"Froilan really did well with this engagement," anunsyo ni Sra. Grace. Napag-alaman kong hipag pala ni Sra. Ynez ang babae. Ang kapatid niyang lalaki ang asawa nito.
My first impression of the señora earlier is not snotty as what Oliver described. May pagkamagiliw nga ito kung ikukumpara kay Sra. Ynez. She had a bigger and warmer reaction to me kesa sa nanay mismo ng nobyo ko. While Sra. Grace greeted me effusively, Sra. Ynez just gave me a tight smile as she received the box of chocolates I offered.
Pero as soon as we were seated for dinner, my views on Sra. Grace changed. Naintindihan ko na ngayon kung bakit maaasar si Sra. Ynez dito. The woman hogs all the conversations na akalain mong siya ang host sa halip na si Sra. Ynez.
Wala pa sa lugar ang pagmamalaki niya sa isa sa mga anak niya. Apat ang anak niyang lalaki pero mukhang si Froilan lang ang totoong anak. Froilan can do no wrong. Froilan is the best. Froilan is...
I honestly don't care nor am I interested. I'm sure Sra. Ynez feels the same. She is staring at the other señora in distaste pero hind naman napapansin noong isa. Busy si Sra. Grace being proud sa anak niya. The expression on the face of Oliver's mother made me feel a little sense of kinship with her. Hindi man siya totally sold sa idea na may nobya ang anak niya, at least we are one in thinking that Sra. Grace is absurd.
Pasimple ko ring tiningnan kung ano ang expression ng iba pang tao sa hapag sa deklarasyon na iyon ni Sra. Grace at iba-iba nga.
Si Oliver at ang Dad niya ay nagkatinginan lang, smirked, and continued eating.
Ang dalawa pang mga nakababatang kapatid ni Froilan naman ay umikot lang ang mata and did not even bother to comment. One specific brother, ang ipinakilalang si Raphael, umaktong parang walang narinig. Si Froilan naman mismo, bless his soul, napangiwi sa pagkapahiya sa inaakto ng ina.
"Mom, stop talking about it," saway na ni Froilan. Mabuti na lang at hindi nagmana sa ina na mukhang walang sense of shame.
"Why should I?" nagtataka namang tugon ni Sra. Grace. "You have chosen a very good woman. Without our help. That is very difficult to do these days. Young ones seem to think that marriage is just all about them. The height of idiocy! That is for the plebeians to do. Not us. Not the Mondragons. What you hormone-laden lads call love is just a golden opportunity for these beautiful gold diggers to climb the social ladder. So despicable!"
Namayani ang katahimikan sa hapag sa litanyang iyon ng señora and all eyes are on her. All, except mine that is. Tahimik ko lang na ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain habang pinag-iisipan ang sinabi niya.
Sra. Grace will be in perfect company with Rachel's mother. I can imagine her saying the same things.
Then, another thought entered my mind. Pinaparinggan ba ako ng señora na ito?
Gusto kong matawa pero nagpigil ako. Baka mapagkamalan pa akong baliw ng nanay ni Oliver at madagdagan ang pagkadisgusto niya sa akin. But, Lord, I feel like a character in a telenovela sa scene na ito. Pero sa halip na ang nanay ng nobyo ko ang umaalipusta sa akin, ang tiya niya.
"Ma, wala tayo sa bahay," seryosong buwelta ni Raphael sa nanay. "It is in bad form to make the other guests, not to mention the hosts, feel uncomfortable with what you say."
Napakurap-kurap si Sra. Grace at mukhang doon lang nag-sink-in sa kanya ang mga sinabi niya. Napatingin siya sa tatlong may-ari ng bahay. Kay Oliver, sa Dad nito, at sa hipag niya. Nakakunot nuo si Sr. Jaime. Ganoon din si Oliver. Sra. Ynez is blatantly glowering at her.
Namula si Sra. Grace at agad akong binalingan. She smiled at me consolingly. "Sabrina, is it?"
Ngumiti ako at tumango. I'm secretly amused. Malinaw naman ang pagkakabanggit ni Oliver sa pangalan ko kanina pero she must have dismissed me on the spot to forget it that fast.
"I meant no offense, darling."
Ayan na naman ang phrase na 'yan. 'No offense'. Ano kaya ang reaction nito kapag sinabi kong I am extremely offended?
"None taken, Sra. Grace." My smile brightened.
"I'm sure you are not one of those women," nakangiti niyang sambit. "Oliver would have certainly known better. Better than my Froilan. So call me Tita, hija." And she gave me a conspiratory wink.
My smile widened even more as I nodded.
Don't hold your breath for that, hindi ko maiwasang maisip.
Another 'tita'? I already got Tita Adina who thinks I'm the bane of her existence. Why do I have to add this one to the list? Do I look like a sucker for hurtful words and looks and thoughts? Hindi pa ba sapat ang nanay ni Rachel to give me an overdose of all that?
"She's certainly not," Oliver, na katabi ko, piped in. "If someone has become a digger, Tita, it is me because my Sabrina is gold. 24-carat. The very best there is."
It was my turn to roll my eyes at the cheesiness of this guy. Hindi ko mapigilang palihim na kurutin ang hita niya. Pinanlakihan ko lang siya ng mata trying to tell him with my eyes to shut up. He just grinned at me.
Tinapunan naman siya ng tablenapkin ng pinsan niyang si Raphael na tumama sa mukha niya. "Get out of here, pussy," asik nito. Sumunod naman ang ibang mga pinsan sa pagtatapon ng kanya-kanyang tablenapkin kay Oliver na tatawa-tawa lang.
"Inggit lang kayo. Wala kayong Sabrina."
Raphael sneered at my boyfriend. "Agawin ko 'yan sa'yo nang makita mo." At dahan-dahan pa akong kinindatan to which I just stared.
"Hey!" Oliver took offense at parang batang inurong ang upuan palapit sa akin at bigla akong niyakap. Ibinaon niya pa ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya para 'itago' ako mula kay Raphael. "Akin 'to, kuya. Magpahanap ka kay Lia ng iyo."
Humagalpak lang ng tawa si Raphael pati ang mga kapatid nito. I can't see the rest of them but I swear I could also hear Sr. Jaime chuckling. I can feel my face getting hot at kinurot ko naman ngayon ang tagiliran ni Oliver para bitawan ako. Nagmana din yata ang isang ito kay Sra. Grace. Walang sense of shame!
Binitiwan niya nga naman ako, pero humalik pa sa aking pisngi bago ibinalik ng ayos ang upuan. Napatingin na lang ako sa dalawang señora, apologetically. Sra. Grace just grinned. Sra. Ynez had a small indulgent smile, too.
The dinner continued on nicely after that. Nabawasan na ang pagiging annoying ni Sra. Grace and that resulted to a better mood for Sra. Ynez.
Nasa balcony na ako overlooking the garden at nagpapahangin. I left Oliver and his cousins arguing over something sa sala. The elders also excused themselves after dinner and so I am left alone to contemplate about dinner. Can I consider it a small success?
I was bracing for a cold reception from Oliver's parents. Inaashan ko nang tititigan ako ni Sra. Ynez mula ulo hanggang paa and dismiss me on the spot pero hindi niya ginawa. She just smiled at me politely as her husband greeted me with a hint of excitement. Binawi ni Sr. Jaime ang coldness ng asawa sa akin. So, is that a tiny yay?
Sra. Ynez is reserving her judgment. Perfectly understandable. She only heard of me a few hours before dinner. Hindi niya ako kilala at hindi niya alam kung saang sulok ng mundo ako napulot ni Oliver. If I were her, I would have reacted in the same way.
"Sabrina?"
Agad akong napatuwid ng tayo at hinarap ang pinanggalingan ng boses. Ang nakangiting mukha ni Yaya Meding ang bumungad muli sa akin. Siya ang nagbukas ng pinto para sa amin ni Oliver kanina.
"Gusto kang makausap ni Sra. Ynez," wika niya.
Ngumiti siyang muli bago tumalikod at naglakad palayo. Tahimik naman akong nakasunod sa likuran niya as she leads me through the house. Kung ano-ano na ang mga isiping gustong pumasok sa utak ko but I try to keep them at bay. Ayaw kong magpadaig sa anxiety. I would not be able to think properly then.
Tatlong sunod-sunod na katok ang ginawa ni Yaya Meding nang matapat kami sa isang kuwarto. "Señora? Nandito na po si Sabrina," mahinang tawag ng yaya.
"Let her in." The elegant voice was muffled by the mahogany door.
Agad namang binuksan ng katulong ang pinto at giniya ako papasok. Muli rin naman niya iyong isinara at iniwan na ako.
I am inside a warm and cozy home library. May wall-to-wall of books. Sa gitna niyon ay isang malapad na coffee table na napapalibutan ng ilang mga high back chairs. Sa isa sa mga iyon ay nakaupo ang ina ni Oliver.
"Have a seat, Sabrina."
She pointed to another high back chair na katapat ng nasa kanya. Agad naman akong tumalima. Nang makalapit ako, napansin kong ang box ng chocolates na dinala ko kanina ay nakapatong sa coffee table. May bukas at bawas na iyon. Isa. She must not be thinking of me that bad kung binawasan niya ang pasalubong ko, right?
"Thank you for the chocolates," sabi niya pagkaupo ko.
I took a deep breath, braced myself, and smiled at the other woman. "Walang anuman po."
She returned the smile politely.
"Oliver never mentioned you before. Why is that?" diretsahan niyang tanong.
This. This question is why I wanted Oliver to call his parents before bringing me home. Oo nga at sinabi ko sa kanya that I prefer our relationship to be conducted in private. Pero the moment that I said yes to him, he should have called home and come clean that he's bringing a girlfriend home. I really can't understand how men's minds work sometimes.
I held on to my smile and answered. "The relationship is new, Señora."
She did not correct me and ask me to call her something else. Kahit tita. My heart sunk a little lower.
"How new?"
"Barely a month."
I could see the calculation in her mind as she tries to remember what happened a month ago and then her eyes narrowed. "Ikaw ba ang nagpauwi sa anak ko ng madaling araw? Na walang paalam sa mga tao dito sa bahay?"
"Hindi po," matipid kong tugon as I meet her critical gaze head-on. I am thankful that Tita Adina treated me like something the dog brought in whenever I am in front of her. She trained me for this very moment that I could look at Sra. Ynez as I deny her accusations.
One elegant eyebrow arched in disbelief pero hindi na niya pinursue ang topic. That arched eyebrow was enough to get her point across.
"Where did you meet?" pagpapatuloy niya.
"At the university. Architecture student po ako."
The brow arched higher. "That is one expensive degree. Are you on scholarship?"
Napabuntong-hininga ako. This inquest is getting worse by the second. "Full-paying student."
"The architecture curriculum of USJ is one of the best in Asia, if not the world," she grudgingly said. Of course USJ has one of the best architecture degree in the Philippines. My father is one of its alumni, after all. "Are you any good?"
"Better than average." I maybe insecure about a lot of things but I know my strength in architecture. I am above average. Oliver says so. Rachel says so. Even my father uses some of my designs and I am not licensed yet.
"You have to prove that one of these days," Sra. Ynez smiled her first genuine smile. "Taga-saan ka?"
She looked at me thoughtfully as soon as I mentioned my province. "Have you heard of the del Valle clan? They hail from your province."
Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Kung hindi niya ako tatanungin ng diretso, hindi ko kailangang mag-volunteer ng impormasyon. Would this be considered lying? I just want her to know me as someone beyond my tainted blood. A chance. That is all I ask . Is that so bad? Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nakatango ng maayos sa tanong na iyon but I did.
"One of the closest friends I met in highschool married into the family. If you are as good as you say you are, I can introduce you to her. You'll be staying with us until Christmas, right?"
I smiled weakly as I nodded to her. Bakit niya ako ipapakilala sa iba kung may design depart din naman ang kumpanya niya? She does not want to have anything to do with me in the future?
"What do you like about my son?"
Pinag-isipan kong mabuti ang isasagot. "He is kind," simula ko. "Honest, affectionate. Simply the best man I have ever known."
"Daughters always say that no one is a match to their own father. But you sound like my Oliver is better than yours."
"Definitely," alisto kong sagot. The current Oliver is a thousand times better than my father.
Her gaze turned thoughtful. "It must not hurt my son's case that he is one beautiful man."
"Yes. That definitely doesn't hurt."
Umabot muli ng isa pang chocolate si Sra. Ynez mula sa box bago muling sumandig sa kanyang upuan at tinitigan ako habang ngumunguya. "And that Oliver is an an heir to a conglomerate? That must have bearing, too."
"I came from money, too," malumanay kong sagot.
"Perhaps," aniya. "But certainly not equal to ours."
"Maybe so," sang-ayon ko. "But that is not why I am with your son. I mean no disrespect, señora, but your son is one amazing human being. Deserving of my love, loyalty, respect, and devotion. With or without your family's wealth."
Ina man siya ng nobyo ko, I won't allow even her to disparage Oliver. Hindi kailangan ng nobyo ko ng yaman ng San Martin para mahalin siya ng iba. His character, his intelligence, his heart. That is all that matters. I don't care what she thinks of me as long as she does not think of her son some useless pretty head. That is unfair to Oliver. I won't have it.
She rewarded me with a blindingly brilliant smile. Anak nga niya si Oliver. They have the same happy smile. "Thank you, Sabrina."
Bumuntong-hininga siya. "To be honest, I am really not happy to learn about you from my husband hours before meeting you. I thought I will not be like that wretched Grace and disparage her son's girlfriend but I suddenly find myself in the same boat. I am sorry, but I don't know you from Eve. I cannot be as eager as my husband and son seems to be about you. As Grace says, marriage for my family is not like the fairytale. Our children have responsibilities to the families. As do their future children. I wish it were not so, but that is fact."
Tahimik lang akong nakikinig sa kanya and deep inside, I agree with her. She must think that she needs to make things clear to me. It is not necessary. I knew all these already. I was born into it. On the wrong side of the bed, for sure. Still, my world and theirs intersect. And I understand.
"I don't want Oliver to experience any heartbreak. And you, child, will be his downfall."
I am horrified at the thought. Hurting Oliver is abhorrent to me. To insinuate that I will do that. No. Just no.
Sra. Ynez smiled again. "I know that you won't want to, Sabrina. There are many ways for a heart to break as there are many reasons why it has to happen. I feel, like a mother's instinct, that the two of us will be breaking my precious boy's heart. I hope, for everybody's sake, that it won't come true."
Muli siyang dumukwang at kumuha ng isa pang tsokolate sa box. She then pushed it towards me. "Take one, darling."
I took one and popped it into my mouth and tasted the bitterest chocolate I ever had in my life. How can be this be Sra. Ynez's favorite?
I heard her chuckle as I struggle to chew on the chocolate. Nakikita niya sigurong hindi maipinta ang aking mukha sa nginunguya ko.
"That's healthy, child. Not all that tastes good is good for you. Same with the bad. Not all the badness in this world is there to destroy you. Some of it just toughens you up."
Isinara niya ang box ng chocolate, tumayo bitbit ito at lumapit sa isang drawer at nilagay iyon doon. She then glanced at me.
"I may not like you now, Sabrina Rodriguez. I don't know if I ever will. But since my son seems to love you for now, let's get along well and enjoy the holidays."
She smiled at me tightly again.
"Show yourself out and have Meding show you to your room."
And she dismissed me.
I returned her tight smile and went out of the room. Yaya Meding was waiting. And I let the older woman's chatter ease the tremors inside my heart as I steel myself to survive the next two weeks.