The Late Concubine

Inilapag ni Zeek ang bungkos ng bulaklak sa puntod ng ina. He was silent as if offering a small prayer. Nasa likod lang niya si Yumie. Also offering a silent prayer.

Hindi man kilala ni Yumie ang ina ni Zeek, but it is just right to offer her respect. She felt sad as well. She remembered her Mom and Dad. For 12 years, ni hindi niya pa nadadalaw ang puntod ng mga magulang niya. She didn't even have a proper funeral for them. It was so painful that she didn't realize she was actually weeping.

Narinig ni Zeek ang mahinang hikbi ni Yumie. Bahagya niyang nilingon ang dalaga. She was crying, indeed. Ipinagtaka man but Zeek kept it in him. Bagkus inabot niya ang panyo sa bulsa and offered it to Yumie.

Yumie was caught of guard. Tila nahimasmasan naman siya realizing that she is actually crying. Mabilis niyang inabot ang panyo mula kay Zeek saka pinahid ang luha. Humarap naman ng tuluyan sa kaniya si Zeek with an amused expression.

"I'm sorry. I just remembered something," mabilis na rason ni Yumie.

"I know that cemetery is gloomy and remembering our loved ones is very sad. But please don't say that your crying because your sympathetic towards me. I missed my mom but ok naman na ko sa idea na she have moved on na rin sa after life," Zeek said somewhat teasing.

Yumie smiled. She got slightly embarrassed for crying but she can't tell Zeek her reasons.

"I said I'm sorry. It's just that it is touching to see you still remembering your mom. Moms are the most wonderful people in the world. Loosing one is so painful to bear," rason niya. 'Trust me I know.' dugtong naman niya sa isip.

Zeek gave a soft laugh. He was even amused at Yumie's character. He didn't know she was this sentimental. Simula nang makilala niya ito, she's been showing him things that made him felt different. Sa trabaho, she works productively. She does things na hindi na niya kailangan iutos dito. He tried challenging her a lot of times and she always aced it. He tried flirting subtly with her but she ignored it. She didn't even want praises. Kapag nagkakamali ito, she would simply say sorry then fix it herself. She had shown independence and at times takes in charge. But she always give way to his domineering side. Probably kinikilala pa rin nito na siya ang amo.

And this time, Yumie have shown her soft side. Marunong din pala itong umiyak. She didn't know his mom, pero she showed sympathy towards her. His mom would've liked her wherever she is.

"Do you know that my mom isn't a true Callejos?" ani Zeek. Saka lang napagtanto ni Yumie na iba ang pangalan na nakaukit sa lapida ng ina Zeek. It was in Chinese kaya hindi niya iyon mabasa.

"Hindi siya pinakasalan ng Daddy ko," patuloy ni Zeek. Muli itong humarap sa puntod ng ina. Lumapit si Yumie rito. "I am not conceive in a normal way. I was made through science. Artificial Insemination."

Malaking surpresa kay Yumie ang narinig. Napatingin siya kay Zeek. He was smiling though.

"You see, Dad couldn't bear a child in a normal way. His sperm needs to be cultivated scientifically. He met my mom through a friend's party in a bar. She's a waitress. And he offered her to carry his child as a surrogate. My mom was a humble waitress. She needed money so she agreed. Thus, I was made," tuloy ni Zeek. "Eventually she found out that Ismael Callejos wasn't just rich. He is an emperor. In short, she tried seducing him. She did all sort of blackmail, pakasalan lang siya ng isang Callejos. Until Dad was so fed up with her and decided to cut ties with her. That's when everything goes south. My Dad left China and being poor as she is, she can't do anything about it." Zeek was staring somewhere as if trying to remember everything from his past. His eyes shows pain but he is smiling.

"But I'm still grateful that she didn't give up on me. She let me live. She even let me use the Callejos name sa umpisa pa lang. I was registered as that, kahit na my childhood was so tragic. Nakilala ko lang si Dad when I was 17. 9 years ago. I may not have a happy childhood with just my mom, but I am ok having her. Yung binuhay niya lang ako is enough for me to be grateful towards her."

His mom is somewhat like a concubine to the emperor. Kailangan lang nito ng lalaking anak na magdadala ng apelyido nito sa mahabang Henerasyon. Someone that Ismael Callejos can leave his wealth behind. His heir. Kaya kahit hindi gusto ni Ismael ang ina ni Zeek, kinuha pa rin nito ang prinsipe. He needed Zeek as his heir.

Yumie felt more sympathetic towards this prince. Halata sa mga mata nito ang lahat na dinanas na pasakit nung kabataan pa. Kung tutuusin, 9 years isn't enough to patch up all those hurtful things that happened to him. Siya nga 12 years nang nagkukubli. And she isn't getting better. The urge for revenge is still there. Time doesn't really heal wounds. They made them tougher to bear. Bidding their time to get what they truly deserve.

Zeek might be the enemy's son, pero nakaramdam siya ng sinserong simpatya rito. He definitely deserve his revenge as well kung gusgutuhin din nito.

"Probably it's just the right story for you," pagkuwa'y turan ni Yumie. "Kasi if you have different childhood, you wouldn't be the Zeekcarias Callejos we know today," aniya.

Zeek smirked. "Am I that unbearable?"

"Wala akong sinabing ganyan."

"But you sounded just like that," Zeek insisted.

"If that's what you believe, bahala ka," natatawang turan ni Yumie.

Mauuwi na sana sa kulitan ang usapan nila when they heard a soft cough behind them. Sabay silang napalingon. Hindi nila namalayan ang pagdating ni Ismael Callejos. Kasama nito ang tatlong security na laging nakabuntot dito pati na ang assistant nito.

Mabilis na yumuko si Yumie bilang pagrespeto sa Callejos Emperor. Mabilis din itong humakbang palayo kay Zeek at tumabi sa assistant ni Ismael.

"I asked you to wait for me at sasabay ako sayo, yet you still left me behind," ani Ismael as he walks towards Zeek.

"You said you couldn't come early. You know that today is Mom's actual birthday. I don't want to be late. Besides, you know I hate this too much security that you tag along," ani Zeek.

"Your Dad is an old man. I need to be surrounded by people. For my own safety," Nakangiting turan ni Ismael.

Ngumiwi lang si Zeek.

"It has been 9 years when your mom died. I barely know her. But I am thankful that he let you live," turan nito. "You know our story, I don't need to remind you of it."

Zeek gave another smirk. "I'm not asking you too. I don't even expect na dadalawin mo ang puntod niya. If this is about moving on and closure, it was already done when she died. She couldn't complain now."

"I just wanted to send her off for once. I am on the road to move on as well. I am not getting any younger. I have done awful things in my youth and I am at point na binabalikan ko ulit lahat iyon and make things right."

To Yumie's surprise, bigla siyang nilingon ni Ismael and smiled at her mysteriously. Nakita din iyon ni Zeek na ipinagtaka rin nito.

"Are you dying?" turan ni Zeek na mas nanaig ang curiosity sa sinabi nito kesa sa pagsulyap nito kay Yumie.

Humalakhak si Ismael. "I am not sure. But I am not young that's for sure."

Napailing si Zeek sa panunukso ng ama. Kahit na hindi siya gaanong close dito, hindi naman niya gustong umalis na lang din ito ng basta-basta. Besides, he only have him 9 years. Kahit papano he still wishes to stay with his Dad longer.

Napabuntong hininga si Ismael. He lifted his hands and patted Zeek's shoulder as if wanting to hug his son. He smiled weakly but sincerely.

"I am just glad that we still able to meet. I am proud to have you as my heir," Ismael said with full sincerity. "Let's have dinner tonight. For all time sake." Muli itong humarap kay Yumie. "Come with us. I would like to get to know you."

Hindi nakahuma si Yumie. Lumingon lang siya kay Zeek. But Zeek didn't even get her stares. Pagkuwa'y nagpaalam na si Ismael kay Zeek as he reminded them of the dinner tonight.