Broken Bones and Scar Souvenirs

Chapter 6 - All the Rare Gems (Part 2)

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Nang makauwi sila sa mansyon ay nagkanya-kanya na rin silang apat. Sabrina just retreated to her room and had her food brought there while she was catching up on some work related updates on her laptop. Iyon ang naging ritwal ng dalaga simula nang lumipat siya sa Hacienda Vescozar.

As the night grew deeper, she found herself lying on her back, staring at the canopy, having trouble to sleep. Bumalik ang isipan niya sa nangyaring welcome dinner. She never had the chance to talk to Yalmar after that incident and she was sure that talking to her was the last thing in his to-do list. Isang beses niya lamang nakita ang binata matapos noon. Iyon ay nang magising siya para kumuha ng tubig nang madaling araw at nakita niyang papasok pa lang sa kwarto nito si Yalmar.

He just glanced at her but didn’t bother to say a word. As he reached for the door knob Sabrina saw a faint blood stain at the side of his hand. And just like that, her fiancé shut the door at her and retreated to the shadows.

Tiningnan niya ang oras sa kanyang cellphone. Ala una ng madaling araw. She remembered the time when she was little and her nanny tucked her to bed when her parents worked impossibly late hours. Once she’s alone in her room, she would sprint to her bedroom window and vigilantly wait there until a car pulls up on the driveway. Tuwing umuuwi ang Mommy niya, kahit na gaano man ito sapagod, kahit na anong oras man iyon, didiretso agad ito sa kwarto niya.

On her restless nights, waiting for her to come home would reward her with her mothers gentle strokes and sweet lullaby. And it was her everything until her bedtime songs were replaced with police sirens, strangers knocking on their doorsteps, and her nanny in tears. That was the night when everything collapsed.

Naluha naman ng bahagya si Sabrina sa alaalang iyon. Napatingin siya sa engagement ring sa kanyang daliri. She wondered what kind of life waits for her beyond the altar. Will she be able to share memories like these to Yalmar? Will Yalmar eventually care? Alam niya namang imposible na magkaroon pa ng pagmamahal sa kasalan nila. She wasn’t even sure she knew how to love and Yalmar was certainly not the romantic prince material either. Maybe he just thinks of her as something that comes with their power and privilege. It would be a miracle if she could even be friends with her future husband.

Bumangon naman si Sabrina at agad na hinila ang isipan palayo sa kung ano mang ka-dramahan ang naalala niya. She silently went downstairs to drink some water but she soon realized that she need something stronger to eventually help her sleep.

Maghuhukay pa sana ang dalaga kung may alak sa overhead cabinets nang marinig niyang may pumasok sa kusina.

“If its alcohol you’re looking for, we keep the good stuff in the cellar and in my library.”

Muntik namang mapatalon ang dalaga dahil sa hindi inaasahang bungad sa kanya ng magiging biyanan.

“D-Don Marco… gising pa po pala kayo.”

It was her first time seeing the famous business tycoon outside of his usual suit. Mas lumitaw ang mga tattoo nito sa braso maging sa leeg. Kahit na matanda na ito ay maganda pa rin ang pustura. There was no doubt that Yalmar took his looks from his father. They both had the same gray eyes, cold and soft at the same time. They both had the same shine on their gaze, the same secrets and pain.

Kumunot naman ang noon g matanda sa sinabi ni Sab. “You’re going to be my daughter-in-law. Call me Dad or just Marco is fine. Go get a glass, child.”

The man sat on the breakfast stool and took out flask and poured Sabrina a shot. Magalang naman itong tinanggap ng dalaga at pasimplemg sumimsim. Agad naman siyang napangiwi sa sobrang tapang ng alak na siya namang kinatawa ng matanda. Lumitaw ang mga kulubot sa noo at gilid ng mga mata nito.

“Sorry. Prefer my spirit strong and neat. Sleep eludes me these days,” paliwanag ng matanda bago uminom mula sa flask nito.

She just gave him a faint smile before taking another sip. They both sat there in front of the kitchen counter in silence for a while.

“Kumusta ka na? Alam kong hindi madali lahat ng ito para sayo,” pagbasag nito ng katahimikan. “Ako na mismo ang humihingi ng tawad sa inasal ng mga anak ko.”

“Hindi niyo naman po kailangang humingi ng tawad Don Marco.” She paused and she saw the older man’s eyebrows twitch. “Dad,” pahabol niya.

“I see you’re adjusting in your life here.”

“I am and I am also grateful that the women in this house are so kind to me.”Tumango-tango siya.

“Minsan na rin nilang pinagdaanan ito. It’s not always easy marrying into this family and there are many challenges with being a Vescozar.”

Agad naman itong sinagot ni Sabrina. “Mawalang galang na ho, pero sa tingin ko wala naman pong ni isa sa kanila ang talagang dumaan sa ganito. Hindi naman po silang pinilit na ikasal sa isang taong hindi naman nila kilala at pinwersang umalis sa dati nilang tahanan.”

Marco gave her a faint smile. “Tama ka. None of us could possibly presume to have been in your shoes. I’m sorry.”

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ang dalaga at muling tumingin sa kawalan.

“Matapang ka, Sabrina. Nalala ko tuloy ang anak kong si Catherine dahil sayo. She was brave and feisty. Walang makakapagsabi sa kanya na hindi niya kayang gawin ito, hindi niya kayang gawin iyan. She was confident to make her own decisions and her own mistakes, even when she was still very little.”

Napakunot namang ng noo ang dalaga. “You have a daughter?”

Marahang tumango naman ang matanda at gumuhit ang lungkot sa mga mata nito. “Had. She died at the age of twelve but I know my little girl was brave until her last hours.”

Mariing napapikit si Sabrina upang pigilan ang pagtulo ng mga luha niya. Bata pa lang siya nang maulila sa sariling ina at hanggang ngayon ay dala-dala niya pa rin ang sakit at lungkot na ‘yon. Hindi niya lubos maisip ang mga pinagdaan ni Marco nang mamatayan ito ng anak. “I am so sorry. It must have been hard.”

“Don’t be sorry, child. She’s in a much better place now but I would be lying if I say that it doesn’t hurt anymore.” Marco sniffed a little. “I would’ve given up the world for her and there is nothing I wouldn’t do, just to have a few more minutes with her. Catherine was the greatest jewel in my life.”

Hindi napigilan ng dalaga ang maiyak sa mga sinabi ni Marco. She didn’t even bother to wipe her tears away. There was pain and undying love in his voice and she could only wish that her own father had at least half of that affection for her. Hector was a father to her in the sense that he gave her money when she needed it, bought her things when she wanted it, said some words but never meant any of it.

“I was a s**t father to Cath. I still am a s**t father to my sons but I love them dearly, fiercely. At lahat handa kong gawin para sa kanila.” Muling sumimsim ang matanda ng alak at diretsog tumingin sa mga luhaang mata ni Sabrina. “My boys grew up and got married. All their wives, I treat as my own daughters and I promised to protect them and love them like my own because I see Cath in each of them. And now, I see more of her in you.”

He took one of Sabrina’s hands and smiled to her gently. “Alam ko hindi ito ang buhay na pinangarap mo. At alam ko rin na hindi rin ito ginusto ni Yalmar. Pero nandito na tayo. None of us could’ve known this is where life would take us.”

“Alam kong mahirap man para sayong paniwalaan ‘to pero wala kang dapat na ikatakot. You have nothing to fear from me and my family. Anak na ang turing ko sayo mula ngayon. I promise that you are under my protection and whatever happens, you will always have a home here,” masuyo nitong sabi bago marahang pinahid ang mga luha ng dalaga.

Walang ni isang salita ang lumabas sa mga labi ni Sabrina. She just sat there and tried to choked back her tears. Gusto niyang magsalita, pero ano ba naman ang p’wede niyang sabihin sa matanda? Hinayaan siya ni Marco na kumalma bago marahang ginulo ang buhok niya bago tumayo.

“Matulog ka na, anak. Madaling araw na.”