NIGHT OF THE FIESTA

CHAPTER 7

Maya pinned her hair with an excellent comb courtesy of Dona Elena. The comb is exquisitely decorated with pearls and diamonds forming into tiny Sampaguita flowers. She keeps staring at it when Maya shyly shows her the comb.

               "Are you sure it's for me?" She whispered. Gently, she touched the beautiful comb.

               "Yes. Dona Elena said this would suit you. "

               Gabi smiled at Maya. "I feel like a young princess. "

               "You are beautiful, Senorita. The young hacienderos would love you. Soon you would also be engaged like Senora Juliana."

               Gabi stared at her blankly, "What do you mean, Maya?"

               "Your one lucky Senorita. Dona Elena chooses to present you tonight so you can receive suitors and marry. She only does that to the prettiest girls in town. It's like a tradition every year." As Maya bubbled at the exciting event, she was getting horrified by the minute. "It was a last-minute decision. Senora Juliana suggested it to her, but Senor Raphael was against it. Yet, when Dona Elena made up her mind, nobody even her son or husband can bend her."

               What has happened to her life? Fate has a way of playing games with her. She always prayed that her life would be adventurous but not like this. Just an hour ago, Raphael proposed to her. She remembered his face, his scent, and his words clearly.

               "Gabi, will you take me as your husband?"

               The words he said hang between them for eternity. "I don't think this is the right time to ask me that. You hardly know me and your engage."

               "What is the right time? All I knew was that you were special to me. "He pulled her hand and guided it to his chest. She can feel the beating of his heart. "Feel it. This heart beats for you, Gabi."

               "I don't belong here. Not to you or to this time." She pushed him away. Hurriedly, she stands up and puts much distance from him. She was in love with Rafa, but why she was feeling giddy for the man in front of her.

               Someone knocked on the door. Maya entered the room silently and with her head lowered. She said to Raphael, "Senor, your mother wants to see you. She said it is important."

               A frown creased his face. Gabi sighed with relief and was startled when he met his black eyes looking at her intently.

               "We will continue this discussion later. Please consider Gabi. I'm not a patient man, but with you, I will try to give you until tomorrow."

               "And if I say no?" she cannot help betting him. She was angry at his request. She felt like he already owned her.

               "There are other ways to get a yes." Leaving her staring at his back. He was mad! The man was impossible. What does he think of her? His belonging?

               The gentle touch of Maya returns her to the present. She smiled at her and said, "Don't worry too much, Senorita Gabi, at least you have the chance to choose. Some of us don't have that luxury?"

               "What do you mean, Maya?"

               "If a rich man, fancy one of us, we don't have the power to deny his claim. We end up as paid women or slaves. They can take us forcibly if they want to." Her eyes misted. "You are not allowed to have love or feel what it is like to be cherished."

               Gabi felt her. In this world, women have only a few choices. "Do you love someone, Maya?"

               The maid smiled, "I met someone but---" she sighed. "---a dream is flitting, and nightmares stay."

               "Hey, cheer up!" She hugged Maya. "Please be strong."

               "I'm sorry, Senorita, I shouldn't burden you with my problems." She put the comb on her hair and brought a hand mirror to her. "Look, Senorita, you look beautiful."

               Gabi stared at herself, stunned at the image reflecting in the mirror. She does look like she belongs here. "I never looked like this before---I looked like I'm really from the 18^th century!" She exclaimed, forgetting her vow not to let anyone knows who she was.

               "Your funny, Senorita. You're a bit strange but adorable." Maya grinned at her.

               "Let's go party!" Despite what happened, she was in high spirit. The beautiful gown called traje de mestiza has an embroidered top with small flowers stitched to it. The skirt has the same intricate floral pattern but in the color of yellow and green. When she wore it, it felt good, and she felt like she was back in school when they dressed up for National Costume Day. She bet her sister would be green in envy when she saw this gown.

               She was also excited to meet her great grandfather Oscar Ariola. The man was infamous for betting all their wealth in a card game with a pirate. She wondered how a very wealthy man ended up facing the pirate. Pirates are rakes who prey on the misfortunes of sailors and people in business on the high seas.

               Gabi can hear the sound of voices and laughter from below her balcony. The excitement built up inside her as she slowly descended the tiled stairs with an intricate pattern. Candlelights and a profusion of flowers tumbled out from their vases looked so romantic that she paused at the landing to see the beautiful rich people of

Sta. Filomena. The men wore the thin material of intricately embroidered barong, some in western clothes. The women are enchanting in their gowns as they coyly fan themselves when they try to attract the attention of the unmarried men.

               On the opposite side of the garden is the banquet table laden with food and wine. Someone was roasting pork and a big calf at the side. An ensemble of a small orchestra was playing beautiful music that Gabi thought was a classic. She smiled; it reminded her of home. Her mother usually feasted whenever the Feast of St. Joseph's come. But this one was a bit different. More exclusive and classy. Priest, foreign dignitaries, business people, and hacienderos gathered together in one party.

               Delighted with the feast below her, she slowly descended to the stairs. All eyes turn to her. Everybody has heard that the Marquez have a female guest. Raphael walked to the bottom of the stairs and watched her descend the stairs. His eyes admired and were proud of her.

               "Senor---" he offered his hand, and she took it. A jolt of electricity ran thru her, and she looked as if he noticed it too but his eyes looking at her were unreadable.

               "Dare I say, your exquisite tonight."

               "Thank you, Senor." She murmured politely.

               "How formal. "Raphael mocked her.

"You don't look bad yourself." He was taken aback by her compliment. She smiled at him. "Just because I called you names doesn't mean I'm not willing to say something nice when it's due."

"I'm glad you like me even a little. It could be a start of something good between us."

"Are we going to discuss it here in front of these people?" She whispered, annoyed and at the same time slightly happy.

He looked around and saw all of them were watching them closely. He smiled at them and continued to hold Gabi's hand, "I'm showing those men who are thinking of asking your hand for marriage that I own you."

Gabi gaped at him, "Have you no shame? You're going to soil my reputation before I even set foot on your party."

"That's the plan. It will save those men time, especially you're going to be my wife soon."

Angrily, Gabi pulled her hand away and stepped out from his reach. She doesn't care anymore what the people will think, but this was her first time to hear such a bold declaration of ownership.

When trying to escape from his clutch, she bumped into a male servant. "Sorry, I did not see you." The basket of flowers tumbled to the ground. She stooped to help him. Gabi smiled at him but was taken aback when she saw his face under the buri hat his wearing. His eyes were of liquid brown, and his features may be sharp but very handsome. The only thing that mars the perfection of his face is a scar on his left brow. Their eyes met for a short time, then he quickly left.

She stood up and glanced at her back. She saw Raphael coming towards her with a companion. She was about to sprint away from him when she called her, "Gabi!" It was both a warning and a command to stay. Despite how mad she was, she stopped and faced the man she was avoiding.

Raphael grasped her arm tightly. "Are you trying to insult me in of this people?"

"Are you trying to shame me in front of these strangers? You treated me like an object that you parade to your friends as if I'm a prize."

"I never treated you an object. I treated you as my woman."

"I don't want to be yours. I am my own, and I choose whom I want. You're forcing my hand on something impossible." Gabi glared at him.

"Hey, what is this lover's quarrel?"

Both of them stared at the other man, who butts in from their conversation. Raphael looked at the younger man with annoyance, "Oscar, leave now. We are still discussing crucial matters."

Gabi stared at the man in awe, "Your Oscar?"

"Yes, my beautiful senorita." He took her hand and kissed it as the foreigners do.

"I said leave now," Raphael said quietly. Anger was brewing in his voice.

"No, stay." Hurriedly, Gabi holds his arm. "I'm an Ariola, too. My name is Gabi Ariola.”

"Are you, my cousin? Raphael, why didn't you tell me I have a cousin living in your home." He looked at the other man, ignoring the hard stare he was giving him. "My parents would turn on their grave if I would not let her stay with me."

"No! She stays with me." He said with finality. The young man flinched at his voice. "She is not your cousin."

"But I am." Gabi seized the moment. The time to escape from Raphael is now.

Both of them turned at looked at her in surprise. "Explained yourself. When I interviewed you this morning, you seemed not from here. Now, you're saying Oscar is your cousin?"

Gabi racked her brain. Trying to remember what her father told her about Oscar and their relatives during that time. The only person she can remember is an aunt who lives far away from another town.

"I'm Pacita's daughter." She blushed, feeling guilty of lying to her great grandfather.

Oscar stared at her. Then he nods as if deciding on her faith. "I see, so how was Tiya Pacita?

               "She was fine, just a little um…older." She finished off lamely.

               Oscar laughed, "Yeah, I bet she's older now. My cousin was funny, Rafa."

               He did not find it funny. Instead, he stared at Gabi and said sadly, "Do you want to leave?"

               "It is inappropriate for me to stay with you." Gabi felt sadness when she said those words, but she knew parting was best for them.

               He nods without a word he left them. Oscar stared at his friend and then looked back at her. He studied her face intently.

               "Now that he is gone tell me the truth who you are. Tita Pacita is a widowed woman who had no children. This time no lies, please. I can tell a lie a mile away, so don't provoke me."

"You will not believe if I tell you."

"Try me. I have seen and heard things that are almost impossible to be true. The crazier it gets, it becomes real. So, tell me your reality, Gabi."

"My reality…" Would he believe her? He looked at the man who looked like his father in many ways. His curly top and those gentle brown eyes reminded her of her dad. Her eyes sting, remembering her family from another time.

"My reality is that I'm your---great-granddaughter."