Chapter 8: The Last Will and Testament
Katatapos lamang ng final exams and most students were so excited for the summer vacation. They have different plans for the summer but I just hope na hindi lamang sila hanggang sa pagguhit ng mga plano nila. Minsan kasi ay nakakatamad kapag summer vacation. Wala kang ibang gustong gawin kundi ang mahiga sa kwarto mo. Uh, well that's how I spent my summer last year. Nagbabalak pa akong sumama sa mga pinsan ko sa Palawan but in the end, I decided not to dahil hindi rin naman kami masyadong close ng mga pinsan ko.
Kalalabas lang namin ng classroom at nasa cafeteria kami tumatambay kasama ang iba pa naming mga classmates.
They were thinking of an academic year-end gathering para sa amin. Sumali na lang kami sa meeting nila kahit hindi kami makakasama dahil may sarili kaming plano ni Gray.
No, not our plan but rather Sir Arman's.
Hindi pa dumarating ang iba pa naming mga kaklase kaya may naisip na naman si Jeremy.
"To kill time, let's have some riddles", he said. " I shrink smaller every time I take a bath. What am I?"
"Water?", Marcus asked.
"Lumiliit ba ang tubig? Baka sabon", Lorie said.
"Ako! Ito! I have no end and no beginning and no middle. What am I?", Yuri asked.
"That's pretty hard."
Saglit kaming nag-isip but Gray spilled the answer. "It's doughnut."
"Right!"
"My turn. I am owned by every man, though my length differs. Their wives use me after getting married. What am I?", Marcus asked and I glared at him.
"Stop it Marcus! You're poisoning our mind", wika ko sa kanya and I was surprised to find him and Gray laughed hard. Uh, anong nakakatawa doon?
"What's funny?", Jeremy asked. "Dahil ang sagot ay—"
"Don't ever think of saying it Jeremy!", wika ko sa kanya. Knowing him, hindi ito mag-aatubiling sabihin kung ano man ang sagot niyon.
"You have a colorful mind Amber", Marcus said with a laugh.
"Bakit?", nagtataka kong tanong. Ang awkward naman talaga ng riddle niya!
"The answer is Last name", Gray said at tumatawa pa rin.
"I like the way you think Amber", komento ng isa ko pang lalaki na kaklase. Nahiya naman ako! My goodness! Pag-iisipan ko na talaga sa susunod ang mga sasabihin ko. Marami na ang nakisali sa sa pagsasagot ng mga riddles namin.
Matapos ang meeting ay bumalik na ako sa dorm upang magpahinga. Wala pa roon sina Andi at Therese kaya mag-isa muna ako doon. Pagdating ko ay sinalubong ako ng aso kong si Filter. It barked and wagged its tail. Pinulot ko ito at nilagay sa lap ko matapos umupo sa kama. Hinawakan ko siya sa katawan at hinarap sa akin.
"Filter, masama ba ang ugali ko?", I asked the dog. I'm so stupid for talking to the animal but it's I guess it's better this way. Talking to animals are good, para sa akin. Unlike people, they don't judge you. They don't have any negative things against you. Filter barked again matapos akong magtanong. Uh, pati ba aso ay nasasamaan na sa ugali ko? "Is that a yes?", tanong ko at muli itong tumahol ngunit mahina lamang.
I felt defensive and I tried explaining myself to Filter. "Hindi naman ako masyadong masama at isa pa, may good side din naman ako ah. Do you want me to change?" I asked but Filter didn't bark. Inangat ko ang mukha nito at inulit ko ang tanong ko but still he didn't bark.
"So ayaw mong baguhin ko ang ugali ko, ganoon ba?" Filter barked once.
"Anong ibig mong sabihin? You want me to change but just a little?", tanong ko at tumahol ulit ito. "But Filter, if I change, edi hindi na ako si Amber." The dog barked again and I sighed.
"Okay Filter may aaminin ako sayo. Noong nakaraang araw ay inaway ko yung tatay mong si Gray", wika ko sa aso. Tila tao naman ito na nakinig sa mga sinasabi ko. "Okay na kami but I know I've done something wrong and this isn't the first time that I did something na ikinagalit nung tatay mo sa akin. I asked for forgiveness pero kahit delayed na, tinanggap pa rin naman niya. Do you think I deserve such, Filter? Ang sama ko talaga eh. Gray is just worried about me but I didn't appreciate it but still he forgave me. I wonder how many times he will forgive me even though I don't deserve his forgiveness, don't you think Filter?", wika ko at tumahol naman ito ng maraming beses.
Natawa ako sa reaksyon niya. I pat his head at niyakap ko ito. "Thank you Filter! That's so comforting, why don't you help me fix our things? I'm taking you home tomorrow dahil magLo-London ako."
Filter barked at tumalon ito sa kama. He wagged his tail repeatedly at natatawang binuksan ko ang locker at inilabas ang aking maleta. Looks like Filter is looking forward for my London trip.
***
Maaga akong gumising kinabukasan at tinali si Filter. Iuuwi ko siya mamaya ngunit nagpasya muna akong ilibot siya sa oval bago ko iuwi.
"Hey there, doggie", Gray said. He was jogging around the oval kasama ang mga roommates niya ngunit nang makita ako ay tumigil muna siya.
"Wala lang, kawawa naman kung palagi lang siya sa dorm. I want to spend more quality time with lalo na at malapit na tayong umalis", I said at patuloy na hinimas-himas si Filter.
"What's his name?", he asked.
"Filter."
"What? You named your dog after a screen?"
Bigla na lamang dumating si Jeremy at gaya ko ay may dala din siyang aso. "So what? My dog is named after a car. Her name is Porsche", he said at pinakita sa amin ang dala-dala niyang hayop.
Porsche is a bulldog! She got a wrinkled face and a pushed-in nose. Uh, she's ugly but so cute.
"Ang pangit ng mukha ni Porsche", komento ko and Jeremy frowned.
"Ang cute kaya niya!", he said at bumaling kay Gray. "Atsaka, Amber didn't name her dog after a screen, she named it after you." Inilayo niya ng konti si Porsche kay Filter dahil nagagalit ito. Uh, nakakatawa talaga yung mukha ni Porsche pero cute rin naman.
"Uh, I see. It's really named after me", wika niya at akmang hahawakan si Filter ngunit nagalit ang aso. He barked into him many times.
"Uh. He doesn't like me", wika niya at hindi na pinilit na hawakan pa si Filter.
"He likes you ngunit nainis siya dahil hindi mo agad na gets na he's named after you. Right Filter?", I asked at tumahol ito.
"Oh, I see. I'm sorry Filter, please?", he said to the dog and Filter wagged his tail. Lumapit siya kay Gray at dinilaan ang binti nito.
"See? Matampuhin siya gaya ko na nanay niya and he got his
smart brain from his dad", wika ko and I stop and covered my mouth. Did I just said that I'm Filter's mom and he's the dad? Ugh, no no no! I just said that he got a smart dad, I didn't say that it's Gray! Secret lang namin iyon ni Filter.
"Ah, mana kay Gray. Ibig sabihin mag-asawa kayo?", Jeremy asked and I blushed. The hell with Jeremy! Makapagbaon nga sa susunod ng maraming masking tape para sa bibig niya!
"Sinabi ko bang kay Gray?", wika ko at tinuon ang paningin sa malayo. Nagtatakang nagpalipat-lipat din ng tingin sa amin si Gray.
"It's implied. And speaking of mag-asawa, may question ako", he said.
"About?"
He flashed his nerdy smile. "It's a quiz. Let's call this JM Quiz, short for Jeremy Martinez's Quiz."
Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. "I'm sure just like your puns, wala na namang kwenta yan."
"What do we expect?", pagsang-ayon ni Gray.
"Uh, kaya lang naman hindi niyo gusto ang mga riddles and quiz ko kasi hindi abot ng IQ ninyo", he said.
"Yeah, your riddles are for those who have low IQ's", Gray said at isinalampak ang headset sa tenga ngunit tinanggal iyon ni Jeremy.
"Mamaya ka na bumalik sa pagjo-jogging. Makinig ka muna sa akin", wika niya kay Gray.
"Listen to this okay? Ikaw din Amber", he said kaya nakinig na lang ako sa kanya. "Anong sabi ni Andres Bonifacio noong may kasama siyang babae sa kwarto?"
"Shoot Jeremy. Don't expect us to sweat out just for that silly question", Gray said at sumimangot si Jeremy. He turned his gaze to me at dahil wala akong maisip, I just shrugged my shoulders.
"Oh! Hindi talaga kayo maaasahan sa ganito. He said, 'Baby, Andres me! HAHAHAHA", he laughed. See? Wala talagang kwenta. Ipatumba ko kaya ito sa Seven Reapers ? Uh, wag na lang, kawawa naman.
Gabi na nang mapagpasyahan kong ihatid si Filter. Hapon sana iyon kaso nakatulog ako kaya ngayong gabi na lang since bukas na kami aalis. Gosh, I really can't believe about this trip! Mahal ko na talaga si Sir Arman. Hindi naman sa hindi namin kayang pumunta ng London, Mom and Dad were still saving for it. We're not as rich as those guys in the mafia or ni Sir Arman.
Naghintay na ako ng taxi habang dala-dala si Filter. Mom and Dad already approved our trip dahil nakausap na din nila si Sir Arman sa telepono.
Maliwanag ang buwan at maraming bituin ngayon. I was standing on the main gate nang tumigil sa harap ko ang kotse ni Gray. Nakababa ang bubong ng convertible nito.
"Hi Miss, going somewhere?", he asked with a smile.
Ipinaikot ko ang eyeballs sa kanya. "Uh. I'm heading home para ihatid si Filter", sagot ko sa kanya.
"Hindi mo pa pala siya nahahatid?"
"Nandito pa nga diba?", I said. Duh. May pagkaengot din si Gray minsan eh.
"Then hop in. Nag-aaksaya ako ng gasolina kaya hali ka na", he said and he opened the other door for me.
"Sigurado ka?"
He nodded at me. "Yes, kaya halika na."
Sumakay na ako ng kotse at pinaandar na niya iyon at hinatid ako sa amin. Mom and Dad were not around kaya ibinilin ko na lang si Filter sa mga katulong at bumalik na kami ni Gray sa Bridle.
***
Maaga kaming sinundo ng kotse ni Sir Arman. He can't travel with us dahil nauna na itong bumalik doon.
"Excited na talaga ako!", I said habang nasa eroplano kami. Nasa may bintana ako at nasa tabi ko si Gray. Masyadong seryoso ang mukha nito at panay lingon sa palingid.
"Hoy!"
Saka lamang niya ako pinansin. "Bakit?"
"Anong tininitingnan mo dyan?", I asked at tiningnan rin ang direksyon kung saan panay ang tingin niya kanina. I saw a couple na nag-uusap. Sa katabing upuan nila ang ang nga kasama nila. Napansin ko na sila kanina dahil nagtatalo ang ang dalawa sa kanila.
"Hindi ba't sila yung nagtatalo kanina tungkol sa mana?", pabulong kong tanong. Mahirap na at baka marinig kami.
"Yes, it's all about that at base sa narinig ko kanina, uuwi sila sa kung saan man sila pupunta dahil ngayon daw babasahin ang last will and testament ng magulang nila", wika niya. He heard that much? Teka, clairaudient pa si Gray? Totoo ba ang sixth sense na iyon?
"Narinig mo yan sa kanila?", I asked in disbelief at tumango siya.
"I'm secretly observing them habang nagfa-fastforward na ang isip mo sa London." I frowned at him. Well, sorry for being excited!
"At bakit ka naman nakikinig sa usapan nila? Don't you think it's rude?", I asked. He's been eavesdropping at them for a while. Marahil ay kompleto ang impormasyong nakalap niya sa pamamagitan lamang ng pakikinig.
"I've heard someone talked about a hidden will and presented a fake one upang mapasakanya lahat ng mamanahin", he said in a low voice. "Nasa CR ako kanina nang may marinig ako, but I just can't tell who among them said it."
"What? They presented a fake just because of they want all the inheritance? Unbelievable people", wika ko at sumeryoso naman ang mukha ni Gray.
Gray continued observing them for hours hanggang sa makarating kami Heathrow Airport. Nang pababa na kami ay tiningnan pa rin niya ang anim hanggang sa sumakay na ang mga ito. Magaan ang pakiramdam ko kahit na nakakapagod ang ilang oras na byahe.
Nang makaalis kami doon ay sinalubong kami ng butler ni Sir Arman. Uh, he lend us his car and to brought us to the hotel where we will be staying. Hindi na kami umaasa na masasamahan kami ni Sir Arman, he's a busy person kaya naiintindihan namin.
Habang umaandar ang kotse ay panay ang lingon ko sa labas! Gosh, I can't believe it! Nasa London na nga ako! When we reached at the hotel, ibinigay ng butler sa amin ang british credit cards na maari naming gamitin. Oh God! Bakit ba ang bait ni Sir Arman?!
Leonardo, the butler talked to us bago umalis. "Sir Arman wants to have dinner with you tonight. Please be back at seven", wika niya at pinayagan kaming maglibot ng London.
Our first spot was the Tower Bridge. We entered in the Tower Bridge Exhibition,which features the bridge's twin towers, the high-level walkways and the Victorian engine rooms.
"Gray, naiiyak ako!", wika ko sa kanya. Gusto kong magselfie kaso nahihiya ako!
"Seriously? Bakit naman?", he
asked. I looked at him with my puppy eyes.
"Ang ganda dito!"
"So as you."
"What?"
"Nothing", he said at umiwas ng tingin.
"May sinabi ka eh!"
Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. Fine! Edi wala. Nagtagal kami sa pag-eexplore bago kami nagpahatid sa Hyde Park. Hyde Park was one of the Royal Parks at humanga ako sa laki niyon. I read in Sherlock Holmes madalas maglakad doon sina Holmes at Dr.Watson! Naiimagine ko tuloy sila ngayon but it's Holmes with Irene Adler.
Nagulat ako ng bigla na lamang hinawakan ni Gray ang kamay ko habang naglalakad. Ipinagsalikop niya ang mga daliri namin and—
Yuck. Another HHWW.
Holding Hands While Walking. Yuck again.
Itinaas ko ang kamay naming magkahawak. "What's this Gray?", I know I'm blushing pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. It's a broad day light at masyadong halata kapag nagblush ako!
"Baka mawala ka", he said at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad at hinila ako. Okay, this is so awkward pero hinayaan ko na lang siya. We strolled around the park at napatigil ako nang may makita akong bata na nadapa.
She was around 8 years old at nang makalapit ako ay agad ko siyang tinulungang tumayo. She had pale white skin and a blonde hair.
"Be careful next time kid", wika ko sa kanya nang makatayo. Agad kong pinagpagan ang suot niyang damit.
"Pasensya na po", she said and was surprised to hear her spoke Filipino.
"You can speak in Filipino?", I asked in surprise. She doesn't look like she's a Filipino.
"Yes. My Ate Hazel taught me. You're a Filipino?", she asked and I smiled at her.
"Yes. My name is Amber at ito naman si Gray", pakilala ko sa kanya.
The kid smiled at us. "Hi Amber. Hi Gray", she said. "My name is Jodie. I want to marry you Gray when I grow up."
Gray smiled at her. "Sure, you can Jodie but that if when you grow up, you still wants to marry me."
Jodie flashed a sad face. "But I've got a problem. We're broke. My grandfather died and he didn't leave anything for me", wika niya.
Lumapit ang isang babaeng kaedad lang namin."Jodie! Kanina pa kita hinahanap", wika niya ng makalapit sa amin.
Ipinakilala kami ni Jodie sa isa't-isa and we've learned that the girl was Hazel, Jodie's aunt. We stayed for a while at magkwentuhan lalo na at purong pilipina pala ito. Naikwento rin ni Hazel ang tungkol sa nangyari kanina. Ayon sa kanya ay binasa ng abogado ng Lolo nilang si Jedidiah Wheatly ang huling testamento nito and it states about giving all his estates to Higson siblings na siyang nag-alaga dito noong nabubuhay pa ito.
"Ibig sabihin ay walang pinamana sa iba?", I asked and Hazel nodded.
"Yes but few people claimed that Jedidiah promised them some shares since the Higson's are rude to him. Ang ikinagulat ng lahat ay kung bakit naging ganoon, we thought there's another will and would render the first one void", wika ni Hazel.
"You think so?"
"Yes,we all hope since Jedidiah always assured us about our shares and he's a man of his word."
"By any chance, are the Higson's just arrive here today, six of them and one got a blond short hair and the others are not?", tanong ni Gray.
"Yes, that's them! How do you know?", Hazel asked.
"Because I think there really is another will and that we'll find out soon", Gray said and flashed his smile. "We'll find it for you Hazel but you have to bring us to that late Jedidiah's home."
#
-ShinichiLaaaabs.