Chapter 29

Their new house is in another developing subdivision at the most suburban part of Cerro Roca. Noong isang linggo pa sila lumipat ni Langdon dito. He also made sure that there's no houses near or beside the house to avoid any accident like what happened in his previous house. Napag-alaman nito na minanmanan sila ng hired killer na nirentahan ang kabilang bahay na katabi nila.

The past weeks of her life were some of the best and memorable part of her life. Langdon lets her took good care of him. Kahit hindi pa rin nito nakakalimutang ipaalala sa kaniya na wala silang kinabukasang dalawa, at least hinahayaan siya nitong iparamdam ang pagmamahal niya rito.

"Alcindra, the time is ticking. Tapusin mo na ang kailangan mong tapusin diyan. I've been covering your back for too long from everyone but I can't keep it forever if you chose to be as stupid as you are acting now. Ikakasa na nina Zen ang plano. We can not find Femella to lead us so Zen has to step in."

She sighed hard while talking to Lucy on the phone. Alam naman niya iyon. Sadyang hindi pa lang niya makuha ang lakas na umalis sa poder ni Langdon.

"I know, Ate Lucy. Hindi na rin naman ako magtatagal dito. I just need some more time."

"Time is not with us, Cin! Matagal na tayong gahol sa oras. I won't let this opportunity that has come to us be gone to waste again. Hindi ko hahayaan na tuluyan na tayong makalimutan ng lahat. Hindi ko hahayaan na isipin ng lahat na patay na tayo. The Alcantaras will rise again, Cin. We will witness the day that we will come back to Monte Vega. We will witness it together and we will completely drive the Asturias out of our land."

For years, her clan has been in an ongoing bloody clash with the Asturias. They have been in a long standing rido with them since the first Alcantara woman has fallen victim to an Asturia. It's the reason why twins should never be born in the family.

Ubusan ng lahi. Kung sino ang matitirang buhay, siya ang panalo.

Mabigat ang dibdib niya pagkatapos ng pag-uusap nila ng pinsan. She didn't have a choice but to cut short her stay with Langdon. Tama na siguro ang mga alaalang naipon niya. Sapat na sa isang buong panahon na mabubuhay siya.

"So this is where my dear husband is hiding you. In fairness, it's good. Hindi niya tinitipid ang kabit niya."

Mula sa pagkakatulala sa harap ng dinidiligan na halaman ay agad siyang napabaling sa pinagmulan ng boses. Yvonne Asturia, Langdon's wife, is standing proudly in front of her while looking at the house.

Umatras siya dahil sa takot nang maalala ang ginawa nito sa kaniya noon. Napansin nito ang ginawa niya at napatawa.

"No need to be afraid with me. Cin, right? I'm not here to hurt you or what. Takot ko lang sa asawa ko." She laughed sarcastically. "I never thought that Langdon could have such tender feelings towards a girl like you. Maybe I underestimated you just a little bit. Ang galing mo. Akalain mo iyon, you were able to control the difficult Langdon Asturia in the palm of your hand. How did you do it? Ganoon ka ba kagaling sa kama para mapasunod mo siya?"

Parang may asidong ibinuhos sa kaniya dahil sa insinuation nito. "Hindi ko kinokontrol si Langdon. No one can do that to him," tanggi niya.

"Oh really?" Humakbang ito palapit sa kaniya kaya napaatras din siya. "He mauled my brother and left me in embarrassment, jumped for you in that bridge and left me on our first night together just to look after you. And now I didn't see him for the past weeks because guess what, he's busy here playing dolls with you. If that isn't controlling, then I'd better think he is going crazy. Or... Maybe he's in love with you already."

Na-tempt siya na tumango, sabihin na ginawa lahat iyon ni Langdon dahil mahal siya nito. But it's wrong to lie about the true content of his heart when he has been honest to her from the very start.

"He doesn't love me, Yvonne. Alam nating dalawa na wala siyang kayang mahalin sa ating dalawa. He... He will always love his girlfriend no matter what." Nagtaas siya ng tingin dito. "Langdon loves Cas until now."

Yvonne smirked and circled around her, her hands crossed on her chest. "Yeah, you're right. Langdon is still head over heels in love with a girl in six feet underground who's probably all bones by now. What a waste. I was told she is prettily innocent but so are you, Cin. Siguro nga ay nakikita ni Langdon si Cas sa iyo pero iyon lang iyon. You're just her cheap shadow. She was an Alcantara while you are a nobody."

Nagbaba siya ng tingin dito at kinagat ang dila sa loob ng bibig para mapigilan niya ang pagtakas ng luha. What Yvonne said was a true. She is just a cheap shadow, a low class imitation of her own cousin.

"Oh please, don't cry. It's the truth. You don't have a choice but to accept it. Another thing you have to accept is the fact that you're delaying Langdon. Isa kang malaking balakid sa buhay niya na sinisimulan na sana niyang buuin uli. His father gave him a task for him to be accepted back to the family. I'm helping him get his honor back but you're ruining it all. Pinipigil mo siya na muling makuha ang respeto ng pamilya niya na nawala nang magmahal siya ng isang Alcantara. I'm not telling you this for myself although you do know I have also my own motives. I'm doing this for Langdon. So please, leave him alone now."

Lumapit pa ito sa kaniya at tinitigan ang mukha niya na ngayon ay pulang-pula na dahil sa hiya at sakit na nararamdaman.

"He wasn't able to save Cas back then so he's trying to forgive himself by being with a girl who reminds him of her. You don't know that? Oh well, may alam ka ba talaga tungkol kay Langdon? Did he ever tell you about what his dreams are? What could he have achieved if that girl didn't budge into his life? Langdon is a gifted child so studying is just an easy thing for him. For him, it's just so effortless. The path has been laid on to him already but that Alcantara changed everything. That woman destroyed his potential. I hope you'll keep this in mind and decide to leave him for good."

Pinasadahan pa siya nito ng isang nang-uuyam na ngiti bago tumalikod.

"I'll leave..." Nagsalita siya bago pa ito makaalis, "not because you say so but because it's what Langdon wants." Pinahid niya ang mga luha pero wala siyang lakas na mag-angat ng tingin kaya pinanatili lang niya ang mga mata sa tubig na lumalabas sa nakabukas na water hose. "Kapag mahal mo ang isang tao, gagawin mo ang lahat para sa kaniya. You will put his happiness first before yours. What I wanted from him is just memories for me to last a lifetime. Iyon lang talaga ang kailangan ko. And I'm sorry, I'm really really sorry for hurting your feelings while I'm trying to gather these memories with Langdon. I'm sorry, Yvonne."

Sandali itong hindi nakapagsalita. Nang tingnan niya ito ay nabasa siya ng awa sa mga mata nito na agad din naman nitong itinaboy palayo.

"Good to know. You're very young, Cin. Marami pang lalake ang darating sa buhay mo. Langdon is just not for you. He is for strong woman like me," wika nito saka tuluyan nang umalis.

Naiwan siyang nakayuko at tahimik na umiiyak.

No, Langdon is my first and last man. He'll be the only one in my heart forever.

NAG-AABANG siya sa labas ng pinto para sa pagdating ng binata habang umiinom ng chocolate drink. Kanina pa nagpabalik-balik ang isip niya sa mga sinabi ni Yvonne kanina. Tama naman talaga ito. She is just a big burden to Langdon.

An engine stopped outside so she hurriedly got up to open the gate. It has been some sort of a routine for the both of them. Tuwing hapon ay naghihintay siya palagi sa pag-uwi ni Langdon. Siya palagi ang nagbubukas ng gate para salubungin ang pagdating nito. He always got a thing or two for her. Hindi mawawala ang chocolate drink sa mga pasalubong nito sa kaniya.

Today, Langdon is particularly carefree. His face is so bright and not the usual somber steel face he wears every day.

"I bought you something. Nakita ko ito na ibinebenta sa tabi ng kalsada at naalala ko na gusto mo ng llama."

Hinila siya nito paupo sa doorstep saka inilabas sa bulsa ang isang eyeglass chain. Pearl-bedded ang chain na may tig-iisang figurine ng hayop sa bawat dulo.

"Tara, ikabit natin sa salamin mo."

"Wait," pigil ko sa kaniya at inilapit ang chain sa mata para inspeksiyunin. "Hindi naman ito llama. Kambing ito, eh. Tingnan mo." Itinuro niya rito ang ulo ng hayop.

"Kambing ba? Hindi ba sila pareho?"

"Hindi. Llama is close to alpacas and they're both from the camelid family like the camels. Goats are more closely related to sheeps. Magkaiba sila and llamas are cuter than goats."

Kinuha ni Langdon ang chain at nilaro ang kambing. "Magkamukha naman sila ng mga kambing. Hindi ba natin sila pwedeng gawing magkapamilya o malayong kamag-anak?"

"No, mas mabalahibo ang mga llama kompara sa mga kambing. At mas maganda silang tingnan kaysa sa mga kambing."

"Cin, I never knew you to be this racist towards goats. Wait, let me just draw on it. Gawin nating cute at mabalahibo."

Mabilis na pumasok sa bahay si Langdon at pagbalik ay may dala ng mga coloring pen. Nagsimula itong guhitan ang kambing.

"Wow, Lang. You draw?" manghang sambit niya nang parang magic na lumago ang balahibo ng kambing.

"Dati. I don't now but I guess I'm drawing now."

Dumikit siya rito para mas makita ang ginagawa nito.

"Wow, you're go—" Napangiwi siya ng naging sungay ang tenga ng kambing.

"Bat parang naging deformed na tupa?" hindi niya napigilang itanong nang ibahin nito ng hugis ang mukha.

Tiningnan muna siya nito bago ibinalik ang atensiyon sa ginagawa. "Ha? Naging tupa ba? Sandali, ulitin ko na lang."

"Wag na." Inagaw niya rito ang chain at itinago sa loob ng palad. "Okay na iyan. M-Maganda na siya." Mabilis niya itong ninakawan ng halik sa pisngi at nahihiyang nagyuko ng ulo. "Thank you Lang for remembering me."

Nanahimik ito ng ilang saglit bago tumikhim.

"Ayaw mo yata, eh. Kunin ko na lang." Inilahad nito ang palad sa kaniya.

Inilayo niya ang mga kamay. "Hindi. Gusto ko sila. Mahal ko na nga yata ang mga kambing dahil sa iyo. Salamat."

"Really?" nakahinga ito ng maluwag. "Then let's put it on your eyeglass."

Ibinigay niya rito ang chain. Umusog ito palapit sa kaniya at ikinabit ito. Nang magtama ang mga mata nila ay pareho silang napangiti.

"Mukha na siyang llama kahit papaano. Cute na at mabalahibo kaso mukhang hybrid yata ito. First of its kind."

Nilaro nito ang mga kambing gamit ang daliri at dinamay pa ang nananahimik na ilong niya.

"Para na akong lola," nakabungisngis na saad niya at nangalumbaba rito na patuloy lang sa ginagawang pagsasalpukan ng mga kambing.

"Cute na lola." Pinitik nito nang mahina ang ilong niya saka nilaro uli ang mga kambing. She was just dreamily looking at his clear blue-green eyes.

"Lang, bakit mo akong hinahayaan na kulitin ka, na tumira rito sa bahay mo? Pwede mo naman akong ipatapon sa labas kung gugustuhin mo. It's your house. It's your life."

Sinulyapan siya nito at nagkibit-balikat. "You'll be camping outside of my house then. Ayoko pa naman ng may kapitbahay."

Nginitian niya ito at inayos ang salamin. She doesn't have to say more words. Langdon already gave her an answer even when not actually saying it.