FORBIDDEN SERIES 1: THE GOVERNOR'S WH0RE

Kabanata 7

DEMILYN sat on the grass and touched her baby's tombstone. Sandali siyang sumimsim sa kanyang kape bago inilapag ang tasa sa damuhan.

"Hey, my love. Kung you lived, you would've opened mommy's clinic and welcome patients with a smile. I'm sure you would've been one of the happiest kids in this lonely town." Basag siyang ngumiti. "I'm sorry if mommy can't come back here and pretend that nothing hurts anymore . . . because there is. Mommy's . . ." Nanikip ang kanyang dibdib. "Mommy's heart is too broken for me to not seek the justice we both deserve."

She touched the tombstone again with tears building up in the corners of her eyes. Napakasakit isiping naging saksi ang likod-bahay nila noon sa masasaya niyang alaala noong kabataan niya. Now it's nothing but a resting place for the angel that was taken too soon from her.

Nais pa sana niyang magtagal sa harap ng puntod kung hindi lamang niya narinig ang alingawngaw ng doorbell. She stood up and carried her cup to the kitchen before she tied her robe. Nagtungo siya pinto at binuksan iyon.

"Yes?" bungad niya sa dalawang delivery guy na parehong may bitbit na bulaklak. One was carrying a bouquet of Hyacinth while the other was holding a potted red tulips.

"Magandang umaga ho, Doktora," bati ng may buhat ng bouquet. "Delivery ho mula kay Mr. Santi Vlanco."

Napakunot ng noo si Demi ngunit hindi na siya nagkumento sa pag-aakalang si Rimael ang nagpadala no'n. She didn't think it was from Rancho anyway, considering the state of their "relationship" at the moment.

She accepted the bouquet and signed the delivery form. Nang makaalis ang unang delivery boy ay saka niya hinarap ang isa pa. She assumed that the potted flowers are from one of her good friends. After all, who sends flowers in a pot if it's from a lover anyway?

"Good morning ho, Doktora. Delivery po . . . galing kay Gov."

Napakurap siya. "Kay . . . Rimael?"

Tumango ito. "Oho. Siya ho mismo ang pumili rito. Kabilin-bilinang ibigay ho sa inyo nang walang nasisira sa mga bulaklak."

Binalot ng pagtataka si Demi. Rimael bought the potted flowers himself? Isa pa, kung galing iyon kay Rimael, ibig sabihin ay . . . hindi ito ang nagpadala ng ngayon ay hawak na niyang bouquet?

Napalunok si Demi. Naguguluhan man ay tinanggap pa rin niya ang nakapasong bulaklak. She went in and put the bouquet and the potted red tulips on her kitchen counter before she checked the cards that came along with both of it.

Una niyang tiningnan ang note na nasa bouquet, ngunit sulat-kamay pa lamang ay alam na kaagad niya kung kanino ba iyon nanggaling.

'Hoping to discuss important matters with you soon. I missed you.'

Love,

Ran

Demi pursed her lips when her heart felt a painful tug. Nilukot niya ang card at idiniretso sa basurahan kasama ang bungkos ng mga bulaklak. No, he has no right to tell her he missed her when he was the reason why she's grieving all these years. Ano ang akala nito sa kanya? Porke't hindi naging maganda ang pagsasama nito at ni Kathlyn ay pupwede siya nitong balikan anumang oras na parang wala itong kasalanan sa kanya?

She ran her fingers onto her hair. Sa sobrang galit ay muntik na niyang makalimutan ang bulaklak na galing kay Rimael. Pinakatitigan niya ito ng ilang sandali, iniisip kung bakit sa dinami-rami ng bulaklak sa mundo, iyon pa ang napili nito. Saka bakit nakapaso?

Demi sighed before she opened the card to read Rimael's message. Mas maikli pa yata sa pasensya ng binata ang mensahe ngunit bakit parang may init na humaplos sa dibdib ni Demi nang mabasa iyon?

'Welcome home.'

Look at that hand writing? It's very neat as if he took his time when he wrote the words. Kung sabagay. Licensed engineer nga pala ito. Sadyang napilitan lamang na tumakbo dahil sa nais ng ama ayon kay Sonja.

Napatagal ang titig niya sa note kaya nang makarinig ng tunog ng doorbell ay halos mapapitlag siya.

She put the note down and went to the door. Isang matamis na ngiti naman ang ibinungad ni Sonja sa kanya nang mapagbuksan ito.

"Thought I'd drop by before you open the clinic. May lakad kami mamaya so dumaan na ako," ani Sonja saka ipinakita ang freshly-baked na croissant sa kanya.

"Thanks. You made these?" she asked while they're walking towards the kitchen.

"Uhum," sagot ni Sonja bago nito hinaplos ang red tulips. "Binili mo?"

Demi looked over her shoulder then smirked. "Nope. Governor Santi Vlanco sent it to me."

Napangisi rin si Sonja. "Looks like your plan is working quite fast, huh?" She sat on the stool. "But why red tulips? Hindi ba rosas ang madalas ibigay ng mga lalake?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Dunno. Maybe he's got poor eyesight he'd mistaken those tulips for roses."

Natawa silang pareho bago inilabas ni Sonja ang phone nito. "I don't think that's the reason, Demi. He's perfectly healthy. He's called the hottest governor for a reason."

"Yeah." She grabbed two cups for them. "I wonder how many women would cry on his social media accounts once they find out that I have their hottie governor right at my fingertips."

Umismid si Sonja. "Well, red tulips is a symbol of a confession. Maybe you gotta be careful with him. Tables might suddenly turn if you wouldn't."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Demi. "A confession?"

"Yeah. It says here that red tulips is given by someone who wanted to silently confess their long-lasting love." Ngumisi si Sonja. "What if Rimael was cold towards you back then because he was into you?"

"Imposible. That man was so rude back then. Besides, he only agreed to be part of my plan because Rancho took someone away from him." Naupo siya sa stool nang makapagsalin ng kape para sa kanila ni Sonja. "I have a feeling na si Kathlyn ang tinutukoy niya, considering na sila naman talaga ang dapat na ikakasal noon."

"Actually, that's what I thought, too kaya gulat na gulat ako noong nalaman kong si Rancho ang ipakakasal kay Kathlyn. We know how stubborn Rancho was back in the days. He's always been out of control so I still don't understand. What did it take for them to bend him at their will?"

Napalunok si Demi nang may alaalang nagbalik sa kanyang isip. She remembered how Rancho stood up for her when his mother humiliated her in front of a lot of people. The late Mrs. Santi Vlanco was never fond of her anyway. Iyong tatay naman nina Rancho ay hindi pa niya nakaharap dahil namamalagi sa abroad.

Nonetheless, Sonja's words were right. Rancho would never follow anyone. He lives up to his own expectations and decisions. Kaya noong nalaman niyang natuloy ang pagpapakasal nito kay Kathlyn ay naisip na niyang mahal nga nito ang pinakasalan, kasi kung hindi, imposibleng may magagamit ang sinoman upang kumbinsihin itong gawin ang isang bagay na ayaw nito.

That's always been the biggest difference between Rancho and Rimael. While Rimael is the good pup who will follow their parents' orders even if it means he'd give up the things he love, Rancho is the black sheep who would always fight for his freedom.

Demi lowered her gaze. "I don't think he was forced to marry Kathlyn. No one can tell Rancho what to do. We both know that."

Bumuntonghininga si Sonja. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you by any means."

She shook her head and forced a smile. "No, Sonja. Wala kang dapat ihingi ng tawad. It's my memories that keep on hurting me--"

Naputol ang kanyang sinasabi nang tumunog ang kanyang phone. She excused herself and went to the living room where she left her phone. Sinagot niya kaagad ang tawag nang makitang numero ni Rimael ang tumatawag.

"Hello?"

She heard a sharp sigh on the other line. "Grab a nice dress you can wear tonight. We're going to a party together."

Napakunot siya ng noo. "What party?"

"Rancho's birthday celebration."