Chrysanthemum Mansion.
Mula sa high-rise cottage natanaw ni Ghaile ang pagdating ng isa sa mga service choppers ng chairman at ang paglapag niyon sa malawak na airstrip na sakop ng open garden ng mansion. Bumaba ang doctor para salubungin si Athrun. Kinapa na rin niya ang tumutunog na cellphone sa bulsa ng suot na pantalon at sinagot.
It was Rheeva again.
"Yes?"
"I have sent the chopper to pick him up."
"He's here. Kadarating lang niya."
"Ah, okay. That's nice."
"Yeah, thank you."
"Pababalikin ko na diyan sina Jrex at Rey."
"Uhm."
Ibinaba ni Ghaile ang cellphone at nakangiting binalingan ang chairman na papalapit.
"How's your day? Nag-enjoy ka ba?"
Tumango si Athrun. "A lot."
"That's great."
"You're not mad?" Para itong bata na kaharap ang tatay.
Napangiti na lamang siya. "No,but I'm worried."
"My apologies. Where's Rheeva?"
"He left for something urgent just a while ago."
"How's your visit at SkyGarden?"
"It went well. Gabrylle meet me there and we had a closed door meeting along with the other members of Intel Tower."
"Any development regarding the resistance?"
Tumango siya. "But before anything else, magbihis ka muna. Basa ka yata." Puna niya. Napansin niya ang pantalon nito. It's not really the pants that's wet but the undergarment. Saan kaya nagtampisaw ang chairman?
Sinipat nito ang sarili. "Yeah..."
Nilandas nila ang pathway papanhik ng mansion. Habang nagbibihis ang chairman, si Ghaile ay naghihintay sa library. Tumitingin-tingin ng aklat na babasahin mula sa giant shelves. May nakabihag ng kanyang interest at kinuha sa kinalalagyan. Binuklat ang unang pahina. Isang picture na nakaipit roon ang nahulog. Pinulot iyon ng binata. Sinilip.
It was...
Saglit siyang natigilan habang nakatunghay sa dalagitang nasa larawan sakay ng kabayo. It was taken twelve years ago, probably before the chairman succeeded the position of the late Zedrick Andromida in Andromida Conglomerate.
The girl in the picture is Shannon. Athrun's beloved princess. But she died twelve years ago when she was only thirteen years old. She is not an Andromida but for everyone in the family, she is their princess. Her early and sudden death caused so much pain to every Andromida alive.
"We missed you, princess." Ghaile whispered and pressed a gentle kiss on the girl in the picture. He remembered the chairman has ordered to get rid of all Shannon's memories and pictures and locked them up in one of the isolated rooms in the basement. Did he miss this one?
Narinig niya ang pagbukas ng pinto ng library at ang muling pagsara makaraan ang ilang saglit. It could be the chairman. He came out of the huge bookcases. Went to the connecting divisions of the tinted glass walls leading to the wide-open and censored entrance of the expensively furnished study room. He directed his steps towards the four overstuffed sofas in the center of the room.
Naupo si Ghaile sa sofa at ibinaba ang libro at ang picture sa centerpiece. Athrun joined him after a while. Naupo ito sa may kabisera.
"I've been reading that book. It's nice," sabi nitong nakatingin sa aklat.
"Yeah, it caught my attention. And this could be yours?" Itinulak niya ang picture patungo sa dulo ng centerpiece sa tapat ng chairman. "Nakita ko rito sa book."
Dinampot nito ang larawan at matagal na pinagmamasdan. The shadow of pain and anguish registered in the corner of his lonely blue eyes.
"Thanks. I've been looking for this." He forced a smile then looked away. Trying his hardest to suppress that forbidden emotion to show.
"That was her last shot when she's alive."
Tumango ang chairman. "Her debut in horse-back riding after two months of restless training just to please my father."
"Kung nabubuhay lang siya, she'll be one of the most skillful equestriennes in the country."
Hindi ito sumagot. Ngunit napansin niya ang mga kamao nitong mahigpit na nakakuyom at ang nagtatagisang mga ngipin. Hindi pa rin ito tapos sa nakaraan. Ang nangyari noong araw na iyon na halos ikamatay nito at tuwing naaalala ay paulit-ulit na dumudurog sa puso nito at kaluluwa.
"It's been twelve years, chairman," aniya.
"I know. I have tried but I can't." Ibinaba nito sa centerpiece ang larawan. "I wasn't able to protect her then."
"Chairman," damang-dama niya ang paghihirap ng kalooban ng nito.
Athrun succeeded in the position of his late father at a very young age. There were lots of opposition arised but he strongly defended his claim. He showed no interest of being a ruler in a business empire but he has a unique charm that attracts people to him.
Every time he speaks, there's always a strange spell making everyone listen and follow him. He is strong and reckless in spite of his severe heart condition. Behind all the doubts and his illness, he was able to prove that he has the ability and the power to thrive and take Andromida Conglomerate into the top of the complex world. He was able to raise insightful opinions and ideas which yielded phenomenal results. In the end, he tripled the five long years of enormous achievement of Andromida during his father's time within two years of hard work.
When it comes to law and rule implementation, he's a complete opposite of his eccentric father. He's not the punishing kind of chairman. But his words are enough to scare a hell of demons. Children and teenagers idolized him. Women worshipped him. Men respected him. Yet, no one really knew. The more he acted as a good leader, the more he became lonely.
He has everything that makes anyone envious. Power, authority, wealth, influence. But freedom, the only thing he has'nt. The freedom to seize his own dreams. He lives and he'll die as the chairman to serve the entire Andromida. For that purpose, he has to defy death.
"SO MUCH for the past. Let's get to the issue at hand." Binasag ni Athrun ang mahabang katahimikan. "I want a detailed report about the resistance activity."
"There's no confirmation yet but our sources find traces of them in the northern section of the capital," sagot ni Ghaile at may nilatag na mga pictures. "I have Gabrylle ordered some of our people to commence an investigation. You know, I'm getting sick of this sort of things. This has to be concluded before you go back to Heaven's Gate," he added.
"Any idea who's behind this resistance?" Dumampot ng isang picture si Athrun. At matamang napatitig ito sa larawan.
"The Mackintosh, more or less."
"Hmn, the oil maker. What's they up to?"
"Laid hands on Andromida's power obviously? What else? They're on edge right now."
"But they remained quiet for several months."
"They're asking negotiation from you."
"About marrying Lora Mackintosh?"
"That reveals their true intention. It was apparent. Those filthy elders dare to give you such condition. Haydees was furious on this. He wanted to deploy the hunters to dispose the society of elders but I stopped him."
"But, don't you think it's the best way to restrain them? Place them under my control through Lora just before the oil company."
"They're just an additional burden for you. Some of them could be hard to handle."
"I can't afford to back down now just because these people are stubborn. I need Asia Petroleum to complete the unification. I'm almost there, Ghaile. Just a step away. If marrying Lora Mackintosh means reaching that goal then I am very much willing to take her as my wife."
"No, you don't. You have already sacrificed a lot for this family. It's painful watching you carry the burden alone and no matter how hard we try, we can't help you. That's why we wanted at least to give you the freedom to choose a woman to love. Any Nephilim member can marry her. Just decide. We'll do it in a way fair and square. I promise we'll give you Asia Petroleum before the final stage of unification."
Banayad na umiling si Athrun. "Ghaile, I certainly can't have you or the other members of Nephilims sacrifice your happiness for my sake. Just like what I did to Haydees. I regret it. Although I was able to get my hands on the Amores Group but the stakes was too high. It was late before I realize I was losing Haydees and the ideals he fought."
"Kung ikaw ang magsakripisyo okay lang, pero kung kami hindi? Bakit ka ba ganyan, Athrun? We're supposed to be your brothers. We're here, we existed to support you in everything. You won't lose Haydees or me and the others. Besides, it was Haydees own discretion to marry Jenni May Amores. It's not as if you forced him. It was Jenni May's parents who suggested that arrange marriage in the first place. And you gave Haydees enough time to think it over."
Huminga ng malalim ang chairman. "I wanted to see Haydees."
"Maybe not now. But he's here. Rheeva saw him somewhere. I'm sure he's working on something."
"I thought of going back to the capital. I guess I have to. There's a lot of pending jobs there and I need to finish them before launching the final preparation of the unification."
"Unless your doctor permits it." Ghaile gave him a wink. "You know what Lyam said when I visited him? He'll gonna beat you up if you won't listen to me."
"Is that a threat?" Amused na pakli ni Athrun.
"No, just a little warning."
"Hmn, that leaves me no choice. To be beaten up by someone like Lyam is the last thing I wanted."
Tumawa si Ghaile. "No need to worry. We'll take good care of everything."
Tumango ang chairman. "Yes, I know you will."
VILLAMANOR
TUMULOY sa kusina si Safhire bitbit ang mga shopping bags na puno ng mga binili niyang groceries. Ibinaba niya ang mga iyon sa round table. Alas-kwatro na pala. Mamaya na siya magbibihis ng pambahay, maghahanda muna siya ng hapunan. Inabot ng dalaga ang apron at isinuot. Isa-isang nilabas niya ang mga groceries mula sa magkakaibang shopping bags.
Ang isda, manok at karneng baboy ay agad niyang nilagay sa loob ng fridge. Ang mga can goods ay sa wall cabinet at ang mga gulay ay sa vegetable rock ng double doors refrigerator. Ang juice, gatas, tea, asukal, tissue, feminine wash,bathsoap,shampoo at toothpaste ay sama-sama niyang inilagay sa magkakaibang shopping bag at itinabi na muna. Bumili rin siya ng fruits na nilagay niya sa fruit tray.
Ano kayang ihahanda niya para sa dinner? Ano bang masarap? Fish paksiw na may okra at talong?Chicken salad, smash potato with cabbage at carrot salad for dessert.Hindi kaya siya kakapusin sa oras?
Habang hinuhugasan sa may lababo ang manok ay nalingunan niya si Vhendice na nakatayo sa may bungad ng pinto ng kusina at nakasandal sa door jamb. Nakahalukipkip ito at hindi maipinta ang mukha. Nagagalit yata dahil natagalan siya ng uwi.
Binawi niya ang paningin at itinuon ang atensiyon sa ginagawa. Kunyari didma. Hindi na lang niya napansin ang lalaki. Patuloy siya sa ginagawa. Tumikhim si Vhendice. Hindi siya tuminag. She noticed him moving closer. Sumandal ang binata sa baldosa malapit sa kanya at pinanood siya. Awkward naman kung patuloy niya itong dididmahin kaya sinulyapan niya ito at nginitian.
"Hi!" bati niya.
He did'nt respond. What a face! Ang dilim-dilim! Mas madilim pa yata kaysa sa Nimbus Clouds na pabagsak. Mag-sorry kaya siya, wala namang mawawala.
"Sorry na. Naaliw ako sa pamamasyal. Nakalimutan ko ang oras." Hingi niya ng dispensa.
"Saan ka nakarating?" Usisa nitong may bahid ng galit ang tinig. He's really mad.
"Hindi ko alam kung anong lugar iyon. Tingin ko part pa rin iyon ng Victoria's Garden."
"Di ba sinabihan kitang 'wag masyadong lalayo dito?"
"Sorry na..." Nilangkapan niya ng lambing ang boses at ngumiti ng matamis.
"Stop seducing me with that sweet smile of yours. That won't buy." Angil nito.
Seducing? She was just asking sorry! This man is picking a fight.
"Binigyan kita ng distinasyon dahil ayaw kong maligaw ka. Hindi mo na inisip na may naghihintay at nag-aalala sa iyo dito." Kastigo nito.
"Teka nga! Bakit ka ba nagagalit? Nakauwi naman ako ng maayos. Isa pa, ideya mo na umalis ako para hindi mainip rito."
"So, ako pa pala ang mali ngayon?"
"Alam mo masyado kang over-protective. Malaki na ako. I can handle myself more than you think I could. Compare to Ray, you're-"
"Your fiancé is dead, Safhire Magdalene. You are my responsibility now, whether you like it or not. I know we're just here pretending to be a couple but don't take it as a liberty to do anything that pleases you. Ako pa rin ang magsasabi kung anong dapat at hindi dapat para sa iyo. Ako ang masusunod dito, naintindihan mo?" Pinal nitong pahayag at umalis.
Naiwang maang si Safhire. Ano iyon? Ganoon ba kalaki ang kasalanan niya para pagalitan siya ni Vhendice at pagsasabihan na para bang wala na siyang karapatang magdesisyon para sa sarili? He's being judgemental and inconsiderate. Di ba dapat hinayaan muna siya nitong makapagpaliwanag? Hindi siya magsisinungaling. Sasabihin niya ang totoo kahit ang tungkol kay Athrun.
Nakasimangot na itinuloy niya ang ginagawa. Kung umasta ang lalaking iyon, akala mo'y asawang pinagtaksilan. Mas masahol pa kay Ray.
Pagkahanda ng hapunan ay umakyat sa kanyang silid ang dalaga at nagpalit ng pambahay. T-shirt at shorts na maong. Hinanap niya si Vhendice. Nasa kwarto lang ito. Nagkulong na naman at subsob sa harap ng laptop nito. He probably investigating something.
"Kakain na," sabi niya na hanggang sa may pinto lang at hindi tumuloy.
"I'll be there in a minute," sagot nitong hindi siya tiningnan.
Galit pa rin yata ito. Pakialam ba niya? Wala naman siyang ginawang masama. Lumabas siya at nagtuloy sa ibaba. Wala pang two minutes ay bumaba na rin ang lalaki. Muli ay pinagsaluhan nila ang niluto niyang hapunan. Tumulong ito sa pagliligpit pagkatapos nilang kumain. Siya ang naghuhugas ng mga pinagkainan nila, ito naman ang nagpupunas.
"Papasukin ko ang capital," pahayag nito makaraan ang ilang saglit. "Pero hindi ka pwedeng sumama."
"Bakit hindi?" tanong niyang dismayado.
"Kailangan ko munang masiguro na ligtas tayo roon. I have tried to hack their computer. Walang kahinaan ang security system nila both in and outdoors. Getting through the main gate is the only possible way that's left." He explained.
Hindi na umangal siya kahit naghihimagsik ang kalooban. "Ibig sabihin maiiwan akong mag-isa rito."
"I need you to do something for me, if you don't mind."
"No, I don't." Agap niya. "Ano iyon?" Naintriga siya.
"Bukas ko na sasabihin. Masyado kang excited." Puna nito at tinalikuran siya.
Sinimangutan niya ito kahit hindi na ito nakatingin sa kanya.