DUCANI LEGACY SERIES 8: Khalid

Kabanata 28

Anie

I was really anxious the next day. Hindi ako nakapag-focus sa binabasang libro dahil nag-alala ako nang makitang magkasama sina Daddy at Tito Linel na lumabas ng study room. Although my Dad looked happy with what they've talked about, a part of me still felt bothered.

Daddy went up the stairs while tito Linel walked towards the front door to probably find his friends. Ibinaba ko kaagad ang libro at halos maglakad-takbo para lamang maabutan siya sa harap ng mansyon.

"T-Tito Linel?" I called.

Huminto siya mula sa paghakbang saka ako nilingon. "Yes, hija?" may munting kurba sa mga labi niyang baling sa akin na tila ba alam na niya kung bakit ko siya hinabol.

I looked back, making sure no one else is around. Nang masigurong walang ibang tao ay muli kong itinuon ang atensyon ko sa kanya.

"Pwede po ba tayong mag-usap?" I asked.

Tito Linel's lips formed a meaningful smile. "Sure. Let's take a walk. I'm sure you're not comfortable to talk about it here."

Nalunok ko ang sarili kong laway. Sigurado nga akong alam na niya ang pakay ko ngunit imbes na magmaang-maangan ay sumabay na lamang ako ng lakad patungo sa manggahan.

It was a busy morning. Halos lahat ng trabahador ay abala sa paghahanda para sa nalalapit na fiesta. There were workers passing by carrying large sacks of vegetables. Some are transferring dozens of pigs to the slaughter house.

Noong bata ako ay aliw na aliw akong panoorin ang mga trabahador na ganito kaabala. I would even volunteer to help arrange the fresh crops. Ngunit ngayon ay masyadong okupado ang isipan ko kaya ni ang batiin sila ay hindi ko magawa.

Tito Linel didn't talk at all as if he's letting me think about what I wanted to say. Nang medyo malayo na kami sa mansyon ay roon ko lamang din binasag ang katahimikang bumabalot sa aming dalawa.

"Tito, about what you saw last night . . ."

He looked at me with a meaningful smirk. "What I saw last night, hmm? Why? What did I see last night, Anie?" makahulugan niyang tanong.

Napalunok ako at lalong kinabahan. Ni hindi ko nagawang tagalan ang pagtitig ko sa kanya dahil naghahalo na ang takot at hiya ko.

"About uhm . . . me and Khalid?"

He lifted a brow as if I said something interesting. "Khalid, huh? Since when did you drop the Daddy part, hmm?"

My heart pounced. Ni hindi ko siya nagawang sagutin dahil hindi ko mahanap ang tamang mga salita.

As if Tito Linel sensed that I really cannot answer him, he stopped from taking another step then faced me.

"I know what I saw, Anie, but if you're worried that I'd spill the tea to your father then I'd say I'm quite hurt that you think that way."

I lifted my gaze to meet his blue eyes. "I'm sorry po."

He sighed. "It's not my secret to tell, Anie, but I hope you will be honest with your Dad before he catches you both because that's gonna break his heart more."

"I know po. I'm just . . ." I sighed. "Aren't you gonna tell me that I shouldn't be with Khalid in a romantic way?"

Umismid si tito Linel. "Little missy, my twin brother has a same-s*x marriage. I've seen different types of relationships already. This is no longer new to me but . . ." He licked his lower lip then sighed. "Not everyone thinks the way I do. I hope you know that. Nagulat ako, oo dahil alam ko at nakita ko kung paano nagpakatatay si Khalid sa'yo noon, pero wala ako sa tamang posisyon para husgahan ang desisyon ninyo. He's old enough to know what's right from wrong, pero hindi lahat maiintindihan at magtitiwala sa desisyon niya. Ninyo. Do you get my point?"

I pursed my lips and nodded. "Opo."

"Does your mom know about your relationship?" he asked.

I shook my head. "N-No one knows yet p-po. T-Tayo pa lang."

"And how long are you planning to hide this to everyone, hmm?"

Lumunok ako at hinayaan munang makalampas ang mga trabahador na sakay ng kariton. Nang makalayo ang mga trabahador ay sinubukan kong salubunging muli ang titig ni tito Linel.

"We're just waiting until Dad is no longer too stressed out with his candidacy. Ayaw po naming makadagdag pa 'to sa iisipin ni Daddy."

"Thank God you're putting your Dad into consideration. I'm happy to hear that you worry about him."

I inhaled a sharp breath. "But I feel bad, tito."

"Dahil wala pang kaalam-alam ang tatay mo?"

My lips formed a thin line as I nodded. "Y-Yes."

Bumuntonghininga siya. "I understand your reason. Ang mapapayo ko lang ay iwasan munang bigyan ng dahilan ang Daddy mo para makatunog siya kung hindi ka pa pala handang ipagtapat ang totoo. I am not tolerating you, Anie. All I'm trying to say is, I will not convince you to do something you are not mentally and emotionally ready to face yet dahil baka hindi mo magawang ipaliwanag nang maayos ang side mo. That's how you will lose the chance to prove that you're in the right mind when you chose to be with Khalid. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Nilunok ko ang bara sa aking lalamunan. "Yes, tito."

"Good. Now what you have to do is prepare yourself. Be responsible with your choices, and once the right timing comes, tell your Dad everything with all honesty, respect his reaction, and accept whatever the outcome may be."

Tumango ako. "I understand everything, Tito."

"I know you will. I just hope that you really are in love with Khalid, because if what you feel is mere infatuation, I'm gonna be really mad. You can still play around, but he can't anymore so choosing to take a risk with you surely took him a lot of courage." He patted my shoulder. "I'll just call my wife. I'll see you around."

Nagpasalamat na lamang ako bago na naglakad patungo sa may manggahan. I tucked my long hair as I took my steps towards the familiar group of people. Sa gitna ng kanilang tumpok ay naroon sina Khalid at tito Alta na tila nagpapaligsahan sa pagputol ng malalaking sibak ng kahoy.

I stood a little far from the crowd to watch Khalid. He's wearing his gray muscle tee and faded denim jeans. In his right hand is a large axe he swings effortlessly every time he chops large chunks of woods.

Huminto siya nang magbiro si tito Gui. Tumawa sandali at nagpunas ng pawis sa noo gamit ang laylayan ng pantaas na damit. Nang natapos magpunas ng noo ay napadpad sa aking direksyon ang kanyang titig.

Lumunok ako at sumenyas na lumapit siya. He jerked his head then tapped tito Alta on the back. "Mamaya na ulit. Almusal muna."

Khalid took his steps to come near me. Napalingon sa amin ang mga kaibigan niya kaya siniguro kong may sapat kaming distansya upang hindi mahalata.

"Nagkausap kami ni tito Linel," sabi ko nang makalayo kami sa manggahan.

He sighed. "Nag-usap din kami kagabi. I know he's not the type of guy who would judge other people but he definitely has a point."

Napakunot ako ng noo. "Point?"

He nodded. "Nabanggit kong saka natin sasabihin kay Armani pagkatapos ng eleksyon. Linel suggests that once your Dad asks you to stay here during the campaign, you listen to him."

Napahinto ako sa paghakbang. "At tingin mo ay dapat manatili nga ako rito habang kampanya? Gano'n ba?"

"Love, it's for your safety, too."

Umirap ako at nagmartsa palayo sa kanya ngunit mabilis niyang nahablot ang aking braso.

"Talk to me, Anie."

I pursed my lips and glared at him while he caressed my arms with his thumbs. "You know I always wanted to be around you. If you worry about my safety, don't. Kaya ko ang sarili ko. Huwag mo nang gamiting rason 'tong pagtatago natin ng totoo kina Daddy."

He sighed. "I just wanna make sure you'll be safe during the entire election period. Linel got a tip that someone wanna assassinate one of Armani's family members to threaten him, at malakas ang kutob ni Linel na ikaw ang pinupuntirya. Anie, I can't lose you in the process of proving that it's so hard to breathe when you're not around."

My heart warmed. "But we will keep each other safe, right?"

His eyes flickered with worry and love for me. "I don't wanna risk your life."

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "I'm gonna be okay because I know you will do everything to keep me away from danger. May iba pang paraan para maging ligtas ako. Hindi solusyon ang pananatili ko rito, Khalid."

He sighed. "Anie—"

"This conversation is over. I will not let you leave me here. We'll stick together. End of conversation." I pulled away and marched back towards the mansion, leaving him behind.

Ngayon mo subukang tagalan ang katigasan ng ulo ko, Khalid . . .