VANE JASON
I have seen supermodels wearing branded swimsuits, actresses flexing their carefully crafted designer-made gowns, and endorsers clad in the most physique-flattering dresses. Hell, I have even seen some of them in less. Yet, as I stare at Asheng walking toward me, in black denim jeans, a simple shirt, and her damp hair falling down her shoulders, I know that her beauty is incomparable.
As she ambled closer, I could not help but analyze her movements. She was cracking her knuckles as she went as if she was nervous. Inside my chest, my heart started beating rapidly and I wondered if I could possibly be more nervous than she is. Asheng opened the pickup's door and the sound jolted me back to my senses. My hands instantly turned cold and that seemed to answer the question I had in mind.
Asheng sat comfortably next to me, strapped the seatbelt on and looked in my direction. "Good morning, Vane," she greeted with a small smile.
Just one smile and I can tell.
I can tell that I was right.
She is incomparable.
There isn't a single doubt about that.
"Hi." I'm breathless. It surprised me to know that I can still find my voice amidst the chaos of the thoughts rallying inside my head. "You ready?"
Asheng gave me a nod.
"I'm two minutes late. Sorry." She looked apologetic, but I gave her a dismissive shake of the head.
"You weren't. I was a hundred and twenty seconds early."
That made her laugh.
I hope she doesn't notice the dark circles under my eyes. I wasn't able to get much sleep because I kept thinking about how this day will turn out. Friday, I decided, is now my favorite day of the week.
I started the engine and was about to drive off when Manang came hurrying down the steps of their front porch. She was frantically waving her hands at me, so I waited. When she reached the side of the car, she spoke with so much concern.
"Senyorito, 'wag mong pababayaan si Asheng ha. Nako, malalagot ako sa mga magulang n'yan 'pag nagkataon. Mawawalan ako ng trabaho. Kapag nawalan ako ng trabaho, malulungkot si Asheng. Kapag nalungkot si Asheng ay magmumukmok na siya. Kapag nagmukmok siya ay hindi ka na n'ya kakausapin. Kapag nangyari 'yon, hindi na kayo magkakatuluyan..."
"Nana!" Asheng looked astounded. "Ang layo naman yata ng narating ng imahinasyon n'yo. Nakakahiya ho kay Vane."
Tumawa ako. "Oho, Manang. Sisiguraduhin kong hindi masasaktan si Asheng."
"Mabuti naman. Basta mag-ingat kayong dalawa." Dumukwang siya para bumulong sa tenga ko. Pinigilan ko ang tawang gustong umalpas mula sa bibig ko nang matapos siyang magsalita. Nakita kong litong nakatingin si Asheng sa amin pero kinindatan lang siya ni Manang. Kumaway siya sa amin bago umatras at pinanood akong magdrive paalis.
"Ano'ng binulong sa'yo ni Manang?" Inosenteng tanong ni Asheng habang nakatingin sa labas. Nakagat ko ang pang-ibaba kong labi para supilin ang ngiti pero nakatakas pa rin ito.
"She just said... that you were so excited for this day that you weren't able to get much sleep last night." That was a lie, but her audible gasp told me it might not be. Something inside me was rejoicing at that particular thought.
"Sinabi ni Manang 'yon?"
"Yeah, she did." I turned the car to the left. "Was it true? You weren't able to sleep properly?"
From my peripheral, I saw her turn to look at me. A couple of seconds passed before she decided to pull her gaze away and focus it ahead. "Oo. I was... I was looking forward to this. Iniisip ko nung isang araw pa lang na sana Friday na."
My heart plummets.
My heart plummets because I feel the very same.
I contemplated whether I should tell her.
In the end, I decided that I probably should.
"I lost sleep thinking about you..."
Crickets. I hear crickets.
"Me, too, Vane..." I didn't know it was possible for my hands to turn more colder than they already are until they did.
I feel happy and guilty at the same time. Manang didn't really say that. The truth is, what she told me was... "Hindi pa rin alam ni Asheng ang totoong ibig sabihin ng daks, Senyorito."
***
The moment I parked the car in front of the mansion, Marcia rushed to my side and asked me if I needed anything. I just asked her if the staff has already prepared the riding equipment I requested and she confirmed that they were ready.
"Hi! Ako nga pala si Asheng." Asheng offered to shake Marcia's hand and the latter looked shocked with the pleasantries. She shook her hand awkwardly and scratched at a non-existent itch behind her head.
"Hello po, ma'am," sabi niya. "Ako ho si Marcie, kasambahay po ako nina Senyorito Vane. Welcome ho sa villa."
"Salamat, Marcie."
"Ang ganda niyo naman pala, Ma'am. Siguro ho maraming naghahabol sa inyo." Parang nabibighani na tinignan niya ng mataman si Asheng. "Kaya ho siguro hahaha lang ang reply n'yo sa Senyorito."
"Marcia!" I glowered at her and she backed away, laughing, but no amount of glares could deter her.
"You told her?" Asheng looked at me, her eyes twinkling with jest, as she waited for the obvious answer to come out of my mouth.
"Ay, yes po, ma'am! Senyorito Vane po told me po because he... uhm... he was asking asking what to say back in the text. You know, Senyorito, is speechless."
"Wow, Vane was speechless? That's adorable."
"Marcia... I swear to God... one more word —"
"Sabi ko nga ho ay hindi na ako magsasalita. Papasok na ho ako, Senyorito. Nice meeting you, Ma'am Asheng."
"Nice meeting you rin, Marcie." She waved at her and she left, giggling, no wonder ready to share the news of her mischief to the other house helps.
I couldn't meet Asheng's eyes, so instead, I tried to act unbothered as I led her down the cobblestone pathway that winds down to the stables. The entire path is lined with lamp posts that glowed faintly during night time. In the morning, they just served as ornate decorations. Trees — mostly pili — and flowering shrubs grow freely on the sides. From where we are now, the sound of the horses braying can already be heard.
"Sabi ni Manang kanina ay lagot siya sa parents mo kapag may nangyari sa'yo. Where are they anyway?" I asked to break the ice.
"They live and work in the Metro," she supplied.
"You live and work in the Metro, too?"
"Yes," she responded. "There's this bakery that I look after. I help make bread sometimes. Nothing special. Ikaw ba?"
"I..." I paused. "I work and live in Madrid. Media and entertainment industry. Pumunta ako rito para sa bakasyon. Just for the entire summer." I pocketed my hands. "Once it's over, I will be flying to London to take over our travel agency business."
"You'll only be here for the entire summer?"
"Just for the entire summer," I confirmed. My heart deflated like a balloon suddenly pricked with a needle. I didn't know how Asheng is going to take it, but after a few beats of silence, she turned to me.
"I guess we have to make the most of it then."
I smiled. "I guess so."
Along the way ay nadaanan namin si Mang Elmer. He sat on a log in front of a chess table under the shade of a massive mango tree and he looked bored. When he saw Asheng and I, he perked up and greeted us.
"Senyorito! Ngayon na ba kayo mangangabayo?"
"Oho. Ito ho pala si Asheng." Ipinakilala ko sila sa isa't-isa at kinamayan din siya ni Asheng na lubos niyang ikinasaya.
"Napakagalang naman ng batang ire. Napakaganda pa. Ano kamo ang pangalan mo? Haching?"
"Asheng ho." She grinned. "Ano hong ginagawa n'yo r'yan mag-isa?"
"Aba'y hinihintay ko si Pedring matapos magpakain ng mga baboy dahil maglalaro kami ng chess. Napakatagal nga at ako'y naiinip na."
"Gusto niyo tayo muna ang maglaro, Mang Elmer?" suhestiyon ni Asheng na ikinagulat ko.
"Kung okay lang ho sa Senyorito, Ma'am Asheng, ay ikagagalak ko 'yan!"
"That's okay with me." My reply was quick. I turned to Asheng, slightly amazed. "You play chess?"
"A little bit," she beamed.
Mang Elmer only found out what he has gotten himself into after Asheng beat him two times in a row. I was sitting next to Asheng on the log, staring blankly at the chess pieces on the board, not even knowing the strategy behind each of her moves.
I never thought I'd enjoy just sitting next to her, watching her strategize and calculate her every move. "You're awfully good at this," I commented.
"I like chess." She shrugged. "It's like life. There are decisions we cannot undo, so we better think wisely in order for us to not to waste a move."
"Who taught you how to play?"
"My father and I used to play chess a lot. He would teach me tips and tricks and I never won against him, you know?"
"He must be an awfully good chess player, too."
"The absolute best..." She advanced her horse. "Checkmate ho, Mang Elmer."
Napakamot ito ng ulo. "Checkmate na naman, ma'am? Aba'y hindi yata ako mananalo nito. Akala ko beginner's luck lang ang kanina. Hindi pala! Puwede bang turuan niyo na lang ako ng tips n'yan para matalo ko palagi si Pedring."
Tinuruan niya nga si Mang Elmer at aliw na aliw naman itong nakikinig sa kanya. I just sat there in silence, enjoying being an onlooker, as she patiently taught him the techniques she knew about playing chess. She has a natural charisma to her that compels you to listen and admire.
When Mang Pedring came, we bid the two of them goodbye. Mang Elmer told Asheng that he'd love to play chess with her again. Finally, he has found a worthy opponent, he said.
"Were you bored?" tanong niya. Umiling naman ako ng sunod-sunod.
"Not at all. I enjoyed watching you play."
"I missed playing chess. Ngayon na lang uli ako nakapaglaro. Thank you for the invitation, Vane. Tatlong tao pa lang ang nakikilala ko rito, but I can tell that everyone is nice and accommodating."
"They really like you." I didn't bother telling her na may iilang nagrereklamo na may taglay na kasungitan si Mang Elmer. But despite that, nayaya niya itong makalaro sa chess at naturuan pa pagkatapos. I guess with Asheng, nakakahawa ang positive energy niya kaya gustong-gusto siya ng mga tao. I really admire that about her.
Nang makarating kami sa stables ay binati kami ng bantay na si Fred. Nakabitan niya na si Marengo ng gear. Inilabas niya na ang riding gear para kay Butch at inilagay sa ibabaw ng tool shed. He took Bucephalus out first and I placed the saddle pad on his back.
He whinnied energetically, seeming really pleased to see me with Asheng. I mussed his mane and mumbled in his ear. "Yeah, I finally know her name, Butch. Would you look at that, huh?"
Next, I hooked the stirrups and adjusted them to make sure it fits him perfectly. As I did this, I explained the process to Asheng and she listened attentively. She watched me buckle the right and left stirrups in place. After I placed the saddle gentle and secured the girth, I attached the bridle.
"Butch is such a good horse, isn't he?" Asheng smiled and the horse huffed as a response. I went ahead and attached the bridle, put the bit on Butch's mouth, and buckled the leather strap around his throat.
"You do this with so much precision," Asheng commented. "Butch seems to know you so well."
"He does. He's a special horse, you know?" I passed her the boots and strapped the helmet on her head. We are so close to each other that I caught a whiff of her breath — fresh and minty. Asheng was staring at me expectantly, her eyes calm and unblinking.
What would the movie star in me do?
"Sir? Aalis na ho ba ako para makapagkiss kayo?" Fred asked and I shot him an incredulous look. He sniffled a laugh before he ran back to the mansion.
"I don't know why our staff is like that. Una si Marcia, tapos si Fred. Dapat yatang mas maging strict kami sa hiring."
"It's okay. We weren't really going to kiss." Her laugh was awkward, so I stepped away, thinking I have worn out my welcome.
"Yeah!" I bluffed. "We weren't."
We almost were.
I decided that almost is now my most hated word.
"Tara na?" tanong niya. Tumango ako at lumapit para alalayan sana siya pero hinawakan niya na ang renda at inapakan ang stirrup.
"Be careful!"
She grabbed the saddle horn and pulled herself up to the saddle, lowered herself comfortably, tightened her hold on the reins. She looked so at ease with Marengo when she patted her on the side. In a moment, I was left in a trail of dust, looking at her in disbelief from behind.
"How the heck?" Mabilis akong sumakay kay Butch at hinabol si Asheng. Butch seemed up for the chase as he sped up and within moments, Asheng and I are riding our horses side by side.
She was smiling.
I love that smile.
"Where did you learn that?" I asked. "You surprised me."
She didn't look at me when she laughed. "Sa sky ranch sa Tagaytay. 250 kada 30 minutes."
"What?"
She sped away leaving me thinking whether that was the truth. But it can't possibly be! No one can master horseback riding in thirty minutes. She was joking. I grinned as I chased again, knowing she was teasing.
I realized there's a lot about Asheng that I don't know. And I want to discover everything. Every single thing.