Chapter 8

Chapter 8




When I first saw Valerie, I was worried about my father. And my family. She's the type of woman that my father should avoid. But I don't want to rip him the benefit of doubt that he will always love my Mama no matter what. They've been through a lot, been married for several decades, and they have me. Siguro naman ay hindi ito basta-basta nalang itatapon ni Papa dahil lang sa babaeng halos sampung taon ang pagitan ng edad sa kaniya?


My worries started to dissipate into thin air when Mama's birthday started to approach. She's celebrating her 38th birthday and everyone in town is invited. Most of her amigas are bringing their daughters and sons. It has been a tradition of our family to include our hacienda workers and almost everyone in town, even if they don't know them, to my mother's birthday party.


More than a birthday party, it was a social event where my father gets to thank everyone who supported him from the very start, and a chance to meet new investors for the hacienda. Suppliers, farmers, and hacienderos from nearby towns also come to visit for the infamous birthday celebration of the La Union darling, Anastasia De la Rua.


"I heard classmates daw kayo ng anak ni Valerie," biglang wika ni Papa, dalawang araw bago ang birthday ni Mama, at habang kumakain kami ng agahan.


I stopped peeling my orange and turned to look at him. He had a kind smile on his face right now. Pati ang Mama ko ay banayad na nakangiti sa akin.


"Opo..." sagot ko sa mahinang boses.


"And how is she?"


Inipit ko ang pang-ibabang labi at hinayaan ang sariling lunukin muna ang mga salitang bunga ng masamang loob ko sa kaniya. I know he is the one who gave Samantha the Jimmy Choo bracelet and the YSL backpack. Hindi ko alam kung anong ibinigay niya kay Steve but I'm sure nakatanggap din siya mula kay Papa.


The thought that he can spoil the children of his mistress makes me sick. If he can buy those designer stuff to them, then what more to Valerie? She doesn't look a woman who'd wear fast-fashion brands like Zara and Brandy Melville. She's more of an Is-It-Prada-Or-I'm-Not-Wearing-It type of a woman.


"Ayos lang naman po siya..." hindi ako makatingin ng diretso kay Papa habang sumasagot. I still don't know if Valerie and her children are invited to my mother's birthday celebration. Sana hindi. I don't want to spoil my mother's biggest day with their negativity.


"I'm sure the two of you will become close friends, hija. She's interested in fashion, just like her mother. She mentioned once that she wanted to become a fashion designer someday..."


Hilaw na ngiti ang ibinalik ko kay Papa. It hurts me to see how he spoke enthusiastically of Samantha, as if she's his real daughter. And I could hear how proud he is of her based on his voice.


Ikaw din Papa, proud sa akin at sa mga nagawa ko?


Defeated by the sad thoughts in my head, I finished my breakfast early and announced that I'm going to school. Mama is feeling good today, and I don't want to ruin her good mood. Nag-uusap pa silang dalawa ni Papa nang magpaalam ako at lumabas ng mansion.


"Anna, may sakit ang tatay ngayon kaya hindi ka niya mahahatid sa eskwelahan." Salubong ni Baste sa akin habang isinusuot ko ang sapatos.


Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko. Manong Dante is doing fine the other day. Paano siya nagkasakit bigla?


"Ah, okay. Uhm... mag-taxi nalang ako! Uwi ka muna sa inyo, Baste, tapos alagaan mo ang tatay mo."


Nagkamot ng batok si Baste, at dahan-dahang tumango na para bang nahihiya. He's towering over me now, which didn't happen until he turned 14 and his body decided to hit the full-blown puberty. Mas matangkad ako sa kaniya noong bata pa siya, but now I look like a kid next to him. Blake has always been tall ever since I first met him. He just got leaner and taller and more handsome as the years went by.


"I-Ihahatid nalang kita—"


"Ako na ang maghahatid sa kaniya."


Nanigas ako nang marinig ang pamilyar na baritonong boses ni Blake. I turned and saw him, standing darkly just a few feet away, his smoldering gaze burning through me. Ramdam ko kaagad ang pagsilip ng pamumula sa mga pisngi ko, ngayong nakatitig siya sa akin ngayon. I could still remember our last conversation and how it went. How he drove back from Manila to La Union when he learned that I was upset.


Napansin kong biglang nawala sa mood si Baste nang dumating si Blake. Tahimik lang siyang tumango at hindi man lang nagpaalam ay basta nalang umalis. I pouted. Now, what's wrong with him?


"Where's Tito?"


"Nasa loob."


"Ibibigay ko lang 'to sa kaniya." Aniya at bahagyang itinaas ang isang brown envelop na may lamang importanteng dokumento. Knowing that he's the one who personally delivered it to my father, it must be something important. "Tapos alis na tayo."


I nodded. I don't mind waiting. Hindi pa rin naman ako mali-late. And if I'm late, Jess would always cover it up for me. Gayang-gaya na niya ang pirma ko kaya sa mga attendance sheets ay palaging siya ang sumusulat para sa akin. Hindi naman maka-alma ang mga kaklase ko sa ginagawa niya. Takot lang nila kay Jess.


Naghintay lang ako ng ilang minuto sa may gate at nakita kong papalabas na si Blake. I try not to look amazed by how darkly handsome he looked today. And he's just wearing his normal workout clothes. White muscle tee-shirt and gray sweatpants that hangs lowly around his hips. Para bang nananadya.


"Come on, Anna."


I followed him silently towards his waiting civic. Habang naglalakad kami patungo sa naghihintay na sasakyan ay panay ang punas niya sa pawis na tumakas mula sa kaniyang ulo at naglakbay sa noo patungo sa leeg. I averted my gaze away and pretended that it is not as uncomfortable as I feel right now, seeing him flaunt his toned body in front of me.


Considering that he's taking good care of his body, I'm sure he'd want to be with someone who knows how to take care of their body, too. Most of his ex-girlfriends are models with long shapely legs, large breasts, and toned stomach.


Defeated, I turned to my own body and got dismayed. Flat stomach, long legs, and small breasts. I am nowhere near the girls that Blake wants to date. I am immature and a kid. Siguro ay nakababatang kapatid na babae lang talaga ang tingin niya sa akin. Even Baste grew remarkably during his puberty years. Bakit ako, nanatili pa ring ganito?


"Are you okay, Anna?" biglang tanong sa akin ni Blake habang nagmamaneho siya ng sasakyan. Startled, I turned to him. Seryoso din siyang nakatingin sa akin. Wala namang ibang sasakyan sa paligid pero bigla pa rin akong ninerbyos sa ginawa niya.


"Ayos lang ako, Blake. Tumingin ka nga sa dinadaanan!"


Blake lazily raised a brow at me, shrugged, and then turned his gaze back to the road. Doon pa lang ako nakahinga nang maluwag.


"Do you think I'll let you get into a reckless accident when you're with me?" he murmured that I almost didn't hear. Kumunot ang noo ko.


"Come again?"


He shook his head, a small ghost of smile touching his lips. "Wala..."


Hindi ko na siya kinulit at binalingan ang bintana. I stared at the diamond-pure waters of La Union as we're headed to school. The reason why I don't mind being late and I enjoy riding to school is the coastal roads. It is one of the best things that I've come to appreciate while living here in LU.


Nagtataka kong binalingan ulit si Blake nang maramdaman kong bumabagal ang takbo ng sasakyan. He parked in front of a small, cozy coffee shop. Nang mamatay ang makina ay binalingan niya ako.


"I'll get some coffee."


I nodded.


Blake climbed out of the car. I watched him jog towards the café and was greeted with extra enthusiasm by the waitress who must've found him very attractive. I don't know if Blake is oblivious or he's just not interested because he paid on attention to the ogling waitress.


Tahimik lang akong nakaupo sa loob ng sasakyan, nakamasid sa kaniya. It's funny how we're just sitting in the same car, living in the same neighborhood, and moving in the same world but he still feels so unreachable. Para bang kahit anong gawin ko, hinding-hindi niya ako mapapansin.


Sighing, I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. Nawalan na ako ng interes na panuorin siya nang makita ko ang iilan niyang mayayaman na kaibigan na papalapit sa kaniya. They must've been working out and having coffee this early morning.


I never really liked his friends. I feel like they're not his real friends in the first place. They were born filthy rich. But unlike the Sobreval family, they think so highly of themselves. Hindi sila nakikipag-usap sa mga taong hindi nila ka-level. And I even caught one of them badmouthing our cook, Manang Joji, for being so slow in serving drinks. I was so mad at them and mad at myself for not doing anything to defend my second mother.


Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto ng sasakyan. As soon as Blake entered the car, the smell of delicious, warm chocolate filled the enclosed space. Ibinukas ko ang mga mata ko at muntik nang atakihin sa puso nang makitang sobrang lapit ng mukha niya sa akin.


"Here, your favorite chocolate..." malambing niyang wika sa akin. napakurap-kurap ako, bahagyang nagulat sa ginawa niya.


"Bakit...?"


"Remember when you were still a kid? Whenever you're sad, your mother would prepare a cup of hot chocolate for you and you'll be fine afterwards."


Sumilay ang isang maliit na ngiti sa mga labi ko. I accepted the paper cup from him, fluttered that he still remembered those small details. Until now, even though I'm too shy to admit it, I still like hot chocolate. Especially today. Right now.


Maganda ang mood ko pagkapasok ko sa paaralan. I bid goodbye to Blake. Ang sabi niya ay susunduin niya daw ako mamaya. I happily nodded and headed inside the classroom. Sinalubong ako ng mabusising tingin ni Jessica pagkapasok ko.


"You're smiling as if you got laid last night, Anna."


Awtomatikong nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko at napalitan ng matinding pagkagulat at pagkahiya. Pakiramdam ko ay pulang-pula na ata ang mukha ko ngayon. Malakas pa naman ang boses ni Jessica, kaya sigurado akong narinig ng iilan sa mga kaklase ko ang sinabi niya.


Inilapit niya ang mukha sa akin. She squinted her eyes, as if to examine me.


"Did you really got laid last night?"


"H-Hindi!" I stammered, and cursed myself for stammering. Now I just looked really guilty in her eyes. "Jess, I'm still sixteen!"


Jessica rolled her eyes heavenwards, chewing on her gum and giving me a bored look.


"So? I wouldn't be really surprised if you got laid at your age, Anna. Virginity is a hoax. It's a myth meant to shame girls for having sex with guys."


I sighed. She's back again at her litanies rebelling against the norms of the society.


"I know, Jess. I know..."


"Tsaka, kung talagang nag-'ano' ka na, kay Blake ba?"


Mas lalo pa atang uminit ang pisngi ko sa pinagsasabi niya. Sinamaan ko na ng tingin ang kaibigan, nagmamakaawa na rin na itikom niya ang bibig niya. Kapag narinig siguro ni Mama ang mga pinagsasabi ni Jess ay baka himatayin siya!


"No. No one got laid last night and can we not please talk about this topic especially when you're putting sex and Blake in the same sentence?"


She chuckled softly and nodded her head. Medyo nilubayan na niya ako. I pouted. Jess does this sometimes. Kinukulit niya ako. Her jokes are just out of this world. Ang sabi niya palagi sa akin, ang inosente ko raw. Dapat niya raw akong bantayan sa mga gagong balak magtake-advantage sa ka-inosentehan ko.


It was a normal day for me, except I'm planning on what to give to my mother. Every year, my father and I would come up with a surprise birthday gift for her. Last year, we got her a customized petite marmont leather wallet on a chain. Papa got it from Gucci, and we contacted a local artist to beautify the wallet to make sure that Mama is the only one who owns that piece of art.


Lumilipad pa ang isip ko habang papauwi. I texted Blake and told him I'll be going home alone. Diretso kasi ako sa opisina ni Papa ngayon. Gusto ko sana siyang kausapin tungkol sa regalo namin para kay Mama.


The air is damp and the skies are gloomy when we arrived at the hacienda. I could smell the rain brewing and ready to pour any moment from now. Binilisan ko ang paglalakad. I relied on our driver and Blake most of my high school days, so I really don't know how to commute. Buti nalang at sinamahan ako ni Jess. Nagpaalam din naman siya nang marating na namin ang hacienda, saying she still got work to do. I thanked her politely and headed inside.


Nakita ko ang iilang mga trabahador namin na pinapapasok ang mga kabayo sa kabalyerisa. Ang iba naman ay abala sa pag-aasikaso sa mga baka. I heard my father managed to close a deal with one of the largest supplies of beef meat in the country. This year, we will be the one to cater to the beef supplies. That deal of his is worth a million, and we quietly celebrated it at the house with a bottle of wine for my parents, and a tall glass of juice for me.


May inilista na akong posibleng regalo para kay Mama habang binabaybay ko ang daan patungo sa maliit na opisina ni Papa. I am planning to propose it to him, see what works best for my mother, and then discuss the details later on getting that gift for her.


I knocked briskly on the door, businesslike and with authority—just like how my father wants. Nang walang sumagot, I let myself in and found the secretary's table empty.


"Pa?"


I entered the small office that smelled of old books and fresh documents and men's perfume. Hindi na ako nag-abalang iwan ang bag ko sa labas at tuluyang itinulak ang glass door upang makapasok sa opisina.


"Papa—"


Shock and sharp pain rippled through me at the sight of Valerie with her top unbuttoned, hugging and almost straddling my father on his large puffed chair. Pareho silang nanigas nang makita ako. For a moment, walang gumalaw sa aming tatlo. Tulala ako sa nakita bago pa sumabog ang hapdi sa dibdib ko.


"Savannah..." kalmado ang boses ni Papa, ngunit rinig ko pa rin ang bahagyang takot sa dulo nito. "Anna, pwede ba tayong mag-usap?"


Tears welled my eyes. I could hear the heavy rain pouring outside, as my heart break into pieces as I watched my father betray my mother. Valerie quickly worked on her buttons. She glanced at me with an expressionless look, and then turned to my father.


"Sa labas ka muna, Val."


She nodded and even had the audacity to take her time putting on her heels. She walked towards the door with her head held high, as if she's dignified of what she's done. As if being a mistress deserves an international award.


"Anna..."


"Don't touch me!" I almost yelled to my father. All my life, I've been taught how to remain calm, no matter how disastrous the situation is. Don't raise your voice, no matter how angry you are. Don't say words that would eventually hurt someone, no matter how hurt you are.


But all those things have left my head as I stood there, shaking in so much anger and sadness. I could not believe that my father is capable of doing this to my mother. The elegant woman he loved for so many years.


"Anna, I can explain..."


Patuloy ko lang na iniling ang ulo ko. My face is raging with so much anger and my eyes are bloodshot. Bago pa niya ako mahawakang muli ay iniwas ko ang braso ko at nagmamadaling lumabas ng kaniyang opisina.


"Savannah!"


I didn't bother to turn back and just kept running. Ni hindi ko pinansin si Valerie na prente lang na nakaupo sa secretary's table. I run towards the rain. My hair is soaking wet and my shoes are damp by the time I reached the huge iron-wrought gate. Hinihingal na ako nang pinara ang papaalis na sanang taxi at nagmamadaling sumakay.


I saw my Dad grabbing an umbrella and running towards me. mabilis kong sinabihan ang driver na umalis na kaagad. He looked confused at first, but he followed me and started the engine. Laking pasasalamat ko nang umandar na ang sasakyan. Hindi ko na nilingon pa ang ama ko.


I was crying in the backseat of the cab the entire ride. Ni hindi ko masabi kung saan ako bababa. I tried to compose myself. I can't go home looking like this. Mama's birthday is approaching, and I don't want to worry her. Jess is still working, so I wouldn't be able to come to her for comfort. Ipinikit kong muli ang mga mata at naalala si Blake.


"A-Alam niyo po ba ang bahay ng mga Sobreval?" I hiccupped.


The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror and briefly nodded. Siguro ay irita na din siya sa kakaiyak ko. I nodded and told him to just take me there. Dahil walang gaanong sasakyan sa kalsada ay mabilis kaming nakarating sa subdivision kung saan sila nakatira.


I didn't bother to ask for the change and quickly headed outside. It's still raining, but it didn't bother me. I'm soaking wet anyway. Tiningala ko ang bahay ng mga Sobreval. It stood dignified and proud. As far as I know, Blake is the only one living in the house with his parents. All his brothers have gone abroad or had gotten married and started a new life. Blake is tied to the hacienda with his father, who's a good friend of my father as well.


Pinindot ko ang buzzer at naghintay sa labas habang patuloy pa rin ang ulan. Basang-basa na pati ang bag ko. I didn't wanna check my phone as well, because I know it's soaking wet because of my little stunt.


I waited for a few minutes before I saw movement on the front door. A tall shadow moved swiftly through the rain. I could hear heavy footsteps padding towards me before the gate briskly opened, revealing Blake in his gray oversized hoodie and wet hair, as if he'd just got out of the shower.


Gulat siyang napatingin sa akin. I'm dripping wet, from head to toe. My hair is darker than usual, and it curled to my shoulders. The rainwater cleaned my face, but my nose and eyes are still red and swelling. I looked like a lost kid.


"Anna...?"


The softness in his voice hit me, and I cried all over again. Acting like the little girl that I am, I ran into his arms and sobbed.

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