Chapter 3

NANG naghapon ay naging abala umano ang magkapatid sa negosyo. Apparently, their plant is near here at dinig ko'y malaki iyon. Probably that is where their riches come from, huh. Sa negosyo nilang semento na alam kong nangunguna sa buong bansa ngayon.

There is nothing more awkward than dinner. Sa hapag, si Senyora Donna, Samuel, Elyes, at ako lang ang naroon. Tahimik ang magkapatid samantalang hindi rin ako nagsikap na bumuo ng usapan.

"Hija, anong ginawa mo buong araw? I hope you'll enjoy your every day here. Although, pagkatapos ng kasal ninyo ni Elyes maaaring tumulak muna siya sa ibang bansa para sa pag-aaral, kaya maiiwan kang talaga rito. So it's better if you become familiar here."

Napalunok ako sa sinabi ng matanda. She looks and sounds so sure that it would happen.

"I'll bring her wherever I go, Lola," Elyes cut her off.

Napalingon ang matanda sa apo. Maging ako'y nilingon na rin ito. Nagkatinginan kami. He's glaring at me. Tumikhim ako.

Madramang tumawa si Senyora Donna. "Well, paano ang pag-aaral niya, apo? Dianna will pursue her remaining years in college."

"She'll continue it in La Salle. When I leave for a week for school, I'll bring her with me."

Napainom sa kopita ang matanda habang tinitingnan si Elyes. Bakas ang kanyang tuwa sa mukha, itinatago lamang ng seryosong reaction. Meanwhile, Elyes is looking at me intently. I don't need to look at him to see. His burning glare is evident.

"So there will be disruption of her classes, Elyes? Anong masasabi mo, hija?"

"Uh, kung isang linggo lang naman po siya mawawala, ayos lang sa akin na maiwan na lang ako para na rin hindi maistorbo ang pag-aaral."

"Your professor will understand. I can find ways to talk to the people around," mariing sinabi ni Elyes kaya ako napatingin sa kanya.

Ang Ialaking ito talaga. Look at him. Why do you think he wants me to be with him? What's his problem? Bakit isang linggo lang ay 'di pa siya makapayag na maghiwalay kami?

Alam kong hindi naman ako iyong makakaranas noon pero kung ilalagay na ako nga, kukwestyunin ko talaga kung bakit niya ipagbabawal iyon.

"It's just a week. Surely, we both can afford to be away of each other for seven days."

Isang halakhak ang narinig ko galing kay Samuel. He looked at his brother with an amused grin. He probably thinks that his brother is ridiculous for thinking that way. Syempre, kahit Sino. Kahit pa maraming pera at kayang bayaran ng walang kahiraphirap ang pamasahe abroad at pabalik, you wouldn't give so much effort in doing that when you can see each other after seven days. Kung isang taon, matatanggap ko. Pero isang linggo?

Come on!

Hindi na sumagot si Elyes. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa kanyang pagkain, along with that intense look. Nagkatinginan kami ni Senyora.

"Oh, my dear grandson. You think college boys would interest your wife?"

"Tsss..."

What?

"I understand. Well, Diana is a very good looking girl. And she's much younger than you! She's yet to explore her limits as a woman." Kumunot ang noo ni Senyora at bumaling muli sa akin. "Nagkaboyfriend ka na ba, hija?"

Why is this topic suddenly going here? Don't tell me it's true? Takot siyang maagaw ako ng college boys? Aba, syempre, mas gugustuhin ko siguro iyong college boy na walang pera pero loyal naman kesa itong maraming resources, gwapo, pero babaero.

I figured, through books and movies, that in choosing a potential life partner, the most important thing you should consider is loyalty and faithfulness. Bakit? Kung walang pera, kaya ninyong magsikap dalawa. Kung pangit, maganda naman ako. Pero kung babaero, hinding-hindi ka mapapanatag buong buhay mo. And I guess it is safe to say that everyone's goal in this life is not success, not financial stability or freedom, and definitely not material things... it is... in a very simple form: peace of mind.

Wala kang magiging hiling araw-araw kundi ang panatag na 100b at payapang pag-iisip. And having all the material things in the world without the peace of mind is the saddest story that life will ever tell. So no thanks.

"Hindi pa po?"

"Not ever?"

Umiling ako para kumpirmahin ang naunang sagot.

Elyes eyes are burning my skin. His thick brows are almost in one line. Hindi ko rin siya matingnan ng maayos dahil nagiging uneasy na ako sa titig niyang ganito.

"Manliligaw, hija? I won't believe you never had one, too! Goodness! You look better than the models on TV! Makinis ka pa. Kung sabagay, manang mana sa kay Matilda."

"Ah, meron naman pong manliligaw."

Napasulyap ako kay Elyes. His look remained stationary. Para akong iniinterogate sa harap niya at kapag nagkamali ako sa pagsagot ay malalagot ako.

Umawang ang labi ko at mabilis na nag-isip kung ilan ba iyon.

"Marami!" Senyora concluded. "And I bet from good families, too."

Pinaglaruan ko ang aking baso. Naalala ko ang mga nangyari noon, but then this is not the right time to reminisce.

"Is that what you're afraid of, hijo?" balik ni Senyora kay Elyes.

Humalakhak muli si Samuel. "Galit talaga tayo sa kapwa nating..." hindi nito tinuloy.

Nangiti ako dahil alam agad ni Samuel kung anong meron.

He's a playboy and a cheater kaya galit din siya sa mga playboy at sa mga cheater. The main reason why he's planning to always bring me with him when he goes abroad is not because he wants to be with me all the time, but because he's scared I might cheat.

"I'm not the type who will cheat once I'm married,"

Napainom sa kopita si Senyora Donna habang tinititigan ako. Umigting naman ang panga ni Elyes. Ano pang problema niya? Does he want Diana really dominate the whole relationship? Kawawa naman si Diana kung ganoon.

That was always the case everyday. Nagdaan ang mga araw at ganoon parin ang eksena. Minsan, sila ni Samuel ang may dalang babae, but I don't seem to see Samuel touching the girl he's with. Kaya pinagpapalagay kong kaibigan niya lang ang kasama niya.

Sa umaga, naghahanap ako ng payapang pwesto. Usually, the beach is fine with me. Nagkaroon na rin ako ng beach towel para maupuan sa ilalim noong kweba tuwing nagbabasa ako o nagdodrawing.

Madalas wala ang magkapatid sa umaga at tanghalian. Nasa planta atang mga ganoong oras. Kapag hapon naman, madalas akong mag siesta. Yes. Itinuon ko diyan ang pagtulog dahil umuuwi ang magkapatid, and often times they are with girls.

Then, the night is easy. We sit in the dining area, eat together while Senyora will ask them about work.

"Smuel told me you have other plans, Elyes..." si Senyora pagkatapos ng mahabang katahimikan sa hapag. "Sigurado ka ba riyan? You know that's a big risk."

Nakatingin lang ako sa kanila, hindi maintindihan basta ang usapan ay patungong negosyo.

"Eto po 'yong gusto ko. And it is worth the risk."

"That's so great. I just hope Samuel will think about it, too. I know you are capable of running the business but your grandfather's mind is already made up."

"Hindi rin po ako interesado. I won't prove anything just by being a successor of Lolo's business."

Ngumiti ang matandang senyora. "Parehong pareho kayo ni Samuel. Sana ganoon din mag-isip si Samuel."

Kapag gabi, binibisita ako ni Petrina. She would bring me milk. Pinapatagal ko ang pagpanhik niya sa pamamagitan ng pakikipag-usap. Besides, I don't talk or interact much here.

Hindi ko namalayan ang mga araw. Hindi pa nagrereply muli si Diana sa akin kaya wala parin akong alam kung paano daoat makitunao kav Elyes. I'll iust stick to what I know