghaile sa underground laboratory. May tinitingnan ang doctor sa lumang clinical journal. Pumasok ang binata sa censored glass door at nilapitan ang kapatid.
"I've been looking for you." Pukaw niyang nakahalukipkip.
"Yeah, why?" Hindi inalis ni Ghaile ang mga mata sa makapal na librong binabasa.
"About Safhire Magdalene." He leaned against the edge of the long and U-shaped table. "Is she alright? I mean, she looks really pale."
"Worried?"
"I'm just being considerate, you know. Kami ni Gab ang nagdala sa kanya rito. If she's sick, we should bring her to the hospital instead."
"She's fine. She should be."
"And what do you mean by that?"
"She's depressed, Leih. Even you can see that. Another push and she will be in total danger of nervous breakdown."
"How is that?"
"It was Haydees. May ginawa siya na lubhang ikinasama ng loob ni Safhire." Itiniklop ng doctor ang journal at tumingin sa kapatid. "Anyway, we will find that out once he arrived."
Tumango si Leih. "Have you noticed it too, haven't you?"
"Yeah?" Si Ghaile naman ang tumango. "She's very pretty even when she cries."
"It's not that, womanizer!" Angil ng pintor.
Tumawa ng sexy ang doctor. "Just kidding," seryoso na ulit ito. "If you're referring about the hatred lurking in her eyes, yes, I've noticed it. And I'm sure the chairman too."
"Yet, he wanted her to stay?"
"Ayaw mo ba?"
"No, I mean, I don't know. Really, that's..."
"I know the reason, definitely. I know what's he up to."
"He liked her? You can't be serious." Ayaw maniwala ni Leih at panay ang iling.
"Imposible ba na mangyari iyon? But this is the most realistic one, the chairman wants Safhire to stay here so she can be protected from those who will go beyond his control."
"Are you referring ..."
"The deputy chairman, he's one."
"And the other person ..."
"Me..."
Nawalan ng kibo si Leih. Safhire Magdalene is a stranger. Even her identity is questionable. What's her intention of coming to this city? Why did she lied and pretend as Haydees' wife? Mapagkakatiwalaan ba ang dalaga? Yet, for some reason, he wanted to believe her. Iyon din marahil ang nararamdaman ng chairman.
MULA sa verandah ng kanyang silid ay pinapanood ni Athrun ang ginagawang demolition ng lumang servant's quarter sa west side ng Chrysanthemum compound. Inutos niyang gibain na ang gusali at gawing greenhouse. Narinig ng binata ang door chime. Pumihit siya at pumasok ng kwarto. Tinungo niya ang pinto at binuksan.
"Did I bother you?" Si Ghaile ang nasa labas.
"No, it's alright. Kumusta si Saf? Did she ate?"
"You know, she might look stubborn but she's not stupid. Alam niya na kailangan niyang kumain," sagot ng doctor.
Tumango si Athrun. "That's true."
"I have checked her before coming here. She's sound asleep. Nabawasan na rin kahit papaano ang pamumutla niya."
"That's quite a relief."
"Haydees is here, chairman," balita ni Ghaile.
"I see. Then let's go meet him." Kumilos ang binata. Isinara ang pinto ng kanyang silid at nagpatiuna. Sumunod sa kanya ang kapatid.
PAULIT-ULIT na kumurap-kurap si Safhire at nang masanay ang mga mata sa liwanag ay tumitig sa mataas na ceiling ng kwartong kinaroroonan niya. Naroon pa rin siya. Hindi panaginip lang ang lahat kundi totoong-totoo. Naroon pa rin siya. Pero kahit papaano ay maayos na ang pakiramdam niya. Hindi na masakit ang kanyang ulo. Nakatulong ng malaki ang pagtulog niya.
Napatingin sa kanyang paligid ang dalaga. Naramdaman niya ang presensya ng kung sino sa loob ng silid. Bumaling siya sa dakong kaliwa niya. Malapit sa may bintanang nakahawi ang makapal na kurtinang kulay puti at pink ay naroon si Leih. Hawak nito ang isang mechanical pencil at sketch book.
"You're just in time," sabi nito na hindi niya naintindihan.
"Anong ginagawa mo?" tanong niya at bumangon. Sumandal sa may ulunan ng kama.
"I'm making a sketch of you while you were sleeping. Would you like to see?" Lumapit sa kanya ang lalaki at ibinigay ang sketch book.
Kinuha niya iyon at sinilip ang drawings nito. Iginuhit siya nito sa magkakaibang anggulo. Frontal, side-view in two opposite directions at close-up. In fairness, napakahusay ng mga kamay nito. There was not even a single stroke that is imperfect.
"Para yatang exaggerated naman ito. Masyado akong maganda dito sa drawings mo," pahayag niya.
"That's how you look. You're beautiful."
"Thank you." Ngumiti siya ng pilit at ibinalik kay Leih ang drawings.
"I hope you get well soon so we could start the painting session as planned."
"Iniisip mo pa ring gawin akong model?"
"You're the only one perfect for the job."
Hindi na lamang siya kumibo. Ayaw niyang makipagtalo. Wala pa siyang sapat na lakas. Tumunog ang cellphone ni Leih. Agad nitong sinagot iyon.
"I got it, I'll be there right away." Ibinaba nito ang phone at binalingan siya. "He's here... Haydees. He came," balita nito.
Sumikip ang dibdib niya. Ang herodes na iyon! Manloloko! Sinungaling!
"I gonna go. Magpahinga ka na." Nagpaalam na si Leih at umalis. Iniwan sa kanya ang sketch book.
Hindi siya sigurado kung anong mangyayari sa kanya sa lugar na iyon. Kung tutuusin, magkakapatid ang mga kinakalaban niya. Ano bang pakialam ng mga ito sa kanya? They can't possibly be worried or take time to care for her. She's nothing but a hopeless, homeless wanderer aiming to bring their downfall.
Dinampot ni Safhire ang sketchbook at muli ay pinagmasdan ang sketch doon. Hindi siya ang babaeng iyon. Compared to the real Safhire who is depressed, wounded and restless, the woman in the sketch is more composed, beautiful and peaceful. Nothing like her.