Alexandro paced back and forth around the room as he tried to think if this was a good idea. He didn't want to get involved in such a thing like witchcraft but if this was the only easy way to make Lucián pay, so be it.
I shouldn't be trusting this old man. An Indio. He glanced worryingly at the old man who was scanning through a book to find the ingredients needed. He glanced around his nipa hut or what is common called as bahay kubo to find it filled with peculiar ornaments and amulets. His tiny house was in the middle of the rice fields. He was usually known as a farmer from what he heard but he was secretly doing these peculiar acts for profit.
Is this unjust? To be involved in some kind of demonic witchcraft? My parents always told me not to talk to people like this man. They are evil and against Christ. He've always wondered why to this day, they still practice such evil doings like this.
He still have doubts regarding this whole shenanigans. I am paying him a large amount of money but I am not certain if it will be worth it. He stared at the man with suspicion in his eyes. He felt so uncomfortable with being in a place as small as this.
Even though his mother is a Filipina, she wasn't born to a poor family. He hasn't seen his mother for ten years. It has been a long time and her whereabouts are unknown to him. He never really liked interacting with people such as them. Poor. Weak. And yet, contented.
"¿Estás seguro de que esto funcionará? No me estás mintiendo, ¿verdad? (Are you certain this will work? You are not lying to me, aren't you?)" he said to the old man who nodded his head said, "Por supuesto señor. Funcionará. (Of course, sir. It will work.)"
He couldn't but at cringe at the old man's accent. He wasn't able to hide his displeased expression. The old man didn't pay any attention towards it due to the fact that he was used to it. Alexandro watched as the man placed the book that he was holding on the table and started pulling out herbs and some sort of odd colored liquids stored in jars.
The man placed all of these things on the wooden table in front of him. He opened the book that he previously placed on the table and began to speak in an peculiar language while he started mixing herbs and the liquids in a separate container. Alexandro stared at him in shock, not believing the stupidity that he was doing.
What is wrong with me? This old man could have been fooling me all this time. He is not making any sense. Alexandro stared at the man with suspicion. The man was smirking as he did continued to make some sort of potion.
"Señor, hindi ka dapat agad-agad nagtitiwala sapagkat ang mga taong dukha na katulad ko ay walang inaasam kundi ang magkaroon ng salapi. Madali kang maniwala sa mga taong hindi mo naman kilala. Sobrang katangahan nga talaga ang mayroon sa isang taong naghihiganti. Masyado kang nakakaawa,"the old man said while avoiding Alexandro's eyes.
Alexandro's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, not being able to decipher what the old man said. He never understood a word he said and he fear that he was speaking such insulting words. Once the old man finished mixing the ingredients, he placed the mixture inside a jar, sealing it with a lid afterwards.
The old man looked up and smiled warmly at him before saying, "Talagang nakakaawa ang isang taong tulad mo. Makukuha mo ang ninanais mo ngunit hindi ko maipapangako na hindi ito babalik sa iyo." Alexandro glared at him. I cannot understand him. This man had a nerve speaking to me in a language I no longer acquire.
"Old man, I do not understand what you are saying," the old man stared at him dumbfounded, not knowing the language Alexandro used. "No hablo Inglés," the man said while shaking his head. Alexandro cringed once again after hearing his accent.
"Sería mejor si intentas deshacerte de ese horrible acento. Tal vez, de esa manera, mi gente te vería bajo una luz diferente. (It would be best if you try to get rid of that hideous accent. Maybe, in that way, my people would see you in a different light)," Alexandro suggested but it came as an insult rather than a good suggestion.
The old man felt insulted by his statement that his smile turned into a scowl. Talagang kaawa-awa. Mas mainam kung ikaw na lang ang aking pahihirapan. Ang kaaway mong si Lucián ay hindi na mamalasin kundi siya'y magkakaroon ng masagana at masaya na buhay.
Alexandro let out a laugh upon seeing the old man's reaction. The old man quickly gave him the jar and an amulet before saying, "Toma esto y viértelo en su bebida. Asegúrate de llevar puesto este amuleto para asegurarte de que tu enemigo no tenga mala suerte. (Take this and pour it to his drink. Make sure that you wear this amulet for this will make sure that your enemy would remain unlucky)"
Alexandro grabbed it and immediately ran off, not even waiting for the old man's final advice. The old man's scowl turned even dimmer as he watched his figure running away from his house. Ang galit talaga ay isang makapangyarihang emosyon na nakasisira ng buhay ng iba.
Meanwhile at the Travieso residence, Lucián kept reading the unread letters that he received as he waited for his cup of coffee and bread. He tapped his finger on the table, patiently waiting. He hasn't eaten merienda yet. He had forgotten it ever since Alexandro came.
He haven't been able to take a siesta after eating la comida. He couldn't sleep because his mind was preoccupied. He grew impatient as every minute passes by, his stomach grumbling in hunger. They are taking way too long!
After a few minutes, he heard footsteps coming towards the door of his study. He let out a sigh in relief, realizing that he will no longer wait for his food. The maid knocked on the door but before she could say anything, Lucián told her to come in.
"Adelante. No tengo tiempo para esto. Solo dame mi comida. Estoy famélico. (Come in. I don't have time for this. Just give me my food. I'm famished)."
The door opened to reveal an unfamiliar maid. He stared at her in confusion, expecting one of his maids to be the one delivering it. She doesn't seem like one of them. Very peculiar.
He narrowed his eyes at her before asking, "Tú no eres una de las doncellas. ¿Quién eres tú? (You are not one of the maids. Who are you?)"
The unfamiliar maid froze for a minute before smiling nervously and saying, "Sí señor. Soy una empleada recién reclutada. Me disculpo si no fue informado de ello. (Yes,sir. I am a newly recruited maid. I apologize if you weren't informed of it)"
He hummed in reply as he continued to looked at her with suspicion. He gestured her to place down the tray that she was holding on his desk. "Ahora vete. (Now, leave)," he said.
His doubts went away when his eyes went towards the tray that was filled with food. His stomach grumbled in hunger. He placed the letter that he was holding inside one of the drawers.
As he began eating his merienda, he noticed the odd taste of his coffee. It was the same bitter coffee he was used to but it held some sweetness to it. He quickly spat out the coffee upon realizing that sugar might have been added. Have they forgotten that I do not like sugar on my coffee? Those Indios!
TRANSLATIONS
The old man's statement #1:
"Señor, hindi ka dapat agad-agad nagtitiwala sapagkat ang mga taong dukha na katulad ko ay walang inaasam kundi ang magkaroon ng salapi. Madali kang maniwala sa mga taong hindi mo naman kilala. Sobrang katangahan nga talaga ang mayroon sa isang taong naghihiganti. Masyadong kang nakakaawa."
English translation:
"Sir, you should not easily trust people like me that are as poor as a rat for people like me only wants profit. You easily believe strangers. Stupidity is what people who wants revenge have. You are so pitiful."
The old man's statement #2:
"Talagang nakakaawa ang isang taong tulad mo. Makukuha mo ang ninanais mo ngunit hindi ko maipapangako sa iyo na hindi ito babalik sa iyo."
English translation:
"A person like you is truly pitiful. What you want, you will get but I cannot promise you that it would not come back to you."
The old man's thought #1:
Talagang kaawa-awa. Mas mainam kung ikaw na lang ang aking pahihirapan. Ang kaaway mong si Lucián ay hindi na mamalasin kung hindi ay magiging masagana at masaya ang kanyang buhay.
English translation:
So pitiful. It would be best if you are the one who suffers. Your enemy, Lucián will no longer live in bad luck for he will have a fruitful and happy life.
The old man's thought #2:
Ang galit talaga ay isang makapangyarihang emosyon na nakasisira ng buhay ng iba.
English translation:
Anger is such a powerful emotion that can destroy the lives of others.
DEFINITION OF UNFAMILIAR WORDS:
-bahay kubo- type of stilt house indigenous to the cultures of the Philippines
-merienda- light meal or snack in the afternoon
-la comida- lunch
-siesta- an afternoon rest or nap after eating lunch