Chapter 26: Chapter 26
Quote to Remember:
"I am already involved- Tita. And I sincerely want to get involved."
Cassandra Jilonan's
Cassandra came down the stairs a few minutes after she woke up from a deep sleep due to extreme fatigue. Jethro and I circled the entire King size bed space. They even got to the point where they chased each other to the bathroom because she could still feel her moist undergarments on her body. Although that was not the first time she had slept with the man, she could not help but feel a strange emotion. All the veins in her body seemed to boil and her hairs rose. Jethro's rendition of sex is very define, vivid and subtle. Give generously if called and completely every move of it. Even though she herself dominated mostly what they did before, she still could not stop herself from drifting into Jethro's strange kiss and flirtation with her femininity. She was trail blazing like a hurricane in a chilly breeze of the December night. Three hours of rummaging their hearts out and sharing the same breath is a complete delight. The fear that had formed in her brain disappeared because of Jillian's appearance. The afternoon she felt in the end was not a big regret but a big satisfaction. She felt Jethro's heart completely hers; she felt Jethro's love for her and her need to touch her. She felt the same way. She's laying everything off on the sheets and gave all her damn because she knows and feels the young man's true feelings for her- at least that's what she believes in.
In recent days, Cassandra's mind has not been at peace. She did not sleep well, worrying that what Jillian had said to her was true. However, when Jethro and I were able to talk earlier, peace seemed to return to her brain. That is why the man did not show up to her in recent days because he was busy taking care of the business. He was also unable to call because he was at a conference in Cebu. Even if it is worth calling, it will not be able to insert because of the amount of things to do and take care of.
Cassandra watched. The Silvestre mansion is beautiful, the paintings on the wall are antique but due to regular cleaning, it still looks new. Although this was not the first time Jethro had visited or taken her to the mansion it was the first time she had had the opportunity to observe the whole house, the various colors of flowers could not be lost in every corner of the room. Decorated with large antique Chinese engraved vases. Also included in the paintings are wooden ornaments such as wood carved reindeer’s heads, guns tuck in large thick glass and placed in a beautiful frame shape. Cassandra continued to descend; she found one of the house cleaners wiping a large Sala set. She looked up at him on the stairs and smiled as she resumed what she was doing. From the shiny French decor, stairs she was standing on she saw two large paintings by Don Fructose hanging on either side. One is where Don is in a business suit and is holding his own chin, her forehead is wrinkled and the person taken in the photo seems abusive. The second picture was calmer; you do not seem to be forced to take a picture. He is also very young in the second picture, maybe he was only in the mid-30's when he was shot, his skin was not wrinkled and he could not deny that he was also proud of his good looks. That photo is unique, especially since it is the only photo hanging on the wall - Cassandra wonders. She did not even see a single picture of their family. It seems that they have no connection with each other, she has never seen Don and his father in the same place, she only sees Donya Trinidad and Don Fructose every time she comes out of the mansion to attend gatherings and whatnot. Even in tabloids and provincial magazines, she only sees pictures of them, not even in the imagination, she saw the couple holding hands.
One of the kitchen helpers took Cassandra; Nana Besil, the butler of the mansion, introduced it. It served her juice and cake from two large refrigerators.
"Ma’am Trinidad instructed me to take care of you when you wake up." She said as she finished wiping the newly washed glasses.
"Did Ma'am Trinidad leave?" she said and sipped the drink in the glass.
"She just went for a while but it will come back too."
"Is that so Nana Besil. Thank you so much for taking care of me."
"It doesn't matter hija, you are no different from us. Ma’am Trinidad said we will treat you like a family." Cassandra smiled awarded to her.
"It's embarrassing for you; you can just call me by my name."
"Because Ma’am Trinidad told us Ma’am that you will be part of the family." Cassandra wanted to think that what she said had a different meaning but she killed herself to think more of it.
"All right hija, I'll leave you first. I'll just take care of the laundry in the back. Just call me if you want to do something. Dinner is ready at the table so you can eat as much as you want." It caressed her back.
"Thank you Nana Besil."She chased after it here
Cassandra ate the food first. She watched a little more before she thought of leaving the large mansion and heading to the opposite garden of the large kitchen. She did not see Donya Trinidad, she said to the kitchen helpers who left early to go to the flower garden in market, she said she would come back later. She wanted to go home but she also did not want Jethro to wake up she was not by his side. Another seven o'clock in the evening, she could not leave the mansion if she is not taken to the highway when it was still far away. She is also ashamed to ask the driver, she is new to the mansion and she does not have to work to depend on others.
Cassandra sat in the shade of the little Kaimito tree. The strange rays of the moon at night penetrate the crevices of the leaves. Cassandra shook the cradle, closed her own eyes and let the cold, fresh breeze touch the skin. Her life in Manila was very far away, if she was in a chaotic and crowded alley she was wrestling with now, she has entered another mess. It is more complicated and more difficult than any tire she has ever experienced in Manila. She entered a big scandal and she was sure that it could result in something bad from any angle.
She slowly opened her eyes. The fragrant scent of flowers is absorbed. The mansion is beautiful, French-style in construction and even though it has been preserved for a long time, its beauty is still preserved due to regular cleaning. The lights around the mansion were strong, adding to the beautiful Christmas lights wrapped around the branches of the trees that looked like flames. If you look at it from a distance, it serves as your attraction at night. However, even with the screaming luxury of the place, Cassandra still feels empty. The place still seems to lack ingredients.
From the audible gushing of water from the fountain, Cassandra heard a different sound. There is an oncoming vehicle. She quickly went to peek at it from where it was. She saw Donya Trinidad descend with flowers wrapped in newspaper. Donya Trinidad hurried into the mansion followed by the maid.
She would have followed, but another vehicle exactly entered. Don Fructose was driving and Jillian and Don Hidalgo Elverio were next to him. Cassandra went back to sitting on the hammock. She seems to have the wrong timing. She did not want Don Fructose to see her inside and so was she here. She still remembers how it sparked in anger the last time Jethro took her to the mansion.
She let the moment pass. She gathered strength. Maybe she'll just run from here to the young man's room so she can avoid Don and Jillian. From the cradle she was sitting on, she saw the light on from the young man's room. Maybe Jethro is awake and thinks he is looking for her.
She did not make a mistake. Moments slater, he heard its voice from the spacious adjacent living room of the spacious ring kitchen. Her name seemed to echo inside the mansion. Next was Don Fructose’s heavy voice.
Cassandra took the steps of the stairs to the main door of the mansion. However, before she could enter she was surprised to hear from Don Fructose.
"I'm going to marry you to Jillian, Jethro and that's final!" he said in a baritone and heavy voice.
"How many fucking times do I have to tell you that I do not love that woman? If you wanted to make amends with your business with the Elverio’s then do not drag me into this. You and Mom have benefited so much and it's time for us to do things on our own. “Jealousy increased in the young man's tone.
"So you're answering now! Do you have the fucking guts when you find out because of you that we can lose our investment with Jillian and her family? The Elverio are kind to us and your bullshits will fucking mess that up!."
"Fuck you; you might forget that you are the only one who likes it. In addition, why Dad! Alternatively, should I say Fructose. Why do you still need to marry us, you can fucking use my name in your business but I will not allow that you can interfere with my decision! You can be an investor without using me. Do not be stupid- Fructose. “He emphasized the last word. Don Fructose’s fist slammed into Jethro's face, Jethro grabbed his cheek but his angry face did not budge.
"Jethro please listen to Tito, this is for us." Jillian's words are crumpled.
"For all I know you are the one who wants us to marry Jillian. Why? Because you loved me? For goodness, sake wake up! You do not know how to love, you only think of yourself and your brain is only business. Now you are telling me that you loved me. Come on, you don't have to impress Fructose with your speeches, you have brainwashed him. That old man has already bitten your pain! "
A tear dripped down Jillian's eyes. He did not know if her crying was true but she wept and wiped her face and cried even more.
"That's enough son." His mother asked him to stop speaking.
"Let's go up to the bedroom. Please!" His mother's plea was mixed.
"It looks like your son forgot to respect Fructose. He is already abusing my daughter. If this is the case, I will be forced to do that thing." Don Elverio’s forehead furrowed sharply.
"Hidalgo I assure you. This is just a small misunderstanding. The wedding will continue."
"Just make sure of that Fructose. Just make sure." there was a threat in its voice.
"Tsk! You have the fucking guts to talk shits in front of us!" Cassandra wanted to retreat from the hiding place. Jethro's eyes glowed. She noticed Donya Trinidad holding her son's arm tightly. In all her life it was the first time she had seen so much grief in the eyes of Donya Trinidad.
"Won't you stop?" Donya Trinidad shouted sharply. Her voice echoed throughout the mansion. But what surprised Cassandra even more was Don Fructose’s strong slap that almost tilted her face. Jethro should have hit his father but crying that the lady was so close to his arm to stop him from doing so.
"You have the fucking nerve to slap Mom!" Jethro's moan was loud and resounding along with the uncontrollable struggle from the mother's grip.
"And you have some guts to embarrass me in front of the Elverio! You two may have forgotten your Mother's place in this house! So you will follow my orders or your Mother will suffer more!"
"Tito you don't have to slap Tita Trinidad." Jillian.
"No hija that's okay. I'm just reminding them that I will still be followed in this house."
"Come on Fructose Jillian is right. You don't have to humiliate your wife and her son. Maybe you still forget that son of yours" Cassandra who was listening was even more confused by what she heard.
"I'm just teaching my wife Hidalgo a lesson."
"You don't have to tell Jethro frankly that he is not your child."
"What for? He should be thankful that I took care of him even though he was just my son on paper. So he should follow what I say." Jethro's fist clenched even more as he listened. Her mother was crying. It rested on his arm to hold back the tears that kept flowing.
"Thank you and I was able to control myself. Because when you do what you did to Mom again, I might forget that I still respect you as a person!" Jethro's eyes glazed over and he rushed up to the room.
"Convince your son Trinidad, in three weeks’ time the Asta Lonia's will negotiate again better be sure that your son agrees or else I will do something dreadful than this. Do not try to embarrass me Fructose, Trinidad." Don Elverio frantically returned to sitting on the sofa and sipping coffee from the cup.
"I do not hold the decision of my son Elverio. And maybe it's time for us to decide on our own." Donya Trinidad said and went upstairs without hesitation.
Cassandra couldn't escape the reality of what she heard. She felt shock and pity. Surprised by the revelation that Jethro was not Don Fructose’s son. This means that Jethro is the daughter of Donya Trinidad to another man. She also felt sorry for Donya's condition. It's like a submissive puppy. It has no voice in the mansion and seems to have no right to decide.
Cassandra is like; struck by a lightning. She couldn't move. The thought was sudden and frank. She could not even swallow saliva at what she heard. She has always had a strong feeling that something is wrong with his marriage to Donya Trinidad and Don Fructose. Even in the pictures, she only sees Don and Donya she can't help but wonder. And now that she has proven to hersself that Jethro is not Don Fructose’s son, she is even more confused. Fear returned to her chest. If Jethro had been able to conceal and lie to her in his true identity, the man's feelings might not have been true either. Did it just use her because she was easy to ride? Is she another kept woman Jethro had been a victimizing all this time?
She brainwashed the thoughts. She prays that what she thinks is wrong. Jethro can't do that to her. She knew the man. She knew there was a reason why it kept his identity a secret from her. That's right, Jethro had his own reasons and she had no right to say that. It was enough for him to know the truth. He needs to be able to talk about it. She needs to clarify things out. She still has many questions that she wants answered.
But on the other side of her brain, can she cope with future revelations? What if the man had more than just one secret? Can she bare to accept the reality?
Cassandra found Donya Trinidad with her ear glued to the door. It tries to turn the lock while saying the child's name.
"Son, let me in. Let's talk." She said in a hoarse voice. Jethro still has no answer from within. Cassandra decided to approach the lady. She backed away from the door when she saw her.
"Are you still there?"
She just nodded in response.
"I'm so sorry that you've seen us like this. Can we talk for a moment?" the lady invited her. She followed her to the balcony next to the young man's room. The two of them left with the house cleaner who was cleaning there.
"I hope you don't see this as a sign to give up on my son Cassandra." Cassandra looked intently into Donya Trinidad's talking eyes. She was very sincere, delicate and the agony was obvious in her gaze on her.
"No, I don't mind seeing and hearing all of this. You can also trust me on family issues Aunt Trinidad. So don't worry." She took her hand and gently squeezed it.
"That's not what I'm afraid of, hija, now that there's a commotion here in the mansion in no time I won't be surprised it will suddenly appear in the press. People would swarm and question us. I just wish that when that happens you would stay also next to my son. Jethro had suffered so much and this time I was out of place to stop him from doing something that would make him happy. And I know you were the one making him happy. “Tears welled up in her eyes. Cassandra swallowed before speaking again.
"I see no reason to go away Tita. To be honest I am nervous. I am the reasons why you are making a fuss right now. This chaos you had right now is my entire fault."
"It's not your fault hija, even before you came we were like this. It all happened. If someone would be blamed by this, it was I. I became a coward and I chose to hide behind Fructose’s pants. “The lady sighed. It plunged the hands into the grip and wiped away the tears.
"Jethro hija is not Fructose’s son, he is the son of the first man I really loved. He was the fruit of my love for his father. But he was taken early, he died in an accident, leaving me with nothing but Jethro. Jethro was so young when I decided to marry Fructose, I did not think about my son, I just drowned in pain due to the death of Jethro's father.So when Fructose decided to take Jethro away from me to America I did nothing. Trusted Fructose so much, because he was so good to us at first. I agreed to hide Jethro in the world to keep him away from the violence and shame he might have suffered. He was so young, but he was so strong, he was able to stand-alone even still young while I am struggling to accept his father's death. This mansion is all that Patricio has left for me — us. “The lady sobbed. Cassandra waited patiently as she dried the side of the tear tears one by one. Someone took it from the purse compartment.
"Doesn't he look exactly like his father." He told her when she showed the picture of Don Patricio while she and Donya Trinidad were side by side. They were young in the said photo and there was faded color due to old age but she could clearly see Jethro's great resemblance to his father. Jawline, the expressive eyes and even the lip cut are similar.
"I really miss him." Cassandra stood up and caressed her back. Cassandra confirmed all her suspicions beforehand and just how she wanted to react and felt unsure if she would continue to cling to the young man even though it would not help her to save the ground she felt sympathy. Not just sympathy but the need to be there for the man.
"If this is your house Tita, you have all the rights to remain here. Don Fructose has no right to threaten you to be evicted." Her forehead furrowed.
"You don't understand hija, and I also don't want to talk about it anymore. I don't want to hurt you anymore."
"I am already involved Tita- and sincerely, I wanted to get involved. I want to help you."
"You don't know what those people can do Cassandra. They could do all the worst things. You heard them before it was a matter of time before they could ruin your life. So while it's still early, take your family away from here. Before this issue became a wild fire. "
"But-" she wanted to protest but the other part of her brain was saying something different. As if it was telling her to save herself and her family from the chaos, it could bring. It was as if she was saying that she would get nothing if she continued all this. Yet, the other side is telling her the exact opposite. It was whispering to her that it was too late for her to back down. Even if she goes away, we will not change anything, she was already involved so she will just finish it. She just hope the ending was what she expected from the start. To keep the land from being sold and to make Jethro's life better with her forever. Not as an engagement wrecker, she coded herself into but a married woman to a man, she dearly loved.
After talking to Donya Trinidad, she decided to go home. She was no longer able to say goodbye to Jethro. It isn't the right time to talk those things with him she will let the man's resentment subside first. It's also good that they didn't reach out to Jillian because she left earlier, she doesn't want to fight right now her brain is confused. Donya Trinidad delivered her to the driver at Hacie de Silvestre. After giving thanks, she left the mansion. She will use this time as well to meditate.