Antipolo

Oh, Geli. Are you staying here over the weekend?” Tanong ng ina sa anak.

“Yes, mom. I wanted to rest muna kasi sobrang stress ako sa work.” Sagot ni Geli sa ina.

“Why, isn’t your brother helping you?” Tanong ni Lou sa anak.

“He’s helping me, all right. He’s in charge of the sales now. They’re marketing a 50-hectare land in Calinan, Davao City.” Sagot nito sa ina.

“You mean, your dad’s hometown? Ito ba ‘yong sa Malagos?” Tanong ng ina nito na may konting worry sa mukha.

“Yes, ma. Dad told me to put the land into market and patayuan ng mga bahay. It’s near the city pero with country side feels. Parang dito sa atin sa Antipolo.”

“Are you sure your daddy wanted to develop it? Ancestral place niya i’yon and his family owned the land for decades.” May pag aalala sa mukha ni Lou ng mga sandaling i’yon.

“That’s what he said on the phone. Magpapatayo daw tayo ng low cost houses. Why, he didn’t tell you about it?” Medyo nagugulat si Geli sa reaksyon ng ina.

“Hi hindi anak. Ba baka nakalimutan niyang sabihin sa akin. Baka ngayon ko palang malalaman. Teka, si Gelo ba pupunta dito?” iniba ni Lou ang usapan.

“No, ma. May date ata sya with… I don’t know kanino. Ang dami niyang dini date, eh.” Kahit siya ay nalilito na sa dami ng babae ng kapatid. Sa sobrang hilig niya sa babae, para na rin siya si Adriel. Si Adriel, isa siya sa mga dahilan ng pag uwi ni Geli sa Antipolo.

“Yang kapatid mo. Pagsabihan mo yan.” Worried si Lou sa anak niyang lalake dahil sa sobrang womanizer nito at hilig sa night life.

“Oh, anak. Andito pala ang maganda kong dalaga.” Nakangiti ang daddy niyang hinalikan ang anak.

“Daddy.” Humalik siya sa ama.

“Mom and I we were talking about the property in Calinan na plan mong I develop.” Inakbayan siya ng ama.

“Ah yes. Hindi ko pa nga pala na open up sa mommy mo ‘yon. We’ll talk about that while having dinner.” Sagot nito sa anak.

“Ma’am, Sir ready na po ang dinner.” Si ate Minerva ang mayordoma sa bahay ng mga Sandoval. Nasa poder na siya ng mga Sandoval maliliit pa ang kambal.

“Oh, nakahanda na pala ang hapunan.” Pumasok na ang pamilya sa dining area para mag dinner.

“Kumain ka ng madami, anak. Alam ko puro fast foods at mga unhealthy foods mga kinakain ninyo. Bago ka lumuwas bring some foods also for your brother, ha? May ginawa akong atsara.” Tuwang tuwa ang ina habang nilalagyan ng kaldereta ang plato ng anak.

“Ma, ang dami naman nyan.” Natatawa ang anak sa ugali ng ina. Hanggang ngayon bini baby parin sila ni Gelo.

“Kulang pa yan. Dito sa bahay natin walang diet diet ha.” Sagot ng ina sa anak.

“Dad, can we talk about ‘yong sa Calinan properties? Ito ba ‘yong sa Malagos?”

“No, anak. We can’t touch ‘yong sa Malagos yet. But I am thinking of putting up a hotel in there since elevated ang land and malamig duon. I’ve heard we already have competitors in there.” Sagot ng ama.

“I’m sorry dad kasi nag concentrate ako dito sa Luzon area. This project in Mindanao is new to me. Besides, I haven’t been to the place yet.”

“Yes, it’s my fault. I don’t want to go there.” Bahagyang napahinto sa pagkain daddy niya.

“But why? We have never been to this place yet. You often told us anywhere but in your hometown.” Medyo nagtatakang tanong ni Geli sa ama. Nuon pa man ay gusto na niyang pumunta dito pero ayaw ng ama. May mga katiwala sila duon lalo na sa Calinan district pero ayaw ng ama na pumunta pamilya niya duon. Tapos ngayon ipapadevelop lang pala niya.

“Later natin pag usapan, iha. After ng dinner natin. We can talk about it sa veranda while having brewed coffee.” Payo ng ina.

After ng kanilang dinner…

“Grabe ang busog ko. Ikaw nagluto nuon, ma?” Tanong nito sa ina habang nagkakape.

“Hindi si Minerva. Binigyan ko siya ng recipe.” Sagot ni Lou sa anak.

“Now that we are here, let’s talk about it. We have two properties in Calinan- the city proper and in Malagos. Maliit lang ang sa Malagos nasa 1 hectare lang pero maganda ang location. Suitable for businesses like hotels or any recreational place. Sa city proper naman ay ang 50 to 60-hectare land area. Ipinamana itong mga properties na ito ng lolo ko sa daddy ko and now, sa inyo. Your great-grandfather was a war veteran and his best friend was Agustin Montefalcon. Both of them acquired land in that area after the war. It was awarded to them by the government. Now that Adriel Montefalcon III’s father died, he and his sister Adrianna Montefalcon – Boncato are the sole heirs to the property.”

“You mean dad that Mr. Montefalcon is a family friend? I thought he wanted partnership sa negosyo natin?” Lumaki mga mata ni Geli sa nalaman niya.

“Yes, his family is close to our family because your great-grandfather and my dad were friends. Bestfriend and sabay kong lumaki si Eli, Adriel’s dad. Ganuon ka close ang family natin sa kanila. Eli got married first. After the accident when your lolo fell off the cliff in Malagos, ayoko ng umuwi. It terribly broke my heart that’s why when I married your mom here, your uncle Eli and his wife Luisa came here. Young Driel also came. He was our ring bearer.” Paliwanag ng ama.

“Driel? You mean si Adriel, dad?” This is getting interesting sa loob loob ni Geli.

“Yes, my dear anak. Driel was then five years old. ‘yong ipinanganak kayo ni Gelo a year after that, Driel attended your baptism. He looked at you and he said, “I will marry your daughter” That’s what he told me that time.” Salaysay ng ama.

“He said that? Baka ke Gelo siya nakatingin, po. Haha!” Biro ni Geli.

“No, he was looking at you. You were also wearing a pink dress. Hindi mo naging ninong or ninang parents niya pero we remained close ng papa niya.” Her dad is looking straight into her eyes as if he wanted to convey something.

Saglit na katahimikan ang namagitan sa dalawa at nabasag i’yon sa tinign ng ina.

“Gusto ninyo pa ng coffee?” Medyo tense ang boses ng ina.

“Yes, ma. Mukhang kailangan ko ng maraming caffeine.” Sagot ni Geli.

“Pour me another cup din, dear.” Sagot ni Simon.

“Hindi na ako magpaligoy ligoy pa. I promised Eli before he died na makasal kayo ni Driel. Pasensya na kung hindi ko masyadong na explain sayo last time sa phone. Your union will bring more profit to our company because they also owned huge properties in Calinan and other major cities in Mindanao. Davao City is fast booming kaya dadagsain yan ng mga tourists especially now that the pandemic is almost over.” Pagpapaliwanag ng ama sa anak.

“And what about me, dad? How about my feelings? Pinangunahan ninyo naman ako, eh. Hindi man lang ninyo ako tinanong if I am okay with this idea. Isa pa, our company survives without the Montefalcon’s influence. Besides, dad he has this reputation which I don’t really like.” Naiiritang tugon ni Geli sa ama.

“I know anak, and I am sorry hindi ko nahingi opinion mo. But this is legacy, anak. I just wanted to make sure that our legacy stays on hanggang sa susunod na henerasyon. Hindi ko maasahan si Gelo because he’s weak. Look, to hell with his reputation. He owned not just substantial properties in Mindanao but also big construction firms. He’s the current CEO of Montefalcon Holdings and we need his influence in politics.” Firm and determined ang mukha ng daddy niya.

“So, wala na pala akong karapatang sundin ang kalooban ko, daddy? Kayo ba ni mommy marriage for convenience din ba kayo?” Saglit na napatda ang ama.

“Just...just think about it, anak. Know him better. Set a date… a real date. Get to know each other. Who knows you might have a change of heart and he… he might change for you.” Andun pa rin ang hope ng ama na sana magbago ang takbo ng isip ng anak. Alam niyang stubborn si Geli pero nababali ito pag may nakita siyang valid reason.

Napabuntong hininga si Geli. “I’ll think about it, Dad. I’ll try to set a date with Driel and discuss this marriage thing. I’ll have to know him as a person as well.”

Nabuhayan ng loob mga magulang niya. “Yes, anak. Try to look at the bright side. Kami din naman ni mommy mo nuon hindi naman love at first sight agad. Besides, he’s the most bankable bachelor in the country currently and maraming maiinggit sayo.” Sagot ng ama.

“What about him? What about his feelings towards me? He barely knew me. The last time we had dinner we were discussing trivial things. I didn’t see any attraction.” Sagot ni Geli.

“He said he is interested in marrying you. He likes you. Sa lahat ng babae ikaw lamang ang napagtuonan niya ng pansin para pakasalan.

“I’yon na nga, dad. Ako lang. I’m just a mere woman na anak ng isang Real Estate tycoon. Madami namang mas mayaman pa sa akin, mas successful, mas maganda, but why me?” Nagugulumihang tanong ni Geli.

“Because there is something in you na hindi niya nakita sa ibang babae. These women na sinasabi mong pinaglalaruan niya are just his toys. Parausan. Hindi ba ganyan din kapatid mo? Did your brother even think about marrying these women? No! Because he cannot see anything substantial in these women. But you, you are not an ordinary woman. You are Angelika Dela Costa – Sandoval and you, you are worthy to be his bride.” Parang nagtatalumpati daddy ni Geli para lang ma convince ang anak.

“I’ll think about it.” Ito lang ang tugon ng anak sa mga magulang.