Chapter Text
"Senor, kailangan nyo na pong lisanin ang pamamahay na ito." Elias blurted out as soon as he reach Ibarra's house.
The latter was seated in his garden with Fidel discussing his plans on his and Maria Clara's wedding.
Klay came in with teas on the tray for the gentlemen. Mang Adong's supposed to bring it to them but the lady insisted to do it instead.
She was surprised to see three men in the garden talking in whispers, which she got curious about. She cleared her throat.
"Tsaa nyo po— Elias?" She was surprised to see the guest.
"Binibini," he took his hat to his chest and bowed to her "magandang gabi."
Fidel, seeing the act, stood from his chair and moved to Klay's side. He felt the need to do that, yet the lady doesn't seem to care.
"May ganap ba kaya ka nandito?" Klay was perplexed because the moment she came the three were silent. It was as if they trying to decide on something.
"Mauna na po kayong lumisan at magpapaiwan muna ako rito. May kailangan lang akong asikasuhin para hindi po tayo masundan." Elias discussed and Klay was left dumbfounded.
If there's one thing she can't stand, it's being left in the dark of not knowing. So she asked.
"May bagong pagtatangka na naman po sa buhay ni Senor Ibarra." Klay's jaw dropped as fear creep into her spine making her shiver. "Kailangan nyo na po lisanin ng pansamantala ang pamamahay na ito."
"Amigo, kung sa amin ka na kaya manuluyan muna?" Fidel suggested, a trace of worry on his speech as he looks at his friend.
"Hindi magandang ideya 'yan, Amigo, sapagkat nakatitiyak akong ikaw ang una nilang pagsususpetyahan sa oras na malaman nilang nawawala ako." Ibarra replied.
"Sir, mawalang-galang na po, pero saan naman po kayo tutuloy?" Klay can't help but butt in to the conversation.
"Pumunta po kayo sa may ilog, doon malapit sa puno ng mangga. Naroon po ang bangka ko. May alam po akong lugar kung saan kayo pwede ng manuluyan ng pansamantala." Elias instructed.
"Hindi na ako sasama sa pagtakas nyo." Fidel informed the three. "Gaya ng sabi mo. Ako ang unang pagtatanungan kung nasaan ka sa oras na malaman nilang nawawala ka. Kung kaya't mas mabuting mauna na kayo ni Binibining Klay doon sa ilog at ako na ang bahalang lumigaw sa sinumang magtatanong."
Klay was about to protest "Ngunit, Sir Fidel—"
"It is better this way." Fidel assured her, yet the sadness in his eyes gave way. "Pumaroon na kayo, at huwag ka ng umangal pa binibini sapagkat para sa inyong kaligtasan rin naman ito."
There was a sudden shift of playfulness in his eyes. "Sige ka, iisipin ko talaga na iniibig mo ako pag nagpumilit ka pang maiwan rito."
The lady expectedly rolled her eyes at the remarks of Fidel and tugged Ibarra to go. "Sir, mukhang kailangan na po natin umalis, kundi maaabutan po tayo rito."
"Kung ganon," Ibarra shared knowing glances with Fidel then nods at Elias. And they left.
Klay and Ibarra took the route at the far end of the garden where a dark alley leads to the river Elias was referring to. Not too far from their steps they heard multiple gunshots and screams from the house.
Klay was frozen in her tracks. Fear weighed on her foot making it hard to step and go on. The cold traveled down her spine and her thoat filled with lump as she cannot comprehend the overwhelming pain that now cover her very being. Only one word, one name that she manage to mutter. Almost a whisper, a plea.
"Fidel..."
"Miss Klay, magmadali na tayo," Ibarra's voice woke her from trance. She wanted to run back to the house and see what is happening, to convince herself that it was nothing but a made up sound of a broken twig or something. This can't be happening. No.
"Sir, si—"
"Senor, mas mainam kung mas bibilisan natin ang pagpunta sa may ilog, mukhang nakatunog sila na tumakas ka" Elias was fast in trailing behind them that he caught up.
Left with only desperation to escape, they hurried in their tracks until they reached the end of the bank. It was too dark but Klay can see the boat tied by the tree Elias was referring to.
"Ang bangka ay makakasuporta lamang ng dalawang tao," he looked at Ibarra and Klay as if asking them the answer to his unspoken question.
Ibarra tried to call on Klay, "Binibining Klay—"
"Sir, ikaw po ang bida sa kwentong 'to kaya mas hahangarin ko ang kaligtasan mo bago ako. Kaya sumakay na po kayo sa bangka." She told Ibarra with a reassuring smile. "Magtatago po ako sa punong ito at dito nyo po ako babalikan, tama po?"
Elias nod at her and motions Ibarra to get on the boat. Ibarra left with no choice as he knows the lady's stubbornness won over, he hopped in. Klay then hid behind the tree which is luckily enough to cover her small frame.
The two men departed and not long after tracks of a person startled Klay. She knew there is someone coming and so she clutched and kept a hand to her mouth to stifle any noise she might accidentally create. Her fear then turn to relief when the owner of the sound whispered to the wind as if calling someone.
"Amigo? Binibining Klay?" The hesitation of Fidel's whispers layered with exasperation perhaps from running, was heard.
Klay, clutching behind the tree, fell to the ground. The hand she used to stifle any noise, is now a hand she used to silence her sobs, as relief flushes through her system. She was relieved there's someone now, someone she can trust and rely on.
Fidel heard the noise of cracked leaves and twigs and went to see it himself. There he saw Klay on the ground silently sobbing. He panicked and went to her aide, checking her if she's hurt or in pain because God knows how much he always make sure she's safe and sound.
"Binibining Klay," his soft voice imploring to her, "anong nangayari? Nasaktan ka ba? Ayos ka lang ba?" The series of questions gave way to his worrisome side.
He helped her stand and had her face him. He checked her out to see any signs of hurt. To see there were none, he sighed in relief before looking at her face.
She was crying and fear was written all over it. He swore it was the last thing he wanted to see on her face and prays to take that burden off of her and lay those on him instead.
He carefully wipes her tears as if afraid to hurt her even more, and ever so softly tracing the liquid on her face away.
The gesture made klay cry even more. She hated it. She realized how much time she lost denying her feelings. How much time she lost pushing the man she knows loves her to the ends of the earth. The man who willingly changed. One who makes sure she's safe. One who supports her antics instead of questioning it. Oh, how much she hates herself for it.
Now, standing in front of her is the man, whom she thought she lost, looking at her with so much adoration and love, straying any trace of pain off her face. She knows this love is forbidden and hopeless. She can't fight against fate, but maybe, just maybe, she can be selfish. In a step, she closed the distance between them and wrapped her hands around his waist hugging him, halfway convincing herself he's here by his warmth.
His heart skipped a beat. In a world where skinship is a sin, he chose to be a sinner. Afraid to lose the woman he ever loved and cared this deeply, he wrapped his arms around her in return.
Klay, feeling secured in Fidel's arms, let her anguish, her fears, her grief escape. She knows that even if he sees her weakness and in her worst, he would still accept her. He always made that known to her that no amount of flaw would ever make him love her less.
"I'm here," Fidel whispers ever so softly against her hair. "We're okay."
He tenderly hushed her, gently rubbing his hands on her back to calm her.