Chapter 3

Winter is dreadful with those dead trees and some pine trees coated in snow. The bitter cold wind was enough to freeze anyone but people still came to pay their last respects. He could be wrong because their reasons could be something else too. Regardless, they showed up.

Kons went to the funeral despite the murder case against his father. He had nothing to do with it. Kaya siya nagpunta ay para magbigay ng respeto para sa ninang niya sa huling sandali, at para na rin makiramdam kung sino ang posibleng may gawa ng krimen. It could be anyone. Ayaw man niyang aminin, nagpunta rin siya para bantayan si Vanessa. He doesn't like what he's seeing right now, pero wala siyang karapatan magcomplain. She can date anyone just like he did. Kons dated Taisiya for a bit but it didn't work out.

Tahimik na lumuluha si Vanessa habang hinahagod ni Damien ang likod niya. Damien Quijano is one of the biggest movie producers in the Philippine film industry.  He has Russian features too, pero lamang ang pagiging Pilipino. There are about more or less fifty people in the cemetery aside from them. Hindi niya kilala ang iba, but some are familiar because they used to visit his godmother and bring files.

Nagsimulang umalis ang mga tao and it was his cue to leave as well. Hindi niya alam kung may threat sa buhay niya kaya nagsama siya ng ilang tao— to protect Vanessa as well. They are scattered around the area at ang iba ay nagpapanggap na employee ng sementeryo. Some are pretending to be families visiting some grave of people they don't even know. Nakaiilang hakbang pa lang siya nang marinig niya ang tinig ni Vanessa. He stopped walking but didn't turn around to face him. Ang babae ang nagpunta sa unahan niya.

They looked at each other and it took a lot not to give her a hug in this trying times. Hilam sa luha ang mga mata ni Vanessa. Hindi nito kasama si Damien at nagtataka siya na pinayagan itong kausapin siya mag-isa. Kung siya lang, hindi siya papayag. Vanessa was taking awhile to talk kaya siya na ang nauna.

"What is it?"

Her eyes showed so many emotions. "I just wanted to say thank you."

Iyon lang ang sinabi ni Vanessa sa kaniya at naglakad na ito palayo. He's not dumb. There is something else that she wanted to tell him pero hindi nito ginawa. Was it because they are out in public and she's afraid someone would hear? Hindi niya ito sinundan o pinigilan. But his plans of going home changed. Alam ng mga tao niya na bukod sa kaniya ay naroon sila para masiguro ang kaligtasan ni Vanessa.

He reached his SUV but Kons didn't get in right away. Hinintay niyang makasakay si Vanessa sa sasakyan nito. Nagtaka siya nang hindi sumabay si Damien sa babae at sa ibang SUV ito pumunta. Baka may ibang lakad pa ang mga ito kaya ganoon, but he will keep his guards up just in case.

***

"I'm going?" tanong niya sa abogado ng kaniyang ninang sa pangalawang pagkakataon. Kasasakay lang niya sa kotse nang magring ang cellphone niya.

"I sent you an email a couple of times when I couldn't reach you on the phone. Your godmother wants you there for the reading of her will." Sinabi nito ang oras at lugar and it's happening today.

"Okay. I will be there." He has not checked his emails nor checked his voicemails. Naka-focus siya sa kaso ng ama at bukod sa kapamilya niya at piling kaibigan ay wala siyang ibang kinakausap. His business is being looked after at wala siyang problema roon.

The Rostova Mansion is in Kolomna and almost two hours away from the city by car. The icy weather conditions didn't help. Madulas ang daan dahil bihirang i-plow ang snow sa rural areas. Mabuti na lang at SUV ang dala nila at hindi kotse. There were two cars following them at mga bodyguards niya ang mga 'yon. They are loaded but Kons is hoping there won't be any trouble. Babasahin lang naman ang will at tapos na.

After passing the security, the cars went in the huge driveway. Malaki ang property ng kaniyang Ninang Valya. He's only been here a couple of times when they had private parties, but most of the time ay sa city sila tumitigil dahil naroon ang eskwelahan nila ni Vanessa noon. One of the staff was waiting for him at the door and ushered him to the study. Dalawa lang ang pwede niyang isama sa may loob ng bahay, at mananatili ang mga ito sa labas ng study. The rest of his men will stay outside the mansion.

Nang pumasok siya sa loob ay naroon na si Vanessa at ang lawyer. Nauna itong umalis sa kaniya pero— Oh, right. She took the chopper to get here faster. Nasa Rostova Towers 'yon.

"Why is he here?" kunot noong tanong ni Vanessa sa lawyer ng kaniyang ina. She didn't know about her mother's will, he presumed.

Tumikhim ang matandang abogado. "Your mother included him in her will. It is necessary to inform him about it. I actually just got a hold of him a few hours ago." Itinuro ng abogado kay Kons ang bakanteng silya sa tapat ni Vanessa. "Please take your seat and we will begin the reading of Valya's will."

Natahimik si Vanessa at hindi na muling tumingin sa kaniya. Mukhang malalim ang iniisip nito at nakatitig sa antigong mesa. Kons looked around the study at bukod sa napakaraming lumang libro, pawang mga antigo ang mga kagamitan dito. It's weird how the other parts of this mansion including the exterior looked modern. Ipina-renovate siguro ito ng kaniyang ninang at nagdesisyong i-preserve ang parteng ito ng bahay.

"She's leaving everything to me except for this place?" gulat na tanong ni Vanessa.

"This place will be given to Konstantin Morozov."

"WHAT?!" Pati si Kons ay nagulat dahil hindi siya nakikinig kanina. Napahilot sa sentido ang matandang abogado.

"There is a clause in her will. You need to marry each other within the year or both of you will lose everything. It will all go to charity. And there is no room for divorce or annulment. You will stay together for the rest of your lives."

Nagtunog death sentence ang sinabi ng abogado. There is no way Vanessa is going to marry him. Hindi naman niya kailangan ng mansion. Condo nga lang ay masaya na siya. He frequently travels so he doesn't need a place this big. It's nice though and Konstantin knows his godmother loves this place. Kaya ba niyang biguin ito sa pangalawang pagkakataon?

"I am in a relationship. I can't marry someone else," sagot ni Vanessa sa abogado.

"Very well then. You have three days to think about this and if your decision does not favor your mother's wishes— please come see me in my office and sign the documents stating you are donating it to charity," pinal na wika ng abogado. Tumikhim ito at tumingin sa kanilang dalawa. "As an old friend of Valya, I suggest the two of you talk this out and find a middle ground."