VANE JASON
"Mierda! Mierda! Mierda!" I shut my eyes tightly in annoyance as the lady disappeared from my line of sight. The crowd in front of the wet market has thickened, and the number of cars passing by the intersection increased at the same time.
In a blink of an eye, the gorgeous lady is nowhere to be seen.
"I can't believe we lost her, Butch. Saan kaya siya nagpunta at bakit ang bilis naman yata niyang maglakad palayo?" Hinigpitan ko ang hawak ko sa renda at pinalakad na si Buchephalus paalis kahit na ramdam ko pa rin ang panghihinayang. Ni hindi ko man lang nalaman ang pangalan niya.
"Eres un idiota, Vane!" inis na sabi ko sa sarili. The horse whinnied and I sighed in response.
"She has gorgeous hair." I scratched the back of my neck even though it does not itch. A short laugh escaped from my mouth as I shook my head, realizing how silly that sounded.
"Gorgeous eyes." Her eyes were round and so innocent, framed by thick black lashes. It made her look like she was the purest woman in the world.
"Gorgeous lips." Plum-colored and full. Sinful. Inviting.
"Gorgeous nose." High and pointed.
"Gorgeous teeth." A perfect set of blinding whites.
"Gorgeous eyebrows." Slightly thick and as black as midnight, just like her mane of hair. I groaned, sighed in frustration, and groaned again. "Everything about her is so fucking gorgeous, Bucephalus. It was like God created her to teach mankind a lesson. She looked like an angel sent straight from above to help people like me rectify all their wrongdoings. Damn, man. With a face like that, she can make any man fall to his demise willingly."
The horse brayed as a reply, probably thinking I was an idiot. And I probably am. I closed my eyes momentarily to imagine her in a long lacy white gown, a bouquet of red roses in hear delicate hands, and a thin veil covering her glorious beauty, as she walked in the aisle toward me.
I should not have thought about that.
I do not know her. For all I know, she can be a con artist, a drug addict, or an ex-convict.
My goodness. I am not supposed to let beauty derange me.
"Giddyup!" Buchephalus ran fast and I willed him to go even faster so we can reach the villa in no time. I know the speed is not going to take the lady out of my mind, but at least I can put my focus elsewhere for the time being.
When I got back to the mansion, one of the caretakers opened the gates for me. I hopped out of Butch and patted him on his side for a quick thank you.
"Kumusta, Senorito?" tanong ni Mang Elmer, ang matandang katiwala sa farm, nang makita niya akong pumasok. Tinapik ko ang balikat niya bago tumugon.
"Okay naman ho. Ang ganda pa rin ng Daet at presko ang hangin dahil sa napakaraming puno ng pili." Habang nagsasalita ay tinatanggal ko na ang saddle at saddle pad sa likod ng kabayo. Isinunod ko ang safety stirrups bago ito ipinatong sa wheelbarrow na nasa gilid ni Mang Elmer.
"Maalaga rin kasi sa kalikasan ang mga tao rito at palaging may proyekto ang Mayor para sa pagpapanatiling maganda ng lugar. Saan ka ba nagpunta, hijo?"
"Nag-ikot lang ho. Nakarating nga ho ako sa pamilihang bayan sa dulo."
"Ah! Next time i-try mong sa kabilang ibayo naman mag-ikot. Naalala mo pa 'yung batis doon, 'yung malapit sa falls? Doon kayo madalas na naliligo ng Senyor dati."
"Oho. Hayaan niyo, Mang Elmer, sa susunod. Medyo tago rin ang lugar na 'yon at mabato ang daanan kaya walang masyadong pumupunta roon dati."
"Ganoon pa rin naman ngayon. Mag-eenjoy ka sa paliligo roon kasi hanggang ngayon malinis pa rin ang tubig. Oh, sige, Senyorito, kailangan ko nang ibalik si Bucephalus at pakainin." Iniabot ko naman sa kanya ang renda at iginiya niya ito pabalik sa likod. Bago siya mawala sa paningin ko ay tinawag ko ang pangalan niya.
"Ah, Mang Elmer?"
Lumingon ito sa akin. "Ano ho 'yon?"
"Mayroon po ba kayong kilalang..." Napatigil ako. Gusto kong ibigay sa kanya ang deskripsyon ng babaeng nakita ko kanina dahil baka sakaling kilala niya ito, kaso ano ang isasagot ko kapag tinanong niya ako kung bakit gusto kong malaman?
Do I tell him that I was instantly captivated by a mere stranger's facial features?
"Kilalang ano ho?"
"Never mind po pala. Papasok na po ako sa loob. Good night." Naguguluhang tinanguan niya na lang ako bago muling hinatak si Butch para ibalik sa kulangan nito. Napabuntonghininga ako at pinili na lang na pumasok sa loob ng mansion.
"Dónde está mi abuela?" Nagtatakang nagtaas ng tingin sa akin ang helper na naglilinis ng sala.
"Sorry. Where's my abuela?" tanong ko nang maalala kong sa Espanyol ko nga pala ito nasabi.
"Nasa kuwarto niya, Señorito. Kauuwi lang niya galing sa pamamalengke kaya napagod at umakyat muna para magpahinga. Kung gutom na ho kayo, ibinilin naman niya ang pagluluto ng lunch niyo kay Marissa."
"It's okay. I'm not hungry yet, aakyat na lang din muna ako. Salamat." Mabilis akong umakyat ng mahabang staircase para makarating sa aking kuwarto. Nang makapasok ako ay agad kong ibinagsak ang katawan sa kama. Ilang minuto lang akong tila wala sa sariling nakatingin sa chandelier na naglilikot sa kisame. Ipinit ko ang mga mata ko.
I want to think of something else, of anything else, but I couldn't.
Even with my eyes tightly sealed, the image of the beautiful — no, fucking gorgeous — lady at the market was popping in and out of my vision as if taunting me.
Given the chance, I will really ask for her name, knowing full well that it will be stuck on my tongue the same way her image is stuck on my head.
***
ALEXIANA CALLISTO
"Asheng, ano naman ang plano mo sat utang 'yan?" tanong ni Manang. Niyakap ko lalo ang tutang nanginginig sa mga bisig ko at hinaplos ang tuktok ng ulo nito.
"I'm going to nurse it back to health, Manang. Kawawa naman siya. He almost got ran over by that reckless driver earlier. This poor little creature must be scared to death."
"Ano ang ipapangalan natin?"
"Let's call him Wayne." I smiled when the puppy nuzzled my hand as if he's trying to tell me how much he appreciates being saved today. That simple gesture alone made my heart melt. We never had a pet at home because of Daze's allergy. This would be the first time that I will be having a dog, and I have no idea how to take care of one. I guess I'll have to drop by the town library tomorrow to borrow some books about dogs.
"Magandang pangalan ang Wayne. Parang si Batman."
"Indeed," pagsang-ayon ko.
Nang makabalik kami sa bahay ay nagsimula nang magluto si Manang Soling. I mostly stayed in my room to look after Wayne. After I fed him with dog food I purchased from the market, I looked for old bedsheets to bundle up so I can make a temporary resting space for the puppy. He crawled toward the makeshift bed and comfortably settled in.
The phone I placed above my bed rang and when I took it, I saw my twin brother's caller ID flashing on the screen.
"Salut!" I chimed enthusiastically.
"Alexiana! You did not tell me that you'll be home for summer. I called Dad and he knows. Evem Daze and Zade know. Why was I the last one to find out?" May himig ng pagkainis ang boses ni Alexander mula sa kabilang linya. Tila nakikita ko na ang pagkakakunot ng noo niya at ang pagpisil niya sa ilong niya habang nagsasalita.
"Je suis desolé. Would you like to visit, too?" imbita ko kahit na alam ko naman ang isasagot niya.
"Non, je suis occupé. You are trying to evade the issue. Had I not phoned Dad today, I never would have known that you flew back there. Jesus, Alexiana! You're alone."
"I'm not. Kasama ko si Manang Soling, and besides, Nana Pacing lives next door." I sighed. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine."
"Of course, I will worry about you! That can't be helped. You're too pure, Xiana. I worry about you not because I don't trust you. I worry because you're too kind, too soft, and the world can be harsh sometimes, okay? Some people can be mean and..."
"You're thinking too much."
"I'm always thinking too much. This is crazy. I can't believe Dad let you go there alone."
"I'll be alright, Aldeng. You worry too much."
"That's who I am. It's in my nature to always worry. I'm calling Manang after this so I can give her reminders. You are not to be left alone, Alexiana. And don't stay out too late."
"Okay, okay..." I replied to ease him a bit.
"I just want you safe." Before I could even compose a reply, he dropped the line. He can get too overprotective sometimes, but that's just because he cares too much.
***
The following day, I woke up early so I can drop by the animal care shop on the other side of town. I dressed myself in comfortable clothes, a plain white shirt and knee-length skirt, before securing my long hair with a clamp I found in one of the drawers.
It took me almost thirty minutes to get to the shop. When I got there, I took two large bags of dog food, and also some toys that he can play with. The man on the cashier was nice enough to give me some helpful tips in raising a dog properly when I told him it was my first pet. After I thanked him, I carried the bag of goodies and walked out of the shop.
"Balik ka sa susunod!" I heard him call from behind. Smiling, I waved him goodbye and started walking back to the house.
The animal care shop is a new addition in this town. On the place it now stood, there used to be a playground. My siblings and I used to go here a lot when we were young and carefree. Zade and Daze would immediately run for the swings and would compete as to who can go higher. While my twin brother and I would sit on the see-saw and practice French tongue twisters together or play rock paper scissors.
Those were the good days. The days when we never worried about anything, never cared that we would grow into such different individuals always under the scrutiny of people who know only our surnames.
I used to be excited to grow up.
Now that I have grown, I wanted to just be my young and carefree self.
As I continued to walk back, I saw an old woman passing by an obviously expensive car across the street. The car piqued my attention because it looked so familiar. Realizing it was the newest model of a Lamborghini Aventador, I started to wonder what it was doing in a small and simple town like Daet.
A sigh escaped from me as I thought about how the owner was leaving it out in the open to brag.
Shaking my head, I decided to walk faster, along with the many morning people, that are walking the same way.
"Aray, jusko!" Agad akong napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses, ang matandang kanina ay naglalakad sa gilid ng kotse, at nakitang siya ay natumba. I was about to rush to her side and help her get up, when the door of the gold Lamborghini opened, and a blonde guy walked out.
"Napano ho kayo, Nanay? Tara." Napanganga ako sa matatas niyang pananagalog. It was like I was rooted in place, an onlooker in a scene that seemed to be plucked out of television.
"Natisod lang, hijo. Ay, kaguwapo mo naman. Salamat ha."
"It's okay. Saan ho ba kayo? Isasabay ko na kayo para siguradong hindi na kayo matisod."
"Nako, huwag na! D'yan lang ako sa kabilang kanto."
"I insist. I mean, sige na ho. Pumayag na kayo."
"Aba'y sige na nga. Nakakahiya naman, apo."
"Huwag na ho kayong mahiya, ideya ko naman ito." He helped the old woman board his car, and in a couple of seconds later, the Lamborghini sped away, leaving behind its trail of dust.
I realized that I had been holding my breath the entire time I was listening.
Blue. That was the color of his eyes. A startling, striking shade of blue.
His expression was permanently set with that of concern for the old woman. He had messy blonde hair strewn in different directions as if he couldn't have cared less about how he looked. The guy would pass as an actor with features like that. However, it was not his features that caught my interest. It was something else, something other than his notable physical attributes, that made my stare linger longer than I would have intended.
I saw a glimpse of his chivalry. That always beats good looks.