One Last Crime

Kabanata 25

The Montallion's

Who am I kidding?

I'm attracted to him as well and lately he's all I can think about.

Sino bang tatangi na ligawan niya?

He's the most noble person I've ever met. He saved my life a few times now. He's always there for me, he cares for me... and he likes me.

He's every woman's dream man. He has the most respectable job, family and reputation. They're one of the richest families in this town besides our clan.

Higit sa lahat ay gwapo siya, matipuno ang katawan at magaling... Mag solve ng mga kaso. He's a perfect package!

Like me but... He's different. Our principles don't line up with each other.

But it doesn't mean we're not gonna work out right?

"Chantrea."

Binalingan ko ito.

"We're here." That fast? I must be spacing out the whole ride here!

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang engrandeng mansion ng mga Montallion.

Our mansion is fancy but theirs are just unbelievably beautiful.

Bubungad agad ang magandang hardin nila. It looks like they hire the best gardener in the world for the plant statue's.

Nakaparada ang mamahaling kotse sa harap nito. Malamang ay hindi na nagkasya sa garahe nila.

I delve my eyes around their grand mansion that has a two grand stair.

My attention is quickly drawn to my parents. Imbis na sa akin sila tumungo ay dumiretso sila sa gitna kung nasaan ang mga magulang ni Lendhel.

Nakipag kamay ang mga ito.

Mom is smiling ear to ear and Dad is clearly happy as well. I don't know what they're talking about but it seems like they're getting along and agreeing to something good.

"Chantrea! Lendhel!" she called.

Lendhel clasped my hands with his as we made our way towards them.

Lumipat ang tingin sa akin ng babae. "Is that her?"

"Yes, this is Chantrea Callejo, my one and only daughter." The proudness of Mom's voice is noticeable.

My eyes stayed on the two person in front of me. Such a beautiful people! Surely, Lendhel got his strong feature on his Dad.

"I guess you already know Mrs. Justice and Mr. Lorenzo Montallion, Lendhel's parents."

"Good evening po," I said, my eyes remained on Mr. Lorenzo.

"Happy birthday, Sir." Hindi ko alam kung iaabot ko ba ang regalo sa kan'ya o ilalagay ito sa kung saan.

Kahit nahihiya ay inabot ko na lang iyon. Sino bang hindi mahihiya? He's the president of the country!

"Thank you." He smiled.

"Nice to meet you iha," aniya ng Ina nito at niyakap ako.

"Diñana's right, you're absolutely stunning!"

"Mana sa Ina," aniya ni Dad.

"Hey Mom, Dad, Happy Birthday," bati ng lalaki nakakalapit lamang sa amin. Sa likuran nito ay isa pang lalaki, halos magkamukha ang dalawa pero palangiti ang isa hindi katulad ng bumati, parang si Lendhel ang isang to dahil seryoso ang mukha.

"Siya nga pala, This are Lendhel D's brothers my two handsome sons., Nixon and Vhielle." She giggled.

They both smiled. The one that has a darker and powerful aura is Nixon, he's serious most of the time but he's smiling whenever he's with his family. Vhielle is the opposite of him, I can tell how light he is, for sure he's humorous just by his cheeky smile. They're both tall but Nixon is inches taller than Vhielle and Lendhel.

"What about me Mom?" Lendhel chuckled.

Hindi ko maiwasang sulyapan siya sa gilid ko. He's always serious but he's humorous as well. He's like the mix of his two brothers. There's no doubt that they're all physically attractive. The older son, Nixon is almost a clone of Tito Lorenzo. For sure he is this good looking when he's still young. Vhielle gets his looks mostly from Tita Justice and Lendhel's for the perfect mix of his parents genes.

"Oh of course you're handsome as well. Nagmana kayo sa ama niyo!" She laughed as she glanced at her husband who's grinning at her.

"This is Diñana and Miguel Callejo, they're business tycoons and this is their only heiress, Chantrea Callejo."

"Nice to meet you." aniya ko at kinamayan ang dalawa. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa ginawa ng isa. Uminit ang pisngi ko ng dampian ng halik ni Vhielle ang kamay ko.

"Mr. and Mrs. Callejo, I cannot thank you enough for this beautiful lady in front of me."

"Oh Vhielle!" They all laughed while Lendhel's was glaring at him.

"She graduated from America's popular university with honors. Business management right?"

I nodded. How did she know this?

Tinapunan ko ng tingin si Mom.

Of course she said it.

"And you're a famous and highest paid model. You're an achiever at a young age, that's good. I'm sure you have a lot of suitors iha."

Sinulyapan ko si Lendhel sa aking gilid.

"She only has me Mom." He smiled then glared at his brother.

Vhielle chuckled. "Why does Lendhel is so lucky with girls?"

I didn't know he had a nickname, Lendhy, which feels like candy to me. A the sweetest and biggest candy.

"Because he's not like you," his father said. His lips protruded.

"But what about the girl you're always with?" Vhielle asked.

Nangunot ang noo ko.

"What's her name again? May?"

"Mary." Nixon corrected.

How did they know Mary? Does she come here often? Dinadala ba siya rito ni Lendhel?

For sure he did! Dahil kilala ito ng mga kapatid niya!

"She's a friend," mariing saad ni Lendhel.

They both nodded but Vhielle has a devilish smile on his face.

"Lorenzo! Justice!" Halos lahat kami ay napalingon sa direksyon ng boses na tumawag sa mga magulang ni Lendhel.

"Mrs. Corazon!"

"Its been a long time! How are you? Ito na ba ang mga bata?"

Her mother nodded and smiled.

"Oh look at them! They grew fast and handsomely!"

Hindi maiwasang matawa ang lahat sa reaksyon nito. Totoo naman napaka gwapo ng tatlong magkakapatid.

Nangunot nag noo ng matanda. Her eyes were searching, she stared at the back of Nixon then she glanced around.

"Where's your daughter Lorenzo?"

Their smiles fade away right when the grandma asks for their daughter.

Nagkatinginan ang mag asawa.

Mayroon pa silang kapatid? At babae pa nga?

She must have done something good in her past life to have these perfect brothers!

Sinulyapan po si Lendhel sa gilid ko. Sumeryoso ang mukha nito.

Si Vhielle naman ay natutop ang bibig at binaling sa kung saan ang atensyon hindi katulad ni Nixon na mas lalo pa atang sumeryoso ang mukha. Sigurado akong nag bago ng galit sa mga mata nito ng bangitin ni Mom ang tungkol sa babaeng kapatid nila.

Silence grew between the Montallion's. The tension is rising especially on Nixon whose jaw is clenching.

Why do I feel like somethings off with these so-called daughters?

"You have a daughter Justice? How come we didn't hear about her?"

Lendhel's mother took a deep breath before smiling. "Those are just rumors, Diñana. I only have three sons."

"What happened to Car---"

"Well talk about it later Mrs. Corazon. Hayaan mong samahang ka muna ni Nixon."

Binalingan nito ang anak na tango ang tanging sagot sa kanya bago alalayan si Mrs. Corazon papunta sa kabilang table.

"So... I've heard about the death threats iha. It must be hard how are you coping? I hope my son is not stressing you out."

I gulped. "I'm alright, thank you po."

"Oh by the way... Thank you for letting Chantrea stay in your safe house Justice."

"Everything for my future daughter in law."

My eyes widened while all of them laughed.

"You're scaring her Justice," aniya ni Mr. Lorenzo.

"H-hindi po," I stammered.

"See? Isa pa matanda na silang dalawa. Lendhel needs to marry. His arrangement with Garzon's daughter did not work out. So it's time to get serious, hindi ba Miguel?"

"Definitely." Dad agreed. Papalit palit ang tingin ko sa kanila.

What the heck is happening?

"That didn't workout probably because he like someone," aniya nito at tinapunan ako ng tingin.

Nagkatinginan si Mom at ang Mom nito. They both grinned.

"So I guess it's not a problem anymore, Dinaña. I can't find a reason not to push through this engagement."

My heart raced. Is it real?

Engagement? To Lendhel?

Tinapunan ko ito ng tingin sa gilid. Did he know about this? For sure he did. He didn't even look shocked at all!

"This calls for a double celebration, Lorenzo's birthday and Lendhel's engagement party! Good thing that the media are here!" aniya nito.

"Lendhel came with us, they will be thrilled when you tell them about it." The excitement in her voice is very visible.

Nanatili ang tingin sa akin ni Lendhel. He looks worried about my reaction.

"I'm sure Chantrea's shocked about this. I'll let you guys talk. I'm gonna call the media for this great news."

Pagkaalis nila ay agad kong hinila sila Mom at Dad sa malayo upang magkaunawaan kami at walang istorbo.

"What is happening Mom?"

"You're engaged, Chantrea! My only daughter is finally getting married."

she said.

I sighed. "I don't understand... No one told me about it... You never asked me what I would say and feel about this."

She squeezed my hands. "We know you too are a thing, Chant. Emory told us that Lendhel slept in your room. I mean I don't agree with that but what can we do? It already happened. I know you're shy and scared to tell us about this but there's nothing to be afraid of. Isa pa napakaperpekto niyo sa isa't

isa. And these death threats are getting crazy iha, what if we can't handle it? We can't risk your safety."

"Chantrea..." Dad reached for my hands.

"Think about it, Chantrea, Callejo and Montallion! With our connections, business and their power and security. Two rich families, merging. No one will dare to harm you. No one would even think about threatening your life, Chantrea."

My eyes remained on them. I'm speechless. They have a point but are still in shock.

"Ever since you were a child I gave you everything you wanted, haha. I did everything to make you happy. There's nothing that could make me more happy when I see you settled with a right man. Ito lang ang isang bagay na hinihiling ko sayo Chantrea. After all this is for your safety."

"What about Adrian---" He cut me off.

"He's not good for you Chantrea, and you know that."

"The engagement is happening."

I gulped.

*******

Naabutan naming nag uusap sila Lendhel at ang mga magulang nito pag balik.

"I think we should let Chantrea think about this first. I mean it would love to marry your daughter Mr. Callejo but I don't want to force her on something that she doesn't want---"

"There's nothing to think about iho, she agreed already." Dad interrupted.

Kumunot ang noo ni Lendhel ng sulyapan ko ito.

"Great! I already told the news. Let's go Diñana, Miguel. They need to interview you. Sunod na kayong dalawa mamaya." aniya nito sa amin.

Pagkatapos nila umalis ay agad lumapit si Lendhel sa akin.

"You agreed to the engagement?"

His lips curved.

"Ayaw mo ba?" A smile tugged in my lips.

"What? No! I mean yes I want to marry you. But I don't want you to be trapped in this---"

I cut him off, "No you don't, I know you won't trap me in a situation I dislike, right?"

Dad's right. Our clan will be more powerful. No one will block our way and be against us. Kahit sino pa man iyon. Kahit ang taong nagpapadala ng mag death threats sa akin.

That person will fear me, he better be.

My eyes remained on him. "Of course baby. But forgive me if my arms will..." he said and trapped me in his arms.