A Dangerous Fire

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The other part of the deal

Pasado alas otso na ng gabi ako nakauwi, may ilaw pa ang loob ng aming bahay malamang ay gising pa ang mga kasambahay.

Wala akong nadatnan na tao sa aming sala kaya dumeretsyo na ako agad sa aking kwarto, Wala akong nararamdamang pagod o gutom dahil Hanggang ngayon iniisip ko din kung ano ba ang iba pang pinagusapan at napagkasunduan ng Don at ni Papa.

Kanina ng marinig ko ang tungkol dun I feel uneasy. Does Mommy knows about this? Is she?

What else did my father agree to?

If Mommy didn't know about this, why Papa didn't tell us about this?

Dang. Ang bilis ng Oras alas dies na agad ng gabi Isang Oras na pala akong naka tunganga dito sa study table ko.

Nag half bath muna ako ng mabilis dahil ngayon ko palang naramdaman ang pagod mula sa byahe at mga nalaman ko kanina.

Hanggang sa magising ako kina-umagahan ay yun pa din ang laman ng aking isip Hanggang ngayon Hindi ko pa din lubos maisip kung ano ba talaga ang iba pa nilang pinagusapan at ano nga ba talaga ang mapapala ng mga Valerique sa alyansang ito.

As I go down I already here faint noise at the dinning room, Maaga talagang nagigising sila Mommy.

"Good Morning, Amanda!" Tita said.

I just nod at her and looked for Mommy.

"Where is Mommy?"

"Nandun siya sa Garden," Sabi ni Tita. "She's bored at the same time sad, she missed kuya and wanted to follow him na. Kausapin mo siya Amanda I don't want to attend another funeral after your father."

I sigh.

I turn my back to Tita and find Where is Mama.

I see her, nag didilig ng mga puting rosas na regalo sa kanya ni Papa.

"Ma..."

Hindi Siya lumingon pero alam kong alam na nandito ako.

"You should go with Tita, pumunta kayo ng Australia para Hindi ka ma-stress."

Dun lang siya lumingon.

"Bakit? Marami tayong dapat asikasuhin dito, Hindi ko kailangan mag unwind."

Lumingon lang siya saglit at bumalik sa pagdidilig.

Kaya napabuntong hininga ako at kinuha ang hose na ginagamit niya pandilig.

Finally.

Nakuha kuna din ang full attention niya.

"Ako ng bahala Ma," I said while staring to her eyes. "I already talk Don Valerique, and he said na tutulungan niya tayo." I added.

Nakita ko ang pag kagulat sa kanyang mga mata pero bigla din itong nawala.

"Nakausap mo? Anong mapag usapan niyo?" She said.

"Don Valerique show me something," I slowly sigh. "Papa had talk to him before he died, and he intrust his last will to Don Valerique."

Hindi Siya nag sasalita pero alam kong hininintay niya ang mga sasabihin ko pa.

"And Papa wants me to be married with Don Valerique's youngest son," I said. "At may Sinabi pa ang Don sa akin, tungkol sa mga napagkasunduan nila ni Papa. May alam ka ba kung ano ang makukuha ng mga Valerique sa alyansang ito?" I added.

She just stared at me.

And slowly turn her head towards the flowers infront of her.

"Hindi Ako ang dapat mag sabi sayo ng mga dapat mong Malaman," she said. " Wala Ako sa posisyon para Sabihin Yun sa iyo, dahil Sila lang ng iyong ama ang may karapatan bigkasin ang mga salitang iyon."

She just stared at me.

And slowly turned her head toward the flowers in front of her.

"Hindi ako ang dapat magsabi sa'yo ng mga dapat mong malaman," she said quietly. "Wala ako sa posisyon para sabihin iyon sa'yo, dahil sila lang ng iyong ama ang may karapatang bigkasin ang mga salitang iyon."

Napatitig ako sa kanya.

"Ma… patay na si Papa."

Hindi siya agad sumagot.

Tanging tunog lang ng tubig mula sa hose ang naririnig sa pagitan namin.

Para bang mas pinili niyang magpanggap na abala sa pagdidilig kaysa harapin ang tanong ko.

"Then ask Don Valerique," she finally said.

Her voice sounded calm… but there was something behind it.

Something heavy.

"Ma, hindi naman ganun kasimple yun," I replied. "Hindi naman niya basta-basta sasabihin sa akin lahat."

She gave a small, tired smile.

"Pero sinabi niya na ipapakasal ka niya sa anak niya."

That made me fall silent.

She wasn't wrong.

Kung hindi siya nag dalawang isip na sabihin iyon sa akin… ibig sabihin may tiwala talaga si Papa sa kanya.

Or maybe…

Mas malalim pa ang dahilan.

I tightened my grip on the hose.

"Ma," I called again. "May alam ka ba talaga tungkol dito?"

This time she looked straight at me.

Her eyes were soft… but also distant.

Parang may iniisip siyang malayo.

"Amanda," she said slowly. "Ang alam ko lang… ay matagal nang pinaplano ng Papa mo ang lahat ng ito."

My chest tightened.

"Matagal na?"

She nodded.

"Bago pa man nagsimulang malugi ang plantation."

Napakurap ako.

"Bago pa?"

"Yes."

Napaatras ako ng isang hakbang.

That didn't make sense.

Kung matagal na pala itong plano…

Ibig sabihin hindi lang ito tungkol sa plantation.

"Then why?" I asked. "Why would Papa do that?"

Hindi siya sumagot.

Instead, she reached out and gently touched one of the white roses.

"Because your father trusted that family."

Her words hung in the air.

Trusted them?

Para saan?

Before I could ask another question, she suddenly looked back at me.

"Did you meet the son?"

Napakunot ang noo ko.

"Yes."

"Ano ang pangalan?"

"Aemiel," I answered. "Aemiel Von Valerique."

She slowly repeated the name under her breath.

"Aemiel…"

Then she sighed quietly.

"If he is anything like his father…"

She didn't finish the sentence.

"Like his father what?" I asked.

But she shook her head.

"Wala."

I stared at her.

Clearly may gusto siyang sabihin… pero pinipigilan niya.

"Ma—"

"Have breakfast first," she suddenly interrupted. "Pagkatapos nun… bumalik ka kay Don Valerique."

I frowned.

"Bumalik?"

She nodded.

"Kung gusto mong malaman ang buong katotohanan… sa kanya mo lang iyon maririnig."

Her voice was firm now.

"And Amanda."

"Yes?"

She looked at me seriously.

"If you really decide to marry that man…"

My heart skipped a beat.

"Make sure you understand everything first."

I didn't answer.

Because honestly…

Hindi ko rin alam kung handa ba talaga ako.

Marriage wasn't even in my plans.

Lalo na sa isang lalaking halos hindi ko kilala.

But if this was the only way to save the plantation…

I might have no choice.

Later that morning, habang nagmamaneho ako papunta muli sa mansyon ng mga Valerique…

Hindi pa rin mawala sa isip ko ang sinabi ni Mama.

Matagal nang pinaplano ng Papa mo ang lahat ng ito.

Why?

What exactly was he preparing for?

As the large gates of the Valerique estate slowly opened in front of me…

I suddenly felt that uneasy feeling again.

Like I was stepping deeper into something I didn't fully understand.

And maybe…

Something my father had been trying to protect me from all along.

Huminto ang sasakyan ko sa harap ng malaking mansyon ng mga Valerique.

The place still looked the same as yesterday.

Malaki.

Tahimik.

At parang may kung anong bigat na nakapaligid sa buong lugar.

I stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance.

Bago pa man ako makalapit sa pinto ay bumukas na iyon, at isang kasambahay ang sumalubong sa akin.

"Good morning, Miss Seravine," magalang nitong bati.

"Good morning," sagot ko habang bahagyang tumango.

"Don Valerique is expecting you."

Hindi na ako nagtanong pa at sumunod na lamang sa kanya.

Habang naglalakad kami sa mahabang hallway ng mansyon, napansin ko ulit ang mga paintings sa dingding.

Most of them looked old.

Mga larawan ng mga lalaking seryoso ang mga mukha, nakasuot ng mga pormal na kasuotan.

Probably the ancestors of the Valerique family.

For some reason, habang tinititigan ko ang mga ito ay pakiramdam ko ay pinagmamasdan nila ako.

As if silently judging me.

Sa wakas ay huminto kami sa harap ng isang pinto.

The housemaid knocked twice.

"Sir, Miss Seravine is here."

"Let her in."

Narinig ko ang malalim at kalmadong boses ng Don mula sa loob.

Binuksan ng kasambahay ang pinto at bahagyang yumuko bago umalis.

Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago pumasok.

Don Valerique was sitting behind his desk, just like yesterday.

Calm.

Composed.

Parang wala siyang kahit anong iniisip na problema.

"Good morning, hija," bati niya.

"Good morning po," sagot ko habang lumalapit sa mesa niya.

He gestured for me to sit.

Umupo ako sa harap niya.

"Did you think about what we discussed yesterday?" tanong niya.

Hindi agad ako sumagot.

Instead, direkta ko siyang tinitigan.

"Yes," I said slowly. "But that's not the reason why I came back."

Bahagya siyang napangiti.

"I assumed as much."

Napakunot ang noo ko.

"My mother told me something," I continued.

"Oh?"

"She said matagal nang pinaplano ni Papa ang lahat ng ito."

Nanatiling kalmado ang mukha ng Don.

But I noticed the small pause in his movement.

As if he expected that question.

"Your father was a very careful man," sabi niya.

"Then why would he agree to something like this?" direkta kong tanong.

"Why would he agree to marry me off to someone I barely know?"

Nagkaroon ng sandaling katahimikan sa pagitan namin.

Then he leaned back slightly in his chair.

"Because he trusted my family."

Same words.

Exactly the same thing Mama said earlier.

Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa bag ko.

"But trust for what?" tanong ko.

Before he could answer—

The door suddenly opened.

Pareho kaming napalingon.

And there he was.

Aemiel Von Valerique.

Naka simple lang siyang polo at dark pants, pero kahit ganun ay hindi pa rin maitatago ang matikas niyang tindig.

His eyes briefly met mine.

Cold.

Unreadable.

"So you're here again," he said calmly.

I crossed my arms slightly.

"I had questions."

He walked inside the office and leaned casually against the table.

"Of course you do."

Napairap ako.

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

For a moment, walang nagsalita.

Then I looked between him and his father.

"My father made an agreement with your family," I said firmly.

"And I want to know the rest of it."

Aemiel glanced at his father.

But Don Valerique remained silent.

Almost like he was waiting.

Finally, Aemiel sighed softly.

"Your father asked our family to help the plantation," he said.

"I already know that," sagot ko agad.

"But that's not everything."

His gaze sharpened slightly.

"No."

My heart started beating faster.

"So what else?"

For a few seconds, he just stared at me.

Then he said something that made my chest tighten.

"He also asked our family to protect it."

Napakunot ang noo ko.

"Protect the plantation?"

"Yes."

I shook my head.

"That doesn't make sense. It's just land."

Aemiel slowly tilted his head.

"Is it?"

My stomach suddenly felt heavy.

"What are you implying?"

But instead of answering immediately, he slowly walked toward the window.

Tinignan niya ang malawak na lupain sa labas ng mansyon.

Then he spoke again.

"Tell me something, Amanda."

"What?"

"Did your father ever tell you why he refused to sell the northern part of Isla Amadeo?"

Napakurap ako.

"What?"

I remembered that.

There had been offers before.

Big companies who wanted to buy part of the land.

But Papa always refused.

I swallowed.

"He said it was part of the plantation."

Aemiel slowly looked back at me.

"That's not the real reason."

A cold feeling crawled down my spine.

"What do you mean?"

But Aemiel only gave a faint smile.

A smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"That's the other part of the deal."

My breath caught.

"What?"

Before I could ask anything else, Don Valerique suddenly stood up.

"I think that's enough for today," he said calmly.

Napatayo ako.

"Enough? Hindi niyo pa nga sinasabi sa akin ang totoo!"

But the Don only looked at me with the same calm expression.

"If you truly want to understand the agreement your father made…"

He paused.

Then added,

"You should visit the plantation again."

Napakunot ang noo ko.

"I'm there all the time."

But this time, Aemiel was the one who answered.

"Not that part."

My heart skipped a beat.

"What part?"

He held my gaze.

"The northern land."

My fingers slowly curled into fists.

"What's there?"

Aemiel didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he walked past me toward the door.

Then he stopped beside me and said quietly—

"You'll find out soon enough."

And just like that…

He left the room.

Leaving me standing there with one terrifying realization slowly forming in my mind.

Maybe the plantation my father protected so fiercely…

Was hiding something.

Something important enough…

To make him bind my future to the Valerique family.

To be continued...