Sa Kama ni Bayaw

39

3RD PERSON POV

Sebastian stood in the make-shift stage in the middle of undeveloped property. The property is vast, and it has an area that stretches to approximately 10,000 square meters. Malapit ito sa dagat at mararamdaman mo talaga ang malakas na hampas ng hangin galing sa dagat. For Sebastian, it’s the perfect place for this project.

Sebastian scanned the crowd who were present to witness the event, everyone was attentively listening to his speech. Nandoon ang mga empleyado at mga executive ng mga affiliate companies. Even the famous Engr. Fabian Romano, the Chairman of Crown Builders, Inc., is here.

“I am very happy to see familiar faces this morning, this is a very small gathering of friends, from the industry and colleagues, this is very much internal. We have the Chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, our colleagues from Crown Builders, thank you for coming here today. This is a very big step for us. I started Paradise Hotel and Resorts 10 years ago only from my savings in college, and I can’t thank enough those people who had given their dedication and loyalty in helping me build this empire, without you guys, we wouldn’t have come this far. And to our new partner, Crown Builders, to Engr. Fabian Romano,” Sebastian raised his hand for a toss, “more projects to come for us.”

Masigabong palakpan ang maririning nang itaas ni Sebastian ang kamay na may hawak na goblet para sa isang toss.

The ground-breaking ceremony continued.

“Mr. Altamirano, congratulations. Your father must be so proud of you,” nakangiting bati ni Mr. Wu nang makalapit ito sa kinaroroonan niya, ang beteranong negosyante at ang kasalukuyang Chairman ng Philippine Chamber of Commerce. Inilahad ng matandang negosyante ang kamay para sa isang handshake.

“Thank you, Mr. Wu,” Sebastian took his hand. Tipid siyang ngumiti sa matanda.

“You’ve come this far already at that very young age, at nasisigurado ko na mas malayo pa ang mararating mo. I must say, you did really well. How’s your brother doing?”

“He’s doing good, Mr. Wu, he’s been handling the company for two years now, and so far, it’s really doing good under his leadership,” Sebastian proudly said. Kahit naman may pagka-gago ang kapatid ay hindi naman nito pinapabayaan ang kompaniya na itinayo ng kanilang namayapang lolo. He has seen how his younger brother struggled in proving that he can do it since many opposed when his father passed the leadership of the company to Niu, and he’ll always be there to help him.

“Well, that’s good. I just hope he’s also doing good with his marriage, you know. He’s so lucky to have such a beautiful wife.” maliyosong pahayag nito. “Kung ganoon kaganda ang asawa ko, hinding-hindi na ako titingin pa sa iba, hindi lang maganda, ang sexy pa,” humalakhak ito. His voice was laced with lust, “I’ve seen her photos on the social media, her body is to die for, ang ganda ng katawan,” muli itong humalakhak ng malakas, parang tuwang-tuwa na nakakita ito ng isang magandang tanawin.

Tumiim ang bagang ni Sebastain. Irritation boiled up inside of him, he wanted to beat this old man in front of him for lusting over Claire! Nakakadiring matanda! Pero sa halip na gawin ang mga brutal na nasa isip niya ay ningitian niya ang matanda.

“Yes, Mr. Wu, Claire is a very beautiful woman, and she’s very smart. My brother was lucky that Claire chose him to be her husband, masyadong pihikan ang babaeng iyon, hindi basta-basta pumapatol lalong-lalo na kapag matanda,” he laughed at his remarks in an insulting way.

Kitang-kita sa mukha ni Mr. Wu ang pagkapahiya. Ngayon ay napatunayan na nito ang mga sabi-sabi na matalas ang dila ng batang negosyante. It’s all over the industry, Sebastian Altamirano is not someone you can mess with, he is very straightforward and frank. He's known for his ruthlessness in business and for his harsh comments when he doesn’t like you. He may be young but the things he could do are beyond imaginable. His calm and serious demeanor was not something to be taken lightly.

“Excuse me, Mr. Altamirano, your father is on the line,” his secretary, Cherry, called him. Iniabot nito ang cellphone sa kaniya at tinanggap naman iyon ni Sebastian.

“Mr. Wu, I have to take this call,” paalam ni Sebastian sa matandang insek. The older man just nodded his head.

“Hello, dad,” he greeted his father.

“Go home. Now.” He heard his father’s stern voice from the other line.

“Dad, what’s wrong?”

“Just go home now!” Don Manuelo’s voice boomed from the phone. The line was cut off even before Sebastian could utter another word. Napakunot ang noo niya sa tinuran ng ama. There must be something going on for his father to command him like that.

Sebastian was shocked, his father never loses his cool. He was always reserve and calm, an attitude that he inherited from his father. He wondered what the problem was that made his father act that way, it must be something big.

Ibinalik niya ang cellphone sa sekretarya niya at nagpaalam sa mga kausap niya. Hindi na siya nagpaalam sa ibang mga bisita, dumeritso na siya sa nag-aabang na sasakyan at sumakay doon. Sa tono ng ama niya ay hindi dapat ito paghihintayin. There was some urgency on the tone of his voice, he wondered what was wrong. Is it about the company? Or is it about his brother again?

Nakuyom ni Sebastian ang kamao, kung may kinalaman ang kapatid niya ay siguradong mabubugbog niya ito kung may katarantaduhan na naman itong ginawa. Hindi siya mag-dadalawang isip na saktan ito.

His jaw clenched when he remembered the photos Selene sent him. Huwag lang magkakamali ang babaeng iyon na subukanan ang pasesnya niya. Wala siyang sasantuhin kapag si Claire na ang pinag-uusapan.

Mabilis ang biyahe at narating nila kaagad ang bahay ng kaniyang magulang. Umibis siya sa kotse pagkaparada nito sa garahe ng mansyon at mabilis ang mga hakbang na tinungo ang front door ng bahay. Sinalubong siya ng isa sa mga katulong, binati siya nito pero hindi niya ito binigyan ng pansin at pumanhik na siya sa ikalawang palapag kung nasaan ang study room.

Malayo pa lang siya sa naturang silid ay maririnig na ang malakas na boses ng kaniyang ama, galit na galit ito base sa tono ng boses nito.

Hindi na sya nag-aksaya ng oras pa, pumasok siya sa nakaawang na pinto at doon nadatnan niya ang ama na galit na galit habang nasa tabi nito ang kaniyang ina, pinapakalma ito. Niu was seated at the far side of the office, in one of the single chairs located near the bookshelves, nakayuko ang ulo nito at nakasabunot ang mga kamay sa buhok.

“Mom. Dad,” he called his parent’s attention. Agad na lumingon ang mga ito sa direksyon niya.

Namumula ang mukha ng kaniyang ama, tanda na galit nga ito habang ang kaniyang ina ay may pag-aalala sa mukha nito. His mother was beside him, holding him in place while caressing her hands on his stiffed shoulder.

“Kuya,” Niu called him.

Dumapo ang tingin ni Sebastian sa nakababatang kapatid. Nakaangat na ang ulo nito mula sa pagkakayuko, namumula ang mga mata nito na puno ng kalitohan at lungkot.

Takot. Iyon ang nakikita niya sa mukha nito. Takot sa kung ano o saan ay hindi niya alam, pero aalamin niya.

“Dad, ano po ang nangyari? I was in the middle of a ground-breaking ceremony when you called,”

Hindi umimik ang kaniyang ama, kinuha nito ang cellphone at inihagis iyon sa mesa sa harapan nito, lumikha iyon ng ingat sa napakatahimik na k’warto. He eyed the cellphone for a second. Curious, he went to the table and picked the phone.

Malakas ang t***k ng puso niya habang binubuksan ang cellphone. He knew that something was wrong. With the amount of anger that was plastered on his father’s face and Niu’s scarred expression, he’s more than sure that something’s wrong.

Unang bumungad sa kaniya ay ang naka-pause na isang video. Huminga ng malalim si Sebastian bago pinidot ang screen ng phone. He wished he could take the time to stop and not play what was on the video, but I was all just wishful thinking.

His breath hitched as the sound of erotic moans erupted through the entire space of the room. Sounds of pleasure, grunting, and moaning. The monitor displayed lewd scenes of two people having their bodies smashing and bouncing with each other.

Humigpit ang hawak niya sa cellphone nang makilala ang mga tao na nasa video. His brother was on top of the woman, naked, while he pounds the woman beneath him, the actress, Selene Arnaiz. The two were so lost of the pleasure.

Anger and frustration boiled inside him as he watched the two succumbed to the forbidden pleasure of s*x.

“Putangina!” He threw the phone and lurched at his brother. Tumalsik ang cellphone sa sahig at nabasag iyon. At the moment, he didn’t care whose cellphone was that.

Mabilis ang kilos ni Sebastian at agad na nakalapit sa kapatid niyang nabigla sa kaniyang pagkilos. He grabbed his collar and threw several punches on his face repeatedly.

He had seen this coming, but he never thought he’ll feel this kind of remorse and hatred towards his brother.

“You! f*****g! Asshole!”

He punched him with every word that he said. Nanginginig ang kaniyang buong katawan sa galit at nagdilim ang kaniyang paningin. Every fiber of his body screamed war as he continued assaulting his brother, who’s now lying on the floor with blood on his face.

The background became blurry and the noise faded as rage consumed him.

Binalewala niya ang sigaw ng kaniyang ina at patuloy lamang siya sa pag-suntok sa kaniyang kapatid.

“Sebastian! Oh, my god! Stop that, you’re killing your brother!”

All he could see was Claire’s beautiful and smiling face, her innocence radiating from the way she stretches her lips. Now that this video was out in the public, he’s afraid that sweet and innocent smile would forever be gone.

How can something like this happen? This will surely break her.