Back to Sejanos

Yumie dragged Zeek's luggage papasok ng closet nito. Inatasan siya nitong ipag-empake dahil may bibisitahin daw itong lugar. She didn't know where. Yet she didn't ask. Isa pa, wala siyang balak sumama rito at this time.

She took out Zeek's clothes mula sa mga cabinet. Ibinilin nito sa kaniya puro casual clothes lang ang iempake since it would be a personal visit not a business trip. And pack light, since may mga gamit naman daw ito sa pupuntahan. Nevertheless, siniguro pa din niyang kumpleto ang mga dalahin nito.

Nasa kalagitnaan siya nang pagtitiklop when Zeek came in the room.

"I told you to pack light," he said.

"I am packing light," mabilis niyang sagot.

"Just use a duffle bag or something," anito.

Napatigil siya sa pag-eempake. "Next time make it clearer," aniya na muling tinanggal ang mga natupi nang damit sa bagahe. She went to another cabinet and took a smaller bag.

"How about you? Were you packed already?" casual na tanong nito.

Mabilis siyang napalingon dito. "Do I have to come with you again? I mean this isn't work trip. You said, this is your vacation."

"That's why I want you to come. You needed one," pilyong nakangiti ito.

She gaped in astonishment. "Zeek, paninindigan mo ba talaga yang pagpapa-cute mo sakin? Sinabi ko na sayong hindi ako nadadala sa mga pa-cute mo. Besides, if you're bringing me again sa bakasyon mo, what about the workload na maiiwan na naman natin dito?"

"You know that whatever you say, I will still insist. Mayumia, alam kong nagpapakipot ka lang. Deep inside you like to be with me all the time," Zeek commented narcissistically.

"What a narcissist?!" she exclaimed sarcastically. "Tigilan mo ko Zeekcarias! Walang katotohanan yang akala mo."

Zeek grinned wider and walked towards her. He got so closed to her and wrapped her into a tight embrace. Nagulat man siya sa inakto nito but hindi siya pumalag. Tila nasanay na siya sa mga love language nito sa kaniya. And Zeek was always touchy towards her bukod sa mga sweet nottingness nito.

"Hide all you want, Missy. But you're body says otherwise. See, hindi ka pumapalag," turan pa nito.

He gaped even bigger. Yumie somehow admitted to herself that Zeek's sweet action has impact to her but hindi lang niya iyon maamin sa binata. So she forcedfully pushed Zeek away from her. Binitawan din naman siya ni Zeek.

"Do it again, at irereklamo kita ng sexual harassment," banta niya rito.

Si Zeek naman ang napatanga sa sinabi niya. "Mayumia! I never sexually harrassed anyone in my entire life. Madalas ako pa nga ang nahaharass and you know that," apila nito.

"Just don't touch or hugged me. Especially kung dalawa lang tayo." Alam ni Yumie na unti-unti siyang ipanagkakanulo ng nararamdaman niya para sa binata. And natatakot pa siyang aminin iyon kay Zeek.

Zeek just gave a sarcastic grin saka humakbang palayo sa kaniya.

"I still want you to come with you. I want to relax and unwind. And ayoko magsama ng bodyguards. We can go there as friends," turan nito as he sit on a nearby couch.

Nilingon ito ni Yumie and looked at him seriously. Somehow, she felt that she really wanted to come. Tama ito, he needed one. Plus it might be her chance to totally assess if he really did felt something for Zeek.

Zeek had his eyebrows up and down ng sunud-sunod as if urging her to say yes. Napangiti siya. It will be a new adventure for her.

"Fine!" she replied. Zeek smiled widely. "But don't even dare to take advantage of me."

Bumagsak ang panga ni Zeek. "Kailan ako nag-take advantage sayo? I always respected you. Maybe in a lousy way but I will never take advantage of you. I never even tried kissing you!"

Nanlaki ang mata ni Yumie. "Don't even think about it!"

Zeek gave a soft chuckle. "Relax. I won't dare kiss you unless you make the first move. Kita mo nga, you have slept in my bed drunk but I have never done anything against your will."

"Zeekcarias!" she exclaimed. Ipinaalala pa nito sa kaniya ang nagawa niyang kabaliwan. "Kung wala ka namang matinong sasabihin sakin, can you just go and do your work? Hindi ako matatapos dito!"

Pilyong ngiti lang ang sinagot ni Zeek. And eventually stood up and with a wide grin on his face left her packing inside the room.

Maaga pa the next day bumyahe si Yumie at Zeek. Zeek picked her up sa bahay mismo nila. Wala silang ibang kasama. Zeek was driving all by himself. Noong una akala niya siya ang pagmamanehuhin nito, but he let her be the passenger princess for today's trip.

She still didn't know where they we're heading. Hinayaan niya lang itong magmaneho. After 2hours, they stopped sa tila pier dock. Yumie saw yatch around the area. Sumunod siya nang bumaba ng sasakyan si Zeek. Sinalubong ito ng isang lalaki and nakipag-usap ito roon.

"Ok naman po ang panahon ngayon. Mabilis po kayong makakarating doon," turan ng tila katiwala sa dock na iyon. "Nacheck na rin po ang yate niyo tsaka nakargahan na po ng gas."

They must be sailing, naisip ni Yumie. She got curious kung san ba sila talaga pupunta ni Zeek. Nakita niyang tumango lang si Zeek sa kausap saka muling humarap sa kaniya.

"Let's go, we can get there before noon," simpleng turan nito as he took their bags sa compartment ng sasakyan. They brought light gaya ng sabi nito. Isang duffle bag lang din ang dala niya and a handbag. Zeek carried the 2 big bags at sumunod siya rito.

"And by there you mean where?" tanong ni Yumie.

Pumasok si Zeek sa di namang kalakihang yate. "You'll see when we get there. You'll gonna love it," turan nito na kumindat pa sa kaniya saka tumuloy na sa loob.

Yumie froze in front of the yatch. Napatingin siya sa kabuuan ng yateng pinasok ni Zeek. Bahagya niyang inikot ang mata at tila sinisipat kung nagkakamali lang ba siya ng akala. But she wouldn't forget. She remembered what that yatch was. Maaring katulad lang iyon but still it made her shiver. It's like nostalgia.

The yatch looked like exactly the one she rode with 12years ago. Ang alam niya, binenta iyon ni Rigor to sustain their living. Nakapangalan iyon sa kaniya kaya madali iyong naibenta. Possible bang Callejos din ang nakabili ng yateng naging parte ng nakaraan niya?

"Yumie?" tawag sa kaniya ni Zeek nang mapansing tila natigilan ito.

Tila siya naalimpungatan nang marinig ang tawag ni Zeek.

"Are you ok? Bakit hindi ka pa sumasakay? My phobia ka ba sa dagat?" turan nito.

"Huh?!" She shook her head. "I just thought of something. Will you drive this thing?" Pilit niyang iwinasiwas sa isip ang alalaala ng nakaraan

Zeek smiled at her. "Don't worry. This isn't my first time to drive this thing," confident na sagot nito. "Hindi kita ilulunod. Besides, malapit lang ang pupuntahan natin. A 2hour trip and were there."

Napatango na lang siya sa sinabi ni Zeek saka nagpatiuna sa pagsakay sa yate. Inalalayan pa siya ni Zeek na makasampa sa entry way.

Nang makarating siya sa loob, Yumie seemed to have this eerie feeling na ito ang yate na naglayo sa kaniya sa Hacienda Dela Torre. It was slightly different from the interior but the sofa kung san siya nakatulog ng naghihinagpis noon was still there. Hindi man niya kabisado ang kabuuan ng yate, but the memories are clear in her head kahit pa 12 years na ang lumipas.

"You can sit with me at the deck para naman hindi ako maburyong sa pagste-steer," ani Zeek.

Sumunod si Yumie kay Zeek. Whether it's the same yatch or not, Yumie sway off the thoughts in her head. Hindi impossibleng mabili ng Callejos ang yateng yun. They sold it to whoever. Besides, the Callejos had probably owned everything the Dela Torres had. Napatiimbagang siya sa isiping iyon.

Zeek manuever the yatch and mayamaya lang they were sailing. Since they are on the open air deck, the wind seemed to wash off Yumie's confused thoughts. She let her hair down and let the free feeling overwhelmed her. Kahit papano she felt at peace.

It did took them 2hours to reach the place Zeek was referring to. Halos mataas na ang araw when Zeek dock the yacht. There were other yachts on the dock. Nang maiayos ni Zeek ang parada sa yate, may isang lalaki ulit na umakyat sa kanila na sa hula ni Yumie'y isa sa mga tagapangalaga na naman ng yateng iyon. May mga ibang kasama ito na siya namang nagbitbit ng gamit nila.

"Sir, ako na po ang mag-aangkla," prisinta ng lalaki. Ngumiti lang si Zeek saka siya nilapitan.

Napansin ni Yumie na pinagtitinginan siya ng mga taong sumalubong sa kanila. They seemed smiling mischievously.

"Let's go. I'll show you the place," tila excited na turan ni Zeek. Akmang hihilain na siya nito nang pigilan niya.

"Wait!" awat niya. Nilingon niya ang mga taong nakatingin sa kaniya. Tila naman iniwas nang mga ito ang tingin sa kaniya. Nasundan ni Zeek ang tingin. He smiled as he understood what she meant.

"Don't mind them. Just think na ikaw ang nag-iisang babaeng sinama ko dito," Zeek said teasingly. Kinindatan pa siya nito.

Pinaningkitan niya ito ng mata. Pinagtatakpan ang isa na namang kilig moment na pinaparamdam ni Zeek. Malapit na talaga siyang maniwala that Zeek is serious toward her. It's flattering to know that she had been an exception to everything he does.

Hindi na siya sumagot at nagpatiuna na sa pagbaba sa yate. Yumie realize they are in some kind of a province. Probably owned by the Callejos for when they unboard the yacht, ervyone was respectfully greeting Zeek. A black van was waiting for them just apart from the dock. Tinungo iyon ni Zeek and greeted the driver. Everyone seemed happy seeing Zeek. And when they saw her, the teasing look or surprising stare was very evident. Iniilingan na lang iyon ni Yumie. Sumakay sila sa van and drove a provincial road na napapalibutan ng malawak na tila taniman and trees. They let the windows down para namnamin ang masarap na hangin. Yumie felt at peace. She remembered her birthplace. It was like it. Close to nature and peaceful.

"Maligayang pagdating po sa bayan ng Sejanos," turan ng driver nila na si Kaloy.

Mabilis na napalingon si Yumie kay Kaloy. Nabibingi ba siya sa binanggit na lugar nito? Napatingin din siya kay Zeek. Namimilog ang mata upang tukuyin kung tama ba siya ng narinig.

"A-ano pong bayan ito?" she asked again stammering.

"Ito po ang Sejanos. Maliit na probinsiya lang po ito ngunit tahimik. Kalahati po ng lupain pag-aari nila Sir Zeek," kwento ni Kaloy.

Yumie couldn't utter any other word. Napalingon ulit siya sa labas ng bintana. She looked at the surroundings and slowly as if coming back to her, she remembered. It is the Sejanos she knew. Unti-unti mang nag-iiba ang paligid but hindi makakailang ito ang bayang kinalakhan niya. She saw familiar places. Unti-unting rumagasa sa utak niya ang alaala 12years ago.

She knows now kung san sila pupunta. They are headed to Rancho Callejos. She had never set foot sa Rancho Callejos but she knows where it is. Yumie had so much overflowing emotions. She felt scared. Pano kung makilala siya? She felt longingness. Kunti na lang makakatapak na siya ulit sa Hacienda Dela Torre. She felt worried. Baka hindi niya makontrol ang sarili and it might give her way. She felt excited. After 12years she is back to where she belongs.

Nilingon niya si Zeek. He was looking at her with full of curiosity tila nahahalata nito ang kakaibang expression niya. Hindi na niya magawang pagtakpan pa iyon. Yumie is not prepared for this. Hindi niya akalaing it's too soon na mararating ulit niya ang Sejanos. She didn't know how to hide it. She resorted to whatever happens, happen.

Di nagtagal, nakita na ni Yumie ang gate papasok to Rancho Callejos. Dumiretso doon ang sasakyan nila. Mas lalong tumindi ang kaba ni Yumie. She felt breaking down. Naramdaman niyang inabot ni Zeek ang kamay niya. Zeek held it as if ramdam nito ang pinagdadaanan niya. Her eyes sparkle with a suppress tears. She is definitely bursting inside. Hindi na niya alam pano itatago iyon.

"Yumie..." sambit ni Zeek sa pangalan niya. "What's wrong?"

She force her tears not to drop. Sunud-sunod and buntong hininga niya.

"Zeek, why did you brought me here?" She asked. Hindi niya alam pano niya uumpisahan. Hindi niya alam kung dapat ba niyang aminin sa binata. Hindi niya alam ano ang mararamdaman.

She wanted to be back in Sejanos. For 12 years she longingly looked forward to come back home. And ngayong nandito na siya, she felt like running away.

"This is my home. I wanted you to show my home," sagot ni Zeek. "Is there something wrong, Mayumia?"

Zeek doesn't understand what she's feeling. She needed to get herself a grip. She need to calm down. She push all her might to calm herself up. She needed to pretend that she is ok.

"Nakakapagod lang yung byahe, anlayo pala ng sa inyo," turan niya. Hiding her feelings again.

"You can take a rest, first. We will eat lunch later," simpleng sagot ni Zeek. The car stop sa harap ng mansion. Naunang bumaba ng sasakyan si Zeek. Sumunod siya. Alumpihit man but she managed.

This is her first set foot sa Rancho Callejos. Their mansion is as exquisite ng mansion nila. It was somewhat modernize, probably because Ismael Callejos have ventured to modern technology.

Ngunit kahit gaano pa kaganda ang Rancho Callejos, hindi iyon napagtutuunan ng pansin ni Yumie. Her mind is travelling towards the opposite place, ang Hacienda Dela Torre. She didn't know how kung paano niya magagawang pumunta sa Hacienda Dela Torre. She didn't know if Zeek can set foot na rin doon because, as she thought, Callejos na rin ang nangangalaga ng Hacienda nila.

"Do you want to rest first, ipapahanda ko na ang kwarto mo?" ani Zeek.

Nakahanap siya ng pagkakataon. "Uhm, No. This is my first time here. I wanted to see the whole place," turan ni Yumie.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," sinabayan niya pa iyon ng pagtango.

"Do you wanna eat lunch first?" Zeek ask again.

"Busog pa ko from the food we ate at the yacht. Can you just show me around?" She insisted. She was eager to see Hacienda Dela Torre instead.

Zeek was about to answer nang tumunog ang telepono nito. He took it in his pocket and answered the phone call.

"Yes Tita. We've just arrived," turan ni Zeek speaking in the phone. "We will be there later," dagdag pa nito. "Ok, fine. Wait for us," huling sabi nito saka binaba na ang telepono.

"I think, we won't be eating lunch here. May pupuntahan tayo. But are you sure you're ok?" Zeek had this expression na parang nag-alala talaga sa kaniya. His question seemed to be not just that simple. Tila iyon may double meeting by the way he asked it.

Tumango lang siya. She is not ok, but she'll get by. Ngumiti si Zeek.

"Comm'on, I'll show you around on our way there..." sabi ni Zeek as he grab her hand and pulled her palabas ulit ng mansion.