Mine Alone

Betrayal

She open her eyes and found Vince looking down at her intently. Dala na nito ang kanyang back pack. 

"Thank you" she smiled. And look past him. She a young lady approaching in floral top and plain black leggings.

"Kuya Vince", anito. Lumingon si Vince dito at ngumiti.

He must be a frequent visitor here for her to recognize him even at the back. Iniabot ni Vince ang back pack niya sa babae.

Tumingin din sa kanya ang babae at bahagyang ngumiti. Sa tantiya niya ay nasa early 20s ito.

"Andi", she smiled at inilahad niya ang kamay.

"Ay ma'am", anitong nag atubili at parang nabigla na nagpalipat lipat ang tingin sa kanya at ke Vince. "Kanina pa po kayo hinihintay ni ma'am Laura sa study room."

"I guess I have to go", si Vince, smiling at her. "See you again".

Tumango siya at hinintay niyang makasampa muna ito sa sasakyan hanggang sa makaalis ito. Kumaway pa siya. Saka niya binalingan ang babae.

"What's your name?"

"A-ailyn po ma'am", parang kabado pa nitong sagot sa kanya. Saglit siyang tinignan at nagpatiuna ng maglakad papasok ng mansion. Nagmamadali.

Napaisip siya kung kanina pa siya hinihintay ng ate nya bakit hindi siya pinasundo? Hindi na siya natagalan sa paghanap ng masasakyan. Pero tapos na yun, sinundan niya si Ailyn. Mula sa pinto nakita niya ang isa pang lalake na saktong tumalikod naman papasok ng bahay.

Ailyn directed her to a library. 

"Dalhin ko na po sa room ninyo ma'am," anito sa kanyang backpack. Nagpasalamat siya bago tuluyang tinulak ang pinto kung saan pumasok din ang lalake kanina.

She was stunned for a moment ng tumambad ang nasa loob. Ang buong akala niya ang ate lamang niya at ang lalakeang madadatnan niya. Ngunit meron pang isang matandang lalake sa loob.

Tinignan nya ang ate niya na inirapan lang siya. At sa matandang lalake na nakaupo upuan sa likod ng desk table. Tumayo ito at inilhaf ang kamay.

"Attorney Arevalo", anito.

Inabot niya ang kamay nito. "Andrea Fernandez".

"Good. Good. Glad that you are now here so we can start", anito at iminuwestra na umupo siya sa harap ng desk na upuan. Sumunod siya at nahagip ng mga mata niya ang lalakeng nakasandal sa self. Arms crossed with blank facial expression.

"We can start," sabi ni Attorney Arevalo and pulled out the papers from his attache case. He started reading it. She remain silent and attentive. 

Hindi niya alam bakit kailangan pa siya dito samantalang hindi naman siya interesado sa yaman ng mga Monteverde. Saka alam naman niya na hindi siya maambunan pa. Lalo na at matagal ng itinakwil ng ama niya silang mag ina. Bakit kinailangan pa siyang papuntahin pa rito?

Nananahimik na siya sa Manila. Merong maliit na negosyo kasama ang matalik niyang kaibigan na si Olivia. Pero bigla na lang tumawag ang ate niya na umuwi ngayong araw na to. 

Ayaw niya itong makita. Kung anong reaction nito sa kanya pagkakita sa kanya, ganun din ang gusto niyang ipakita. Ang kaibahan lang ay pinanatili niya ang pagigig civil dito.

She froze when she heard her full name, Andrea Ellisse Fernandez mentioned by the lawyer. Tumingin siya sa lawyer with eyes wide open.

Her gaze flipped up on him, only to met his, spitting fire on her. She was confused for a moment and suddenly felt fear upon the recognition of hatred visible in his perfect face. He is not hiding it. And she is scared to death.

She lowered her gaze on the floor immediately and looked utterly more desperate to get out the small library of the mansion. She wanted to run and never come back. She stand up absent mindedly and swayed a little when a hand caught her waist.

Her stepsister just push her and Jeff just caught her.

"Don't dare touch her again", si Jeff. Nakita na lang niyang matiim nitong tinitignan si Lorraine and has let go of her when she's already standing straight. The sudden touch has brought her a shock. Para siyang nakuryente na hindi niya mawari. But before she could analyze what just happened, the sharp look from Lorraine brought her back to senses.

"How dare you b***h!", si Lorriane. Umatras ito ng bahagya sa kanya. Ngunit ang tingin nito hindi inaalis sa kanya. "Mang aagaw na nga abg nanay mo at wala kang pinagkaiba."

"Attorney, this is ridiculous! Paanong nangyari yan?!?", galit na galit nitong baling naman sa lawyer.

"All the amendments in the will were done accordingly. Ang lola ninyo ang may kagustuhan nito," mahinahong sagot ng lawyer.

"This is wrong," mariin ang salitang binitiwan ni Jeff."This hacienda long belong to me. Tito's debt were all the payment. Why do I have to marry her just to get what's already mine?!"

Andi can feel the each word like a knife penetrating her soul. It's an accused. She could sense the feel of betrayal in every hissed he makes in letting out the words. And each moment that passes by feels like eternity of torment. She feels like betrayed as well. Bakit nagawa ng lola niya yun? Bakit siya? 

All the explanation from the lawyer never reached her mind. She was lost in her own thoughts. A lot of things were running through her mind. Hindi ba naisip ng lola niya ang kapakanan niya? Bakit kailangan siyang ipakasal without her consent? Bakit kay Jeff?

All she wanted to do is run. Run at this moment and be gone forever. 

"Well, at least, you can still have the 25% of the hacienda," anang lawyer kay Lorraine. 

"I'll talk to dad about this," anito at nagmartsang palabas ng study room. Malakas na balibag ng pinto ang nagpagulat pa kay Andi.

"As for you two," ang lawyer. "You have to keep the marriage in at least a year before I can transfer all the properties to your name. Othereise..."

It trailed off again. 'One year...Anong ibig sabihin nun?' takang tanong sa isip ni Andi. Ang dami niyang gustong itanong. Kung bakit. Para saan. Pero walang namutawi sa labi niya. She could feel her eyes stinging from an apparent tears. And she can't cry right now.

No. She had to think.

"Attorney, you can transfer all the properties to Jeff", mayamaya ay nagkaroon na siya ng boses na siyang nagpahinto sa sinasabi ng lawyer na nageexplain.

Tumingin si Jeff sa kanya. Parang inaarok ang intention niya.

"Kung kinakailangan magsign ako today I'll do it, " dugtong niya. 

"Unfortunately that's not the way things are done. I follow the will according to client's written will and that is the law."

She sulked. Looked at Jeff as if asking for help. But what she can see is only a look of disbelief.

Iniisip din ba nito na siya ang nagmanipula sa lola niya para mangyari ito?

She wouldn't. Maging siya ay nagulat rin.