The Taste of Forgotten Love (Rated R-18) [COMPLETED]

Guilt's Verdict

Two years after the death of Alcindra Alcantara...

Nagliliwanag ang buong bulwagan ng mansion ng mga Asturia dahil sa nagaganap na kasiyahan. Luca Asturia, the current heir of the family just won a million-dollar suit in the US against the Alcantarans and they are celebrating it.

Langdon is just in a corner with his glass of whiskey, silently observing everyone. Gaya ng pangako nito, bumalik ito sa Monte Vega para pagsilbihan ang pamilya. He's taken over the security systems of the family that is often under attack by Nathan Alcantara.

Dalawang taon na ang nakalilipas magmula nang mangyari ang krimen. Kumalat sa buong Monte Vega ang balita kung kaya't nahinto pansamantala ang mga pag-atake ng mga Asturia sa mga Alcantara.

There's a momentary peace in the town but everyone knows it's just temporary. Alam ng lahat na nagpapalakas lang uli ang mga Alcantara. Some rumors have it that they have already gathered the infamous treasure that is secretly buried in the tombs below the dilapidated Alcantaran mansion and were just waiting for the perfect time to strike.

"Congratulations, Luca. Another notch on your belt, cousin," ani ng bagong dating na si Beatrix na tinamaan na ng alak.

She kissed Luca on the cheek sensually while hissing deep inside. She can't accept that he's heading the family again. Bigo na naman siyang kunin ang dapat ay nararapat sa kaniya.

"It's too early to get drunk, Bey." Luca gently held her waist and called for a maid. "Escort her to my room. I'll deal with her later."

Tumatawang nagpatianod na lang ang babae habang ang mata ay tumutok kay Langdon na mag-isa pa ring nagmumukmok sa gilid.

"You shouldn't just be here." Lumapit si Yvonne sa asawa at inagaw ang baso mula rito. "Makihalubilo ka naman sa mga kamag-anak mo, Langdon. Batiin mo si Luca."

He looked at her blankly and snatched the glass back. "You already did. I saw you fancy over him. Tama na iyon."

Matalim siya nitong tiningnan. "Gosh, I never realized I would get a good-for-nothing husband. Hindi mo na nga ako tinatabihan sa kama, pati ba naman dito ay dinadala mo pa rin iyang kalamigan mo?"

Nagmamaktol na iniwan ni Yvonne si Langdon na hindi tuminag sa pagkakatayo. Nakatitig lang ito sa mga nagkakasiyahang mga pareha sa gitna ng solar na nakasuot ng maskara. He's hoping to find a girl on her outrageous mask wearing a sneakers in a formal party.

"Oh! The Alcantaran slayer!" Lumapit dito si Ymir na namumula na ang mukha sa kalasingan. "Langdon, man! Why the long face? And why are you here?! Come on, join us. Nagpatawag ng meeting si Luca sa study room. Hindi maaring mawala ang nag-iisang tagapagtanggol ng angkan." Inakbayan siya nito at inakay papunta kay Luca. "If it weren't of you killing that girl, Nathan would not be offset and his plan could have worked. Buti na lang at nauna mong naisagawa ang plano mo. Killing Alci—"

That's when his temper blazed. Umigkas ang kamao niya papunta sa mukha nito at mahigpit niyang sinunggaban ang kuwelyo nito. His miserable eyes met his mocking gaze.

"Why? Pumapatay ka rin ba ng sarili mong kadugo, Lang?" nakakalokong tanong nito at sumipsip sa baso.

Nanginig ang kalamnan niya sa pagbanggit nito sa palayaw niya.

"I can, Ymir. Let's start with your own sister."

Nawala ang ngisi nito at napalitan ng kabangisan ang mukha. He's about to blow Langdon's head but Luca's authoritative voice stopped his knuckles from drilling into his face.

"Ymir, Langdon. It's not the best place for that."

Langdon grinned and let Ymir go. Nasasayangan man dahil wala siyang mapagbuntunan ng galit sa gabing ito pero dinala na lang niya sa hungkag na tawa ang pakiramdam. He's aware that they're gaining attention from the guests so he started walking out.

Ayaw naman talaga niyang pumunta. Ever since he got his hands soaked on the blood of Alcindra, his life has never been the same again.

"You wouldn't want to hear about Nathan, Langdon?" pahabol ni Luca.

He stopped and looked at the bright night sky.

"I don't."

"But he has something to tell you, Langdon."

Itinapon niya ang baso sa patio na lumikha nang malakas na tunog na pagkabasag. Dahan-dahan siyang lumingon sa pinsan na nakatutok sa kaniya ang mga mata.

"You sure are too comfortable with your position now, cousin. Ipapaalala ko lang sa iyo kung ano ang naging kapalit ng panalo mo ngayon."

Lumapit sa kaniya si Luca na ngayon ay may munti ng ngiti sa gilid ng labi.

"Of course, cousin. Hindi ako nakarating sa posisyong kinatutungtungan ko ngayon kung hindi dahil sa mga sakripisyong ginawa ko. I'm sure you can relate to me, Langdon. Your sacrifice is, after all, the noblest in our clan's history."

Kumuyom ang mga kamao ni Langdon. Nakita niya sa gilid ng mata ang nang-uusyusong tingin ng mga kaanak.

"Not as noble as what you have done, Luca."

Tumawa ito saka mas lumapit pa sa kaniya.

"We met in Colorado and he's asking if your hand is healing properly. Ang habilin niya sa akin ay alagaan mo raw nang maayos ang mga daliri mo. He'll collect it someday. I didn't know you had such a relationship with an enemy, cousin."

Iginalaw niya ang natitirang daliri sa loob ng glove saka tumalikod pero humarap din agad nang may nakalimutang sabihin.

"Thank you for recognizing my sacrifice but I didn't do it for the family." Namulsa siya saka hindi napigilan ang sariling magpakawala ng tawa. "And by the way, while you're busy winning your case in the States, someone has already took over your woman. I guess Zen has also something to tell you." Pinagpag niya ang suit nito. "Congratulations on losing again to an Alcantara, cousin."

Hindi na niya nakita ang reaksiyon nito dahil mabilis na niyang hinanap ang susi ng kotse. But he's sure Luca is gritting his teeth. For some reason, aside from wealth and power, the two families would also fight over love.

The emptiness filled him upon remembering what he had done in the name of love and when he's feeling like this, there's only one place that could calm him.

"Kuya."

Nahinto ang pagpasok niya sa kotse nang may tumawag sa kaniya.

"Cahil." Maingat niyang niyakap ang kapatid na malamig na tumugon sa kaniya.

"I just came to represent our parents. The abuelos and abuelos would be disappointed not to see me."

He stared at the blank face of his sister. As time goes by, she is slowly becoming like him—emotionless on the outside with all the bitterness and pain inside.

"Alright. Enjoy the night."

He kissed her head and opened the door of the car again.

"Pupunta ka na naman sa kaniya?"

Natigilan siya sa sinabi nito. Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa kapatid na kababakasan na ang sakit sa mata.

"That's right. 'Wag mong kalimutang palaging lumuhod at humingi ng tawad sa kaniya. Baka sakaling maawa siya at subukan ka niyang patawarin. I know Alcindra to be that way, always the kindest and the sweetest so I really can't believe that you killed her but you did. You really did."

Wala siyang maisagot kaya nagbuntunghininga na lang siya.

"Luca said he met Nat—"

"I don't want to hear his name," mariin nitong putol sa kaniya. "He's an enemy and he will forever be one... because of you."

Nagmamadaling naglakad ito papasok sa mansion kasabay ang pagkislap ng luha sa mga mata nito. Naiwan siyang nakatingin sa kawalan.

Gaano ba kalalim ang sugat na iniwan niya sa mga taong sinaktan niya?

He breathed out again and drove away.

Tumigil ang kotse niya sa abandonadong sementeryo ng mga Alcantara at tinungo ang dulong bahagi kung saan nakalibing ang pinaslang na dalaga.

Nagsindi siya ng kandila sa harap ng puntod at inilabas ang dalang mga chocolate drinks. Inilagay niya ang isa sa lapida nito.

"Are you cold over there, Cin?" Binuksan niya ang inumin at tumingala sa kalangitan. "Are you with Cas now, Cin?" He chuckled. "She must have been hella angry at me for killing you."

Nagsimulang pumatak ang luha niya habang inuubos ang chocolate drink. Lumuhod siya sa puntod at hinalikan ang pangalan ng dalaga.

"I won't stop asking for your forgiveness, Cin. I'll do it forever until the day I die. I promise you that."

Tumabi siya ng higa sa puntod nito at ipinikit ang mga mata. These past two years, he didn't get a good enough sleep unless he stays over with Cin. Dito lang siya nakakatulog nang mapayapa bago niya uli hinaharap ang buhay at parusa na itinakda niya sa sarili kinabukasan.

"Hello, Ms. Sneakers."

Saglit siyang natulala nang humarap sa kaniya ang dalaga. Kung ano ang ikinaganda nito habang suot ang mask na iyon ay walang panama sa kagandahang nakalatag sa kaniyang harapan ngayon.

Maghapon siyang naghintay sa plaza noong isang linggo pero hindi ito sumipot. Just this morning, he received a letter asking him to come to the border and now he's has finally seen the girl who made his nights restless.

"Hi, Mr. Gatecrasher," bati rin nito habang titig na titig sa kaniya. Hawak nito ang mask na iniwan niya rito.

Hindi niya maihiwalay ang mga mata rito. What an ethereal beauty. Doe eyes, skin so white he thought there's no blood in her, freckles on her cheeks, warm pink lips, and celestial nose. She's hauntingly beautiful almost like she came straight out from a dream.

Humigit siya nang hininga. Call it love at first sight or what. Call him crazy or what but he felt his heart skipped a beat and then thumped in a way he never felt before. He felt nervous just by looking at her jade eyes.

He's hoping she also feels the same way because there's no way he would not pursue this indescribable feeling.

"I am Langdon Asturia and you are

Casindra Alcantara. Can I call you Cas? Is that alright?"

Inilahad niya ang palad rito. A different kind of excitement flamed him.

"You already know me. How?" nagtatakang tanong nito saka tinanggap ang kamay niya.

Napangiti siya sa sarili nang dumaop ang malalamig na kamay nito sa nagyeyelong palad niya. Seems like she's feeling the same way too.

Nagkamot siya ng ulo. Ewan ba niya pero parang nawawala ang galing niya sa harap nito. "Of course. From that night, I never stopped asking for your name. I want to know you more, Casindra."

She fell silent so he took the opportunity to study her face carefully.

"You're so lovely," wala sa sariling sambit niya pero hindi niya iyon babawiin. He wants to make her know at this early that she already captivated him.

Her dark eyelashes stopped dancing against the rough winds of Monte Vega.

"My guards will be here at any moment," pag-iwas nito saka tumingin sa dalawang kabayo na kasabay na nanginginain ng damo sa di-kalayaun.

Nasa gitna sila kaparangan na naghahati sa mga lupain ng dalawang pinakamakapangyarihang angkan sa lugar.

She tried to pull her hand away from him but he held it tighter. "Before you leave, I brought you something."

Binuksan niya bag na nasa damuhan para ilabas ang dala at sabik na ipakita rito.

"A telescope? But why?"

Medyo nagtaka siya sa reaksiyon nito. He can still remember how she marveled at the stars above on that fateful night.

"You love stars Cas that's why I'm giving this to you."

Mas lumalim ang gatla sa noo nito bago unti-unting nawala saka mahinang tumango.

"Of course. I love the sky. I love the stars, the constellations but I can't accept this from you, Asturia."

Pinakatitigan niya ang mukha nito. Her voice seemed to be different. It's the same tone but it's less softer than the one he replayed every day and every night before he sleeps.

Inilagay nito sa kamay niya ang maskara niya at tumalikod.

"I'm attracted to you," bulalas niya bago pa ito tuluyang makaalis. He knows he's getting too fast and too straightforward but this is what he wanted to do right from the start when she charmed him on that unforgettable night. He likes her. He finds her interesting and lovely so there is no reason not to pursue her.

"I don't care about your family or mine or how they wanted to kill each other. They could do whatever they want but I'll make sure they can't do nothing about me courting you. Mamayang gabi ay pupunta ako sa mansiyon niyo para maayos na makapanligaw."

He silently smiled when she immediately went back in front of him, startled and with a swirl of angst typical of that from an Alcantara.

"You won't do that. Don't start another war, Langdon."

"Then meet me again on this place. Araw-araw ay maghihintay ako rito sa iyo. Please let's watch the sky together just like what we did on that night. Let's hunt some constellations together, Cas."

Gising na si Langdon pero sinusubukan pa rin niyang bumalik sa pagtulog. He wants to be forever buried alive in that dream, in the memory of his one and only love.

But reality is quicker to catch him this time. His phone is ringing nonstop so he had to face the world now.

"Hello," he answered coldly while looking at the dark sky above. He can't see stars. No constellation either.

Kung hindi pa inulit ng lalaki sa kabilang linya ang mga sinabi nito ay hindi pa siya magkakalakas-loob na tumayo. Gusto niyang sumigaw dahil parang pinaglalaruan lang siya nito pero may malaking bahagi sa puso niya ang umaasa gaano man kaimposible ang mga narinig niya.

Tumakbo siya sa kotse at humarurot papunta sa lugar na isinumpa na niyang hinding-hindi na niya babalikan.

He didn't realize that he's already crying. He doesn't care if it's just a prank or a joke, he'll hang onto it no matter how thin the thread is. He's willing to be called a fool for falling for the same trap set by Nathan as long as he'll see her again.

Alam niyang imposible pero ayaw pa rin niyang bumitaw. Baka ngayon ay totoo na ito. Hindi na ito isang laro. Hindi na isang bitag. Something happened, a miracle, that's why.

Handa niyang tanggapin ang lahat—ang galit, ang pagkasuklam, kahit kamatayan, makita niya lang ito uli kahit sa huling pagkakataon.