Chapter 24
I brushed my hair gently as I let the soft moonlight stream through my big, naked windows. The only thing I hear is the violent waves of the ocean by the cliff and the muffled melody coming from a violin of someone playing downstairs to entertain my parents.
Hanggang ngayon ay bumabalik pa rin sa aking isipan ang pinag-usapan nila Philodemus at mommy. It seems to me, that they have known each other for years... without my knowledge. Philodemus knows my family, not just from what he reads from the local paper or hears from the news or from the townspeople.
He knows them personally. Us.
And yet, he didn't bother telling me.
Napatalon ako sa gulat nang biglang tumunog ang aking cellphone. I glanced at the bright screen of my phone, my heart racing. Mabilis ko itong dinampot at sinagot.
"Philodemus..." I said breathlessly.
"Still haven't sleeping, huh?" his voice came hoarse. I swallowed and put down the wooden hairbrush. Nag-isang sulyap ako sa malaking orasan sa itaas ng aking tukador. Mag-aalas onse na pala ng gabi.
"I can't sleep." I admitted.
"Why?"
"I've been thinking... a lot."
"What would you be thinking about, Shortie?"
"I—"
Natigil ako sa pagsasalita nang makarinig ng malakas na ingay mula sa kabilang linya. Sounds like some water splashing. Then it was followed by howls of men laughter, but amidst of it I thought I heard a giggling of a female voice. Kumunot ang noo ko. "Where are you right now?"
"Rigor's birthday." He said simply. "I got invited and couldn't say no to my cousin."
"Oh..." I sounded very disappointed. Bumagsak ang mga balikat ko at bahagyang ipinikit ang mga mata. I was hoping he'd invite me again for a car ride in the middle of the night, just like what he always do when I couldn't go to sleep or if something is bothering me.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah..." matamlay kong sagot. "Sige na, matutulog na ako."
"Stormie—"
Bago pa man siya makasagot ay pinatay ko na ang tawag. I bit my lower lips and clutched my phone to my chest. Then I went to bed and buried myself under the sheets. I stared into the ceilings. Nakakainis na umaakto na naman akong parang bata.
So what if he's in a party right now and I'm lulling myself to drown in the sea of overthinking again? It's not his fault. It's not his fault that I am being very difficult, even to myself.
Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko at pinilit ang sarili na matulog. Pero hindi ko talaga magawa. I groaned in frustration. Napatalon ako sa gulat nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko. Sa katataranta ko ay napindot ko ang answer button hindi ko pa man ito nahahawakan nang maayos.
I cursed under my breath and sat up. Clearing my throat, I squinted at the screen again and saw Philodemus' name.
"Philodemus, I'm really fine—"
"Come outside."
"What?"
"Come on, it's freezing." Aniya pa.
Nangungunot ang noo ay pinatay ko ang tawag at lumabas ng kwarto. Rinig ko pa rin ang halakhakan at ang paggalaw ng mga kubyertos sa dining hall, kung saan naroon si Dad at ang kaniyang iilang importanteng kaibigan. The violin that was playing earlier stopped. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad palabas at mabuti nalang ay hindi ako nakita ng natutulog naming security guard nang pumuslit ako sa gate.
It's drizzling. Giniginaw din ako. Mula sa dilim ay nagkaanyo si Philodemus na tahimik na nakahilig sa kaniyang kotse. He is wearing a black leather jacket with silver studs on the shoulder pads. He stared at me intensely as I hesitantly walked towards him in my satin sleepwear.
"Philodemus... aren't you in a party?" naguguluhan kong tanong sa kaniya. "What are you doing here?"
He grunted under his breath. Umalis siya mula sa pagkakahilig at hinila ang aking braso palapit sa kaniya hanggang sa mayakap niya ako.
"You're worrying me. You think I can party while my baby is alone here? Hmm?"
My heart clenched in joy and other unknown feelings with what he said. Niyakap ko din siya pabalik. I instantly felt a little bitter. Gusto ko pa ngang sabunutan ang aking sarili dahil para akong bata sa inaakto. Nakaramdam pa ako ng matinding guilt. I'm sure he's having fun with his friends at Rigor's party, and I made him come here while it's raining.
"Won't they be looking for you?" tanong ko sa kaniya habang binubuksan niya ang pintuan ng kaniyang sasakyan.
He shrugged. "It's Rigor's party, not mine."
"Where are we going?"
He only winked as a response. Natawa tuloy ako. When I am done buckling my seatbelts, he circled the car and then occupied the driver's seat. Mabilis niyang pinaandar ang sasakyan. His other hand reached for his phone. He clicked something and then the voice of Lana Del Rey singing Venice Bitch filled the car.
Huminga ako nang malalim. I glanced at him. Seryoso lamang siyang nakatitig sa dinadaanan namin. I know he's not drunk, but I could smell a small hint of beer from his mouth earlier when he pulled me into a hug. Ang kaniyang panga'y bahagyang umiigting at nangungunot ang noo, para bang may malalim na iniisip.
We slowed down in front of a 24/7 coffee shop. Philodemus glanced at me. "Dito ka lang muna. I'll order something for us."
My brows shot up. I thought he'd rather spend our time in a cafe, lalo pa ngayong bahagyang umuulan. Philodemus got out of the car and jogged to the cafe. Ihinilig ko ang aking ulo sa bintana ng kaniyang sasakyan. Nang matapos ang kanta ay napatingin ako sa kaniyang phone. I am very tempted to open it, but I respect his privacy. Even though I know the passcode of his iPhone, it doesn't necessarily mean that I can open it anytime I want.
Philodemus came back with two large cups of steaming coffees. Iniabot niya ito sa akin. I held it to my lap as he occupied the driver's seat again and continued driving. May ilang minuto din kami sa kalsada bago ko narealize kung saan kami papunta ngayon.
"Temple?" I turned to him, a bit shocked. The Ma-Cho temple is closed by now. Don't tell me we're going to break our way in?
Philodemus' lips lifted up sexily in a crooked smile. I groaned inside of my head. He's really planning to do it, after all.
Kinakabahan ako sa gagawin namin. Pero nagpatianod pa rin ako. I haven't been to the temple, but I know exactly where it is. Mga turista lang kasi ang madalas na nagpupunta rito. The elegant Ma-cho temple stood proudly in the dark as the two of us sneaked inside.
Hawak ng isang kamay ko ang kapeng binili niya para sa akin kanina at ang isa nama'y nakahawak sa kaniya. He walked fast and confident, as if we are not going into serious trouble once we're caught here.
Mukhang palaging nagpupunta si Philodemus dito dahil alam na niya ang pasikot-sikot. And now that I've thought about it, this is the place where we are supposed to meet. When we were young and stupid to decide that we're going to run away from my family and elope. Sometimes, when I'm alone and I think, I imagine what could've happened to us if we really did run away. Would I end up being happy with him? Or would I end up being a miserable teenage mother who made a huge mistake of trusting her boyfriend?
Kinilabutan ako sa naisip. That's the reality of eloping with your lover at such a young age. Love is too strong for young hearts to handle and so it explodes. It only may be just a year but a lot of my perspective have changed so far.
"How many hours did you wait?" I turned to him as the soft rain continued. I am now sitting between his spread legs and leaning against his rockhard chest.
"Are you referring to the day you ditched me?"
I nudged him playfully at the ribs. My skin is very pale and my white satin sleepwear made me look like almost a ghost when placed next to him. Nakatitig ako ngayon sa magkahawak naming kamay at ang klarong pagkakaiba ng aming mga balat. While mine is very soft and fragile, his is very manly and strong. Just staring at our entertwined hands made me feel better and a lot safer.
"Hmm... yeah."
"About four hours."
"Four hours?"
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
Marahan akong umiling. My gaze landed on the intricate details on the painting on the wall and the pleasant interior design of the temple. Ngayon ko lamang ito na-appreciate.
"Philodemus..."
"Yeah?"
Inipit ko ang pang-ibabang labi. Nagdadalawang isip ako kung dapat ko bang itanong sa kaniya. I want him to say it to me first but since he's not saying anything about something, maybe I should just ask?
"Do you know my family before?"
Hindi gaya noon na bahagya siyang naninigas kapag napag-uusapan ang aking pamilya, ngayon ay isang malalim na buntong-hininga lamang ang kaniyang naging sagot. Then his thumb traced small circles on my palm. I watched it in silence, waiting for his reply.
"Yes..."
"Really? How do you know them?"
"Your mother hasn't told you anything about me? Or the Castañares?"
Bigo akong umiling.
"My father is Philippe Castañares. He is your father's running mate for mayoral election before."
"Oh..."
"Something happened between the two of them. I really didn't know the story. Until my father died, hindi pa rin nagkakabati ang iyong ama at aking ama."
My heart thumped inside of my chest. I tried to swallow the rising question but I know I wouldn't be at peace for the rest of the days if I don't ask him this. Our family has a lot of secrets. That, I know for sure. That damn necklace is just a part of a bigger picture and I have yet to know what it really means. Why mother's gone mad when I lost it.
"Philodemus... I'm going to ask you a question."
"Uh-huh."
"And I want you to tell me the truth..."
He paused, before he mumbled a yes.
I nibbled my lower lips. Growing up with the Roman family is a drama full of politics, money, and fame. Every move we make is well-calculated by our parents, and it should not hurt my father's political career. My father's a politician since time immemorable. I may be really sick for judging him as his daughter... but how can he maintain the position without hurting someone?
"Has my family done something horrible to your family?" it almost came like a whisper. Malakas ang pintig ng puso ko.
A few agonizing seconds has passed before he answered. Humigpit ang kaniyang yakap sa akin at pagod niyang ihinilig ang ulo niya aking balikat.
"No..." came his hoarse whisper.
Our house has become more like a political playpen of my father rather than a home. Sa tuwing umuuwi nalang ako ng bahay ay kung sinu-sinong mga tao ang nadadatnan ko. Sometimes, huge celebrities would come to the house to endorse my father to the public. And it made me shiver, knowing that my father is that powerful to have them at his command.
The next day at school, I received a bouquet of flowers from an unknown sender again. Ngiting-aso si Nick habang papalapit ako sa aking upuan. I picked up the bouquet and then pulled the card out of it.
It's the same sweet message he gave me the first time I received a bouquet from him. But this time around, the last line bothered me for the rest of the day.
It's a shame you're a Roman. I can't reach you, no matter how hard I try.
Tulala ako habang nakaupo sa assigned seat. How does being a Roman makes me unreachable for anyone? I'm just an ordinary girl, like the rest of us here. The thing is that, my father is a politician and their dads are doing a more decent job than my father. So... what's the big deal?
"May gustong manghingi ng number mo sa akin noong isang araw..." Nick said as we were walking towards our usual lunch spot. "But of course, I kindly declined the offer of that cute guy. Everyone knows that you belong to Elton Treveron." Niyugyog niya ang aking balikat. "Kung nakita mo lang kung paano namutla iyong lalaki pagkasabi ko na boyfriend mo si Elton!" he even sighed dramatically.
I smiled weakly at him. Pinilit kong maging normal sa araw na iyon, kahit pa kung anu-ano nalang ang pumapasok sa aking isipan. The situation in our house seems to deteriorate day by day. May isang araw na naabutan kong nag-aaway sina mommmy at daddy. But this is not the usual argument that they keep in private. This time, umiiyak na talaga si Shantel. Mom is dragging her suitcase out of the house.
"Leonora..."
And I saw how my father begged her to stay. How Governor Joachim Roman, the ruthless politician, kneeled in front of a woman named Leonora Constantina Roman. She is the only woman he loved and will ever love. Kaya ganito nalang ang debosyon niya sa asawa.
"Please stay... even just for the kids."
Tulala akong nanunuod sa kanila. Shantel couldn't stop from crying. I know their relationship is on the rocks but I didn't know that it would come to a point where my mother would announce annulment of their marriage.
"You know the only thing that could make me stay, Joachim." Matigas niyang wika, bago unti-unting napunta sa akin ang kaniyang tingin. She looked at me with so much hatred and disgust, before she pursed her lips and then swatted my father's hands away.
In just a blink of an eye, she was out of the door.
Malakas ang iyak ni Shantel. I tried to comfort her but she wouldn't let me. Tumakbo lamang siya sa kaniyang kwarto at ibinagsak ang pintuan. While my Dad remained on the floor, his shoulder vibrating with silent tears. My heart clenched in pain. Nang lumingon ako sa taas ay nakita ko si Abuelita na tahimik lamang na pinapanuod ang lahat ng nangyayari.
I didn't know how to comfort my Dad, nor I dare comfort him at all. Tahimik akong umakyat sa aking kwarto at tulalang nakahiga sa kama. Nang hindi ko makayanan ay nagpalit ako ng damit at dahan-dahang lumabas. Tahimik na ang buong bahay. My father is nowhere to be seen. I padded towards my grandmother's bedroom and then knocked softly.
Umingit ang pintuan nang buksan ko ito. I saw my grandmother, sitting on her rocking chair, silently reading Shakepear's sonettes. She smiled kindly at me and removed the gold-rimmed spectacles resting on the bridge of her nose.
"What brings you here, darling?"
I hesitated. Nanatili lang akong nakatayo sa pintuan sa loob ng ilang segundo bago ko nahanap ang lakas na maglakad patungo sa kaniya.
"Abuela..." I said silently.
"Got something in your mind, mija?"
I chewed my lower lips and went to her. Gaya nang palagi kong ginagawa noong bata pa ako, niyayakap ko siya at kumakandong ako sa kaniya kapag nakaupo siya sa rocking chair. Though I try not to hurt her in the process. Malaki na ako at alam kong mahina na rin si Abuela.
"What happened..." my voice was laced with unshed tears. Inaalala ko pa lang ang naabutan ko kanina ay labis na akong naiiyak.
"If you're worried about your mother, do not worry much. She will come back. Leonora Constantina will never leave Joachim."
Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "What do you mean?"
Abuela sighed and rubbed her temples. "She's just pulling a drama, mija. I just hope Joachim realizes it before it's too late."
"Abuela..." I pursed my lips. Tumitig ako sa kaniya. There are so many questions inside of my head right now. "Does it have something to do with the necklace I lost?"
She stared at me with her soulful eyes, before she averted her gaze bitterly.
"Abuela..." I pleaded. "Litong-lito na po ako. I need to know what's going on. What's with the necklace and why is everyone going crazy about it?"
She stroked my hair as her eyes bore into me. "You're a sweet, sweet girl Stormie dear. Sometimes, I wish that you were born into a different family. That you belong in a simpler life. One that does not involve the Romans."
"Abuelita..."
"But..." she shrugged and chuckled weakly. "There's nothing we can do."
"What do you mean?"
"About the necklace... your mother is right. It is the Roman's holy relic. You remember the annual family reunion we have in Spain?"
I nodded my head. Sometimes it'd be in Italy, Spain, or France...depending on the family that's hosting the reunion. Our family will be gone for a week just to be there and attend the special occassion. But it's more of a social gathering to me than a reunion. Naiinggit nga ako sa mga kaklase ko noon kapag nagkukuwento sila sa kanilang mga family reunion.
They say they would wear matching shirts with their family, play parlor games while the adults are cooking and all. And the venue would be one of their relative's houses. Ibang-iba sa amin. They would get a luxurious hotel exclusively for the Romans and all of us are required to wear heels and long gowns. I couldn't speak to any of my cousins because they are all intimidating. My uncle's and auntie's are either drinking champagne or smoking expensive tobacco's, while they continue to argue about something I couldn't understand.
"When your father gave you the necklace, it means that you are chosen."
"Chosen?"
"Chosen to be the heiress of the Roman's ancient wealth."
Bahagyang namilog ang mga mata ko sa gulat. "What..."
"The Roman's are far more powerful and wealthy than you could ever imagine, Stormie. That's why we have a tradition to pass the ancient wealth to the first-born son. When I gave birth to Joachim, his father passed the necklace to him. Whoever is wearing the necklace is the true heiress of a tremendous amount of wealth beyond one's imagination."
Natigilan ako at nagbaba ng tingin. I am still trying to process what Abuelita had said to me.
"Pero bakit ako..." my voice came like a whisper.
"Joachim doesn't have a son. And Leonora refused to give birth to another baby with him just to have a heir. Wearing the necklace simply means that all of the Roman's wealth belongs to you."
"Abuelita... that wealth is nothing to me!" I said, my lips trembling. "Why would Dad entrust that to me? Mommy is right. Shantel is more deserving than I am! Dapat sa kaniya nalang iyon!"
"Stormie..." hinagod ni Abuelita ang aking likod habang naiiyak na akong nakaluhod sa kaniyang harapan. This is why my mother was so obsessed with the necklace. Because it symbolizes money and power.
"I am not interested with the money, Abuelita..."
"I know."
"Dad should just give it to Shantel!" I said. "Maybe mommy will come home again."
"Believe me, it breaks my heart seeing your Dad like this, too." She said softly.
"Abuelita..."
"But Shantel will never be worthy of that necklace, Stormie."
"Bakit...?"
Abuelita turned her gaze away, as a pained look cross her face.
"Abuelita... bakit?" I prodded.
"The blood running in her veins is not of the Roman's."
Mabilis na kumalat ang hapdi sa aking dibdib habang nanlalaki ang mga mata kong nakatitig kay Abuelita.
"I don't understand..." tears silently streamed down my face. "Why? She's my twin!"
"Yes, she is." Abuelita squeezed my arms in an attempt to comfort me. Gulong-gulo na ako ngayon. "Shantel Iona will always be your twin sister."
"Then why are you telling me that she doesn't have the Roman blood?"
Napahagulhol pa ako lalo. All these years, my family has kept this secret from me. I know for a fact that we are not perfect, but this is just too much. Too much...even my own mother has become a slave of money that she's willing to leave my father is her wishes are not entertained.
Nag-angat ng tingin sa akin si Abuela, nangingilid din ang kaniyang luha. She caressed my cheeks and wiped my tears away.
"Because Stormie, a woman can give birth to twins with different fathers..."