Unlike Any Other

CHAPTER 16

"Nandito ka pa rin? My god, for the life of me, I cannot understand your audacity!" Tita Cosette hissed as I joined them for dinner.

"Ma, let's just eat," Renz chided her but ignored me as well.

Ngumiti na lang ako kay Myra na pamangkin ni Nang Sol habang pinagsisilbihan niya kami sa hapag-kainan.

I dreaded seeing Tita Cosette and Renz but there's hardly anything I can do about it. Hindi pa buo ang pasya ko pero hindi ko yata kaya na magtagal pa sa bahay na ito. Masyadong maliit ang mundo para sa aming tatlo.

"Your grandfather should never have left her anything! What was he thinking! And don't get me started about the lawyer. Sana ay sinabi ni Diana na may ganoong plano ang Papa. Eh 'di sana ay nakumbinsi pa natin siya na pag-isipang mabuti ang kahibangang binabalak niya," Tita huffed furiously. I just ignored them as much as I could because really, what else can I do?

🌿

The following days, I just stayed in my room or else, helped out in the kitchen. I made desserts for the household help— macarons, pain au chocolat, galette, even the more familiar mango pie. I never let Renz taste what I made. I was afraid he'd reject it.

I didn't want to acknowledge the fact that I was buying time before I decided whether I should leave or not. In the end, it felt like the choice was made for me; Tita Cosette suddenly leaving Guimaras was definitely a sign.

"Bakit daw umalis si Tita Cosette, Nang?" tanong ko nang ibinalita sa akin ni Nang Sol.

"Alam mo na..." sagot ni Nang Sol sabay ngiwi dahil alam na nga naming pareho ang sagot sa tanong ko.

"Saan po kaya siya pumunta?"

"'Wag mo na alalahanin 'yon, Lena. Bumalik siguro 'yon sa bahay niya sa Alabang. Hindi naman talaga mahilig mamalagi rito si Ma'am Cosette dahil hindi talaga 'yon sanay sa probinsiya."

🌿

"Are you okay?" His question surprised me. Since I was going to have to spend a whole year in Guimaras, I decided to make good use of my time.

"Yeah," I replied and gave him a little smile although I was really a bit nervous. Who wouldn't be, right? After all, these people didn't think very highly of me as a high school girl. Nevertheless, I'm glad they didn't assemble in front of the mansion with their torches to set me on fire, the night that Don Isong was buried.

"Lena, I want you to know I appreciate your deciding to stay," Renz said as he drove steadily, not even looking at me. "For the record, I don't think what my grandfather did to you was fair. He should not have put you in a position to stay here if you don't want to."

Bigla akong napabaling sa tinuran niya sa'kin. "Yeah, thanks. Hindi naman sa ayaw ko na bumalik dito. But the memories here..." I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "... aren't that pleasant." Kung alam niya lang...

"Damn it, it was alright until you ran off with my grandfather!" Muntik na akong sumobsob dahil bigla niyang prineno ang sasakyan. "Were you pretending? All those times we were together, were you pretending to be innocent? Bakit mo kami pinagsabay ni Lolo? Tangina, Lena! Akala ko ba ako ang mahal mo? Pinag-mukha mo 'kong tanga!" sunod-sunod na sumbat niya sabay hampas sa manibela.

Hindi ako sumagot hanggang sa hinarap niya ako at hinawakan ang pisngi ko. I braced myself, not letting the tears fall. I'm stronger now, not the stupid girl from long ago.

"Oo." Pagkarinig niya ng sagot ko ay bumitiw siya sa pagkakahawak sa'kin na para bang nakakapaso akong hawakan. Iniwas ko rin ang mukha ko habang nabalot kami ng katahimikan. Huminga siya nang malalim at pinakalma ang sarili. Saglit pa ay nagpatuloy rin kami sa plantasyon.

We've managed to make the last few days hell. I can't imagine staying here any longer, let alone a year.

🌿

"Cora, ito si Ma'am Lena mo," sabi ni Renz sa isang kaedad ko lang yata na babae. Kung tama ang pagkaka-alala ko, magka-batch kami noong highschool. Tipid akong ngumiti pero hindi niya 'yon tinugunan.

"Si Cora ay anak ni Mang Delfin na in-charge sa mga manggagawa na nag-aani ng mga beans. Si Cora naman at ang kapatid niyang si Alvin ang sa pag pa-process ng mga buto."

I nodded to show him I've been listening although it felt stiff. Hindi ko pa nakakalimutan ang galit niya kanina.

The old building that housed the making of chocolate products has been torn down. A more modern one was built on the edge of the plantation where the processing of cacao beans is being done. May iilang bagong makinarya na rin para mas mapabilis ang proseso.

"Lena, I'll leave you here. You can ask Cora to show you around," Renz said in a clipped voice and stalked away without waiting for my answer.

Bumaling ako kay Cora at nagpatuloy kami sa tour. It felt weird though. After all, although I have only been here a few times in the past, it's not like I don't know my way around. Kunsabagay, marami na ring pagbabago.

"Kamusta na pala si Goldie? I haven't seen her since I got back."

Cora sniffed heavily before replying na para bang ayaw niya man lang akong pansinin pero wala siyang choice. "Nakapag-asawa si Goldie ng taga-Carmen. Do'n na siya nakatira ngayon."

Goldie and I exchanged only a few letters through the years. Hindi ko naman siya masisisi dahil abala rin siya sa mga kaganapan sa buhay niya, pero hindi ko maipagkakaila na na-miss ko ang kaibigan ko.

After the tour, hinatid ako pabalik ni Cora sa main building kung saan ang opesina ni Renz. Sa ground floor ay may parang canteen kung saan nanananghalian ang mga tauhan. Hindi pa alas dose kaya nasa kani-kanilang mga gawain pa sila.

"Sabi ni Sir Renz, dito ka raw maghintay sa opesina niya," Cora informed me and walked away eager to be rid of me, I guess.

I refuse to be affected by her attitude.

Matagal na 'yon, Lena. Hindi na importante kung ano ang tingin nila sa'yo. Isa pa, bakit mo naman pe-personalin ang pagmamadali niya? Baka naman abala lang siya dahil may kailangan siyang gawin.

Umiling ako at hinarap na ang opesina ni Renz. Binuksan ko ang pintuan at nagtaka sa taong nakita ko sa loob.