Broken Bones and Scar Souvenirs

Chapter 6 - All the Rare Gems (Part 1)

Marahas na hinagis ni Yalmar ang lahat ng naka-display nababasagin sa isang hallway table na dinaanan niya. Patuloy pa rin ang mahinang pagmumura ng binata nang naabutan siya ng kanyang nakakatandang kapatid. Of course Yves would come rushing to him after every heated argument with Yael. That was kind of their thing growing up.

“You already broke the fertility vase from Timbuktu. Don’t even think about touching that antique Tibetan singing bowl,” Yves warned him.

“Don’t yap at me right now, Tres. Or I’ll fling this bowl at you.” He held up the relic and made a flex at his brother.

Sobra-sobra man ito sa paningin ng iba ay normal na ang mga tagpong iyong sa pamilya Vescozar. Alam ni Yves ang tila walang katapusang hidwaan ng dalawa nitong nakababatang kapatid. He also knew that Yalmar was not the type of person to cool things down and soothed his rage. Oh, he thrived in it and everyone was better off to stay out of his way.

Napabuntong hininga na lang si Yves at humalukipkip sa inasal ng kapatid nito. “I told you to be cordial and you thought it meant throwing a steak knife at our brother. Alam mo ba ang ipekto nito sa fiancé mo?”

“I should’ve aimed between his eyes and not his glass. He’s no brother of mine. He can burn in hell. Ako pa ang maghahatid sa kanya doon,” he bitterly spat.

“You don’t mean that, Sinco. Look, wala akong pakialam kung magsuntukan kayong dalawa hanggang umaga. But did you really have to do it tonight? Anong nangyari sa pinag-usapan nating good impression?”

Yalmar just rolled his eyes. “You know that I was just shitting you ‘cuz you wouldn’t shut up right?”

Pinagdaop naman ni Yves ang dalawang palad nito na tila nagmamakaawa na sa kapatid. “Just please don’t screw this up. Dad put a lot of effort for this welcome dinner. At least try to be pleasant to Sab. Do something nice for her.”

“I don’t need to do anything for anyone.” Yalmar crossed his arms.

“Fine. Pero tama na ‘yang pagbabasag. Nag-walk-out na ang fiancé mo, oh. Let her have some sleep and have someone clean this s**t up before she sees it in the morning.”

Yalmar put the bowl back down to its usual place hastily and dug into his pocket to light a stick. “Whatever. I have more interesting things to do anyways.”

Malalaking hakbang naman ang ginawa ni Yalmar palabas ng masyon at agad na tinungo ang maliit na workshed sa likod nito. Bago pa man siya makapasok ay tumunog ang cellphone niya at agad niya namang sinagot. It was an overseas call from one of his men.

“I presume you found my shiny trinket?” he started as he continued to take hits from his cigarette.

“The specific piece was not for sale and they refuse to even take it out of the vault for viewing. S-surely there are other ones,” nag-aalangang sagot ng tauhan niya sa kabilang linya.

“Have you told them who you work for? I don’t want the other ones, Neil. I want that rock and the whole set.” Yalmar’s voice was low but with a stern emphasis. “Sabihin mo, kahit magkano man ‘yan kaya kong tapatan. And once they agreed, write them a big fat check and thank them for their services and silence.”

“I-I will try, Sinco.”

“Don’t try. Do it… and make it fast. When you’re done there, take the first jet home. I need that rock in a few days.” Hindi na niya hinintay pa ang sagot ng kanyang tauhan at agad na pinatay ang tawag.

He took a last hit and threw his cigarette butt. Nang makapasok naman ang binata sa shed ay agad niya itong sinarado at dumiretso sa utility door. He punched in the code and the elevator door to the bunker opened. Nang tuluyan nang makababa si Yalmar ay isang malaking double door naman na gawa sa bakal ang sumalubong sa kanya. Maagap niyang tinapat ang mga mata sa renita scanner at bumukas ang pinto.

May mga iilang mga kalalakihang nakaupo sa lounge area at naglalaro ng baraha, ang isa naman ay nakatutok sa mga survialance footage at ang assistant niya namang si Toni ay agad na naglakad papunta sa kanya.

“Maaga atang natapos ang dinner niyo ah. Musta?” bungad ng assistant nito.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Yalmar just shrugged it off. “Tell me, what did I miss while I was up there?”

“Not much. Wala pa rin kaming mapiga kay Hidalgo. He’s too stubborn to be broken.”

“Everyone can be broken if you just twist them hard enough.” He patted Toni’s shoulder and quickly move past him.

“Where are you going?” Lingon ng assistant nito.

“I’m going to have a little chat with our pet. Open his chamber.” His voice hitched with a light menace and just gave his assistant his signature smirk.

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It’s been three days since the welcome dinner. Sabrina would like to believe that things are starting to be a little better but better is not the word for it. It was all pretty much the same, still suspended in a fragile balance. Simula ng gabing iyon ay walang ni isa ang bumanggit sa alitan nina Yael at Yves. For most of the weekend, the men in the household were still preoccupied and kept chiming in and out of the mansion.

The women tried their best to keep her entertained. She hadn’t met Wine and Yohann’s kids for all them are still busy at school to travel back and forth. She did meet Diane and Yael’s three year-old toddler Dwight for a little while and she was practically charmed by him.

Patuloy pa rin ginawa nilang paghahanda para sa nalalapit na kasalan. All of the women doted on her and tried to help out, all except Mandy. Ito lang ata ang pinakawalang ganang makisama kay Sabrina at hindi na lang iyon pinansin ni Sab. Naiintindihan niya naman kung mas pipiliin na lang ni Mandy na mag-sunbathing, mag-shopping, o uminom ng margarita buong araw kaysa sumama sa kanila.

All of them were busy in their careers and family lives but they still found the time to make all the necessary preparations for Sab and Yalmar’s wedding. And now, Mitch convinced Sab to take a time off work to go have her engagement and wedding dress picked out.

Pagbaba niya sa ground floor ay nandoon na sina Wine, Mitch, at Diane na naghihintay sa kanya sa sunroom ng mansyon. Isang malapad na ngiti naman ang binigay sa kanya ni Mitch at may hawak na itim na velvet box.

“Wow, you seem cheerier than usual,” puna ni Sab.

“We have something for you but first take a seat.” Winnona gestured to an ottoman in front of Mitch.

Naguguluhan man pero umupo pa rin ang dalaga at excited na inabot sa kanya ng box. It was a little heavy with black velvet covers and shiny red etchings on the lid. Napatingin naman siya sa tatlong babaeng nakaupo sa harap niya na tila kumikinang-kinang pa ang mga mata nila.

“We know it’s not conventional but we do think you would love them. Come on, buksan na,” udyok ni Diane.

She lifted the lid and her jaw dropped almost immediately. There were three rings sitting snugly on the satin cushioned interior. The first had a large black gem with little red sparkling stones lined to frame it. The other two were identical golden bands with two smaller gems embedded on its side. Each had a black and red stone.

“The engagement ring is made of black diamond with red emeralds as the smaller gems around it. The other two will be the ones you and Yalmar will wear after the wedding. There is only one set of those rings in the world and now you have it.”Paliwanag ni Wine sa natulalang si Sabrina.

It was beautiful and also puzzling. “I-It’s beautiful. It’s perfect. But black diamonds cost like what, a moon. There are not very many red emeralds mined around the world, let alone ones paired with this. Hindi ba masyadong mahal ito? Sa’n niyo ba ‘to nakuha?”

“Well… actually si —” akmang magsasalita sana si Diane.

“Yes. WE are the ones who got it for you and I did pull some strings to get it. Vescozar last name perks remember?” putol ni Wine at pisimpleng pinandilatan ang dalawang kasama.

Mitch nodded erraticly beside her while Diane just tight lip smile.

As they went on with their day, Wine made sure to make the most out of it. Sinimulan nila pagpunta sa shop ng flower arranger, sinunod ang food tasting at cake planning, at panghuli naman ang pagpunta sa designer na siyang gagawa ng gown ni Sab.

Halos tatlumpong minuto na rin silang nakaupo sa sofa ng shop at bawat isa sa kanila ay may hawak na wedding brochure. Ipinakita rin ng designer ang lahat ng gowns na nasa pinakabago nitong collection. Patuloy lamang ang pagbuklat ng dalaga at tila nag-aalinlangang pumili.

Magaganda ang mga damit na iyon. Most of them were very modern and body flattering. The dresses looked regal but not afraid to show some skin. That’s what bothered her the most. Napansin naman ni Diane ang paglamlam ng mga mata ng dalaga kaya nagsalita na ito.

“All these dress are great but I don’t think they will do Sabrina justice. Ano kaya kung gawan na lang siya ng bagong design na siya mismo ang may gusto?” Tumaas naman ang kilay ng designer sa sinabi ni Diane.

“What do think, Sab?” pukaw ni Mitch sa kanya.

“Diane’s right. Magaganda naman ang mga designs na ito, but I do want something that would really fit my personality.”

“Ok, we can do that,” pagsang-ayon ng designer.

“I just want a simple dress. No extravagant shapes, no obnoxious colors. I want it to fit my body but flares down the bottom to a train, a little bit sultry but not too much skin. No backless gowns. The tiny accents around the dress would be adorned with rubies and diamonds. Intricate but not heavy.” She gave a faint smile as she imagined herself in the dress. "And I want it to be black."

Mabilis namang nag-take notes ang designer at hinayaan lang si Sabrina na pumili ng mga susuotin ng mga abay. Later that afternoon, the designer showed her a couple rough sketches of her wedding dress and she was very pleased with it. Mabilis namang sinukatan ang dalaga at nag-schedule na rin sila ng fitting. Sinigurado naman ni Wine na matatpos ang gown sa lalong madaling panahon bago sila tuluyang umuwi.

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