VANE JASON
"Welcome back to town, amigo!" My childhood friends, Harvey and Maverick, both clapped me on the back before they comfortably settled themselves on the pool chairs beside mine. The sun was high up and I loved how prickly its heat has become. The water from the pool glimmered invitingly, but I decided to stay dry for the meantime so I can properly catch up with the two of them. We haven't seen each other in about four years.
"Kumusta naman ang buhay artista sa Espanya?" tanong ni Maverick.
"Busy schedule and a lot of controversies, too."
"Yeah, I heard. Rhodora follows you on all your social media accounts, Vane. Masyadong updated sa buhay mo ang kapatid kong 'yun. Nagpapahingi pa nga sa akin ng autograph mo nang malamang umuwi ka," saad naman ni Harvey. Napahalakhak siya bago sumimsim mula sa nakabukas na bote ng beer na ipinahanda ko na bago pa man sila dumating.
"The last time I was in Spain, saglit lang tayong nakapagkita. Majority of my stay in that country was spent with my family in Barcelona. I just did a quick city tour in Madrid and paid you a short visit."
"You meant your ex-wife, right, Maverick?" pang-iinis ko na ikinangisi niya.
"Man! I went to see the kids and not Lindsay! She has a new boyfriend! Siya pa ang may ganang palitan ako agad? Can you even believe the audacity of that woman?"
"We can. Ikaw lang naman ang hindi nakikinig sa amin ni Vane simula pa lang. When you first introduced that lady, we told you straight away that she's going to be a big pain in your fucking ass, and did you listen? No, Mav."
"Look where that stubbornness got you, man." I popped off the cap of another beer as I replied.
"Hey! Bakit naman ang buhay ko ang pinag-iinitan ninyong dalawa? Vane is getting married all of a sudden and he didn't even introduce his future wife."
"I'm marrying for partnership, alright? It's not like there's any romantic feelings involved."
"Aba, marrying for business. How classic! Ano 'to, teleserye?"
"Harvey, you know how my Mama gets. She's been acting crazy lately and even threatened to sell off her share of the company if I do not relent. Ang tagal kong hinihintay na maipasa sa akin ang kumpanya, tapos ibebenta niya lang out of a whim?"
"Kaya mas naiintindihan ko na mas malapit ka sa Papa mo, e. What kind of businesswoman would put that much at stake just to have her only son follow her orders? It's not like you guys are Chinese! Hell, you aren't even half the Asians that we are."
Napahalakhak ako. Maverick is right. My mother, Maryam Elizabeth Howard, is British-Filipino. She was born in Exeter, United Kingdom but her family relocated to London during her teenage years. My father, Javier Blanco Clohessy, who was half-Spanish and other half British, studied college in London, in the same university she was in. They became instant friends and hit it off immediately. After graduation, he flew back to Bicol and for a time, they lost communication.
A few years and failed relationships later, my mother, who was already a successful businesswoman that time, decided to fly to the Philippines to try to penetrate a different market. She worked on expanding her business and was always out meeting investors. My father went to attend a convention in Manila where the two of them crossed paths again.
The two of them rekindled their old affair and a couple of months later, he got her pregnant. Shortly thereafter, they decided to get married and later on I was baptized as Vane Jason Howard Clohessy.
"Natutulala ka, Vane. Masyado ka yatang excited makasal!" kantyaw ni Harvey sa akin.
Napailing ako bilang tugon. Even at the age of twenty seven, I still think that I am too young to be romantically attached to someone. Marriage only requires that you say I do, at least it does not require me to have feelings for my soon-to-be wife.
"It's all for the partnership. I'm pretty sure both of us will agree to having a divorce once the merge has been successful. We can just give both our parents what they want for now, and then we can go our merry ways after."
"Business-minded in a really twisted way, pare."
"You know I'll do anything for the company. I can't just let it slide out of my grip."
Tumango-tango si Maverick na tila umaayon sa akin. Tinupi niya ang magkabilang braso bago ito inilagay sa ilalim ng ulo. Ako naman ay inilagay ang nakatupi kong mga bisig sa ibabaw ng dibdib bago nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga. Ipinokus sa akin ni Harvey ang tingin niya.
"Is your future wife hot?"
"She is," I replied, suddenly remembering how seductive Kate looked over the phone last night.
"What's her name, though?"
"Kate. Kate Ridley."
Muntik na niyang maibuga ang iniinom niyang beer. Nanlalaki ang mga matang ibinaba niya itong muli sa mesita bago nagsalita. "Katherine Anne Ridley?"
"Si, why? You know Kate?"
"Do you even... Man! Do you even know who you are marrying?"
"What? What about her?" naguguluhang tanong ko.
"She is one of the most sought-after bachelorettes in Britain!"
My eyebrows furrowed. I have always been aware that Kate came from a well-off and a known family. My mother mentioned that she was some sort of public figure in the United Kingdom, so I kind of had the hint that she was famous. I just wasn't aware that she was this famous.
"Aba! Looks like someone has been living under a rock." Maverick was smirking at me and I shook my head in surrender, finally admitting that I did not know that about her. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to feel guilty that I wasn't trying to get to know Kate better.
Maybe when we're already married I can do that.
Besides, she does not know a lot of things about me either.
She doesn't know that I used to dream of being an astronomist.
She doesn't know that I prefer the beach over mountains.
She doesn't know that I am secretly a fan of classical art.
She also doesn't know that I am a sucker for women with expressive round eyes.
Just like the lady I saw in the market.
Damn.
The lady I am not supposed to be thinking about right now.
Shaking my head, I took another swig of beer in hopes of getting rid of the crazy thoughts that are filling my head, and the image of her flashing stubbornly in and out of my vision. I swallowed the imaginary lump on my throat, telling myself silently that I am marrying a well-known bachelorette and that I am inheriting the company I have been dreaming about ever since I was young. I am an heir to this massive mansion and large stretches of land. I am in the peak of my acting career.
There's nothing else I can ever ask for.
Except for maybe one little thing.
Just one little thing.
I want to know her name.
***
ALEXIANA CALLISTO
"Ate Asheng, hindi mo naman na kami binabasahan niyang kuwento. Kanina ka pa nakatulala r'yan sa kawalan. Ano po ba ang iniisip mo?" inosenteng tanong ng batang si Mae habang nakanguso. Napatapik ako sa sarili kong noo para panandaliang putulin ang nakakabagabag na daloy ng utak ko. Dahil Lunes ngayon, ang activity na nakahanda ay storytelling. Binabasa ko sa kanila ang istoryang Sleeping Beauty dahil ito ang nahugot nila mula sa mga pambatang libro sa barangay library.
"Sorry na, Mae. Ituloy na natin. Promise, hindi na ako matutulala uli."
"Mukhang malalim nga po ang iniisip mo. Boyfriend mo po ba?" dagdag ni Carlos.
"Wala naman akong boyfriend!" gulat na sagot ko.
"Bakit po wala? Sobrang ganda mo naman po. Kahawig mo nga 'yung mga artistang palaging pinapanood ng Nanay, kaso ikaw ang mas maganda kaysa sa kanila kasi hindi ka black and white." When I go back to Manila, I will surely miss all of them. Ngayon pa nga lang ay nalulungkot na agad akong isipin na kailangan kong umalis. Paano pa kaya kapag dumating na talaga ang oras na 'yun?
Muli kong kinuha ang libro at ipinagpatuloy ang pagbabasa ko sa kanila. Nang matapos ako ay isinara ko ito at ipinatong sa katabi kong upuan.
"Ano ang lesson sa story?" tanong ko.
Ang isang batang babaeng nagngangalang Angel ay nagtaas ng kamay. I gave her a gentle and encouraging smile before I motioned for her to speak up.
"Lagi pong matulog para mahalikan ng Prince." Nagtawanan ang mga bata.
"Ako po ang natutunan ko sa story ay hindi nanalo ang mga bad na tao," dugtong ni Oscar na siyang tinanguan ko. Mula sa likod ay nakita kong inihahanda na ni Manang Soling ang sopas ng mga bata at juice. Katulong niya sa paghahanda ang iilang kapitbahay na kapwa ko volunteer.
"Tama si Oscar. Isa pang lesson na mapupulot dito ay makapangyarihan ang pagmamahal. Kaya kayo, mahalin niyo ang parents niyo, mga kaibigan, at iba pang mga tao sa paligid. Kasi ang love, 'yan ang greatest gift na puwede nating ibigay. Okay?"
Nagsitanguan sila at nagpalakpakan. Sinabihan ko silang pumila na sa likuran para isa-isang mabigyan ng pagkain. Nilapitan ko si Manang at tinanong siya kung nabigyan na rin ba ng dog food si Wayne.
"Hindi pa, Asheng. Hiniram kasi ni Marko at inilakad."
"Sige po, Manang. I'll have to wait na lang for Marko to return him so we can feed him. It's good that someone's walking him out para hindi naman siya nasa bahay lang."
"Oo. Ay, teka! Ayun na pala si Marko!" Napalingon ako sa tinuturo niya at nakita ko nga ang kapitbahay naming humahangos papalapit. Agad akong kinabahan sa itsura niya at nang makitang tali lang ni Wayne ang hawak niya ngunit hindi na nakakabit dito ang dog collar.
"Ate Asheng! Pasensya na. Napigtal kasi ang tali tapos nagtatakbo si Wayne nang makarinig ng busina. Hindi ko siya nahabol agad nang pumasok siya sa Villa Blanco tapos hinarang pa ako ng guwardiya at hindi hinayaang makapasok." Mukhang naiiyak na siya habang nagkukuwento. "Sorry talaga."
Hindi na ako nag-aksaya pa ng oras. Ibinilin ko sa kanya at kay Manang ang mga bata bago nagmamadaling tinahak ang daan patungo sa Villa Blanco. Kinakabahan ako habang naglalakad dahil baka napano na ang tuta sa loob.
Wayne is the first pet I've ever had. I don't want to lose him like that.
Upon reaching the high gates of the villa, I saw that the guard was dozing off on his chair. A woman, who looked like one of the househelps, was walking toward the gate with a black bag in her hands. She's probably taking the trash out. I hid behind the thick bush and let her cross the street before I sprinted to the gate she left slightly ajar.
"Gosh, Donya Charita is going to get me arrested for trespassing!" I can feel my heart's loud beating as I hurried down the cobblestone pathway winding down to the garden. I whistled and called Wayne's name, hoping he was smart enough to recognize my voice, even though he has only been with me for three days.
"Come on. Wayne! Wayne, where are you, boy? Come here!" The heat was making me sweat and I was aware of how sticky I must have looked like. The worry is also starting to be more visible the longer I stay inside the property. "Wayne!"
My hope was deflating every passing second until I heard a bark from a short distance. It must have come to my left. Realizing that it came from the pool area, I hurried off and started calling out to the puppy again.
"Hoy, ikaw!" Tila natuod ako nang marinig ang boses mula sa likod ko. Nanlalaking tinignan ko ang nagsalita mula sa likuran at nakitang tumatakbo na ang guwardiya papunta sa akin. Dahil hindi ko alam ang gagawin at alam kong maling pumuslit ako rito ay nahihintakutang itinaas ko ang dalawang kamay sa ere.
"Pasensiya na ho kayo! Hinahanap ko lang 'yung aso ko na nagtatakbo papunta sa loob. Wala ho akong intensiyong masama..."
"Miss! Narinig ko na 'yan! Noong isang araw ay may pumuslit din dito para magpakuha ng litrato sa Senyorito kaya 'wag mo na akong lokohin," tila iritadong sagot niya nang makalapit.
"Hindi ko ho alam ang sinasabi niyo."
"Aba't nagmamaang-maangan ka pa ha!"
"Gusto ko lang makuha pabalik ang aso ko tapos aalis na ako. Ayaw ko ho ng gulo, pasensiya na."
"Halika rito! Nagdadahilan ka pa." Hinila ng guwardiya ang braso ko ng mahigpit bago ako iginigiya palabas. "Kayo talagang mga lintik na fan girls kayo! Gagawin niyo talaga ang lahat mapalapit lang sa Senyorito!"
"Gusto ko lang po talagang makuha ang aso—"
"'Wag ka nang mangatwiran pa, Miss!"
Nakiusap ako ng paulit-ulit pero tila wala siyang naririnig. Unti-unti nang lumulubog ang puso ko sa isiping hindi ko na mababawi pa si Wayne nang biglang may baritonong boses akong marinig mula sa likod.
"What's happening here?" The voice instantly made me jolt. Curiosity got the best of me, so I abruptly turned to see where it came from.
I was greeted by familiar blue eyes and messy blonde hair.
Thick eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Lips tightly pursed into a thin line.
My heart raced faster as I realized he was the guy who helped the old lady the other day. He was naked from the waist up and was dripping wet from what I assumed was pool water. On his arm, barking cheerfully, is my puppy who I am incredibly elated to see.
"Senyorito, pumuslit kasi ang babaeng ito at nagdadahilan pang kukunin lang daw ang aso niyang naligaw sa loob ng villa. Ihahatid ko lang palabas," sagot ng guard. Nagsalubong ang kilay ng lalaking tinawag niyang Senyorito. Hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang pagpukol nito ng tingin sa kamay ng guard na hanggang ngayon ay nakakapit pa rin sa braso ko.
ako.
"Magpapaliwanag po ako," agap ko.
"No need," he replied. "Gonzales, let her go and please leave us be."
"Pero... Sigurado ho kayo, Senyorito?"
"Yes. I'll take care of it. Don't worry." Naramdaman ko ang pagkalas ng kapit niya sa akin. Nagkakamot ang ulong nagsimula itong maglakad paalis. Tumahip ang puso ko nang magkasalubong kami ng tingin ng lalaki. Wayne barked again from his arm.
"Hindi ako nagsisinungaling –"
"I know," he cut me off. "I believe this dog is yours."
He carefully handed me over the puppy which I happily hugged close to my chest. Wayne started licking my jaw and I could not help but produce a genuine smile out of relief. I raised my eyes to meet the stare of the guy in front of me. "Thank you so much."
His stare lingered as he said, "you're welcome."
I was about to turn my back and go, when he extended his arm out. "I'm Vane, you are?"
I should have answered right away.
I should not have focused on the mole on top of his upper lip.
I should not have let my gaze remain on those hypnotizing blue eyes.
"You are?" he repeated, waiting for my answer.
I am...
Oh my goodness.
For a moment, I am completely mesmerized.