Unveiled Hearts

Chapter 1

Hindi ko maiwasang mapangisi nang tuluyang makapuslit sa mansion at makasakay ng taxi sa labas ng aming village. Sa wakas nakalabas din ako nang walang nakabuntot na mga bodyguards sa likod ko. Palagi kasi akong bantay sarado ng mga bodyguards ni Lolo dahil sa masalimuot na pangyayari sa aking pamilya noong nine years old ako, dagdagan pa ng mga walang katapusang death threats na natatanggap namin araw-araw.

My grandfather was a politician in our province and he has a lot of political enemies. Kabi-kabila ang mga kalaban niya, hindi dahil masama siyang politiko kundi dahil hindi siya magawang paalisin sa mga posisyon na pinapanalunan niya. The people loved him and it was the people’s decision to elect him as their leader. Pero masyadong maraming ganid at hayok sa kapangyarihan ang nakapalibot sa amin kaya lahat ng paraan ginawa nila para mapabagsak si Lolo.

My parents and I were travelling to the Capitol that day. It was my grandfather’s inauguration ceremony as the province’s first district representative. But we weren’t able to make it to the ceremony because we were ambushed. Hinarang ang van na sinasakyan namin at pinaulanan kami ng mga bala. My father shielded us with his body while my mother was carrying me in her arms, trying to protect me from the bullets. I was able to survived but my parents did not.

Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib nang bigla akong makaramdam ng matinding kirot nang balikan ko ang ala-alang iyon. Napakaraming taon na ang nakalipas pero masakit pa rin sa akin lalo na’t iyon lang ang natirang memory ko kasama ang mga magulang ko at ang nag-iisang kwento tungkol sa pinakamamahal na lugar ng aking ina, ang Vigan City. All my memories before that incident vanished and never came back. Hanggang ngayon, nakatago pa rin sa puso ko ang galit sa mga hindi kilalang taong gumawa niyon sa amin. What I hated the most was the fact that my grandfather could not name the culprit.  

“Ma’am, nandito na po tayo.”

Napatingin ako sa taxi driver nang bigla iton magsalita. Tumigil na nga ang sasakyan at nang mapalingon ako sa bintana, agad kong nakita ang malaking pangalan ng paborito kong coffee shop. I smiled to myself as my nose flared with the memory of coffee scent. Mabilis akong humugot ng hundred-peso bill sa aking bag at binigay iyon sa driver bago tuluyang lumabas.

I closed my eyes as the sweet and bitter aroma of coffee entered my nostrils. Kanina, nag-iimagine lang ako ng amoy nito ngayon, amoy na amoy ko na. My ears also acknowledged the white noises coming from the chattering people and the brewing machines inside the café. I bathed myself with the sweet comfort this place offered.

“Good afternoon, Ma’am. May I take your order?” magalang na sambit ng barista na nasa counter. I gave her a slight smile and glanced at the menu board.

“One Venti toasted white mocha with 3 pumps of brown sugar syrup. That’s all.”

“To go or to here, po?

“To go, please.” Wala akong planong manatili sa café kahit gaano pa ka relaxing ang paligid. Ngayon lang ako nakatakas at gusto kong sulitin ang freedom na meron ako ngayon. I wanted to go shopping while I still had time. Wala rin naman akong planong magtagal sa labas dahil baka matuklasan ni Lolo na tumakas ako. Ayokong mag-alala siya at lalong-lalong ayokong mapagalitan.

After I gave my order and name, I proceeded to the cashier to pay my bill. I immediately handed my credit card then I head straight to the hand off area.

I was patiently waiting for my order when somebody at my back got my attention. Napalingon ako sa kumalabit sa akin. A stranger who prolly knew me.

“You’re Luisa, right? Governor Azuelo’s granddaughter?” tanong ng babae na halos lumabas na ang kaluluwa sa iksi ng shorts at sa nipis ng spaghetti blouse na suot. She crossed her arms over her chest and sized me down. I wanted to laugh at her actions because she looked pathetic with those gesture knowing that I was inches taller than her.

Hindi ako tumango, hindi rin ako umiling. I raised my brow at her while giving her a bored look. Hindi naman ako mataray pero alam ko hindi rin ako nagpapaapi.

“It’s really you! Funny how I see you in this place! Mag-isa ka yata ngayon? Nasaaan ang mga yaya mo?” tumatawang sambit nito at nilibot pa ang paningin sa paligid na parang hinahanap ang mga kasama ko.

“This is a public place and everybody is free to come here.”

“Hindi ko akalain na pumapasok ka sa mga ganitong uri ng gusali,” panuyang sambit ng babae. Ano ba ang problema niya at ako ang napagdikitahan?

“Bakit nag downgrade na ba sila ngayon at cheap people na lang na kagaya mo ang pwedeng pumasok?”

“Anong sabi mo? Grabe! Kahit ilang milyong pera ng gobyerno ang ibulsa niyo, hindi pa rin pala sapat para bumili ng mabuting asal ‘no?”

Nagtaas ng boses ang babe dahilan para makatawag kami ng atensyon ng ibang costumers. Unti-unti na ring may nakikiusyoso sa tagpong kinasasangkutan namin ng babaeng halos bumuga na ng apoy sa galit. Lumalabas na rin ang litid sa kanyang leeg. She looked funny.

“Excuse me? For the record, malinis ang pangalan ng lolo ko and for your information, my family owns vast of land and businesses here in Negros kaya hindi namin kailangan ang pera ng gobyerno.” Alam kong useless ang paliwanag ko dahil pipiliin pa rin naman ng mga tao ang gusto nilang paniwalaan. Ayoko lang naririnig firsthand ang isang kasinungalingan tungkol sa aking pamilya.

“Vast of land that you probably stole from farmers.”

“Sa bibig mo na mismo nanggaling, ‘probably’. Do your research instead of throwing pointless things at me.   Hindi kita kilala at kung ano-anong masasamang salita ang pinaparating mo sa pamilya ko. I can sue you for slander, you know.”

“One Venti toasted white mocha for Ma’am Lois—”

I raised my palm to silence the barista who had my order and gave back my attention to the woman who had nothing but air in her head. I raised my brow at her and gave her a smirk.

“May sasabihin ka pa? I already wasted my time with you. Sulitin mo na.”

“Stay away from Ralf! Hindi kayo bagay!”

“Oh, may sinabi ka ring tama! Yes, hindi kami bagay. I don’t see myself worthy of a low creature like him. You can have him all you want. Magsawa ka!”

Hindi ko lubos maintindihan kung bakit ang daming nagkakagusto sa anak ng mayor na iyon at kung bakit nauugnay ang pangalan ko sa lalaking iyon. Mukha at apelyido lang naman ng ama niya ang meron siya. Tsk!

Tuluyan ko nang di pinansin ang babae at kinuha ang aking order bago nilisan ang naturang café. I rolled my eyes to myself and sipped on my drink. Nakakawala naman ng gana ang baabeng iyon. Isang obsessed fan na akala yata pag mamay-ari si Ralf. As if namang makikipag agawan ako sa kanila.

Magkakilala lang naman kami ng lalaking ‘yon dahil magka-alyado ang papa niya at lolo ko. Aside from that, we were civil to each other. Magkaiba ang interes naming dalawa at alam namin na hindi kami makatatagal sa presensya ng isa’t isa kaya hangga’t maaari ay umiiwas na kami.

Nawalan ako ng ganang mag-shopping dahil sa stress na dulot ng baabeng nakasagutan ko sa café kaya nagdesisyon na lang akong umuwi ng bahay.

The life of being a politician’s blood was never easy. We always had death threats at our breakfast plate and people always judged us. Some would put us to a pedestal while some would crucify us. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa inggit o sobrang paghanga.  One thing’s for sure, we were misunderstood.

‘Argh! Minsan na nga lang makatakas. Nasira pa!’

Alas singko na ng hapon nang makabalik ako sa village namin. Lakad-takbo ang ginawa ko para makapuslit lang sa gate ng mansion na hindi nahuhuli. Naging matagumpay naman ako sa pagpasok ng gate na hindi nahuhuli. I tiptoed to the living room and head straight to the grand staircase but my grandfather’s booming voice put my feet into a halt. I jumped out of surprised. Damn! I was caught in the act!

“Luisa Eleneor! Bakit ka lumabas na hindi kasama ang mga bodyguards mo?” May bahid ng galit ang boses ni Lolo pero bakas din ang pag-aalala.

Kagat-labing napalingon ako sa direskyon niya. He was standing at the living room. May tatlong taong nakaupo sa sofa at unti-unting tumayo at magalang na ngumiti sa akin. They were my grandfather’s employees. I gave them a respectful nod in response and gave my attention back to my lolo.

“I just bought coffee! Bumalik din naman ako agad, Lolo.” I reasoned out and showed the empty plastic cup that I was still holding.

“Kahit bumili ka pa ng yelo diyan sa kanto, kailangan pa ring kasama ang mga bodyguards mo.” Pinanlakihan ako ng mga mata ni Lolo.

He was in his late sixties now. Bakas na ang pagdaan ng panahon sa katawan niya. Namumuti na rin ang kanyang buhok. The lines on his face and hands were an evidence of battled won. Yet, his eyes were still fueled by endless determination to serve the people.

Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga at tinapunan siya ng naiinis na tingin. I pout my lips and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Lolo, isn’t it weird for a 25-year old to have bodyguards around?” I asked in pure disbelief. I’ve been convincing him to lower the number of my bodyguards but he won’t listen!

“No, it’s not. Especially when you have your security on the line.”

“And my freedom, too!” segunda ko at tinaasan siya ng kilay.

Tumawa si Lolo at binalingan ang tatlong kasama niya. Nagulat pa siya nang makitang nakatayo rin ang mga ito tsaka niya senenyasan na magsi-upo.

“It’s also not weird for a 25-year old woman to get grounded for being so stubborn and hard-headed,” Lolo said matter-of-factly. I could not help but gasped and looked at him wide-eyed as I realized what he said.

“Lolo, you can’t do that! I already feel so suffocated in this house! Tapos grounded pa!” reklamo ko at pagmamaktol ko.

“Then, you should learn to grow up, young lady. One-week kang grounded.”

“Lolo!”

“You may go now. May meeting pa ako.” Lolo shoed me away like a piece of insect before giving back his attention to his people. “Gentlemen, shall we?” He motioned the way to his study.

Napapadyak ako sa aking kinatatayuan habang sinusundan ang pigura nilang papaalis. A soft chuckle reached my ears as Lolo glanced at me and grinned. Ang kulit talaga ng abuelo ko pero naiintidihan ko rin namang nag-aalala lang siya pero sana tigilan na niya ang pagtrato sa akin na parang bata!

“Argh! The things I’d to just to escape this place!” sambit ko habang paakyat sa aking kwarto. Siguradong bantay-sarado ako sa loob ng isang lingo pero kailangan kong makapag-isip ng agarang sulusyon sa sitwasyong pinasok ko!

Isa pa, hindi rin naman ako matitiis ni Lolo nang matagal. Alam kong konting lambing lang sa kanya at makukuha ko ulit ang kiliti niya.

I felt the need for fresh air and new surroundings. I felt like my soul crave for a new place to stay in. Mahal ko si Lolo pero minsan talaga pakiramdam ko ay nasasakal na ako sa paraan ng pagprotekta at pagmamahal niya. Alam ko namang iniisip niya lang ang kapakanan ko pero hindi naman pwedeng habang buhay niyang hawak ang aking kamay. Kailangan niya rin akong bitawan para maranasan ko ang madapa at tumayo sa sarili kong mga paa.

Kung hahayaan kong magpatuloy ito, sa tingin ko, hindi ko lubusang makilala ang aking sarili at malaman kung ano pa ang kakayahang meron ako. He spoiled me with love and material things but he forgot to give me the freedom to be my own person. I hope that we would realized it. I wished I could tell him about it. But how could I tell him about these things without hurting his feelings?

Tsk! Bahala na! Basta, nakapag-desisyon na ako. Oras na para harapin ang isang bagay na minimithi ko noon pa man at gagawin ko ang lahat makamit lang iyon. Kahit pa magalit sa akin si Lolo.

When I entered my room, I jumped to my bed, reached for my phone and searched for travel agencies that offered tour around Vigan City, my mother’s hometown. She used to tell me stories about the place and those stories remained in my memory even after the accident. I felt like that place could connect me to my mom again. I was slowly losing the tiniest memory I had of my mother and I felt like going to that place would help me hold on to that memory. I had this desire in my heart that that place would be a bridge to my past and help me regain them back again. Pero ano nga ba ang mga alalang naipon ng isang nine-year old na bata maliban sa laro at kaibigan niya?

Sana talaga bumalik na ang mga memory ko kasama ang aking mga magulang. Lumaki nga akong kasama sila pero nawawala naman ang memory ko tungkol sa kanila. I felt like I didn’t know my parents since I was born. I only had pictures of them as an evidence that I once had them in my life.

Napaupo ako nang tuwid nang tumambad sa akin ang tour offer ng isang travel agency. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mabasa ang bawat detalye. A fourteen-day tour at Vigan City. Sulit na sulit na ang dalawang linggo na pamamasyal doon!

Biglang kinain ng excitement ang buong katawan ko at halos hindi na ako maka-type sa screen ng aking cellphone nang mabuti dahil sa panginginig ng mga kamay ko. There was a limited slot and I should take one for myself ASAP!

Bahala na kung hindi papayag si Lolo basta kailangang naka-book na ako sa travel agency na ‘to! I’d deal with my grandfather later!