“W HAT business are you into?” tanong ni Blanca kay Daniel. Interesado siyang malaman ang mga bagay-bagay tungkol dito.
“I sell machines.”
“Oh, interesting. I work with machines. Actually, I need to upgrade mine. What kind of machines do you sell?”
“I manufacture them according to client specifications and I also distribute heavy equipment. What kind of equipment do you need anyway?”
“Machines for my zipper making.”
“I might be able to help you with that, but let’s not talk business. I would like to know you better. Tell me about you. Your family, the things you like. Everything.”
May pag-alon sa dibdib ni Blanca. How long had it been since someone actually listened to what she had to say about herself? Too long. Natagpuan niya ang sariling ikinukuwento kay Daniel ang kanyang buhay. She figured there was nothing much to say, really. Ano nga ba ang kuwento ng isang monotonous na buhay? Bigla, parang nanliit siya. Hindi rin niya maiwasang ma-insecure.
“I really am a boring person.”
Nakangiti ang lalaki nang sabihin, “Quite pathetic, really.”
“Yes.” Natawa na si Blanca. “And you? I bet you like to travel and party. I bet you like Roman architecture and watch Madama Butterfly in Italy.”
Ang lakas ng tawa ni Daniel. “Do I look like the kind of person who would do that? I wish. I work with heavy equipment, remember?”
“So?”
“So I’m always with workers, farmers. Last I checked, they are more interested in having a beer at the local pub than watching opera. I love to farm though.”
Ikinabigla iyon ni Blanca. “Farm?” Oo at nagbebenta ng heavy equipment ang lalaki, pero may mga kakilala siyang nasa ganoong negosyo na hinding-hindi hahawak ng lupa. Kahit pa rugged ang dating ni Daniel, hindi niya naisip na isa itong magsasaka, bukod pa sa pagiging isang negosyante.
Ngumiti ito. “Yes. Is that really surprising?”
Muntik nang maitirik ni Blanca ang mga mata. Kung alam lang nito. Oo, puwedeng maging model na cowboy ang lalaki, pero parang mahirap itong makita na… Well, wait. Of course he could look good in blue jeans and a plaid shirt. In fact, he would look rather sexy in those. Ang problema, hindi naman ganoon ang totoong hitsura ng mga magsasaka.
“What do you like doing in your spare time?” She wanted more information.
“I make furniture.”
“Interesting. Where can I see your work?”
“I do it for clients who are friends. I like working with wood. I don’t really sell them in stores. There’s something very satisfying seeing your own handiwork being used by others. I guess I’m boring as well.”
“Quite pathetic, actually.”
Daniel laughed. He was very interesting. Mukhang sincere din ang lalaki sa pagsasabi na mas gusto nito ang simpleng buhay. Hindi raw ito mahilig sa mga party at nagkataon na lang na nayaya ni Drake na siyang abogado nito. Nasa Pilipinas daw ito para sa negosyo, pero bumabalik-balik sa Amerika.
“Do you have plans to live here?” Ayaw man, may nakapang pag-aalala si Blanca. Alam niyang masyado pang maaga para makaramdam ng lungkot kapag sinabi nitong aalis din at wala sa Pilipinas ang puso. She was behaving like a fool. Ngayon lang sila nagkakilala at gusto na niyang sabihin ni Daniel na he would stay for good?! Lasing ba siya sa nainom o biglang sinumpong ng pangangarap nang gising?
“I can live anywhere where there’s land.”
Napangiti si Blanca. He was smiling at her as well. Gusto niyang mapabuntong-hininga, hawakan ang pisngi ng lalaki. O kaya yakapin ito. She wondered what that would feel like, to be in his arms. Shit, talk about behaving like a fool.
Patuloy silang nag-usap. They talked about everything and anything under the sun. They talked about old movies and literature. Pareho nilang gusto ang mga lumang pelikula at pareho nilang gusto si Alfred Hitchcock. They both thought that Spanish was a sexy language. They both preferred mountains over sea. They both loved summer and liked the idea of retiring in a farm.
“I will show you my farm one of these days,” sabi ni Daniel.
“Where is it?” tanong ni Blanca.
“In Louisiana.”
“With horses?”
“I have a few.”
Gustong mapabuntong-hininga ni Blanca. Habang tumatagal, palala nang palala ang nararamdaman niya para kay Daniel. Yes, she was smitten. And yes, she was a bit scared. But damn if she would do anything to stop herself. She felt butterflies. Ang tagal na rin mula nang maramdaman niya iyon sa kanyang sikmura.
Hindi na nila namalayan ang oras at nabigla pa nang sabihin ng waiter na magsasara na raw ang mga ito. Daniel took her home. Simple na lang ang bahay ni Blanca ngayon, isang bungalow, luma at katabi ng maliit na pabrika. Matagal na niyang nailipat doon ang production ng dating malaking kompanya. Naibenta na rin kasi ang dati nilang pabrika, kahit nasa kanya pang lahat ang mga gamit. At lahat lumang-luma na at naghihingalo.
Nevertheless, it was a good location. Marami nang nagtatanong sa kanya kung for sale ang lupa. She even had offers for it. Walang tigil ang mga offer sa kanya at nagdadalawang-isip na siya kung gagawing collateral ang lupa para mag-expand ng business.
“Would you like to come in?” tanong ni Blanca. Kahit luma ang kanyang bahay, maayos at malinis naman iyon. Isa pa, matagal na niyang tinanggap ang sitwasyon. Hindi na sila mayaman. Well, that place was an asset, but she had no cash. Sa tagal niya sa ganoong sitwasyon, natanggap na niya iyon. Siguro nga hindi siya dumaan sa denial. Ang lahat ng sama ng loob niya noon ay dahil sa pagsasamantala ng iba, hindi sa mismong katotohanang wala na siyang kayamanan na tulad ng noon.
Tumango si Daniel at tumuloy na sila sa loob ng bahay. Napansin ng lalaki ang family portrait sa sala. Hindi iyon kalakihan, pero maganda ang pagkakagawa. Her mother had it made when Mitchell was an infant.
“Your folks? Let me guess, this little girl is you.”
Nakangiti siyang tumango. “Yes.”
“Where are they?”
“Gone. Matagal na. I was in my teens and my brother Mitchell was just a child when it happened. We’re still both children, I guess. That’s Mitchell, that baby.”
“Mitchell lives here with you?”
“Oh, no.” Hindi agad nasabi ni Blanca kung nasaan ang kapatid. Hanggang maaari, ayaw niya sanang malaman ng lahat ang sitwasyon ni Mitchell. “He’s not here.”
“Where is he? Kayo na lang dalawa, dapat magkasama na kayo. Does he have his own family now?”
“No. He’s…” Napalunok si Blanca. Parang napahiya rin siya sa sarili nang maisip na kaya hindi niya masabi ay dahil nahihiya siya. She wanted to make a good impression, and telling Daniel that her brother was a convicted felon would not make her look good. But she had to face truths in her life. Hindi ba at tinanggap na rin niya iyon? Siguro mas hindi niya iyon nagawang tanggapin agad, kumpara sa lahat ng kamalasan sa kanyang buhay. With Mitchell, it was personal. Too personal. May guilt din siyang nararamdaman para doon. She was supposed to raise him well. She failed somewhere along the way.
“He’s in jail, actually.” Walang dahilan para mas bigyang-timbang niya ang opinyon ng lalaking kaharap kaysa sa kapatid.
“Oh?” Mukha namang walang judgement sa guwapong mukha ni Daniel. “For?”
“Theft. He had problems before.”
“Do you still see him?”
“Once a month I visit him. Do you have siblings? Where are your parents?”
“I’m an orphan. Only son, too.”
Walang ibang nasabi si Blanca. Ano pa ba ang sasabihin niya? She tried to shake away the feeling of shame. Wala siyang dapat ikahiya. Kailangan niyang matutong isipin at tanggapin na nakahiwalay ang katauhan ni Mitchell sa kanya. She was no longer responsible for him. Noon, hindi agad iyon naisip ni Blanca. It took a while for her to realize she made a mistake in bringing him up. But what did she know about taking care of another person when she couldn’t even take care of herself? She was very young and had a lot to learn. She learned the hard way.
“Hey, it’s okay,” sabi ni Daniel.
“I feel guilty for feeling ashamed,” pag-amin ni Blanca. “He’s doing his time. It’s not like he escaped or anything like that.”
Tumingin ang lalaki sa portrait, saka sinabi, “I’m curious to know why you didn’t help him get away.”
Hindi naintindihan ni Blanca ang ibig sabihin ni Daniel. Was he blaming her? “Excuse me?”
“I mean it must have been hard to see him go to jail, being helpless and not being able to help the way we do to family.”
Napabuntong-hininga si Blanca. “I did my best. I figured he’s not made for that kind of life, but the law is the law.”
“I don’t mean to be intrusive.”
“No, it’s okay. Maraming curious sa kanya. He was at his prime when it happened. He still is, actually. Pero ilang taon pa bago siya makalabas. We tried to settle, but it was a big company and it was hard for us. Business was not doing well. Even if we sell the house, the business, and everything we still had.”
“I’m sorry to hear.”
“It’s okay. He has accepted it.” Hindi na sinabi ni Blanca ang nangyari recently kay Mitchell dahil parang hindi naman bagay sa usapan, bukod sa ayaw na niyang pag-usapan nila ang kanyang kapatid na wala naman doon. “But he’s a nice guy. You will like him.”
“I bet,” sabi ni Daniel.
“He’s only a few years younger than us. Oh, wait, I forgot to ask how old you are.”
Ngumisi ang lalaki. “Don’t you know it’s impolite to ask someone his age?”
“Oh, please. Come on, tell me.”
“I’m thirty-one.”
Natigilan si Blanca. He was Mitchell’s age! Hindi niya naisip na mas bata sa kanya si Daniel. “Oh, my God.”
“What?”
“You’re younger than me.”
“So?”
Hindi agad nakapagsalita si Blanca. Bigla siyang nailang. Although the man was younger than her, it did not feel like she was talking to someone who was his age. Siguro, nasanay siyang makipag-usap sa kapatid na kaedad nito at hindi mature kausap si Mitchell. Well, at least the Mitchell before the epiphany.
Iniba na niya ang usapan. Wala siyang balak ubusin ang gabi kay Mitchell. “Let me get you something to drink. What would you like?”
“Anything.”
Nagpunta si Blanca sa kusina at kumuha ng Coke in can. Ibinigay niya iyon sa lalaki. They talked some more. Hindi na niya namalayan ang oras kung hindi pa niya napansin na magliliwanag na sa labas.
“I’m afraid I stayed too long,” sabi ni Daniel na tumayo na.
“You are welcome to stay, but it’s almost morning. Can you still drive?”
“I think I’ll take a nap in the car.”
“You can stay here,” she said before realizing the invitation, pero walang masama. Pagod na ang lalaki at mahirap magmaneho sa ganoong lagay. “I have an extra room for you.”
“Thank you very much. I promise I won’t snore.”
“How can you even promise that?” Natawa si Blanca at niyaya na sa isang kuwarto si Daniel. Apat ang kuwarto roon, isa sa kanya, isa kay Mitchell, at isa kay Yaya Dahlia na may isang buwan nang nagbabakasyon. Sa susunod na buwan pa babalik ang matanda, kapag pasukan na ng mga apo nito sa school. Balak niyang gawing opisina ang huling kuwarto, pero sa huli ay ginawa na ring tulugan. It was always clean. Palagi siyang naglilinis ng bahay.
Luma na ang A/C, pati ang kama at kutson, pero malinis. “I hope this is all right.”
“It’s perfect. Thank you.”
Ngiti ang isinagot niya at tumalikod na rin, pero tinawag siya nito. Lumingon siya. “Yes?”
“I had a wonderful time, Blanca.”
“Me, too.” But you’re too young for me.
“Maybe we can go out tomorrow night?”
Split-second lang siyang nag-isip at sinabi, “Yes.”
How could she say no when she wanted to go out with him? It was strange. Hindi mabilis magtiwala si Blanca, pero mabilis iyong nakuha ni Daniel. She hoped there was no catch. She hoped he was really this great. She was starting to believe that maybe she had done something good after all, to meet someone like him and to have a good life. She deserved that, too.
Maybe.
“OH, SHIT!” Bumalikwas si Blanca. Hindi niya inaasahan na makakatulog nang ganoon kahaba, lalo na at may bisita sa bahay. The place smelled of breakfast. Tumingin siya sa relo at natuklasang alas-onse na. Nagmamadali siyang nag-ayos at lumabas na rin ng kuwarto.
The house was empty. Tumuloy siya sa kusina at nakita sa hapag ang nakahain: croissants, scrambled eggs, and ham. Halatang binili ni Daniel ang mga iyon, ang tanong lang ay kung saan. Nahiya siya. Hindi man lang siya nakapag-set ng alarm at ang bisita pa ang naghanda ng almusal.
She was going to send Daniel a text message when she realized she did not even ask for his number. Napabuntong-hininga si Blanca at tumuloy sa kinaroroonan ng percolator. Noon niya nakita ang isang card na naka-tape doon. Isang magandang sulat-kamay ang nagsabi, Thanks for being wonderful. She flipped the card and saw it was Daniel’s business card. Naroon ang mga contact number nito.
Nag-almusal na siya, kasabay ng pagte-text sa lalaki ng pasasalamat. Nag-ring ang kanyang phone na agad niyang sinagot. It was him.
“Did you sleep well?” tanong nito.
“Yes. And you?”
“It was painful to leave the bed, but I needed to take care of some things. Good morning, Blanca.”
Butterflies, sunrise, and everything nice. She couldn’t remember feeling like that since she was young. Hindi niya alam na puwede pa iyong maulit. Kinikilig siya na hindi niya kayang ipaliwanag. “Good morning!”
“What’s lined up for you to do today?”
Let’s see… Magtrabaho, magmukmok, maghanap ng mga nagpapa-loan, mainis at ma-frustrate na wala akong magawa… “Work.”
“Need help?”
“No.” Que horror kung makikita ng lalaki ang kanyang opisina. Puro iyon tambak ng mga spare parts ng makina. Lahat ng gamit sa factory, kailangan na talagang palitan. Marami nang mas makabagong technology ngayon sa paggawa ng produkto niya, pero nakatali siya sa old-school style. Alam ni Blanca, kapag hindi siya nakagawa ng paraan, lalamunin siya nang buo ng ibang pabrika. Kapag nakita ni Daniel ang kanyang opisina, magtataka ito kung bakit kakapiranggot ang space niya roon. Sa totoo lang, kailangan dahil masyadong malaki ang space na kailangan para sa mga makina at limitado ang space nang lumipat sila at wala siyang dagdag puhunan para mapa-extend iyon. “I mean, there’s no need. I’m gonna be busy today.”
“How about I bring you some food?”
Bigla siyang natawa. “Merienda and dinner as well?”
“Why not?”
Binalikan ni Blanca sa isip ang kabuuan ng opisina at napangiwi. Pero naisip niyang mas magandang makita na rin ni Daniel. What was the use of hiding it now? Malalaman at malalaman din iyon ng lalaki. Hindi rin kailangang maging matalino ng isang tao para mahulaan kung ano ang lagay ng negosyo. It only took one look at her machines and one would know they were old.
“It’s not a pretty sight. This is an old factory, Daniel. I only have antique machines.”
“Unless you want me to eat the machines, I don’t think it will matter all that much to me.”
Ang lakas ng tawa ni Blanca. He was funny as well. “All right.”
Nawala na ang lalaki sa linya. Nagmadali na siyang kumain at naligo, saka tumuloy sa office. Nagpatulong siyang magligpit doon. Kung bakit kasi walang malaking bodega para sa spare parts. Hindi niya magawang ipakilo ang mga iyon dahil kung minsan, kailangan sa ibang makina. Mahirap na kasing makakita ng parts kapag luma ang makina. Imbes na ilagay sa bodegang puno na ng mga tape at slider, doon na lang niya ipinalagay sa kanyang opisina.
“May bisita ba, Ma’am?” tanong ni Aling Yolly, isa sa mga mananahi. “Mukhang iba na ito, Ma’am.”
Natawa si Blanca. Parang pamilya na niya ang lahat ng trabahador doon. Ilang taon na silang magkakasamang lahat. Hindi siya iniwan ng mga ito, kahit na matagal bago dumating ang salary increase at sa nakaraang dalawang taon, alam niyang ramdam ng mga ito ang hirap ng kompanya. Gumagapang sila. Sa tingin niya, mas malaki pa ang kanyang kikitain kung mamamasukan. Pero kasama ang mga tauhan sa dahilan kung bakit hindi niya mabitiwan ang factory. Marami ring umaasa roon. And anyway, she did not need much personally. Wala naman siyang ginagastusan sa sarili kundi monthly utilities lang.
“Kaibigan lang, Aling Yolly.”
“Ang hiling ko, Ma’am, sana magkaasawa ka na rin. Bagong panganak pa lang ang bunso nang mawala sina Ma’am at Sir. Ngayon may asawa na ang panganay ko at may apo na rin ako, wala ka pa ring asawa.”
“Kung walang dumarating, Aling Yolly, mahirap namang ipilit.” Napangiti si Blanca. Mula sa dating lokasyon ng kanilang pabrika, sumama ang buong pamilya ng matanda sa kanila, katulad ng ibang mga loyal na empleyado. Pangarap niyang ibigay sa mga ito ang lahat ng benepisyo pagdating ng retirement. Kahit paano, maipagmamalaki niyang ayon sa batas ang suweldo ng lahat, kasama ang benefits. Sana lang, kapag Pasko, mas maganda ang mga regalo at bonus niya sa mga ito, pero kung talagang wala, ano ang kanyang magagawa?
Mayamaya, dumating na rin si Daniel. He looked so fresh. Again, butterflies. May dalang paper bag ang lalaki na may lamang pagkain.
“How are you?” tanong nito.
“I’m great,” sagot ni Blanca. “And you?”
“I missed you, actually.”
Biglang nag-init ang mukha ni Blanca. Pero siguro, pareho sila ng nararamdaman. Kahapon lang sila nagkakilala, pero parang buong buhay ay kilala na niya ang lalaki. And yet there was so much more to know, so much more to explore and discover about him. She wanted to get to know him well. Baka sakaling magkatotoo ang hiling ni Aling Yolly.
Alam niyang masyado pang maaga para doon, pero walang masama. Sometimes, love happened unexpectedly. Sino ang makapagsasabi? All she had to do was open her door, and love might come to stay.