Memoirs of Love

Chapter 13: Pearl Motel

Ika-15 ng Setyembre, taong 1901

Linggo nang umaga

"AH... Eh... W-wala naman po. N-naglilibot lang po 'ko," sagot ni Cassie sa staff ng barko na nakakita sa kaniya at tinanong siya kung anong ginagawa niya sa deck ng barko, kung anong kailangan niya at hinahanap niya.

"Kung gano'n po, Señorita, ay mag-iingat po kayo," bilin nito sa kaniya. "Baka maligaw po kayo." Pagkatapos ay nagpaalam na ito.

"Casiana, what're you doing here?" tanong ni Prince sa kaniya nang ito naman ang lumapit sa kaniya matapos umalis ang empleyado ng barko. "So, you really did travel alone, huh?"

"No," sagot niya rito habang naglalakad siya patungo sa ledge ng barko. "I'm with my yayá."

"Yayá?" kunot-noong pag-uulit ni Prince sa sinabi niya habang sinusundan siya nito. "A handmaid?"

"Yes," kumpirma niya nang makarating na siya sa wakas sa ledge ng barko. Nakatanaw siya sa buong karagatan habang pinagmamasdan ang unti-unting paglaho ng bayan nila sa mga mata niya.

"Didn't I tell you that you should travel with a man?" he asked which sounded more like of a statement when he arrived beside her. "Manila's too dangerous for girls like you."

"Enough of your scoldings, Prince," saway niya rito. "You're stricter than my own father."

Napabuntong-hininga naman si Prince nang malalim.

"Anyway, what're you doing here?" usisa naman niya rito. "Are you bound to Manila, too?"

"Yes," tugon nito sa kaniya. "Someone has to file a report about the death of Mr. Bertrand. But, our captain doesn't like to go himself because he doesn't want to miss the town fiesta. Instead, he asked someone credible but not too low of an official to do it for him that's why he sent a sergeant like me."

"Okay," nakakaunawang wika naman niya rito. "But, is it okay with you? I mean, you'll be the one who's going to miss the fiesta in Lacrimosa?"

"Of course," diretsong sagot nito. "I'm a Protestant, anyway. We don't celebrate fiestas and such. How about you?"

"It's also fine," she assured him. "I'm a modern woman of the new world."

"Modern woman of the new world, eh," Prince parroted with a lopsided grin that made her heart skipped a beat for a second. Parang gusto na lang tuloy niyang maging joker para makita niya palagi ang nakakatunaw nitong mga ngiti. "Yeah. You're a modern woman of the new world, indeed."

Sandaling namagitan sa kanilang dalawa ang komportableng katahimikan nang muling nagsalita si Prince. "You know what? You're not the Casiana that I used to know. You've changed. A lot."

"Why?" nagtatakang tanong niya rito. "What was the Casiana you knew like?"

"Well... The Casiana I knew was a brat, sarcastic, tactless and snubby," sagot nito sa kaniya.

"Are you talking about me or Zenaida?" mapang-uyam niyang tanong dito.

Prince laughed heartily. "Well... I guess birds of the same feather flocks together."

"And, how about the Casiana now?" usisa niyang muli rito.

"Well... The Casiana I'm seeing now, based from what I can see, is an intelligent, strong, independent..." Pagkatapos ay lumingon ito sa kaniya dahilan para magtagpo ang kanilang mga paningin. His eyes bored unto hers. Pakiramdam niya ay nalulunod siya sa kulay-asul na mga mata nito. "And beautiful woman."