FIVE

"She has no boyfriend. Divine is single like me..."

 

Inis ang nararamdaman ng mga driver sa EDSA dahil sa matinding trapiko ngunit naiiba si Ziancio. Hindi nawawala ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi habang inaalala ang nalaman niya kanina. Alam niya naman kung gaano kasipag ang kaniyang assistant sa trabaho pero hindi niya inaasahan na wala pa itong karelasyon. Batid niya kung gaano kaganda, kabuti at kahusay si Divine kaya nakakagulat ang katotohanan na wala pa itong nobyo. There's no doubt that Divine has a lot of men who want to court her and win her heart, but she doesn't seem interested in them at all.

 

Ziancio couldn't explain the excitement and joy he was feeling after finding out that Divine is single. Pero teka, bakit nga ba tila napakasaya niya sa nalaman? Ano naman kung single ang assistant niya?

 

Sa pagkakataon 'yon niya lang napansin ang ngiting kanina pa nakaguhit sa kaniyang labi. Ilang beses siyang napakurap at tiningnan ang sarili sa front mirror ng sasakyan. Doon niya nakita ang bahagyang pamumula ng kaniyang pisnge habang iniisip ang babae.

 

Napalunok siya nang mapagtanto ang nangyayari sa kaniyang sarili. He looks like an idiot who is daydreaming about a silly romance. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa manebela at mariin na pinikit ang mga mata. Nasisiraan na nga yata talaga siya ng ulo.

 

Umandar na ang sasakyan sa kaniyang harapan kaya ipinatuloy niya ang pagmamaneho. Muli nanamang pumasok si Divine sa isipan niya matapos ang ilang saglit ngunit agad rin siyang natauhan nang marinig ang ring ng phone niya. He tsk-ed and answered his phone without even looking at the caller. Inisip niya na maaring tungkol sa trabaho ang tawag na sinagot niya pero agad ring naningkit ang kaniyang mga mata nang marinig ang boses ng isang taong ayaw na ayaw niyang makausap.

 

"Ziancio, go home."

 

Umikot ang kaniyang mga mata nang marinig ang boses ng ama. Bigla siyang nawalan ng mood nang mapagtanto na ito ang tumawag sa kaniya sa telepono. Agad siyang nagsisi na hindi niya tiningnan ang caller at sinagot ang tawag. His father ruined his night.

 

"I'm on my way to my own home, Dad. Sa condo ko. That's my home." tugon niya habang deretso ang tingin sa kalsada. He will never call the place where he grew up ‘home’ ever again.

 

"Umuwi ka dito sa bahay. We have a family dinner tonight. Don't make excuses, because I already made sure that you're free at this hour."

 

Naglabas siya ng buntonghininga. Wala siyang magagawa dahil kahit isa na siyang responsableng lalaki, hindi pa rin nawawala ang tali niya sa ama at kaya siyang hilain nito pabalik kahit kailan. He always wanted to cut ties with him but the fact that he gave him this life will remain forever.

 

He had no choice but to change his path and drive to his father's house— the mansion where he grew up. Isang malaking bangungot ang lugar na 'yon para sa kaniya pero hindi niya mabubura ang halaga nito sa kaniyang buhay.

 

It took him an hour to get to his old home with his car. Nahagip agad ng kaniyang mga mata ang umiilaw na palamuting bumabalot sa malaking mansyon nang makababa siya. He saw the familiar maids waiting for his arrival with a smile and they greeted him politely when he walked towards the main door.

 

"Maligayang pagbalik, señorito. Kanina pa ho kayo hinihintay ni Don Rafael sa hapagkainan." wika ng mayordoma na sinalubong siya.

 

Isang tango lang ang kaniyang tinugon sa mga katulong bago nagpatuloy sa paglalakad papasok sa mansyon. Tulad ng kaniyang inaasahan, mas nadagdagan nanaman ang mga mamahalin at kulay gintong dekorasyon sa bawat parte ng lugar. Nakatitiyak siya na ang stepmother niya nanaman ang may kagagawan ng pagbabago sa mansyon na ito. That woman really loves spending millions on lavish things. Palagi kasi nitong ipinagmamayabang ang yaman sa mga kumareng bumibisita sa kanilang tahanan.

 

Dumeretso si Ziancio sa dining room at narinig ang tawa ng kaniyang ama na kausap ang pangalawang asawa nito. Naabutan niya rin doon ang half brother na si Zion, masaya itong nakikipagkuwentuhan sa mga magulang. Masyado silang abala sa sarili nilang mundo kaya naman hindi agad nila napansin ang pagdating niya. Their picture as a happy family without him hurts his eyes. Hindi niya mapigilang maalala ang mga panahon na gano'n rin sila kasaya... kasama ang tunay niyang ina na matagal nang namayapa.

 

"It seems like you are all happy here. Why did you even disturb me and invite me to come here?" inis na sambit ni Ziancio habang nakahalukikip at nakakunot ang noo.

 

Doon niya nakuha ang atensyon ng tatlong nakaupo sa kainan. They got quiet after hearing his voice and noticing his presence. Sabay silang napatingin sa kaniya at tila nagulat pa ang stepmother niya nang makita siya.

 

"He really came..." wika ng babae. Halata ang gulat at pagkaaliw sa expresyon nito pero hindi niya ito pinagkaabalahang batiin.

 

"You're late." malamig na sermon ng ama niya. Nagbago ang matamis nitong tono noong kausap nito ang asawa.

 

He scoffed. "You're the one who ordered me to come here. Inistorbo mo ako nang biglaan, kaya wala kang karapatan na pagalitan ako. It's not like I wanted to be here."

 

Ayaw niya mang harapin ang tatlo ngunit lumapit pa rin siya at umupo sa tabi ng kaniyang kapatid.

 

"What's up, bro." bati ni Zion nang makaupo siya.

 

"So you're here. Akala ko may flight ka?"  he asked him, ignoring the stares of his father and stepmother. Piloto ang kapatid niya sa isang malaki at banyag na international airline at madalas itong wala sa bansa.

 

"I just landed today at dumeretso ako dito. I wanted to surprise Mom and Dad. Ikaw, how was your day?" 

 

"Almost good. But it got ruined because I was forced to come here." 

 

Hindi niya tinitingnan ang ama ngunit ramdam niya ang talim ng mga mata nito. He didn't care about it. Dahil sa mga ginawa nito sa kaniya at sa kaniyang ina noong nabubuhay pa ito, nawalan na siya ng respeto sa sariling ama at sa kabit na pinakasalan nito.

 

"I can see that." Zion chuckled.

 

Hindi malapit si Ziancio sa kapatid pero ito na lang ang kapamilya niya na kaniyang nakakausap nang matino. Zion might be the son of the woman who ruined his family, but he is a very kind brother to him. Alam niya na walang kasalanan ang kapatid kaya hindi siya nagtanim ng galit dito.

 

Her mother was the purest and kindest woman on earth. They were once a happy family, but not until his father cheated and had a child with another woman. Nagsimulang gumuho ang masaya nilang pamilya at doon din nag-umpisa ang pagbabago ng kaniyang amang inakala niyang mamahalin sila ng kaniyang ina habambuhay. The woman is aware that his father already has his own family, but she didn't stop having a relationship with him. Inagaw nito ang kaniyang ama mula sa kaniyang ina. Because of despair, Ziancio's mother took her own life and his father married his mistress two weeks after her death.

 

"So Ziancio, how do you like the new arrangements in this house?" His stepmother asked with a smile.

 

"You arranged this?" he asked as he let out a sarcastic laugh. "No wonder. Kaya pala masakit sa mata. I much prefer my mother's old arrangement in the house. Simple lang at malinis tingnan. Mas mukhang tahanan ‘yon, hindi museum."

 

Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ng babae dahil sa sinabi niya. He could feel her anger but he was also aware that she was restraining herself from fighting back.

 

"Evan Ziancio! Stop being disrespectful!" galit na sigaw ng ama pero wala na siyang pakialam.

 

"Honey, it's okay. He probably just misses his mother so much." The stepmother held the old man's hand to calm him down.

 

Ziancio doesn't know where that woman got the guts to live the life that originally belonged to his mother after seducing a married man. Nandidiri siya rito at sa kaniyang ama.

 

"I just answered a question. Hindi ka na dapat nagtanong if you don't want to hear my response."

 

Ziancio's stepmother chuckled to ease the tension between them. Alam naman nito ang ugali ni Ziancio at madalas nitong hindi nagugustuhan ang mga salitang lumalabas sa bibig niya pero hindi nito magawang pagsabihan si Ziancio dahil nais nitong umarteng santo kapag kaharap ang asawa. She is the wife and the lady of the mansion but she has no power to teach Ziancio a lesson.

 

"Okay, everyone is here! Ngayon lang ulit tayo nagkasamang apat, so let's be happy together, alright?"

 

Ziancio wanted to roll his eyes. How could he be happy if she and his father are present?

 

Nagsimula na silang kumain at hindi na rin siya nagsalita dahil gusto niya na lang na matapos na agad ang gabi. The foods on the table are delicious but he will never be able to enjoy them because he is in this place. Kahit ilang taon siyang nanirahan sa tahanan na ito, hindi niya pa ring magawang maging masaya sa tuwing nakatapak sa mansyon. He feels like he no longer belongs in this house ever since his biological mother died.

 

"Zion, you're getting more and more successful as a pilot na ha! I am so proud of you!"

 

The woman started a conversation with her son because the silence was too deafening. Ziancio is also aware that his stepmother is doing it on purpose so their father will compliment her biological son in front of him. 

 

"It's good that you're building your own name with your own hard work and abilities. You didn't even have to use the Valdez’s name to be successful." his father complimented, which made Zion smile. Sa kabilang banda, tahimik pa ring kumakain si Ziancio na walang interes sa kahit na anong pinaguusapan nila. It was like a family talk to which he does not belong.

 

"Pero Zion, when are you going to get married? You never had a proper girlfriend in your entire life."

 

Naramdaman ni Ziancio na natigilan ang kapatid matapos 'yon itanong ng kanilang ama. He often notices that Zion is uncomfortable with this topic but his parents are too blind to understand his feelings.

 

"It's not a good thing to be single forever. Baka isipin ng mga tao bakla ka! I don't have a son who is gay. Nakakahiya kung iisipin ng ibang tao 'yon." dagdag nito. This old man only cares about what people will say about his sons.

 

"Rafael! Our son Zion is not gay! Lalaking-lalaki 'yan. Wala lang talagang deserving na babae ang kayang makaabot ng level ng baby boy ko!" pagtatangol ng babae sa anak bago tumingin kay Ziancio. "Bakit hindi mo tanungin 'yang panganay mo? He never had a girlfriend after breaking up with Marielle. Siya ang mas matanda kaya siya dapat ang unang magkaroon ng anak!”

 

Nandilim ang paningin ni Ziancio dahil sa sinabi ng stepmother niya. So she is putting him on this topic to protect her own son, huh? Kahit ano ang pagpapanggap nito bilang mabuting stepmother sa kaniya, lalabas pa rin talaga ang tunay nitong ugali. He’s not surprised by it. She is the person who ruined his family, after all, so he is well aware that she’s not genuine at all.

 

The tension was getting worse but Zion’s laugh interrupted the conversation. Lahat sila ay napatingin sa kapatid niya na sinusubukan pigilan ang tawa.

 

“What’s so funny, Zion?”

 

Pilit nitong pinigilan ang pagtawa. "You don't have to worry about not having a grandchild, Dad. Mayroon ka nang— I mean, sigurado ako na magkakaroon ka ng apo. Malay mo, kambal pa.”

 

They couldn’t understand what Zion said. Imposible naman kasi na magkaroon ng apo ang kanilang ama kung hindi sila magkakaroon ng anak. Unless their father has another child with another woman without their knowledge.

 

"When are you going to give me grandchildren, Ziancio? 'Yon na lang ang pakinabang mo sa pamilyang ito, to continue our bloodline, and you can't even do that?” His father asked, trying to calm himself.

 

"I'm doing good on my own. Kaya ko naman mabuhay nang walang asawa. I don't need a child or a family. Kaya ko mabuhay mag-isa—“

 

"Nonsense! Kung hindi ikaw o si Zion, sino ang magpapatuloy sa dugo ng ating pamilya? I would never accept anyone who's not part of my direct bloodline gain our family's wealth. Kailangan ko ng apo! Bakit hindi niyo mabigay 'yon sa akin?” sigaw ng kaniyang ama kaya hindi niya naituloy ang sinasabi niya. Hindi na siya nagulat dahil hindi naman talaga nito pinakikinggan ang opinyon at gusto niya at ng kapatid niya.

 

The wife tried to make a move. “Honey, calm down—“

 

"Isa ka pa, Linda! Mas bata at mas malusog ka kay Teressa, pero bakit isang anak lang ang naibigay mo sa akin? Walang mga kuwenta!"

 

Kumuyom ang kamao ni Ziancio na marinig ang pangalang Teressa— that is the name of his late mother who gave him the most wonderful love in this world. Kumulo ang kaniyang dugo matapos marinig ang pangalan ng kaniyang ina mula sa maduming bibig ng kaniyang ama ngunit pinilit niyang kumalma dahil wala siyang ganang makipagtalo dito. 

 

Ziancio couldn’t hold it anymore. Hindi pa ubos ang pagkain na nasa plato niya pero tumayo na siya para maglakad paalis ng dining room. His father screamed his name to call him and order him to get back, but he didn’t bother turning around and facing him again. Siguradong matinding gulo nanaman ang magaganap kung papatulan niya ang ama. He’s already stressed at work, ayaw niya nang madagdagan ang kaniyang problema.

 

Dumeretso siya sa parking lot kung saan nakaparada ang kaniyang sasakyan at iba pang mamahaling sasakyan na pagmamay-ari ng kaniyang pamilya. That is the only quiet spot in this place so he decided to come there and put himself together. Naglabas siya ng isang kahon ng sigarilyo at lighter para doon manigarilyo at pakalmahin ang sarili. 

 

Ilang saglit lang, naramdaman niya na mayroong naglalakad palapit sa kaniya. Hindi na siya nagulat nang makita na si Zion ito.

 

“Mom is doing her best to calm Dad down. They are so dramatic. Kung hindi ko lang mga magulang ‘yon, matagal ko na silang nilayasan. I can’t believe that they are still forcing us to have children as if their lives depend on it.” wika nito.

 

Alam ni Ziancio na tulad niya, ayaw rin ni Zion ang mga usapang tungkol sa pagpapakasal. His brother is already as successful as him and he seems not to be interested in love at all. Pareho sana silang magiging masaya kung hindi lang pakialamero ang kanilang ama.

 

Ibinuga ni Ziancio ang usok mula sa sigarilyo at inangat ang kahon na hawak niya para abutan ang kapatid.

 

“You smoke?” He asked while showing the box of cigarettes in his hand.

 

Umiling-iling ito at tumingin sa kaniya. "I don’t smoke, but I do have a question to ask. Sigurado ka bang wala kang anak? Baka naman may nabuntis ka pala tapos wala ka lang kaalam-alam."

 

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Ziancio dahil sa sinabi ng kapatid. What is that nonsense? Kung may mabubuntis siyang babae, sigurado naman siya na pananagutan niya iyon.

 

"I'm a freaking virgin, bro. Ano ba ang pinagsasabi mo? Maybe you're the one who got someone pregnant."

 

Ngumiwi agad si Zion. "What? Ako? Makakabuntis ng babae? Ew, no!"

 

Natigilan siya nang dahil sa pagngiwi nito habang itinatanggi ang sinabi niya. His brother seems to be disgusted with that idea.

 

Tumikhim ito nang mapansin ang pagtataka sa expresyon niya. Zion looked away and laughed awkwardly. "I mean... kung makakabuntis ako ng babae, sisiguraduhin kong pananagutan ko 'yon at hinding hindi ko kakalimutan ang nangyari sa amin."

 

Hindi na siya umimik at ipinagpatuloy ang paninigarilyo. He’s not really in the mood to have a long conversation with someone right now.

 

“Kuya, are you not interested in someone at this moment?”

 

Muli siyang natigilan dahil sa tanong ng kapatid. He has no idea why Zion keeps asking him random questions he has never asked before. Hindi naman sila malapit na magkapatid, but why is he asking him these questions like they are close friends?

 

However, Ziancio doesn’t feel uncomfortable about it. Himbis na mainis ay isang ngisi ang sumilay sa kaniyang labi bago sinagot ang katanungan na ‘yon.

 

"I actually starting to like someone... but I don't want to rush. Gusto ko muna siguraduhin ang nararamdaman ko.”

 

Divine’s image flashed in his mind when he said that. Oo, habang tumatagal ay unti-unti niya nang natatanggap na naakit siya sa assistant niya. Several women tried to seduce him but Divine is the only one who was able to get his interest and attraction. Wala naman itong ginawa para akitin siya, pero palagi nang tumitibok nang mabilis ang puso niya tuwing nakikita ito.

 

"What? May babae kang nagugustuhan? You can't!"

 

Ziancio was taken aback when Zion shouted, as if he was stopping him from liking someone. “What?”  

 

Zion took a deep breath. "I mean... sigurado ka na ba diyan? You're not getting married aren't you?"

 

He laughed and shook his head.  “I don’t believe in marriages.”

 

He is attracted to Divine, but marriage is never his idea. He witnessed his mother’s failed marriage to his father, so he wouldn’t want to repeat the same tragedy his mother experienced.

 

Umiling-iling si Zion at hindi na umimik pa tungkol doon. Ziancio suddenly got interested in talking to him after a very long time of not seeing each other, so they started a conversation about their careers and future plans. Ilang minuto rin sila nag-usap hanggang sa naubusan sila ng paksa na maibabahagi sa isa’t isa.

 

"Aalis na ako.” wika nito nang matapos ang pag-uusap nila. Ubos na ang sigarilyo ni Ziancio kaya itinapon niya ito at sinundan ang kapatid na naglalakad palapit sa sariling sasakyan.

 

“Really? I thought you’re going to stay the night. Where are you going this late?” he asked. Zion is living in the mansion with his parents, kaya bakit pa ito aalis? Kauuwi lang nito sa Pinas, so he’s supposed to be resting now.

 

His brother laughed upon hearing what he asked.

 

"Tinatanong mo kung saan ako pupunta?" He smirked before answering. "Somewhere you don't know. Papanagutan ko lang ang responsibilidad na kinalimutan ng iba."

 

Hindi ni Ziancio mabatid ang ibig sabihin ng kaniyang kapatid. He was about to ask him what his words meant, but Zion didn't let him speak as he immediately entered his car. Wala itong paalam na nagmaneho paalis ng mansyon hanggang sa tuluyan na itong nawala sa paningin niya.

 

His brows furrowed in confusion. Alam niya naman na wala siyang nakalimutan, pero bakit parang pinaparinggan siya ni Zion?