"Lady Dinah was cooking something for us, and Lady Massie..." She frowned, and I knew why.
I laughed. "She must be in the garden again."
"Shall we go inside?" she asked us, thrilled.
The house's interior has a medieval influence— from flower-designed wallpapers, wooden furniture, and patterned floor tiles.
Lady Tania brought us to the kitchen. Naabutan naming nakatalikod sa amin ang isang babaeng maikli ang buhok habang nagluluto. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali. Siya si Lady Dinah.
When she finally felt our presence, she immediately turned to us. A loud, screeching voice escaped her lips as she straight away ran toward me. Niyakap niya ako habang hawak ang sandok.
"My beautiful sister..." she whispered as she tightened her hug to me. "Muntik na akong magtampo kasi akala ko ay hindi ka na uli babalik!"
Among the three sisters, she's the only who can speak in tagalog. Siya rin ang pinakamaingay at makulit. Kahit na ayoko ng kausap noon, hindi niya ako tinigilan na kausapin. Siya ang unang nakapagpalagayan ko ng loob sa kanilang tatlo.
Hinarap niya ako. Agad niyang hinaplos ang buhok ko at inamoy. Kinuha ni Lady Tania ang sandok mula sa kanyang kamay para siya na muna ang maghalo sa niluluto.
Hinila ako ni Lady Dinah sa upuan saka hinarap sa akin. Tila kinikilig pa siya. Akala ko ay hindi niya napansin si Kristan, ngunit nung bumulong siya ay natawa ako.
"Pakilala mo naman ako kay pogi," bulong niya.
I looked at Kristan. I caught him looking back at me. Sinenyasan ko siyang lumapit sa amin. Biglang tumili si Lady Dinah at nagmadaling lumabas ng kusina.
"Maliligo muna pala ako!" sigaw niya.
Napailing na lang ako. Umupo sa tabi ko si Kristan at gaya ko ay nakamasid lang kay Lady Tania na naghahalo ng pagkain.
"Are they sisters?" he asked.
"Yes." Lady Tania turned to us, smiling. "If Nathalia didn't just leave, she could have been one of us now. Not like she was never one of us."
Kristan nodded in awe.
"That smells good!" he said.
Lady Tania giggled. "We are preparing potato soup— the best partner for bread and fish. It's almost done. Do you want some wine?"
"Yes, please," I said.
Kumuha ng isang wine sa cabinet si Lady Tania saka dalawang wine glass. Tumayo si Kristan para kunin 'yon sa kanya. I knew he was a gentle man, but this was the first time I've appreciated that.
"What a gentleman," Lady Tania smiled.
Kristan poured me some wine before him. I was sipping on my drink when I remembered Terrence. His motorcycle was outside. Before I could even open my lips to ask, the backdoor creaked and opened.
Terrence entered, carrying a basket of fresh apples. Hindi ko alam kung hindi niya ba kami napansin o mas pinili niyang lapitan si Lady Tania at hindi kami pansinin.
"Here, Mother. Lady Massie refused to come with me." Terrence put down on the table the basket and still didn't look at us.
"Want some more?" Kristan asked me.
I nodded. He poured me another wine.
Lady Tania sighed. "Tell her that Nathalia is here."
"Who?" Terrence asked.
My brows arched. What?
"Remember the woman I was telling you?" She then turned to me. "It's the beautiful lady sitting in front of us, Terrence. She's Nathalia."
Chapter 13
Start from the beginning
