TESTAMENT

ALAS NUEBE NA ng umaga at kompleto na sa loob ng study room ang lahat. The room smelled like coffee ngunit hindi niyon kayang itago ang tensiyon na bumabalot sa bawat isang naroon.

Well, maliban kay Isaviel at Anton na parehong tila walang pakialam sa mangyayari.

Ngayon babasahin ng abogado ni Don Roberto ang iniwan nitong testamento para sa mga naiwang tagapagmana. Kung tutuusin ay noon pa sana iyon binasa, kinabukasan mismo pagkatapos ng libing ng Don ngunit dahil sa pagkakasakit ni Isaviel ay ipinagpaliban na lang muna ng abogado.

“So, everyone’s ready, I assumed,” may ngiti sa mga labi na sabi ni Atty. Suarez habang inaayos sa ibabaw ng makapal na mesang gawa sa mahogany ang mga papeles na kailangan.

Tumango si Eduardo na umayos pa ng upo sa tabi ng anak na si Venice.

Isaviela sat on the left side of the long narra table. She was wearing a long black dress.Her hair was in a low bun. Isang mahinang buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan niya habang ang mga kamay na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng kanyang mga hita ay magkasalikop. Katabi niya si Anton na kagaya niya ay nakasuot din ng itim. Seryosong-sersyoso ang anyo ng lalaki at blangko ang tingin na tumango sa abogado.

Pasimpleng sinulyapan ni Isaviel ang mga kasama niya sa mahabang mesa. Across her was her sister, Venice. Bakas ang pananabik sa anyo nito. Hindi iyon maitago ng nangingislap nitong mga mata.

Dumako naman ang mga mata niya sa kanyang ama. Si Eduardo Castañeda. The man who married Anton’s mother ten years ago.

Kumurap ng ilang beses ang mga mata ni Isaviel.

Six years.

It has been six years since she last saw him. He looked older and thinner now. But his eyes were the same. The eyes that chose to leave her when she was eight, then came back with a new wife.

He didn’t look at her. Not once. For him, it was always Venice.

Isang mapait at tipid na ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi ni Isaviel dahil sa katotohanang iyon.

“Good morning,” simula ni Atty. Suarez. His voice was steady and firm. “We are here for the reading of the Last Will and Testament of Don Roberto Castañeda.”

Humigpit ang pagkakasalikop ng mga kamay ni Isaviel nang mabanggit ang pangalan ng kanyang namayapang Lolo. Gumuhit ang walang kapantay sa sakit sa puso kasabay ng pamumuo ng luha sa kanyang mga mata.

Mabilis niyang ikinurap ang mga mata para pigilan ang tuluyang pagbagsak ng kanyang mga luha.

“The will was signed two years ago,” patuloy ng abogado habang isa-isa silang inaabutan ng kopya ng mga papeles na hawak nito. “Don Roberto requested that only four people will be present for the first reading. His granddaughters, Isaviela and Venice. His grandson-in-law, Anton Resma. And his son, Eduardo Castañeda.”

Napansin ni Isaviel na kaagad na umunat ng upo si Venice nang mabanggit ang pangalan nito. Muli ay lumarawan sa anyo nito ang labis na pananabik.

Umayos naman ng upo si Eduardo.

Sinulyapan ni Isaviel ang katabing lalaki ngunit kagaya kanina ay hindi pa rin nagbabago ang anyo ni Anton.

Mahinang tumikhim si Atty. Suarez saka binuksan ang folder.

“To my son, Eduardo Castañeda. You left this house thirty years ago to chase a life in Manila. You came back only when you needed money. You left my granddaughter Isaviel here with me and never looked back. Then you married again. Because of this, you will receive nothing from the hacienda, the land, or the company. However, I am leaving you twenty million pesos on one condition.”

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Eduardo. Bakas sa anyo ang labis na pagkadisgusto dahil sa narinig. Twenty million? Really? Saan aabot ang ganoong halaga?

“What condition?”

“That you attend family dinner every Sunday for three months. That you sit at my table. That you try to be a father again to Isaviel. That you try to be a family with Anton. If you fail to do this, twenty million goes to charity.”

Dumilim ang anyo ni Eduardo. Tinapunan niya ng nagbabagang tingin ang bunsong anak.

“That’s blackmail.” aniya sa abogado pagkaraan ng ilang sandali.

“That’s his will, Eduardo,” kalmado ang tinig na tugon ni Atty. Suarez. “You have a copy. P’wede mo namang sabihin. At kung mayroon kang gustong i-kontesta, you can go ask another lawyer. But I’m telling you, wala kang makikitang butas sa iniwang testamento ng ama mo.”

Isaviela bit her lip. Lolo... even in death, he was still trying to fix the family he broke.

“To my granddaughter, Venice Castañeda.”

Gumuhit ang matamis na ngiti sa mga labi ni Venice habang hinihintay ang iba pang sasabihin ng abogado.

“You left for America at sixteen. You built your life there. You told me you didn’t need this house. I am leaving you the condo in BGC, the four-storey apartment building in Manila, and thirty million pesos. This is yours, free and clear.”

Venice’s face fell.

Thirty million? A condo? At ang paupahang apartment?

That was it?

Her mouth opened but no sound came out. She expected at least part of the hacienda. Part of the company. She was the eldest.

Nagtaas ng paningin si Atty. Suarez. Over his glasses, he looked directly at Isaviel and Anton.

“And now, to my two remaining grandchildren. Isaviel Castañeda and Anton Resma.”

The air in the room changed. Pakiramdam ni Isaviel ay napunta sa kanyang sikmura ang puso niya.

“The hacienda, the 50 hectares of land, the rose farm, and 60% shares of Castañeda Agro Corp are to be jointly inherited by Isaviela Castañeda and Anton Resma.”

Venice’s hands clenched under the table. Dumilim ang anyo niya sa narinig.

Isaviel blinked.

“Jointly?” halos pabulong na usal niya.

Tumango si Atty. Suarez bago nagpatuloy.

“But there are conditions.”

Nahigit ni Isaviel ang kanyang paghinga.

“Condition number one: You must both live in this villa for the three consecutive months starting today. If either of you leaves before the ninety days are up, your share goes to the government. The villa will be donated.”

Eduardo leaned forward. “Three months? That’s ridiculous.”

“That is the will, Eduardo,”

Napahawak si Isaviel sa gilid ng mesa. Pakiramdam niya ay biglang pumintig ang ulo niya dahil sa narinig. No. She can’t stay here. Three months? That's too much. Hanggang isang linggo lang ang kaya niyang itagal sa hacienda.

Napasulyap siya kay Anton at nang makita ang madilim na anyo ng lalaki ay wala sa loob na napapikit si Isaviel.

“Condition number two.”

Sandaling huminto ang abogado. Sabay namang tumutok ang mga mata nina Isaviel at Anton dito.

“You must fix your marriage.”

Umiral sa loob ng silid ang nakakabinging katahimikan.

Isaviel blinked then her head snapped up.

“What?!” laglag ang panga na bulalas niya.

Marriage? Ano ang ibig sabihin ng Lolo niya? No.

“Fix your marriage,” Atty. Cruz repeated. “Attend marriage counseling together once a week. Eat dinner together every night. Sleep in the same house. Act as husband and wife.”

Venice stood up so fast her chair screeched.

“That’s impossible! They’re annulled! She left him six years ago. Nakalimutan n’yo na ba? Ano na namang kalokohan ‘to, Issa?!” galit na turan ni Venice habang halos mag-apoy ang mga matang tiningnan si Isaviel.

Tuluyan nang napatayo si Isaviel. Namumutla ang mukha na tiningnan niya ang abogado.

“Yes. We’re... we—er I filed for annulment six years ago. I left the papers on the bed.” sapo ang noo na usal niya bago hinarap si Anton.

Nanatili namang walang kibo si Anton. He was still sitting. Arms still crossed. Staring straight ahead.

“Anton?” tawag ng abogado sa pansin ni Anton.

For a long time, Anton didn’t answer. Then he slowly turned his head. Looked straight at Isaviel.

“Hindi tayo annulled, Viel,” turan ni Anton sa mahina ngunit buong tinig.

Napasinghap si Isaviel. Pakiramdam niya ay biglang tumigil sa pag-ikot ang mundo niya. Nagbibiro lamang si Anton. Why would he choose not to sign the annulment paper?

“Anong sinabi mo?” halos pabulong na tanong ni Isaviel sa lalaki.

Sumandal sa upuan si Anton bago tila walang anumang sumagot.

“I never signed the papers,” Anton said. His voice was flat and empty. “You left them on the bed. I saw them but I didn’t sign it, Isaviel. I threw them away.”

“No,” anas ni Isaviel na sunod-sunod umiling. “No, that’s not possible. I assumed... I was scared to follow up but I assumed—”

“Assume all you want,” Anton cut her off. He finally stood up. “But as far as the law is concerned, we’re still married, Isaviel. I’m telling you, you are still a Resma. Not Castañeda.”

Isaviela felt like the floor dropped from under her.

Isang naghe-hesterikal na tawa ang pinakawalan ni Venice. Sabay na napatingin dito ang dalawa.

“Of course. Of course. Thirty million, an apartment building, and a condo for me. The house, the land, the company, and Anton for her. Why am I not surprised, Lolo? Why? Because you always favored her even in your death. Goddammit!”

“Venice, tama na,” awat ni Eduardo sa anak na panganay.

“No, Dad!” Venice snapped, tears of anger in her eyes. “I gave up everything in America to come back here! I thought I’d get something real. I tried to be a good granddaughter pero bakit si Isaviel pa rin ang mas pinaboran niya?! And a thirty million pesos that won’t even buy half of what she’s getting!” hinarap niya si Isaviel na hindi pa rin nakakabawi sa mga narinig mula sa abogado at kay Anton. “You left, right, Issa?! You abandoned him and he still chose you! Bakit? Ha? Ano ba ang meron ka na wala ako? Apo din naman niya ako, ah.”

Isaviela didn’t answer. She couldn’t.

“Anton, why?” tanong ni Venice sa desperadong tinig. “Why didn’t you sign?!”

Anton looked at Venice. Then at Eduardo. Huli niyang tiningnan si Isaviel.

“Because I couldn’t,” he said simply. “Because even when I hated her, I couldn’t sign away my marriage with her.”

Isaviela stumbled back and sat down. Her legs couldn’t hold her anymore.

Still married. For six years, she thought she was free. For six years, she built a new life in Paris thinking she was single.

And all this time... she was still Mrs. Resma. Still Anton’s wife.

Roberto slammed his hand on the table. “This is insane! You can’t force two people to—”

“I can,” Atty. Cruz interrupted. “It’s his will. It’s legal.”

Venice wiped her face angrily. “Fine. Keep the house. Keep him. But don’t ever think this is over, Issa. You don’t deserve any of this. Babawiin ko sa’yo si Anton. Tandaan mong bago siya naging iyo ay pag-aari ko muna siya.”

Then she walked out. Slamming the door.

Tulalang napatitig na lamang si Isaviel sa pintong nilabasan ng kanyang nakatatandang kapatid.

Oh, God, Lolo! Ano itong ginawa mo sa amin?

Ilang sandali pa ay nagpaalam na din si Atty. Suarez at sumunod na rin dito si Eduardo. Naiwan sa loob ng study room si Anton at Isaviel na parehong tahimik.

Lumipas ang ilang sandali bago nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob si Isaviel na tumayo. Her hands were shaking.

“Anton, I—”

“Stop,” Anton said. He still wasn’t looking at her. “Not now, Isaviel.”

“But—”

“Ninety days, Isa,” turan ni Anton. Napansin ni Isaviel ang bahagyang pamumula ng mga mata nito. Hindi rin maitago ang matinding pagod sa guwapo nitong mukha. “That’s what Lolo wants. So we’ll do it. For him.”

“What if I can’t?”

Kumunot ang noo ni Anton. Tinitigan niya si Isaviel.

For a second, something soft flashed in his eyes. Then it was gone.

“Then we lose the villa,” he said. “Simple.”

He walked past her.

“I can’t do this, Anton. Kailangan kong bumalik sa Paris. May mga naiwan akong trabaho–”

Tumigil si Anton sa tapat ng p***o ngunit hindi ito lumingon.

“Dinner is at seven. Don’t be late. Lolo would’ve wanted us to eat together. With your father.” tila walang narinig na sabi ni Anton.

Napakagat-labi si isaviel.

The last part stung.

Then he left.

Isaviela was left alone in the living room. Muli siyang umupo at hinilot ang noo.

‘Lolo... why did you do this to us? Oh, God… You ain't helping us, alam mo ba ‘yon?’