Chapter 6

"You have a limo?" I said excitingly, and clap my hands. "You must be rich, My Love," tukso kong sabi kay Sergio.

"Yes and No." He looks at me. "You know what , you never change." He smiles as he helped me hopped in. "In Spain, I'm a businessman my love." He winked at me.

"Kahit ikaw, you never change a bit," sabi ko, at tumawa nang mahina.  

My love ang endearment namin sa isat-isa since college days at siya lang ang tumatawag sa akin by my second name Isabelle. Naalala ko pa nga noon nag-aaral pa kami. Sa buong campus, people thought we're an item pero hindi, babagsak ang buwan bago mangyari iyon because he was in love with someone else 

"Talaga? What business?" I asked him as we settled inside the limo. 

"I'm running a Hotel," he informed me simply. 

"Wow, talaga? At saan naman?" 

"Toledo," he said as he pulled me close to him. "So what brings you here, My Isabelle?" biglang tanong ni Sergio sa akin. I can see that his face turn into serious one. "Bakit ka nandito? At bakit ka nakatira sa castle ng mga Garcia?"

I let out a long sigh. "It's a long story," sagot ko habang nakatingin sa labas.

"Well, we got whole day for that," he smiled at me, and hold my hand gaya ng ginagawa niya dati.

“Hmm… I've found out my father had arranged me to marry someone, but I refused. Then… He—he beat me and told me if I would never do his wishes he would disown me, and a friend of mine helped me. She sent me here.“ panimula ko. 

Halos sumikip ang aking dibdib habang ikinikwento ang nangyari, na para bang ang lahat ng sama ng loob, at sakit ay biglang bumalik sa aking isipan.

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Flashback..

“Oh you're here,” my mother told me sarcastically,.“mabuti naman, at umuwi ka na. I've told you to stop wasting your time at the orphanage. You have better things to do here, imbes na igugol mo ang oras mo doon."

"Ma, once in a week lang naman ako pumupunta doon. Napadalas lang ngayon dahil may event ang mga bata."

"Your father wants to talk to you. Hinihintay ka niya sa veranda."

Mabigat ang paa kong pumunta ng veranda. Ano na naman ang gustong sabihin sa akin ng aking ama.

"We need to talk, Yuri," sabi ni Papa nang marating ko na ang kinaroroonan niya.

"Tungkol saan po?"

“Well, it's time that you settled down, you're already twenty-one.”

"Settle down? Papa, wala pa ho akong planong mag asawa."

"But, I have plans for you. You're going to marry my bestfriend's son."

"Are you out of your mind, Papa?" I asked him in knitted brow. 

“Oh, I damn sure I'm not Yuri. It was already settled, pupunta sila dito next month."

“No Papa! I won't marry unless its love. Whatever your reasons, please don't drag me to this bull shit! I rather die than marry a random guy." I said angrily. 

“You will do as I wish Yuri, you will marry my bestfriend's son, or I will disown you and forget that you existed”my father shouted angrily at me making me trembled with fears.

“No I won't Papa, disown me if you must, but I will never mary for convenience. Have you forgetting something Papa, I'm your daughter, your flesh and blood? I am not a thing that you could sell or trade.” I cried.

Pero sunod-sunod na sampal ang natanggap ko mula sa aking ama, na sa subrang lakas ng sampal namaga ang aking mukha.

end of flashback

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Tears were rolling down my cheeks, and Sergio hugged me. 

“Ssshh… ssh… it's alright," he said gently caressing my back, “You're here now, and I must thank your friend for sending you here. I have a chance to see you again,” he said in a uneven voice, "pwede ko bang malaman ang pangalan ng kaibigan mo para mapasalamatan ko siya?"

"Yes, bakit hindi. Her name is Heramarie Rivera." 

"What? Your friend with the heiress herself! Now I understand why he let you stay in the castle."

"Anong ibig mong sabihi" naguguluhan na tanong ko sa kanya. "Kilala mo si Ate Hera, at si Austin?"

"Ano ka ba, Isabelle. Only a commoner wouldn't know about Heramarie Rivera and Austin Alexander Garcia. My God, they were the two riches person in the entire Spain, and the most influential people in entire Segovia. Austin runs and owns a couple of airlines and a number of wine factory," he told me while shaking his head, “I know him because we're basically enrolled at the same school for a year."

"Huh?" gulat kong sabi, na halos ayaw pang mag-sink in ng mga sinabi niya sa utak ko.

“Just be careful, My love. Stay away from that man if you can, believe me, he has a bad record when it comes to women and the lady with him, that is Ivy, his current mistress,” he said in a more serious tone, as if giving me some warning.

“Don't worry, Hulk will never dare to touch me. Takot niya lang kay Ate Hera"

"Hulk?"

"Yes, I called him Hulk, kasi pag nagalit siya lumalaki ang mukha, at ilong niya. Lumalabas pati ang  litid niya sa leeg," natatawa kong sabi.

"Why do I have a feeling na magiging biktima ka niya?"

Sergio informed me that the castle I'm staying is located on the east side of SEGOVIA, and that the distance from Segovia to Madrid is 87 kilometers or an hour and nine minutes car ride to Madrid.

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Madrid is everything I expected to be, being Spain's central capital, I suddenly fell in love with its elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks.

Well as promise, ginala talaga ako ni Sergio sa ibat-ibang tourist spot nito. Nakakatawa dahil para akong bata na excited habang isat-isa naming pinuntahan ang mga ito.

We went to Prado Museum kung saan naka-display ang mga European art paintings nila Goya, Velázquez, at iba pang Spanish masters. 

Tapos pumunta din kami ng Plaza Mayor, at sa karatig nito ang baroque Royal Palace and Armory, displaying historic weaponry.

In between, panay ang click ko ng camera sa phone ko. I wanted to take pictures as much as I can.

Napapailing nalang kami ni Sergio dahil kung may makakita sa amin sasabihin na mga engot kami.

Nag-lunch kami sa isang famous restaurant where Sergio order us  Pulpo a la gallega,Spain's famous bean stews, Prawns in fried garlic, salads and Spanish sparkling wine.

The food taste good. Actually, hindi naman ito nalalayo sa pagkain nating mga Pinoy. 

Sergio and I, talked about our college days, as we eat our meals. Nalaman kong ikakasal na pala siya dapat, but his bride ditch him at the altar on his wedding day.

"Oh my God! Sergio sa gwapo mong 'yan, nakuha na pa niyang 'wag kang sipotin sa altar!" asar na sabi ko sa kanya na ikinatawa niya nang payak.

“She's in love with someone else. She's like you, she, too, was forced to marry me, but she was brave enough to run away.” He smiled at me as he holds my hand. 

"Hindi ka affected? so naka-move on kana agad-agad?" 

“No, I'm not, actually I felt relieved and grateful. She gave me a chance to find her again.”

“You're weird… “ nakakunot kilay kong sabi. 

“I don't love her, My love, why would I feel hurt when we both don't love each other? We both know that marrying each other will trap us in a loveless marriage.” He lifted my hand, and kissed it. “Sophia is a lovely lady but not as lovely as you, I admire her for her bravery,” he said hoarsely. 

"Binola mo pa ako!" I rolled my eyes at him while he let out a soft laugh.

After lunch, pumunta kami ng Buen Retiro Park, isa sa mga pinakamalaking park sa Madrid, where we eat ice cream, and roam around na para bang magkasintahan kami.

Nakaupo kami sa isang bench when my phone suddenly buzz, si ate Hera tumatawag sa akin. 

"Yuri?" I heared Kuya Owen voice in the other line. 

"Kuya Owen? Napatawag po kayo?" nagugulohan kong tanong.

Sergio held my waist and pulled me to his chest making my head leaned to his shoulder. He hugged his other hands around my waist while the other one entwined  my right hand.

"Wait lang Yuri, gusto ka daw makausap ni Ate Hera mo" sabi ni kuya Owen sa kabilang linya "baby ito na si Yuri"dinig kong sabi ni kuya Owen, he must be talking to ate Hera.

"Yuri? Si ate Hera mo ito," matinis nitong sabi. 

"Yes ate napatawag ka?"

"Kamusta ka na?" 

"Okey lang, Ate," I said in uneven voice.

"Are you sure? Tinatrato ka ba ng maayos ng pinsan ko?" she said in a demanding tone. 

"Yes Ate. Okay naman ang trato niya sa akin." I lied, ayoko kasing magkaroon sila ng hidwaan ng dahil sa akin.

"Wag kang magsinungaling Yuri. I have eyes in the castle, kaya kahit pagtakpan mo pa iyang pinsan ko, eh malalaman ko pa rin na ginawa ka niyang laundrywoman. Don't worry, I take care of it myself," galit nitong sabi.

"Hayaan mo na, Ate. 'Wag ninyo na gawing issue. Kaunti lang naman iyong nilabhan ko." malumanay kong pakiusap sa kanya.

"Konti man or marami, hindi niya dapat ginawa sa 'yo iyon. For Pete's sake! you're my guest, at hindi ka labandera at plantsadora sa aking pamamahay!" mahinahon nitong sabi ngunit may galit sa boses nito. "Don't worry, I deal with him," iyon lang, at naputol na  ang linya.

"Are you, okey?" tanong ni Sergio sa akin. He kissed my head, and hugged me close. 

"I'm okey," I said, and sighed, pero sinabi ko din sa kanya ang pinag-usapan namin ni Ate Hera. Sa totoo lang, I have no intention na magsumbong kay ate Hera, panakot ko lang iyon kay Austin. I don't want to cause a rift between Ate Hera, and her cousin's Austin.

Napailing si Sergio sa kwento ko. "She is right, you're a guest, and should be treated like one."

“He was forced to accept me in the Castle." I said in a low voice, “saka may galit siya sa akin. He was so angry with me because I slapped him in the face not once but thrice in front of many people when he kissed me, and touch my butt at ate Hera Wedding."

“Well served him right,” he laughed softly but held my chin so that I will look at him. “Just be careful, My Love, now that you're

living under one roof," he warmed me, and kissed me on the forehead.

Kung titignan sa malayoan, para kaming magkasintahan ni Sergio pero gayon naman kami ni Sergio, dati pa. We were best friends, best buddies.. until he left for Spain.