The Real Enemy

Zeek opened the car door for her. Yumie stepped out of Zeek's car looking gloomy but somewhat ok. Hinatid na siya ni Zeek sa bahay nila for she still feel weak after the restroom incident. She had never cried that hard before. Ngayon na lang ulit. She was almost drained and mugtong-mugto ang mata niya. Zeek knew that she could no longer work at that state. Kaya hinatid na siya nito sa bahay niya.

She stopped at the gates saka humarap kay Zeek. Hindi siya makatingin rito but she manage to talk to him.

"Thank you for dropping me off. I promise to come to work tomorrow," aniya na nakayuko.

Zeek held her hand. Napaangat siya ng tingin rito.

"Just rest ok. Don't think so much," anito in an assuring and kind tone.

Yumie smiled weakly. It was comforting. If it hadn't for Zeek hindi niya alam kung macocontrol niya ang sarili niya to create too much drama scene kanina. The emotions inside her is bursting to come out. She was sorrowful, angry, confused, at the same time longing for her mother's memory. Sa sobrang dami ng emosyon na kinikimkim niya, she did felt like exploding. Just because of a mere calming oil. Ironically, the oil is to make her feel calm. But it brought the opposite to her.

Zeek raised his arm and rubbed his head as if telling her to be good and take a rest. "If you can't come to work tomorrow, I'll come to you. I still want to see you everyday."

Napangiti siya lalong sa tinuran ni Zeek. She tried to hide it. As much as possible ayaw niyang ipakita ritong naapektuhan siya sa mga sweet nottingness na pinapakita nito sa kaniya. But at times, she can't help but like it. Napailing siya. Was he really real with his feelings towards her? Isinantabi niya iyon sa utak. Andami na niya iniisip, dumadagdag pa 'to!

"Yumie!" tawag sa kaniya na ikinalingon nila pareho ni Zeek. It was Rigor.

"Kuya," Yumie said in acknowledging Rigor. Humarap siya kay Zeek. "Si Kuya Rigor. He also works as security sa Callejos Tech," simpleng pakilala ni Yumie kay Rigor.

Zeek looked at Rigor narrowly. His gaze seemed sharp and stern. Plus he held her hand tighter. Ni hindi ito ngumiti or nagreact sa pagpapakilala niya.

On the otherhand, Rigor seemed to have a mutual behavior towards Zeek. Sinalubong niya ang tingin nito with fiery gaze. Tila hindi nito iniinda kung ito pa ang may-ari ng kumpanyang pinapasukan nila. Rigor's eyes caught Zeek's hand holding Yumie. But Zeek didn't budge. He even held it tighter.

"Pumasok ka na, Mayumia," Rigor said in a serious tone of voice.

Yumie could feel the tension. But she couldn't deal with this right now. Madami na siyang pinagdaanan ngayong araw. She can no longer take it. Humarap siya kay Zeek.

"I'll see you tomorrow," paalam niya. She pulled her hand away and walked papasok sa loob ng gate.

Matalim ang tinging sumunod na rin si Rigor kay Yumie. Zeek stayed hanggang sa makapasok ang dalawa sa loob. He walk towards his car when Rigor closes the gate.

"Mayumia, ipapaalala ko lang, anak siya ng kaaway," ani ni Rigor nang makapasok na sila sa sala.

"Alam ko, Kuya," ani Yumie in an exhausted state. She had been through alot this day. Ayaw na sana niyang dagdagan. "But you didn't know his story. He might be Ismael's son but wala siyang kinalaman sa lahat ng nangyari sakin."

Natigilan si Rigor. Hindi niya nagustuhan ang pagtatanggol ni Yumie kay Zeek. He felt rage inside.

"Totoong may relasyon kayo ng Callejos na iyon?" may gigil sa tono ng boses ni Rigor. He was clenching his fist.

Napairap si Yumie kasunod ng buntong hininga. "Wala kaming relasyon. It's just that hindi ko lang gustong mandamay ng ibang taong wala namang ginawang mali sakin." She is all worn-out with all this drama. "Kuya, pwede ba? Masakit na ang ulo ko ngayon. Ayoko na munang pag-usapan ang araw na ito."

May sasabihin pa sana si Rigor ngunit sumulpot si Nana Felicia mula sa kusina.

"Rigor," Lumapit si Felicia kay Yumie. "Tigilan mo na si Yumie, hayaan mo na siyang magpahinga," mariing sabi ni Felicia. Sinalubong nito ang tingin ni Rigor bilang pagtatanggol sa kaniya.

"Nana, magpapahinga muna ako. Wag niyo na lang po muna ako gisingin kapag nakatulog ako," paalam ni Yumie kay Felicia saka pumasok na sa sariling silid.

****

Kinagabihan, lumabas is Yumie sa silid niya. Hindi na rin siya nakatulog sa sobrang dami ng iniisip. But she was able to rest kahit papano. She looked for Nana Felicia. She felt like she needed someone to talk to.

Nana Felicia had been her comfort for 12years. She was old but she manages to understand Yumie better than anyone else. Ni wala siyang naging malapit na kaibigan, but Nana Felicia have been her only friend then. Ginampanan nito ang tungkulin ng isang ina. She shared her ups and down kahit papano kay Nana Felicia. 

Nakita niya itong nakaupo sa veranda ng tinutuluyan nila tila namamahinga. Nilapitan niya ito. Umupo sa tabi nito saka parang batang umungot ng lambing dito. 

"Nana..." aniya na inihilig ang ulo sa balikat ng matanda. Nana looked at her but held her head and gave it a slight tap as she smiled. 

"Nakapagpahinga ka ba ng maayos?" tanong nito sakanya. Umuugoy-ugoy ito na parang pinaghehele pa siya. 

She took a deep breath saka inangat muli ang ulo sa pagkakahilig sa matanda. Umiling-iling ito. "I can't sleep. Ang dami-daming pumapasok sa isip ko that I can't help it but to think about it alot."

"Gusto mong ikwento sakin? Baka makaluwag sayo," turan ng matanda. She held her hand to somehow ease her hardship. 

Napayuko siya. She reached for her pocket and showed Nana Felicia the bottle of calming oil na binigay ni Ismael sa kaniya kanina. Nanlaki ang mata ni Nana Felicia. The old lady does knows too kung ano ang calming oil na iyon. 

"Sir Ismael gave me this," she started. Bumuntong hininga ulit siya to ease out the difficulties she's keeping in. "I don't know if he knows what this means to me. He just said, this will help me sleep better."

Kinuha ni Felicia ang maliit na botelya sa kamay niya at sinipat iyon na parang sinisiguro kung totoo ba ang nakikita niya. 

"P-paanong nakakuha si Ismael ng ganito? Sadyang si Rumina lang ang nakakagawa ng langis na 'to. Kahit sino sa Hacienda ay walang pinagkatiwalaan si Rumina na gawin ang langis na ito."

"Hindi ito ang nag-iisang beses na nakakita ako ng ganyan sa Callejos, Nana. I saw one with Zeek months ago. I took that pero hindi na ata napansin ni Zeek," kwento niya kay Felicia. "Iniisip kong baka nagkataon lang since they have all the access sa Hacienda na ngayon, baka nakita lang nila somewhere in the mansion. But then, Nana, I have to be honest..."

Nilingon siya ni Felicia and nakita niyong nangingilid ang luha sa mata niya. Yumie look up trying to suppress her tears.

"This mere bottle gave me hope. That I am closer to home..." her voice cracked. Hindi na niya napigilan ang pagragasa ng emosyon. "Nana, alam ko, it's the Callejos' fault why I am here. Pero Nana, ngayong malapit ako sa kanila, hindi ko mapigilang maramdamang parang malapit na kong makauwi. I don't know if it's right to feel that way. But having Zeek and Sir Ismael around, para ulit akong may pamilya."

Maghapon niyang kinakastigo ang sarili at pilit isinasaksak sa utak na mali ang nararamdaman niya. But then, kahit anong pilit niya, it just doesn't make sense. Ismael Callejos didn't show any remorse feelings towards her. He maybe strict and has this scary aura but he had shown kindness and amusingly adoration towards her. Zeek had obviously shown his feelings towards her and alam niyang, hindi nito iyon tinatago sa ama. Yet, Ismael Callejos had been more fond at her. He almost accepted her as his Daughter-In-Law.

"Nana, tell me... bukod sa magkaaway na angkan, meron pa bang mga katotohanan sa nakaraan na dapat kong malaman?" She asked.

Felicia lifted her hands and softly caresses her face. Nangingilid din ang luha nito.

"Anak, pasenya ka na. Kung ano ang kinuwento ko sayo noon, yun lang din ang alam kong katotohanan. Gustuhin ko mang maintindihan din ang lahat pero sadyang wala akong kapasidad na malaman pa ang ibang bagay bukod sa mga nasabi ko lang noon."

Felicia somehow had this doubts as well. It's as if there's actually a missing puzzle in Yumie's life na hindi nila alam. Kahit mahabang panahon siyang naglingkod sa mga Dela Torre, hindi naman siya nangialam sa hidwaan ng mga ito sa pamilya Callejos. Besides, there was a time in the life of the two clans that everyone thought that feud had stopped. Ilang taon ding nagkaroon ng katahimikan sa Sejanos. But when Ismael came back, saka muling sunod-sunod na nagkaroon ng kaguluhan sa tahimik na Hacienda ng mga Dela Torre. So the people believed that it is the doings of the Callejos.

Yumie took a deep breathe. She managed to control her tears. Pinahid niya ang huling patak ng luha. Kinuha niya ang calming oil sa kamay ni Nana Felicia.

"I missed Mom so much, Nana. I just wish we can go back kahit isang beses lang. Mabigyan ko man lang ng proper send off ang mga magulang ko," aniya.

Felicia pulled her into a tight embrace. Wala itong masabi to ease her pain at this time but she just wanted to give Yumie a loving hug to somehow console her breaking heart.

****

Rigor stood behind the closed door ng veranda. He saw the two woman hugged each other. Napatiimbagang siya. He walked quietly away from the veranda door and went to his room. He slowly closed the door and with a clenched fist punched his beddings. It gave a soft thud but it isn't that loud. He sat roughly at the edge of his bed. He was full of rage.

He is loosing, Yumie. And this time she's definitely slipping off her fingers. It took him 12 years para ilayo ito sa mga taong alam niyang babawi rito. She kept Yumie for 12 years because he loved her. Umasa siyang magkakaroon din ito ng damdamin sa kaniya. But Yumie would always look at her as just a brother.

Sinisisi niya sa isip si Zeek. Kung hindi ito umeksena, Yumie will stay with her. Yumie hated the Callejos. Hindi siya gumawa ng paraan na makabalik pa si Yumie sa totoong buhay nito dahil alam niyang mawawala ito sa kaniya oras na makabalik ito. He kept her for himself.

At first, gusto niya lang ilayo ang anak ni Hernan sa nakaambang panganib sa buhay nito. But eventually he had developed a feelings for her. A feeling na hindi na niya mapigilan. Thus, she wanted to keep her instead.

He had known the truth. What happened 12years ago wasn't the doings of the Callejos. Aminado siyang, yun din ang pagkakaalam niya nung umpisa. But 9 years ago nalaman niya ang katotohanan.

He tried going back to Sejanos. Doon niya unang nakilala si Zeekcarias. He heard how Ismael Callejos brought his son to Sejanos. The Sejanos he had known was different then. Nabalitaan niyang Hacienda Dela Torre had been saved by Ismael himself. Naging usap-usapan noon na hinahanap ni Ismael Callejos ang unica hija ni Hernan Dela Torre para ibalik sa Hacienda. He got scared of loosing Yumie. So she hid her even more.

Hindi naglaon natunton din ito ni Ismael. He tried taking her but masidhi pa ang galit sa puso ni Yumie nang mga panahong iyon lalo pa't ipinagdiinan niya rito na kaaway ang mga Callejos. He didn't told her the truth.

He gave Ismael a deal. Nakipagsundo siyang ipapaintindi kay Yumie ang katotohanan sa nakaraan sa tamang panahon, but hayaan mo na siyang itago ang dalaga. Matindi ang pag-asa niyang magugustuhan din siya ni Yumie. Ismael refused his proposal so he resorted to threatening Ismael. He will kill Yumie kapag ipinilit nitong ilayo sa kaniya. At that time, walang magawa si Ismael. Yumie only believed Rigor. She didn't know the side of Ismael's story. It would be easy for Rigor to harm Hernan's only daughter lalo pa't malaki ang tiwala nito sa kaniya.

Thus, he let him keep her under one condition. He want Rigor to be kept under his nose. He convinced him na magtrabaho sa Callejos Tech and bring Yumie in. Ismael have reason out na mabigyan ng kahit papano'y maayos na buhay ang dalaga. So that she could somehow cope with the life away from what she's used to. Rigor accepted the offer. Inakala niyang sa pamamagitan ng yaman na binibigay ng Callejos, he can give a better life to Yumie. Pinalabas niyang siya ang bumubuhay rito. It will be easy for Yumie to accept him if he can provide everything. He had his hopes up.

But then, fate had other plans. He had been closer to Zeek than to him. And eventhough he had instill in Yumie's brain that the Callejos are her enemies, it seemed that Yumie had still fell for the young Callejos' son. He then realized he made a wrong decision back then.

But he won't let them take Yumie. He owned her now. Hindi siya papayag na may umagaw pa nito sa kaniya.

Rigor would do anything...