"Come on, Maki!" Yanarym ran to the hallway and Maki ran after her.
"Kaliya," Datu Pita welcomed Kaliya to his household. Hara Kaliya saw the man she always admired, smile shyly.
"Datu Pita, it's nice to see you again." She said, bowing her head. Datu smiled and pats her shoulder.
"Stop being so formal, come in. Pardon me if I restrict your uripons' to be with you, I don't like too many people going around my house."
"It's alright Datu, I understand."
"Where's Basi? Why are you alone?" Hara Kaliya frowned and looked at Datu Pita.
"He's busy with something. He's always with your second daughter." She said dryly. She knows that Datu Pita doesn't consider Tala as his daughter, everyone knows it. That is one of the reasons why she hates Tala.
"Really?" Datu Pita replied knowingly. Lapil had already told him about Rajah Basi's betrayal.
He doesn't blame the Basi for becoming a lovesick fool, who held himself back for the longest time. The state of being in love was something they couldn't control, they were weak when it comes to the person who has their hearts. He knew it because he was one of its victims. However, he had to do what he needed to do to protect what's precious for him too.
"Yes, ever since the banquet he's been going about Tala this, and Tala that. I know that you hate that woman that's why I told him about it but he just got mad at me saying that I shouldn't defame her, that she was not bad and all." Hara Kaliya ranted. She had no one to talk to about this matter other than Pita. He had always been her sanctuary.
"Don't stress yourself out." Datu Pita smiled at her and instantly she calmed down. "Right, Lapil told me, he's marrying your daughter. If it's not Tala, who is it?"
"It's Yanar," Lapil answered her, he was done instructing the uripon and hayohay that his Iloy brought with her. Restricting any of them to enter Datu Pita's balay or they'll face death, literally.
"Yanar...? What? Lapil! Don't say her name in front of Datu Pita! You know she goes ---"
"It's alright Kaliya. Yanar is in her room, probably sleeping."
"What?" Hara Kaliya was stunned. What are these men talking about? Yanar was long dead, wasn't she?
"Baba! If you say it like that, you make me sound like a slacker. I was always trying to help with chores, wasn't I?"
"My goodness!" The Hara exclaimed and took a step back startled seeing the dead coming back to life. "Ya-yanar?"
"Dada Kaliya, it's nice to see you again." She bowed her head to give respect to Hara. Hara Kaliya covers her mouth with her palm and shifts her gaze to Datu Pita looking surprised.
"Yanar is alive?"
"She is." Datu smiled even more and looked at her daughter who was together with Maki, who had come running to the room. "If you are done eating snacks, you should sleep." He said to her like coaxing a child. Yanarym pouts her mouth.
"Baba, I'm not a kid anymore! I don't need to sleep in the afternoon!" She blurted out and walked towards Hara.
"Dada Kaliya will be accompanying me today, we will be having a girl time, so do not disturb us." Before anyone could refute her, she had already pulled Hara Kaliya somewhere in the house.
"If you are alive, who was the one who got buried?" Hara Kaliya recovered and examined Yanarym's visage before giving her a warm hug and combing her hair. "Anyway, I am glad you are safe."
"Dada," she chuckled and moved away. "We just saw each other last-last week."
"We did?"
"Yes, at your balay, you just couldn't recognize me."
"You were there? Where… or aren't you, that woman with the young datu?" Her eyes widened by surprise.
"Yes."
"You naughty child! You are already Lapil's betrothed and you share a room with another man?" She hits her arm.
"Dada it hurts!" Yanarym complained, "I was in the situation that's why I was doing those. But I came back home now."
Hara Kaliya was Datu Pita's childhood friend if they put it on the label. She had liked him since they were young. When she heard that he accepted her as his future wife she was overwhelmed, the same as when she received the news that he had fallen in love with someone else.
At first, she was broken-hearted, but when she met Ara, his wife. The one who changes the cold and emotionless man she knew all her life. She accepted the fact, after all, even if she marries Pita that time, it's not like he will be treating her as treats Ara, his lovely wife. His view of life was too dark and scary. Although she likes him, she knew a future with him would not be good.
Ara was a good person, she was also gorgeous. She treated her like a real friend. When she married Basi, Ara was there and assisted her. When she was pregnant with Lapil, Ara was also there to support and take care of her. Aside from being a friend, it feels like she gained a sister.
Five years after Lapil was born, finally Ara had conceived a child. That was Yanar, everyone rejoiced, upon seeing that they had a baby girl. The Rajah and her insisted on making an arranged marriage for their children. Pita and Ara had given up for three years of persistence of the couple. Growing old, Kaliya always goes to their banwa to visit and talk with Ara and her baby. Since Pita had said that Lapil cannot see Yanar until she had reached the proper age, Kaliya couldn't introduce her son to her.
Hara Kaliya doesn't hate Lapil, but at the same time, she doesn't care as much. Probably, she loves and cared for Yanar more than her son. It feels like her life with Basi wasn't hers.