UNA ROSA

Chapter 41-Last Minute Wishes

When I told Ate Jocelyn about what happened during lunch with Mommy, she was not shocked that Lola Francesca was into girls.

We were at the breakfast table that Saturday morning.

There were crispy bacon, omelet with grated cheddar cheese and thinly sliced green onions and toasted whole wheat bread.

As usual, the mugs of steaming cups of coffee were ready.

Ate bought a coffee machine because she said she will die without coffee.

Habang kumakain ay nagkuwento si Ate tungkol sa sinabi ni Lola noong nabubuhay pa ito.

"Kapag nasa farm kami at namimitas ng mga bulaklak, she would tell me the story of a friend of hers from years ago who would give her bouquets of yellow roses."

"Lola's face would light up kapag nagkikuwento siya. Bata pa ako noon kaya I didn't thought any of it. I thought bestfriend niya iyong babae. Baka namimiss niya kaya lagi niyang binabanggit." Kumagat siya ng toast habang mahigpit ang hawak ko sa mainit na coffee mug.

"She mentioned na ang flower shop ng friend niya was named Una Rosa. Iyon daw ang reason kung bakit iyon din ang pinangalan niya sa sarili niyang negosyo. Hindi niya daw kasi alam kung buhay pa ang friend niya. Dahil they were very close, she chose to remember her that way."

"Did she tell you her friend's name?"

"Hindi din. Parang blind item lang." Tumawa si Ate.

Kumuha siya ng tinapay at pinalamanan ng butter bago binigay sa akin.

"You would think na since well-known ang mga Damasco, there would be records or articles about their history."

"The Damasco's are fiercely private. They talk about business and that's it. The most public they got was when the youngest got married. Even then, wala masyadong details other than sino ang mapapangasawa ni Cecilia at kailan ang wedding. Ni hindi nga sinabi ang exact date at location ng kasal kasi family affair lang."

"Sino nga kaya ang secret lover ni Lola?" Kumagat ako sa tinapay.

"I don't know. But it must have been really bad if Lolo had to bring her to the US. It was definitely motivated by jealousy."

"Ang haba ng hair noong babae. Imagine. She was connected to Lola Stella and then may gusto din sa kanya si Lolo tapos she had an affair with Lola Francesca."

"It is very intriguing. Ano bang meron sa kanya for all of them to be smitten? Hindi lang isa, hindi lang dalawa kundi tatlo sila na nagkagusto sa babaeng iyon."

"Hindi ko din alam and I am puzzled as well. Pero gusto kong makita ang unidentified object of their affection. Do you think buhay pa siya?"

"I have no idea. Between us, we are just speculating. Ang isa pang tanong ay kung sakaling buhay pa siya, gusto din ba niya na ungkatin ang nakaraan? What if she chose to be quiet?"

"That would be a challenge. For our part, it would remain as unanswered question. A dead end."

"Lalo na sa mga tulad nila na sobrang yaman. They value their privacy above anything else. This kind of revelation is sure to shake their quiet existence."

"Noong active pa ako sa modeling, marami akong rich kids na nakasalamuha who were very gay. They were very careful not to let their secret out. Sobrang tagong-tago sila kasi alam mo na? Pagkakakitaan sila ng mga media and news outlets. Puwedeng gamiting blackmail ang mga ginagawa nila."

"Pera-pera lang talaga ang labanan ano?"

"So, don't be surprised if nothing will come out of this. Besides, I don't want you get in more trouble with the Damasco." She touched the top of my hand from across the table.