By: Balderic
San Juan Mexico
Nakarating sina Karen at Yumiko sa Mexico kung saan nakuha ang picture ng taong hinahanap nila. Lumapit sila sa isang police station. Pagkapasok nila ay kumunsulta sila sa isang police at pinakita ang litrato.
“Good morning sir.”Bati ni Karen. Tumingin sa kanya ang bigotilyong pulis.
“Yes, what can I do for you two ladies? “
“Have you seen this man?”pinakita ni Karen ang picture.
“Who is he? “
“His name is Gabriel Marasigan, a friend of ours.”Sagot naman ni Karen.
“Um no.. I have not seen him. Is he related to old Mariano Marasigan from Divina? “
“Ah, I don’t think so sir. He’s a filipino.”
“Oh! Filipino! Yes, Pacquiao huh… hehehe..”biro ng pulis. Napakamot naman si Karen ng ulo.
“Yes, he is a filipino like Pacquiao. You haven’t seen this guy? “
“No, sorry chiquita, I haven’t seen him. Try the public office desk over there, maybe they know something.”Tinuro ng pulis ang isang opisina.
Matapos ang ilang sandali, bigo silang maka hanap ng impormasyon sa police station. Pumasok sila sa isang restaurant para kumain.
“Good morning sir, have you seen this man? “pinakita ni Karen ulit ang picture sa isang nagtatrabaho sa restaurant.
“Hmmm he does looks familiar.”
“Really!? Have you seen him!? “excited na sagot ni Yumiko.
“Hey Alma! Come here. “tinawag ng lalake ang taga luto nilang matabang babae.
“Yeah? What is it? “lumapit si Alma.
“Do you find this man familiar? “tinuro ng lalake ang picture. Hinarap ni Karen ang picture kay Alma.
“Oh yes! He’s with Guillermo! I’ve seen them together. I don’t know who he is though. They eat here sometimes.”
“Guillermo? Who’s that? Where can we find him? “tanong ni Yumiko.
Nabuhayan ng loob ang dalawa. Isang pangalang Guillermo Perez ang nakuha nila. Pangalan ng matandang driver ng isang negosyante sa San Juan, ang pamilyang Molina. Nasa dulo ng bayan ng San Juan ang kinaroroonan ng mansion ng mga Molina. Nakarating sina Karen at nagtanong sa gwardya. Tinuro neto ang bahay ni Gulliermo na nasa loob ng mansion pero nasa isang gilid malapit sa mga manukan. Isang bahay na gawa sa kahoy at yero ang nakita nila. May isang babaeng nagwawalis sa labas ng bahay.
“Hello goodmorning.”Bati ni Karen.
“Yes, hello. What can I do for you? “sagot naman ng babae. Morena ang babae at maganda ang pangangatawan. Itim ang buhok at hazel brown ang kulay ng mga mata. Naka duster ito at may hawak na walis.
“Have you seen this man? “pinakita ni Karen ang litrato.
“Um.. Who are you two? “nagkatinginan sina Karen at Yumiko.
“We are his friend. We just want to know where he is. So if you know where he is, please tell us.”Pakiusap ni Yumiko.
“Catalina, who are you talking to? “wika ng isang lalake sa loob ng bahay. Lumabas ang lalake at nag suot ng putting T shirt. Parang nakakita naman ng multo sina Karen at Yumiko.
“GABRIEL!! “halos magkasabay na sumigaw sina Karen at Yumiko. Tumakbo kaagad si Yumiko at yumakap sa lalake. Pero mabilis naman na umatras ito at pinigilan si Yumiko.
“Whoa! Wait wait wait chika….hold your horses! Who are you two!? “wika ng lalake.
“But master, it’s me Yumiko! This one is Karen, don’t you recognize us? “sabay turo kay Karen.
“Um.. No… do I owe you something? Or is this just a joke? “sagot naman ng lalake.
“Anong pinagsasabi mo Gabriel? Kami ito! Si Karen at Yumiko! Ano bang nangyayari sayo? “
“Look woman, I don’t know what language you are using but it’s pretty clear I don’t know who you two are.”
“But… you look exactly like Gabriel. Your face… your voice… your skin….”Wika naman ni Yumiko na tulero pa sa lalake.
“My name is Dante. Not Gabriel okay. Dante Dela Vega. You must have got the wrong guy. And this lovely lady is Catalina, my wife.”Sabay akbay sa nagwawalis na babae.
“What!? “nganga si Yumiko at Karen sa pasabog ng lalakeng kamukha ni Gabriel. Napaatras si Yumiko at di makapaniwala sa mga pangyayari.
“No… this can’t be… Master we looked for you everywhere! We thought you were dead! I know it’s you! I just know it! I can’t believe you don’t even recognize me. “wika nk Yumiko.
“Here… look… and tell me we are joking.”Pinakita ni Karen ang cellphone nya at may picture na magkasama silang dalawa ni Gabriel. Magkatabi sila at masaya sa picture. Kinuha ito nung nag date sila sa Pinas. Natulala naman si Dante.
“Wow… this is impressive. “
“Do you remember us now? “tanong ni Karen.
“Hehe you guys really know your stuff. This is got to be the most elaborate joke I have ever encountered! You got my picture here and there then edited it. Look, I really don’t know what drugs you two are into but I am living here pescefully with my wife. I don’t want any trouble.”
“A joke!? You think we’re joking!? “galit na wika ni Karen.
“Hey, watch your tone lady. You might scare the chickens.”Sagot naman ni Dante.
“Like I care! We came here to confirm that our friend is alive. But it looka like we are mistaken. Yumiko let’s go.”Hinawakan ni Karen ang kamay ni Yumiko at hinila ito.
“Wait! “tinawag ang dalawang babae ni Catalina. Tumingin sila sa asawa ni Dante.
“I don’t know who your friend is but, it looks like you two have been traveling from a very far place. If you want, you can join us for lunch.”
Nagkatinginan sina Yumiko at Karen. Tumango na lamang si Yumiko dahil ginugutom na ito. Ngumiti naman si Catalina sa kanila.
“Catalina, I’ll be going to the mansion. Isabela might be looking for me.”Hinalikan ni Dante sa noo si Catalina at umalis na ito.
“Where is he going Catalina? “tanong naman ni Yumiko.
“Oh, Dante’s working as seorita Isabela’s assistant.”
“Assistant? What kind of assistance?”paglilinaw ni Karen.
“Well, he is more like a bodyguard and a servant all in one.”Bahagyang ngiti ni Catalina.
“Um, if you don’t mind me asking, how long have you two been married? “tanong ni Karen.
“We have known each other for ten years. Dante’s from Tijuana and moved here ten years ago.”
“I see… .”parang nalungkot si Yumiko sa narinig. Ang sa tingin nyang matatagpuan ang hinahanap nyang lalake ay parang nalusaw ang chansa na parang bula.
—-
“Where is that idiot Dante!? Where is he!? “
“Seorita I’m here! “sabay lapit ni Dante kay Isabela.
“Where have you been!? You made me wait for half an hour! Now, pack my bags and let’s go! “
“Yes ma’am!”
Masungit ang nakatatandang anak na babae ng mga Molina na si Isabela. Subalit, kahit na ganito ito kasungit, hinde magawang magalit ng karamihang lalake dahil sa gandang taglay nito. Matangkad si Isabela sa 5’9 na height at ang kanyang mahabang tuwid na buhok ay umaabot lampas sa kanyang malapakwan na dibdib. Malaman at maumbok rin ang pwet nya.
Isang doktora si Isabela sa isang medical clinic sa di kalayuang syudad. Sa tuwing nasa suty ito ay kasama si Dante bilang assistant nya. Dahil sa mayaman ang angkan nila, maraming posiboeng magbalak sa buhay ng kanilang pamilya. Isang negosyante ang ama ni Isabela. Kasalukuyang nasa Amerika ito dahil sa business trip.
Gabi na ng bumiyahe pa uwi sina Dante. Magkatabi silang dalawa ni Isabel sa likod ng kotse. Tahimik lamang si Dante at nakatingin sa harapan. Hinde nito namamalayang nakatitig sa kanya si Isabela.
“You seem more quiet today. What’s going on? “binasag ni Isabel ang katahimikan sa kanilang dalawa.
“Nothing seorita. No need to worry.”
“Oh I’m not worried. But you are very serious today. I tell you what, why don’t you join me later to have a couple of drinks.”
“I cannot seorita. I have to return to my wife.”
“Well, she can wait can she?”
Hinde na sumagot pa si Dante. Ng makarating sila sa mansion ay may sumalubong sa kanilang isang grupo ng mga lalake. Bumaba sila sa kotse at sinalubong ang mga panauhin.
“Good evening seorita Isabela.”Bati ng leader ng mga lalake na may mga armas.
“Yes, the evening was good. But it instantly got bad the moment I saw your face Victor.”
“Hahaha! Oh don’t be like that seorita. I’m just here to talk to your father and of course to see you’re lovely beauty.”Wika ng lalake.
“I told you, hacienda Cabana is not for sale. My father and I will never sell that land. It is from our family.”
“Yes I know that but hacienda Cabana is also near the borders of our territory. In fact 60% of that land is within our territory already. And your family have never used it for generations! So that is why I am willing to buy it and put it to good use. Is that so bad? “
“What’s bad is you will only use it as a hideout for your drugs and other illegal activities. So no matter how much you wanted to take it, we will never give it! “
“You spoiled stuck up bitch! “biglang nagkasa ng mga baril ang mga kasamahan ni Victor.
“What? You’re going to shoot us in cold blood? “
“Not unless you force me senorita.”Tila galit na boses ni Victor.
“Seor Diaz, please…we cannot put this into a bloody end.”Wika ni Dante at pumagitna ito.
“You insolent man! What do you think you are doing!? Do you want to die!? “
“Seor, it’s not very wise to do this.”Kalmadong wika ni Dante.
“Oh and why not!? “
“You see, you’re a very famous man seor. Famous with the police. As far as I know, you are always under their surveillance. You see, in this place, a lot of cctv are installed and killing us in plain site will only give the cops reasons to arrest you and find out any illegal matters you are already accused of.”
“Really? And what if I told you this cops you are talking about are on my payroll nio. So this cops will not be there when you think you needed them.”
“That is a possibility seor. You are a famous man. But the rest of san juan is not on your payroll. And just one video taken from that cctv can be used to prosecute you. The Molina family has contacts as well. And judging from your armed hoodlums, they are very untrained in using a rifle. I doubt they can shoot us accurately and their distance from us can give us time to react specially that you are in their field of vision. They cannot shoot unless you cleared the area.”
“Hahahaha! You are very interesting. What’s your name? “
“Dante Dela Vega.”
“Hmm that is a good name. Well Dante, would you like to join my men? These guys have less than half the brains you got! A good thinker like you is very much welcome in my group. So, what do you say? “
“I refuse.”
“What? “tila gulat at di inaasahan ni Victor ang sagot ni Dante.
“I have dedicated my work in protecting this woman you are calling a spoiled stuck up bitch.”Napatingin sa kanya si Isabela.
“Very well. We’re going to leave for now. We will return once your father arrives. At least he has some common sense than you seorita.”
Napahinga ng maluwag sina Isablea ng umalis ang grupo ni mr Diaz.
“Dante, fix yourself up. I want you to come upstairs in a moment.”
“Yes seorita.”
Lumapit si Guillermo at ang ibang mga nagtatrabaho sa mansion. Namangha sila sa pinakitang katapangan ni Dante.
“You know son, what you did there… it was both brave and stupid.”Wika ni Guillermo. Medyo magaspang ang boses nito at may makapal na bigote na may halong puting buhok.
“I know Guillermo. But it’s my job.”
“Yes but you should be very careful okay.”
Iniwan si Dante ni Guillermo para maglinis ng kotse. Umuwi naman sa bahay kubo si Dante. Sinalubong kaagad sya ng misis nya at hinalikan sa labi. Alalang alala ito sa asawa. Subalit pinakalma ito ni Dante. Dito napansin ni Dante na naroon parin sa bahay sina Karen at Yumiko.
“I thought you two already left.”
“We saw what you did back there with that drug cartel leader.”Wika ni Yumiko.
“Okay, and? “
“You know, the similarities between you and Gabriel is very striking. Not just your face and body but also your way of thinking. The way you analysis the situation to go in your favor reminds me so much of Gabriel.”Paliwanag ni Yumiko.
“Yeah I bet. Who is this Gabriel anyway? I doubt he’s just a friend. You two seems to look for him seriously.”
“That is classified.”
Kumuha ng towel si Dante at nag igib ito ng tubig. Nagpaalam ito sa asawa na babalik ulit sa mansion dahil pinapatawag ni Isabela.
—-
Naka upo si Karen sa labas ng bahay at tinitignan ang picture nilang magkasama ni Gabriel.
“You’ve been looking at that picture the whole time we are searching for him.”
Napalingon na lang si Karen kay Yumiko. Nakatayo si Yumiko sa gilid at nakasandal sa pader.
“Do you love him? “tanong ni Yumiko. Tumingin ulit si Karen.
“We both know Master Gabriel’s feelings for you Karen-san. But what rea…