Lieven De Luca

“Happy Graduation, Amara anak!” masayang bati ni Celeste Lopez sa kanyang anak. “Thank you, mom. The bouquet is beautiful, thank you po, dad!” Niyakap ni Amara ang kanyang mga magulang na may ngiti sa labi. Today was her graduation. She finally had her bachelor’s degree which means she can finally do everything she wants. She can independently work as a model without her parents’ strict rules at pwede na rin siyang magtayo ng sarili niyang boutique. “Nasaan po si kuya? I saw him taking pictures kanina,” nagtatakang tanong ni Amara. “Umalis si Dom kanina after you received your award. Kailangan niyang sunduin sa airport si Mr. De Luca,” paliwanag ni Mr. Sebastian Lopez, ang ama ni Amara. Amara frowned. “Mr. De Luca? Is he that important?” Her brother left for that certain Mr. De Luca so she had to ask dahil hindi niya maiwasang magtampo sa kanyang kapatid. Her mother sighed and gently squeezed her right cheek. “Kaibigan ng kuya mo si Mr. De Luca. Isa pa, may pag-uusapan silang project ng Kuya Dom mo.” Amara rolled her eyes. “Fine. By the way, can I invite my batchmates to come over sa bahay mamayang gabi? Please, mom?” Her tone sounded soft as she pleaded her mother to let her host her graduation party at their house. “No. You—” Celeste was about to say no but her husband cut her off midway. “Yes, you can have the house this evening. Susunduin namin sa Iloilo si Lola Esperanza mo. We’ll come back tomorrow for the family dinner.” Sebastian gave her daughter a wink, an assurance that her mother won’t reprimand her. “Sebastian! You and Dominic are indulging her too much! What if boys will come over later and do something bad? Bata pa ang anak natin, Sebastian!” galit na sigaw ni Celeste sa kanyang asawa na ngayon ay nakangiti lamang. “Honey, let her. I don’t like men hovering around her too but today’s her graduation. Kakausapin ko na lang ang mga security para higpitan ang pagbabantay sa mga bata.” Sebastian was trying to talk her wife out of it. “Dominic will also check on her everytime. Kilala mo naman si Dom,” dagdag pa niya. Nanliit ang mga mata ni Celeste habang nakatingin kay Amara na ngayon ay nakatago sa likod ng kanyang ama. “Sasabunutan talaga kita kapag may narinig ako pag-uwi namin bukas.” “Mommy! We’ll just have some fun, that’s all!” Amara defended herself. “Will that Finn Moore join your party?” This time, it was her father who asked. His voice was no longer soft. It was firm. “He probably will, right? He’d been chasing after you like a dog,” he added. “Dad, I will invite everyone. No exception. Sure ako na pupunta rin si Finn,” she replied with a casual tone. Matagal ng alam ng mga magulang ni Amara ang kagustuhan ni Finn na manligaw sa kanya pero ilang beses din niyang tinanggihan ang lalaki. Even her parents, most especially her brother made it clear that they are wary of Finn. “Really? He’s not your boyfriend, isn’t he?” Her father was interrogating her. “Finn is a good person pero kaibigan lang talaga ang tingin ko sa kanya,” sagot ni Amara sa kanyang ama. “Isa pa, ilang beses ko na po siyang ni-reject ‘di ba?” “Okay, that’s enough. Umuwi na tayo. You have to help the maids prepare the house for tonight. Aalis kami ng dad mo mamaya,” giit naman ng ina ni Amara. Sebastian glanced at his wrist watch. “Right. Let’s head home.” “Hey, De Luca! How are you? Tatlong taon ka na ring hindi umuwi ng Pinas,” bati ni Dominic sa kaibigan niyang kakababa lang mula sa private jet nito. “Nakalimutan mo na yata ang lupang sinilangan mo, Lieven!” “I’ve been so busy lately. And I wasn’t born here, Dom. Damn it, it’s too hot!” mura ni Lieven bago tinanggal ang suot na necktie. “The heat is killing me,” reklamo pa nito. Pabirong tinapik ni Dominic sa balikat si Lieven. “Welcome to Philippines, De Luca!” Lieven glared. “Nasaan ang sasakyan mo?” Tinuro naman ni Dominic ang sasakyan niya. Lieven walked to the car and made himself comfortable inside as if he owned it. Dominic filled the empty space beside him. “Uuwi ka sa bahay niyo?” tanong ni Lieven pagkatapos nitong ayusin ang seatbelt niya. Lieven was about to talk when Dominic’s phone rang. He saw the caller’s name, it was Dom’s father, Mr. Sebastian Lopez. “Dad? Tapos na ang graduation ni Amara?” tanong ni Dominic sa ama. “Yeah. Umuwi na rin kami sa bahay. Listen, Dom, your sister will host her graduation party in our house this evening. Aalis kami ng—” Hindi na pinatapos ni Dominic ang kanyang ama sa sasabihin sana nito. “What?! Party at our house?! This evening?! And Amara will host it?!” Dominic’s tone was too loud that it caught Lieven’s attention. “Patapusin mo muna ako, Dom. Pinayagan ko ang kapatid mo pero kailangan mo siyang bantayan. Pupunta kami sa Iloilo ng mommy mo para sunduin ang lola niyo,” ani Sebastian sa kabilang linya. Napalitan ng seryosong ekspresyon ang mukha ni Dominic. “Bakit mo pinayagan si Amara, dad? Men will be there too. And Finn?” Umasim pa lalo ang mukha niya noong binanggit niya ang pangalan ni Finn. Rinig niya ang pagbuntong-hininga ng kanyang ama. “Let your sister host the party. And yes, that Finn will probably be there too kaya bantayan mo ang kapatid mo, Dom.” Dom hissed in displeasure. “Fine. You and mom can go to Iloilo. Pauwi na rin ako sa bahay. Ingat kayo ni mommy.” “We will. I’ll cut the call now. Your mother is calling me.” That was the last thing his father told him before the call went off. Dominic sighed and massaged his temple. “Damn it,” he cussed. “You’re going to babysit tonight?” Lieven’s teasing tone made Dominic roll his eyes in annoyance. “I have to. Hindi na ako natutuwa sa desisyon ng kapatid ko,” inis sa sagot ni Dominic. “Worse, that Finn will be coming.” “Hindi na bata ang kapatid mo, Dom. Let her have some fun,” Lieven muttered. “I know but she’s my only sister, Lieven. Ang bilis ng panahon, baka mamaya hindi ko namalayan, ikakasal na pala siya,” seryoso ngunit kabadong sambit ni Dominic. Iisipin niya pa lang na ikakasal agad ang kapatid niya, hindi na siya natutuwa. Malakas na tawa ang narinig ni Dominic mula kay Lieven. “You’re not planning to get rid of every potential suitor your sister would have, right? Dom, are you planning to let her grow old all alone?” Dominic shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just that she grew up too fast.” “Don’t you want to be Uncle Dominic?” Lieven flashed a grin, a very wide one. Saglit na natahimik si Dominic at napaisip. “Oo nga ‘no? bakit hindi ko naisip ‘yon? Ang galing mo talaga, De Luca.” Napailing na lang si Lieven bago tumingin sa labas ng bintana. “Afterall, you can’t control what the future may hold, Lopez.” “Hayss. Do you want to spend the night in our house? Samahan mo akong magbantay ng mga bata,” suhestyon ni Dominic sa kaibigan. “Alam kong busy ka pero magpalipas ka na ng gabi sa bahay. We can drink and catch up.” “Fine,” Lieven agreed in a whim. “Oh. That was… unexpected.” Dominic didn’t expect Lieven to agree that fast. Normally, he would say no because he has papers to sign or proposals to review. Lieven fixed his posture. “Drink and catch up you say? I need to… chill out once in a while… I think?” “Ayan. Ganyan dapat para hindi ka mukhang robot!” tawang giit ni Dominic. “Who said I don’t have a social life? I go out occasionally,” Lieven defended himself. “You mean business gatherings? It’s been three years since you had a girlfriend. Don’t tell me you still haven’t moved on when you and Naomi broke up?” Dominic’s sarcasm mixed with his usual teasing tone lingered in the air. “Get a life, Dom! Naomi is my ex and that’s it. Ang dami mong iniisip. Bakit hindi ka na lang din maghanap ng babae?” resbak na tanong ni Lieven. “Ah. Malapit na pala tayo sa bahay,” pag-iiba ni Dominic sa usapan pero napansin agad ‘yon ni Lieven. “Ang bilis mong mag-iba ng usapan. You’re not planning to end the Lopez bloodline with you, right? Or are you not capable to hook up with women?” It was Lieven’s turn to throw shade at Dominic. “Shut up, Lieven. Just wait and I’ll have a wife for myself before you do,” Dominic replied with a challenging tone. Lieven let out a devilish chuckle. “I want to see you try.” “If you get to tie the knot before me then I’ll let you have anything you want.” “You better remember what you said, Dom. Sasakalin kita kapag binawi mo ‘yang sinabi mo,” seryosong sambit ni Lieven. “Yeah, sure. By the way, I will let you meet my sister. Just put up with her attitude because she’s a—” “Brat?” Si Lieven na ang tumapos sa sasabihin sana ni Dominic. “How did you know?” nagtatakang tanong ni Dominic. He didn’t introduce both of them yet. Lieven paused for a moment before replying with a calm tone. “You always talk about her, Dom.” “Right. Basta iwasan mo na lang siya. You wouldn’t like her attitude and it’s our fault for spoiling her too much,” ani Dominic. “But don’t be rude to her like you always do when women approach you. Binabalaan na kita,” dagdag pa nito. “Don’t assume things, Dom,” Lieven replied in a deep tone with his eyes fixed on the tall buildings outside. Dominic shrugged before he let out a deep sigh. “Just saying. Amara does things that may be out of hand.” Mahabang katahimikan ang bumalot sa loob ng sasakyan. Iniisip na ni Lieven na hindi magkakasundo si Amara at si Lieven dahil magkasalungat sila ng personalidad. Tahimik na lang siyang nagdasal na sana ay magdilang-santo ang kapatid niya mamaya kapag pinakilala niya si Lieven. “I repeat, you don’t know what the future holds,” Lieven broke the silence with a hidden smirk lingering on his lips. “Let’s see how things would unfold when I meet your sister… finally,” he added as his eyes darkened with something far more dangerous.