The SEDUCTION Of A Husband

MANSYON

Arliyah Villareal

I DIDN’T enroll in any Universities after I graduated in High school. Sa araw ng debut ko ay kasama ko ang nag-iisa kong kaibigan na si Nadya, she gave me a small cake and sang a happy birthday song for me. That is how my day ended.

Kinabukasan ay bumisita ako sa puntod ng aking mga magulang. I can already feel that Tito Ramon and his two daughters will soon move out of the mansion. Babalik na sila ng probinsya dahil napagtanto nila ang hirap at malaking gastusin dito sa syudad.

“I don’t know what I should do with my life. Tito Ramon will soon leave, I will be left alone in our house again.” I whispered along with the cold breeze in the place.

My relatives said that I am not a child anymore, I can live on my own. And that is one of my biggest insecurities, subukan ko mang tumayo sa sarili kong mga paa ay nahihirapan pa rin ako. Dahil buong buhay ko ay nasanay na ako na may masasandalan.

AFTER TITO and his daughters moved out of the mansion. The next day was depressing news I have received. Halos manlumo ako matapos sabihin sa akin ang balitang hindi ko inaasahan na maaaring mangyari.

“This is the deed of sale. You can talk to your lawyer to expound to you what is being stated in the legal documents.”

Isang babaeng lawyer ang kausap ko na may katandaan. May isang lalaki na tingin ko kaedad lang din ni Tito Ramon. Paano nangyari iyun at matagal na palang naibenta ang mansyon? And why would my father do that? Halos ibuhos niya ang dugo at pawis mapatayo ang bahay na pangarap namin, ngunit ibebenta niya lang sa iba nung siya ay nabubuhay pa?

I don’t have a lawyer and I don’t even have money to pay for the consultation. Kinuha ko ang documento at binasa iyung mabuti. Hanggang sa makita ko roon ang pangalan ng nagmamay-ari ng mansyon. Matagal na ito ngunit bakit ngayon lang siya sumulpot para kunin sa akin, buhay pa sina papa at mama nung mapunta sa kanya ang lupa at mansyon.

“You have… I guess days to pack your things and leave the mansion. Mr. Sandro Dy Ciejo will move out of this mansion, consider this as his kindness for letting you live in the house for a couple of months. Hindi mo rin siguro ito alam ngunit si Mr. Ciejo din ang siyang nagbabayad ng tax sa bahay at lupa.” She looked at the man who seemed to survey the area. “Ahm, kailan nga ba ang balik ni Mr. Ciejo? Para naman makapaghanda si Arliyah Villareal sa kanyang pag-alis.”

Tulala lang akong nakikinig sa kanila, halos hindi ko maproseso ang nangyayari. Marami na agad na scenario ang pumapasok sa isip ko. Saan ako pupulutin? Kanino ako hihingi ng tulong? Even my father’s friends in the industry already turned their back on me. Dahil pati sila ay nadamay sa paglubog ng kompanya at negosyo nila mama at papa. Ngayon ay may paninisi pa rin sa panig nila.

“Perhaps, the day after tomorrow. Nagmamadali na makalipat si Sandro. Alam mo naman yun, kapag nagdesisyon tila hindi pinag-iisipan. Gusto laging nasusunod at nangyayari ang mga kahilingan.” The man smirked and glanced at me with a smile written on his lips. Ngunit naglaho ito nang makita ang lugmok kong mukha. Lumapit siya sa akin at sinubukang ngumiti. “Ikaw ang anak ni Arnaldo Villareal, hindi ba?”

Nakaramdam ako ng kirot at napayuko. Buwan na ang lumipas pero hanggang ngayon ay nagluluksa pa rin ako. Nandito pa rin ang sakit at pait ng kanilang pag-iwan sa akin.

“Mabuting kaibigan at negosyante ang iyung ama.” He gave me an assuring smile. Despite all the blames I am receiving because of the fallen empire from a great tycoon Villareal, hindi ko maipagkakaila na minsanan ko na rin kinuwestyon ang kakayahan ng aking ama. “He is a great CEO and leader.”

Hindi ko magawang ngumiti sa sinabi niya. May bara pa rin sa lalamunan ko lalo na at naiisip ang pagkawala ng mansyon sa akin. Wala ng natitira pa sa akin. I would starve to death, maybe I can ask for help from Nadya. O kaya kay Tito Ramon.

MABILIS LUMIPAS ANG oras, hanggang sa dumating na nga ang araw na nagising na lamang akong kailangan ko ng umalis dahil may iba ng nagmamay-ari sa bahay. I was crying all night, namumugto ang mga mata ko habang nasa sala ako at naghihintay sa pagdating ng bagong may-ari ng bahay.

I stared at my luggage and bags. I am starting to think of selling some of my branded bags and jewelry, baka sakaling makatulong sa pagsisimula ko. My skin looks pale, I haven’t eaten nice meal. May maganda akong bahay pero nagugutom pa rin ako, paano pa kaya kung maging palaboy na ako?

Napatayo ako nung pumasok na ang kanina ko pa hinihintay. It was the woman again, siya ang unang pumasok kaya sinubukan ko siyang ngitian at batiin kahit mabigat sa aking pakiramdam ang mga mangyayari. Kahit nakakagulat at hindi katanggap-tanggap.

“Arliyah, this is the new owner of the mansion. I would like you to meet Mr. Sandro Dy Ciejo.” Doon ko lang napansin ang pagpasok ng lalaki na may katandaan sa akin ng ilang taon. “A very successful business tycoon at his age.”

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa lalaking lumapit sa akin. Wearing his black sunglasses and business attire, matangkad at talagang mas matanda sa akin. He approached me with brimming confidence, he looked intimidating but it added to the fact that he was not just looking that way, but the yielding confidence is certainly undeniable. Mabibigat ang yapak niya at huminto sa harapan ko tsaka tinanggal ang suot na sunglasses.

He has a looking rigorous jaw and conspicuous Adam’s apple. Awang ang mapupulang labi at ang kanyang titig ay mapanuri, pinasadahan ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang baba. His lips twisted and tilted his head in amusement, it made me flush and I didn’t want him to notice that. I hope he didn’t.

“You must be Arnaldo Villareal’s unica ija, the only Villareal,” he uttered in a hostile manner. “I am his friend and former apprentice, Sandro Dy Ciejo. I didn’t know that my good friend has a young daughter.” He is talking like I’m a little girl. Well, I’m not! For some reason, I don’t want him to treat or look at me like a little girl.

He offered me his palm and I was still awestruck staring at his gorgeous face and masculine physique. Bumagsak ang tingin ko sa palad nito at tumikhim ako bago inabot iyun. Hindi ko pa nahahawakan ng maayos nang higpitan na niya ang kapit sa aking palad. Nakaramdam ako agad ng kakaibang kuryente na dumaloy sa aking katawan. And my heart hammered at a fast pace that couldn’t even hold its grip together to stay calm, dahil tila nagwawala ito sa loob-loob ko sa hindi ko malamang dahilan.

I suddenly felt a blazing sensation throughout my body. I want to fix myself and look presentable in front of this man, dahil sobrang presentabli at pormal nito. I instantly become conscious of myself.

“You are?” he added in a baritone voice.

“A-arliyah Villareal,” pabulong kong sagot at halos mahiya sa pagkautal sa sinabi ko.

I suddenly felt dismayed when he let go of my palm and shifted his attention to the lady. Kahit nakatagilid siya sa akin ay hindi ko maiwasan na puriin ang kakisigan nito. He looks sturdy and vigorous in his body build, even his movements speak how manly he is. And his smells, a scent of a clean, polished, and masculine man.

“I would like to roam around the area. You can discuss the legal document with Arliyah Villareal if she has questions.”

Biglang bumalik ang lungkot sa aking mukha at pamomroblema sa panandaliang nawala matapos siyang makita. It somehow diverted my emotions for a bit from feeling down to animated when I saw this man. Pero ngayon ay bumalik na sa reyalidad ang aking isipan.

“I have no questions. It’s clearly stated on the paper that my father sold this mansion to you… a long time ago,” may pait sa boses ko at napayuko. I have talked to Nadya’s father, he is a lawyer. Totoo nga ang nakasaad, kung ano ang dahilan ni papa ay hindi ko alam. Marahil nalubog na sa utang kaya pati ito ay nabenta na pala ng hindi namin nalalaman ni mama.

“Then I must say you’re ready to leave the house, right?” he immediately added so I lifted my eyes to look at him. I will never be prepared but I obediently nodded my head. What choice do I have? “Pero bago yun gusto kong makita ang kabuuan ng mansyon. Masyado itong malaki, can you tour me around before you leave… kung may oras ka at ayos lang sayo. Especially that you know the mansion better than I do.” kaswal pa nitong dagdag.

Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang aking mga gamit. He inserted his one palm in his pocket and turned again to me, waiting for my response.

“Pu-puwedi naman, wala naman akong gagawin…” dahil wala rin akong mapupuntahan.

“Glad to hear that.” Mabilis niya akong tinalikuran at nilapitan ang lawyer para kausapin ito. “Call my secretary that I need my things in my condo to be transferred here today. Lilipat na ako sa araw mismong ito.” Marami pa siyang hinabilin dito at tingin ko ang Ginang ay hindi lamang basta lawyer niya, kundi isa sa mga taong nagtatrabaho sa kanya.

I bit my lower lip and think where I should go after this. Bumaling siya sa akin muli at ang malalim nitong mga titig ay halos kainin ako sa aking kinatatayuan. It was hypnotizing, malagkit ang titig nito ngunit naroon ang lamig at pagkapormal.