Present....
Nasa patio si Clara na nakaharap sa malapad nilang hardin kung saan inaayos ngayon ang mga mesa at upuan para sa graduation party niya mamayang gabi. Hindi siya nagwagi laban sa mga magulang kung kaya't pagkatapos nga graduation niya kahapon ay mabilis silang lumipad ng mga magulang niya pauwi muli ng probinsya.
She sighed while looking at their maids scurrying around to get everything fixed before 6PM.
She wasn't excited at all dahil alam niyang wala naman ang mga kaibigan niya doon.
She knew almost no one in the area except... well, Alejandro.
But she made sure she'd look absolutely gorgeous anyway. She brought some of her finest dresses and shoes para meron siyang mapagpipilian. In the end, she chose her floral Mark Bumgarner dress and Amina Muaddi bejeweled shoes for the night.
She still has to look stunning kahit na hindi niya gustong magcelebrate.
"Hija, malapit ng matapos ang mga pagkain. Come on. Gusto mo bang tikman? Manang's in the kitchen. Come," anyaya sa kanya ng Mama niya but she just didn't budge.
"Clara, may bisita ka," singit naman ng ama niya at napatingin siya rito at sa bagong dating na bisita.
"Ang aga mo naman, hijo. Hello," bati ng Mama niya kay Alejandro na nandoon ngayon.
"Hi, Tita Isabel. Magandang hapon po," magaling na bati nito pabalik. "Congratulations, Clara," baling naman nito sa kanya.
"Salamat," tipid na sagot niya.
Narinig niyang tumikhim ang ama niya at biglang nagsabi, "Isabel, samahan mo nga akong tikman ang mga luto ni Manang. Parang kulang yata sa alat." At hinila na nito paalis ang asawa para iwan silang dalawa.
"Party's at 6PM. Alas-kuwatro pa lamang. Bakit ang aga mo?"
"What's wrong with being early? I wasn't in your graduation so I just wanna be the first to congratulate you and... give you this." At inilabas nito ang isang velvet box at iniabot sa kanya. It was rectangular and red - Cartier.
Binuksan niya iyon at nakita ang isang mamahaling kwintas. She gasped at the diamond in the pendant.
"I knew a city girl like you would love it."
"T-thank you," she said. "But this is too much."
"No, I know you won't accept anything less. So please accept it. Anyway, I'm also just leaving. Pinakiusapan kasi ako ng Papa mo na sunduin ang pinsan mo sa airport."
"P-pinsan ko?" gulat na gulat na tanong niya. "Who?"
He just shrugged. "You don't even know you have a cousin?"
"Lahat ng mga malalayong kamag-anak namin ay nasa Amerika so I never knew any of them. So who are you talking about?"
"A certain Winnie."
"Winnie? But bakit ngayon pa? I have a party. Bakit ngayon ka pa inutusan ni Papa?"
"Precisely because you have a party and he can't leave the house," sagot nito. "It's not as if you like me here, anyway. At ayaw niyang utusan ang mga trabahador niya dahil excited na sila sa mga pagkain at papremyo mamaya. So it's fine."
Hindi niya alam pero bakit parang naiinis siya sa isipin na aalis ito sa party niya para sa ibang babae?
Ugh, it annoys her to death. Bakit ito pa ang inutusan ng ama niya?
"T-thanks for this," she said pointing to the necklace at tinalikuran na ito. Ayaw niyang mabasa nito ang nasa isipan niya ngayon.
"Congratulations again. I hope you find a good corporate job in the city so you can continue living your best life there," he sincerely said and walked away.
*****
Hindi na nga siya excited kanina pero mas lalong lumala ang mood niya ngayon for reasons she doesn't know. Her make up artist has just finished her old Hollywood glam look at suot-suot na niya ngayon ang mamahaling dress at heels niya.
And she also decided to wear the diamond necklace Alejandro gave as a gift. Wala namang ibig sabihin iyon. Bagay lang talaga ito sa suot niya ngayon.
"My princess, you looked so damn gorgeous," puri ng Mama niya na kakapasok lang ngayon sa kwarto niya. "There are a lot of guests already. Tara na. Hinahanap ka na nila."
"Okay, Ma."
"What a nice necklace. I saw that just now. When did we buy that again?"
"Oh, it's a gift from Alejandro, Ma."
"Oh," her mother exclaimed and then, smiled a knowing smile. "He is a good man, isn't he?"
"Ma," tutol niya dahil alam na niya kung saan papunta ang mga ngiti nito. Her parents are using him as bait para itali siya pabalik dito sa hacienda at probinsya nila. That's for sure.
"Anyway, sana makaabot pa siya sa kasiyahan."
"Bakit ba kasi inutusan 'nyo siyang umalis ngayon of all days? Siya na nga lang ang kakilala ko dito sa bayan at sa party na 'to."
"Hija, it's hard to explain... bukas ko na lang sasabihin pero it's something urgent."
"And who the heck is this Winnie?"
"Language, Clara Isabella!" puna ng Mama niya.
She stood up from her dresser chair and faced her mom. "I thought our relatives didn't want anything to do with this place. Bakit may pinsan akong pabalik dito sa Pilipinas."
"Hija, something happened. Something bad..."
"Then, tell me now. Para hindi ako magugulat," she pleaded. "Please, Ma."
"Okay, but don't tell your father that I already told you ahead. His cousin Arnaldo died on a car accident with his wife. And now, your second cousin Winnie is orphaned. Walang ibang kamag-anak natin ang gustong tumanggap sa kanya. She's barely eighteen at kawawa kaya naisipan ng ama mong kupkupin muna dito sa atin pansamantala."
"What?!" gulat na gulat na tanong niya. "And no one even bothered to ask me about this?"
"Bakit naman, hija? Kamag-anak at kadugo natin siya."
"But this is my house, too. And she's practically a stranger."
Natigilan ang Mama niya sa inasta niyang iyon. "You said you'll be leaving once you get a job in the city, Clara. We just thought na maluwag naman ang bahay at maraming kwarto na pwede muna nating ipahiram. At aalis ka rin naman... probably next week kung makakuha ka ng trabaho, hindi ba?"
She was stunned at her mother's explanation. Her mother was just telling the truth. But she didn't know why it stung.
So she just walked past her and outside the door into a party she never even wanted in the first place.
*****
It was past ten in the evening. Halos nabati na niya ang buong bayan nila sa dami ng mga inimbita ng mga magulang niya sa graduation party nila na 'yon.
But these are people she barely even know and strangers she knew she won't ever see again in the next year or so kaya hindi na siya nag-effort pang alalahanin ang pangalan ng lahat ng mga ito.
She's eaten quite a bit at kaya naisipan na lang niyang pumanhik na sa kwarto para magpahinga. Hindi naman siguro magagalit ang mga bisita dahil nabati na niya ang lahat ng mga ito.
She was going up the grand staircase ng marinig ang pagbukas ng double doors ng bahay nila. It made a sound dahil gawa iyon sa lumang Narra kung kaya't mabigat ito.
She turned around to look kung sino ang pumasok at nakita ang dalawang pigura.
"Alejandro?" she asked from across the grand staircase.
Narinig siya ng binata at nilingon ito. "Clara," bati nito pabalik at siya namang pagpasok ng isang dalaga sa likod nito.
She's... well, pretty. May hawig ito sa pictures ng lola nila noong kabataan. Mestiza at kulay brown na buhok na mahaba at aalon-alon. Matangkad ito sa edad na eighteen at balingkinitan ang pangangatawan. She looks like a model from a magazine. Naka-tank top lamang ito at jeans habang white sneakers ang suot sa paa.
Noon niya napansin na may hilang isang maleta si Alejandro.
"Clara, this is Winnie. Winnie, siya nga pala ang pinsan mo na ikinekwento ko kanina. Her name's Clara," pakilala sa kanilang dalawa ni Alejandro.
Winnie instantly smiled. "Hi, Clara. It's so nice to finally meet you," sincere na pagbati nito with her accent na halatang lumaki sa Amerika.
But she wasn't intimidated. Nakatuon ang pansin niya ngayon sa pagkakahawak nito sa braso ni Alejandro na para bang pagmamay-ari nito ang binata.
She went down the stairs para salubungin ang dalawa. "Hi, Winnie. Welcome, pasok kayo. I just had a party kaya ganito ang suot ko."
"You look beautiful," kumento ni Alejandro, looking intently at her.
"She's beautiful," masayang kumento rin ni Winnie at niyakap siya ng walang pasabi.
Nagulat siya sa ginawang iyon ng pinsan niya dahil kahit magkadugo sila, they're still practically strangers.
"Winnie?" rinig niyang tawag ng Papa at Mama niya na ngayon ay nasa likuran na pala nila. They both went to hug Winnie next na para bang nawawala nilang anak ito.
"Hija, I'm so sorry about what happened," her mom said, while still hugging her poor cousin. "Don't worry. This house will now be your home."
What? Akala ba niya ay pansamantala lang. Bakit parang pinapamana na ng mga ito ang bahay sa kanya? she thought.
Winnie looked up to her mother with those puppy dog eyes and smiled. "Thank you so much for welcoming and accepting me here, Auntie."
"Don't call me Auntie. From now on, I'll be your new Mama, okay?"
She almost puked at what her mom said. Is she freakin' joking?
She couldn't watch this anymore. "It's so nice to meet you, Winnie. However, I'm really tired from the party. I'll see you all in the morning. Welcome again."
Iyon lamang at tinalikuran na niya ang lahat ng mga ito.
"Wait, Clara!" tawag ni Alejandro sa likuran niya but she didn't even bother turning around.
She kept on walking upstairs to her room sa inis na nararamdaman. It was supposed to be her night, but it seemed as if that woman just came into their lives to steal her spotlight.
She entered her bedroom and closed her door. She felt so frustrated. Iritang hinubad niya ang heels and slid off her dress. At habang tinatanggal niya ang bra ay biglang pumasok sa kwarto niya si Alejandro. She almost screamed but before she could, she also saw the shock in his face.
"I-I'm sorry. I should have knocked," wika nito at tumalikod to give her time to fix herself.
Dali-dali siyang kumuha ng robe sa walk in closet at sinigawan ito. "Don't you know how to knock? Bahay mo ba 'to talaga? Ha?"
"I said I'm sorry. I figured you won't let me in had I knocked."
"Yes, of course, I won't because I'm tired and I've had a long night. So please, leave."
"I just want to talk and convince you to stay for a bit... here," deklara nito habang nakatalikod pa rin sa kanya.
"You can face me now, you know," mataray na utos niya dito.
And he slowly turned around to look at her. "I mean it a while ago. You look beautiful, Clara."
"Thanks, but I know that already. Now, you were saying?"
"I was driving when I thought about this. Why not give yourself two weeks here at most? Just get to know the hacienda and the people again. It will give you a perspective on why your parents want you to stay and take care of this all. Just give it two weeks and if not, if hindi talaga ito ang buhay na gusto mo, then, you can leave."
"Why will I do that? Bakit ko papahirapan ang sarili ko?"
He breathed deeply and walked towards her. "I just want you to make the right decision."
"I am making the right decision. I'm following my heart."
"Is the city really where your heart is? Are you absolutely sure?"
That stunned her. She didn't know what to say. Well, her friends are there for sure. And Tyler, na hindi pa rin siya nirereplyan simula nitong umaga. That freakin' guy.
"While there's a bit of doubt in your heart, please listen to me and stay for a few weeks. I can help you meet everyone and get acquainted with the work here so you understand everything," he sincerely offered. "I don't want you to regret one day ...for giving up this life and this whole place."
And she looked at him. Did she regret not accepting his proposal back then? Not really. Marriage was far from her mind then. But one thing's for sure. She regretted not being able to kiss those lips for the last year.
"I hope you think about what I'm saying, Clara. I'll be here tomorrow if you need me. I'll wait," he said and stepped closer to give her a light kiss on the forehead. "Congratulations again."
But before she could answer him, his phone rang. Hinugot niya iyon mula sa bulsa at nakitang pangalan ni Winnie ang naka-register doon.
What the heck!?
"Hello, Winnie?" sagot ni Alejandro sa telepono. "Yes, I'm going down in a bit. No worries. Yup... okay, I can help you. I'll be here tomorrow anyway. Okay, bye."
"You have each other's number already?" puna niya.
"Her parents just died. She's in a new place. She's practically around strangers. I figured she needs a friend," wika nito. "Now, get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow, Clara."
"I... okay," she agreed and watched him leave.
Why did it bother her to know that Winnie's talking to him? And why is she starting to hate this newfound cousin?