Kabanata 5

KABANATA 5

GRANDEUR’S POV

It is satisfying to watch how the nature naturally shows its beauty to us. The soft whispers of the wind that makes the leaves dance, the melodious chirps of the birds that have been instilled from our mind, the relaxing sound of the flow of the water, the beautiful colors that gave life to the world itself, the gentle drops of the rain that washes away the worries of the day and serves as a lullaby to the weary. Everything is just amazing… at least for other people.

But it wasn’t enough for me. No one has ever satisfied me yet. The perfection I want has never been met. Not even the beauty of the nature has made me completely amazed. Maybe my preference is beyond average. Or maybe people couldn’t just meet my expectations. It may be too much for them or I was just being too hard on myself. But now, someone has caught my attention. No… it was her natural reaction that has made me interested.

Fear…

Yes, it’s fear…

I can smell her fear…

From the moment our eyes met on that night, she would always cross my mind. Maybe because it almost sounds funny to me that she fears me as soon as we see each other. It was very evident on her face. Even though I get used to people showing the same expression whenever they see me, her reaction was a different kind of fear. Is that even possible? I guess so. I can remember how she looks like a scared kitten when her grandfather introduced her to me. She was satisfying to watch.

“Grand, how’s the banquet? Did you enjoy? Does everyone get interested in buying stocks when we announced that you are now the new chairman?”

My gaze darted at my grandfather who just came inside my room. I was standing near the window. The cold breeze of the wind enters the room.

“It was fine,” I replied with my bored tone.

Iminuwestra ko sa kanya ang sofa para paupuin siya pero nilapitan na lamang ako ni lolo.

“That’s it? Mukhang hindi ka nag-enjoy. Akala ko pa naman ay may nakakuha ng atensyon mo.” Pinagtaasan niya ako ng kilay.

“Maayos naman po ang ibang taong nandoon. Ayaw ko lang na makipagsosyo sa kanila. Wala akong nakita sa kanila na may tinataglay na potensyal bilang isang tunay na negosyante.”

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. Nag-iwas na lang ako ng tingin sa kanya dahil alam kong magsisimula na siya sa kanyang sermon. I think I'm getting used now.

“Kakauwi mo lang pero ipinapakita mo na agad na ayaw mo naman dito sa Pilipinas. Ano bang meron sa ibang bansa at mas gusto mo pang mamalagi roon?”

“It’s fun abroad. I can do all of the activities there without limitations. People are competitive and the staffs there are more reliable than those who work here,” I frankly said.

“Huh! Screw that mindset! You only want perfection!”

“Yes, I admit it.”

I can feel that lolo is now angry at me. Nanatili akong nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. Ayaw kong makipagtalo na naman sa kanya pero mukhang doon na naman patungo ang usapan na ito. I've had enough in Singapore but I think I will not have a peace of mind today.

“You act immaturely! You think you can change my mind now? You will be stuck in this country for a year as a punishment! And don’t you dare play your trick on me, you know what will happen, Grandeur Vermillion!” he said warningly.

I gritted my teeth out of frustrations. My jaw tightened as I suppress my anger. Inis kong hinarap si lolo.

“Is that the reason why you asked my girlfriend to cancel our engagement? Kasi ayaw mong umalis ako ng Pilipinas? Walang rason si Chandria para hiwalayan ako at ipagtabuyan. Akala ko ba ay hindi ka makikialam sa buhay ko? Ginawa ko ang gusto mo at tinanggap ang posisyon ng kompanya bilang chairman. Ano pa bang kulang?”

“I can’t just understand why you are so eager to stay in Singapore!”

“Ano pa bang magiging rason ko? Hinahanap ko roon si kuya! Nakalimutan mo na ba na roon nangyari ang aksidente? Ah, kinalimutan niyo na pala siya."

He raised his hand and it was an automatic reaction which made me close my eyes. I thought he will hit me for being frank again. Pero hindi ko naramdaman ang pagdapo ng kanyang mga palad sa akin. I open my eyes to look at him fiercely.

"Watch your mouth! Kahit kailan ay hindi namin kinalimutan ang kambal mo. He will stay in our heart forever! You are just being delusional. Why can't you just accept the fact that he is not with us anymore?"

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Pinaniniwalaan nilang patay na ang kambal ko. Pero hindi ko iyon matanggap. Siguro nga nag-iilusyon lamang ako. It was my only escape. And now that I lose another important person in my life, I don't think I will stay sane as the day changes.

"Ituloy mo ang kasal namin ni Chandria at dito kami mananatili sa Pilipinas. I will do whatever you want. I will crush down any company who will get in your way. Just let me be with her." I can't believe I am begging now.

But he only grinned. "Forget about Chandria. You are marrying the heiress of the Asunscion Family."

That caught me off guard. I was stunned completely. Natameme ako sa aking narinig. Tama ba ang narinig ko?

"Magkababata kami ni Don Fuego at matagal ko ng inasam na maging balae ko siya. The reason why I asked you to buy the 60 percent of their company's stocks is because of this. Dahil alam kong sa akin siya tatakbo para mabawi nila ang kompanya. Kahapon ay nagkausap kami at agad siyang pumayag sa gusto kong mangyari," ngayon ay sumigla na ang kanyang boses.

What the hell? He planned the wedding just like that?

"Alam mo naman palang iyon lang ang habol niya bakit gusto mo pang pumayag? Bakit iyon pa ang naisipan mong kapalit?" gigil kong tanong sa kanya.

Lolo laughed sarcastically. "It's a win-win situation, Grand. Makukuha nila ang kompanya habang nakatali naman sa ating pamilya ang apo niya. Makapangyarihan ang angkan ng mga Asunscion. They will be a great asset to our family in the future. They want the company, I will give them that. But in return, we will raise their only heiress. If we have her, our safety is guaranteed."

Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit niya nasabing makapangyarihan ang mga Asunscion. Ni hindi nila naingatan ang kompanyang pinakamamahal nila. Ibig kayang sabihin ay sa ibang bagay sila makapangyarihan? What if their family has a huge secret? Something that will blow everyone's mind?

"What if I don't want to marry her? That woman is no good for me. We've met on the banquet and she looks like a porcelain glass that will break anytime. She fears me. Kawawa lang siya sa akin kung sa akin siya matatali," agad kong apila.

"I know you won't say no once your freedom is on the line. I will give you your freedom once you marry her. As long as you keep her on your side, your freedom is guaranteed. I don't care if you do anything as long as you will keep her tied in our family."

The temptation is strong enough to let me bite the bait. Alam kong patibong ang lahat ng ito. But lolo doesn't take back his words. Kapag nangako siya ay tutuparin niya iyon. If I have my freedom, I can do anything. Pero naiisip ko naman ang mararamdaman ng babaeng iyon. I don't think she will last being with me. She's a weak woman. Halatang-halata pang sakitin dahil sa itsura niya. Pero kailan pa ako nagmalakasakit sa ibang tao? I only think about myself. Wala akong pakialam basta ako ang magkakabenepisyo.

Kaya naman ay walang pag-aalinlangan kong sinang-ayunan si lolo. Masyado siyang tuwang-tuwa sa mga nangyayari na nag-aya pang tignan sa personal ang babaeng gusto niyang pakasalan ko. Our second meeting was a bit funny, again. Hindi ko inaasahan na makikita ko siyang nakaakyat sa isang puno. At nahulog pa ito roon. I imagined her to be in a red dress, looking prim and formal. Pero iba ang dinatnan ko. When we went on her room to see if she's doing fine after she fell on that tree, I almost laughed when I saw her on her fighting stance instead of lying on her bed. Seriously? Am I marrying a sane woman or not? Wala pang nakapagpatawa sa akin. She doesn't look ordinary at all.

"Pagpasensyahan niyo na si Izaria. Lumaki lang itong hindi nakikisalamuha sa ibang tao kaya ganoon kung umakto. At ang ospital pa ang naging pangunahin niyang tahanan. She was just overwhelmed. Kakarating lang namin noong isang araw at nag-a-adjust pa lamang siya," paghingi ng paumanhin ni Mr. Asunscion pagkalabas namin sa kwarto ng apo niya.

"It's understandable, Don Fuego. Nakakatuwang panoorin ang apo mo. Pero nakausap mo na ba siya tungkol sa bagay na napag-usapan ng pamilya natin?" tanong sa kanya ni lolo.

"Hindi pa. Gusto ko sanang hayaan muna itong masanay muna dito sa Pilipinas bago ang lahat. Sakitin ang apo ko at ayaw ko na mahirapan siya."

Tumango-tango naman si lolo. Tahimik lang akong nakasunod sa kanila.

"Ayos lang ba ang isa hanggang tatlong buwan?" si lolo.

Pakiramdam ko ay hindi na makapaghintay pa si lolo. Bakit ba siya nagmamadali?

"Hindi ba mapapaaga ang lahat?" gulat naman si Mr. Asunscion.

"Tamang-tama lang iyon. I'm sure she can adapt easily. Kahit pa ata magkasama na sila ni Grand ay madali siyang makaka-adapt."

Hindi nakapagsalita si Mr. Asunscion. Mukhang wala siyang magagawa sa gusto ni lolo. He looks as if something is bothering him. Is it a balanced win-win situation? I don't think so. Kahit saang anggulo ay tila kami lang naman ni lolo ang makikinabang ng malaki sa kasal na magaganap. Now I feel sorry for the Asunscion Family.