PART 1-ONE, THE ASERON MATRIARCH

                                                  A box of old letters was found from Dorinda Aseron’s treasure chest by three of her youngest great-grandaughters who were all named after her. Riri, Doreen and Indy were looking for old photographs of their parents at the attic of Aseron Castillo when they found the old dark wood chest. Riri, the most daring of the three opened the chest. Doreen, the hopeless romantic squealed with glee when they saw a diary. But it was wise Indy who found the box of old letters.

          They started reading the letters and soon found out that the latest letter was sent just a few months ago. Aghast, they stared at each other. Was there a secret lover in Lola Dorinda’s life that they did not know about?

                                                 

To my dearest J,

                              I do not know if you will even read this letter. I do not know if I will ever send this letter to you. Siguro kapag nagkaroon ako ng sapat na tapang at lakas ng loob, ipapadala ko ang sulat na ito sa iyo. Napakatagal na mula nang huling sumulat ako sa iyo. Alam ko na nagtatampo ka. Marami akong maaaring gamitin na dahilan kung bakit hindi ako sumulat sa iyo. Subalit hindi ko na iisa-isahin pa ang mga dahilan na iyon. Sapagkat sa huli, iisa pa rin naman ang kinahinatnan, sumira ako sa pangako ko sa iyo. Isang bagay na isinumpa ko na hindi ko na uulitin pa pero naggawa ko pa rin. Sana ay mapatawad mo ako. Sana ay mabasa mo ang sulat na ito. Sana ay magkaroon ako ng lakas ng loob na ipadala ito sa iyo.

          Ang totoo, nagkaroon lang ako ng lakas ng loob na sumulat sa iyo ngayon dahil sa mga apo ko sa tuhod. Natatandaan mo pa ba ang ikinwento ko sa iyo noong magkasabay-sabay ng panganganak ang tatlo sa asawa ng mga apo ko? We were celebrating my birthday when Simoun’s wife, Ravin’s wife and Bastian’s wife all gave birth to three beautiful baby girls. At dahil sabay-sabay kami ng kaarawan, ipinasya nina Menchie, Shebbah at Aishell na ipangalan sa akin ang mga anak nila.

          I’m sure my three grandsons tried to argue and refuse but who are they kidding? All three of them would rather be buried alive than refuse their wives’ wishes. Those three pretty little babies were all named Dorinda after me and there is nothing that my grandsons can do to change it. But to avoid confusion, those three little Dorindas were also given nicknames. Riri, Doreen and Indy.

          Alam ko, tumatawa ka dahil iyon din ang mga naging palayaw ko noon. Riri noong bata pa ako. Doreen noong dalagita na ako. Indy noong dalaga na ako. You used to call me by those nicknames depending on your mood.

           I wonder if my grandsons knew about it. Probably not. Dahil kung alam nila ang tungkol roon, sigurado na hindi sila papayag na iyon ang ipalayaw sa mga anak nila.

          Kahit na hindi dapat, ikinahihiya ko na aminin na sa lahat ng mga apo ko sa tuhod ay sina Riri, Doreen at Indy ang mga paborito ko. But nobody knows about it. Well, at least I hope nobody knows. Hindi ko gusto na saktan ang damdamin ng aking ibang mga apo sa tuhod. But I always thought of Riri, Doreen and Indy as my second chance at life. They always make me feel younger than I really am. They lift my spirits whenever I am with them. And I see parts of myself in them.

          Sabi mo, matigas ang ulo ko at wala akong ibang naririnig kapag may gusto akong makuha. Ugali rin ni Riri iyon.

          Sabi mo, masyado akong mahilig sa fairytales at hopeless romantic ako. Ugali rin ni Doreen iyon.

          Sabi mo, matalino at tuso ako kaya mahirap na maloko at malamangan ako. Ugali rin ni Indy iyon.

          Sana lang ay hindi nila gayahin ang mga maling desisyon ko sa buhay. Sana lang ay gayahin nila ang mga tamang ginawa ko sa buhay. At sana, balang-araw, makatagpo rin sila ng kanya-kanya nilang J. If not, well, I’m not Nemo’s sister for nothing. I can easily do what he did for all his children and grandchildren. Meddle, manipulate and scheme! Didn’t you say those were some of my best verbs, my darling J?

                                                                                Still loving you,

                                                                                Dorinda