“Alvin… Oh what happened?” a girl in a princess costume approached him.
Alvin? Sino ba si Alvin? And then he took off his mask. It was covered by some of his wavy hair, hinawi niya ito.
A doppelganger? Somehow this Alvin guy resembled my Dane the only thing that they differ is their eye color. For all I know he could be Dane’s twin brother. That is if he has one. I then pulled myself up.
“I am very sorry, I am very sorry if I am a bit clumsy…” wala ako sa pag-tigil sa pag-sorry.
“No, you don’t have to apologize… Kahit ako when I tried this for the first time, let’s just say that I also slipped not just once but almost paulit-ulit…” and he gave me this awesome smile, much like my Dane smiles at me.
“Ah ganun ba? Well sorry talaga… Pasensya na…” I reiterated to him.
Nakakawala talaga ng poise, hindi ako makatingin sa kanila. Then the girl just said…
“Oh that’s good that you are fine… Anyways can you please excuse us?” this pretty girl politely said and the both of them just left.
Then someone had just grabbed me by my arms.
“Babe, are you fine? I was on my way here from the stage when I saw you slipped…” and hinimimas himas ni Dane ang braso ko.
Humarap ako sa kanya. Hmmm… Tinignan ko siya mula ulo hanggang paa. I don’t know really how to react. Kung matatawa ako or what. My Dane was a green archer in tights. And bakat-na-bakat ang alam mo na, hahaha!
“Why babe? You find it sexy?” he seducingly asked me.
“Well, I think the whole corporate guest and employees would certainly agree that it’s definitely sexy…” I whispered to him sensually and I just laughed and laughed after that. Sa katatawa ko ayun nadulas na naman ako. Karma is a bitch right? But good karma ulit ang pumalit. My own Dane now literally catched me.
He held me by his arms. The cold breeze blew his divine hair. And those blue eyes, it was surely mesmerizing.
Just like in the movies, in some prom dance of some sort, an old love story was played. His grasp became stronger, no tighter… I could feel his arms around me. Dane just hummed along to the tune of the song playing. Everything was perfect. It was a moment on which can be compared to the rarest and clearest diamond in the sky.
We kissed. We don’t care if the whole world was there to witness our love.
“I love you…” I told him.
He smiled, instead of answering me back. He just stepped backward away from me. And after it was a surprise. We we’re linked by two necklaces, somehow my Dane had managed on putting this necklace on me while we were intimately dancing. On the middle of the two necklaces were our rings. And then he Dane said…
“I’ve brought you in the heavens on my wedding proposal to you babe. But I haven’t given you the sun, the moon and the stars yet… “ And I just realize that our rings had custom designed engravings on it. It was the sun, the moon and the stars.
Fireworks were over us by that time, the mighty moon had just illuminated us along with it, but where’s the stars, and my Sun? That is my Dane, who always makes me smile and make me shine everyday or everynight.
31st of October 2008
It’s a Fry-day, este Friday pala. But last night was fun really.
The bands from Parokya ni Edgar to Kamikazee rocked! And syempre nakaka in-love din ang mga rhytyms from the bossanova queen “Sitti” and the love songs from the band “Hale”. The food was indeed sumptuous. Dami ko nga nakain eh. Tuwang-tuwa si Mr. Russell that he also had his picture taken with the lions. Nakakakaba nga eh. Of course nag-pahuli ba kami ni Dane? Ayun kinalagkad ako sa mga leon. And syempre we also had a sort off corporate family picture. Nakakatawa rin ang mga antics ng mga host namin last night na sina Pooh at Pokwang. All in all maganda naman ang response sa event. On this very night Mr. Russell along with his lover, and Ms. Woodsrow with Gladys left for their flight to their island in Palawan. Nagpaiwan na si Dane dito sa Manila. Medyo stressed kami pero after thinking all the success na nangyari, parang gusto naming mag-solo at mag-yarian this whole weekend. Hehehe!
1st of November 2008
We went into church to offer candles to our love ones who already had passed away. In the afternoon we went to the south of the metro to personally visit my parent’s grave. On this day I’ve officially introduced my Dane to my loving mum and my very understanding dad.
2nd of November 2008
Malapit na ba ang pasko? O may papalapit na bagyo? Kasi lately parang masyado naman maulan. I’m still lucky kasi hindi ako nababasa when I get home. Tuwing nakikita ko tuloy yung ibang employees na nababasa sa ulan pag uwian, naaalala ko tuloy yung noon pag umuuwi ako ng mag-isa sa Manila. Eh siya nga pala, bakit nga pala pasko ang iniisip ko? Eh malapit na nga pala ang birthday ng Dane ko. This is a bit weird or maybe awkward, pero I could not think of anything na ma-iiregalo ko sa kanya. Anu bang klase kang lover Raine? Gusto lang ng partner mo, hindi mo pa alam? Kaasar!
3rd of November 2008
Just this morning medyo naguguluhan pa rin ako on what should I give my baby Dane for his upcoming birthday. While wearing my underwear, naisip ko underwear kaya? Kaso I just realized isang damakmak na pala ang Bench underwear niya. He usually wears his CK boxers before. Kaso nung naisama ko one time sa Bench Body store, ayun twelve o fourteen yata yun na piraso, sa dami hindi ko na maalala. He had a checkered one, stripped, printed, tapos may mga graphic designs pa. And of course who could forget the florals? Pwede na nga siyang maging Bench underwear model eh. Baka matalo pa niya si Ding Dong, Piolo, Sam, Jon at Rafael. Hehehe!
4th of November 2008
Three days na lang. parang napasin ko, dumadalas yata ang count down sa buhay ko lately ha? Anyways, medyo severe yung ngayon. Kasi wala pa rin me maisip na mai-regalo sa kanya. Sa totoo lang, Dane has every material thing na gusto niya. Kaya isip ako ng isip kung ano nga ba ang gusto niya for his birthday. I’ve consulted already my friends about this, from Lucky to Tats, from Gab and Elijah who is my High School best friend. Lahat sila isa lang ang nasabi. That it would just struck me on what ba ang deserving at magugustuhan niya talaga and no matter how small or big it is, or how expensive or petty it is the important thing is that naalala mo sya… Medyo gasgas na kasi yung it’s the thought that counts pero napaisip ako di ba ganun din yun? Hehehe…
5th of November 2008
It is quite a good thing that it’s a bit sunny today, and after going to work, Dane and I decided to have dinner outside. We drove into Glorietta and we went to TGI Friday’s. My Dane had some steak and I had some salad. Sayang naman kasi ang work out ko kaya I do watch now on what I eat. Buti na nga lang and I see some developments eh. So after that sumptuous dinner, we had our usual staple of Starbucks coffee and Dane had his dessert there. A slice of chocolate dome cake.
“Hmmm… Is it me or medyo tumatakaw ka yata lately Dane?” I suddenly asked him.
“Really? Ako tumatakaw? Hindi naman ha? It’s still the same me…” defensively my hubby just told me while he continued on munching his cake.
Well the truth is since umuwi siya from the States eh mukhang mas gumana ang kanyang appetite. Nung nga lang corporate birthday party ni Mr. Russell, I could not even remember on how many times did he returned onto the buffet table. And just now, he ordered his second serving of the chocolate dome cake. Hindi kaya depressed tong Dane ko, at ginagawa niyang output ang pagkain. Well okay na yun kesa naman maging output niya ang makipag-sex sa ibang tao, much like yung mga boyfriends ng mga gay friends ko. Hehehe… Well anyways, since medyo busy siya with his cake at medyo distracted sa pagkain. I did try on divulging from him some ideas kung anu ba ang gusto niya for his birthday. Pero mukhang hindi ako nag-succeed.
“Hmmm… Are you trying to spy on me babe? On what do I wanted to have for my birthday?” and I could still see some chocolate smudges on his very red lips.
“Huh? Spy on you? Bakit naman? You think hindi pa ako ready?” well hindi pa nga me ready actually, ay buhay.
To make things worse… “You must surprise me on the day of my birthday okay? Hinihintay ko yan ha… Hehehe… Hmmm… But I do only celebrate my birthday fifteen minutes before twelve… Hehehe…” he was born kasi on November seven, fifteen minutes before midnight, mabuti na lang at medyo nakahinga ako ng kaunti at medyo napahaba pa ang time ko sa paghahanap ng regalo sa kanya. Kasi naman eh, bakit ba madali niyang mabasa ang nasa isip ko.
6th of November 2008
I think it was about nine in the morning when I had brought Dane his daily newspaper. He usually checks out the lifestyle section of his preferred broadsheet paper. He is mainly interested on features about the arts, to be be exact to his first love, photography, and some painters who has very interesting works.
Paintings? Paintings ba kamo? Bigla akong napaisip… I suddenly had a mind recall… Well to be exact tinignan ko yung exact date nung journal entry ko just to be sure…
9th of April 2008
“I would have my new car by tomorrow…” Dane was just so excited. He was about to pick up his newly bought car at the Ford Showroom in Greenhills. He became more excited because it has an ad on his newspaper that he usually reads.
He suddenly had shifted on his interest on this Filipina artist who originally was based on the States and had decided to rather stay here in the country. She was Emina Malagueña, daughter of Filipino tychoon Emilio Malagueña. She was recently featured on CNN Asia about her artistic works that depicts famous people giving childish impressions. She calls her works as portraitures of childish impressionism, what she meant by impressionism was the literal impression of a person and not the painting style. Some of her famous works were President Bush munching on a donut, President Macapagal sucking on a lollipop, Imelda Marcos playing with a Barbie Doll, Oprah indulging on yogurt with drippings on her cheek and many more famous celebrities both locally and from Hollywood.
“This is my favorite among her works. Madonna with a panty on her head…” and we ended up laughing in the end. But seriously he does really admire Emina’s work.
“Hehehe… Well she must be a very busy person right?” I suddenly asked him.
“Hmmm… According to this article ever since she came back from the States… She never had made another artwork of anyone…” Dane said in a sad voice.
“How come? Well she really makes good art. And she makes people smile. That’s the important thing right? Nakakalungkot naman kung hindi na siya gagawa ulit?” I told Dane.
“Yeah you’re right… She’s a very rare gem who could make people smile…” my hubby agreed on what I’ve said.
“But wait just in case she wanted to make an artwork again… Who would be well fitted for her next subject…” bigla ko lang naisip.
“Well… I would be his perfect model… I would be the perfect candidate for her next artwork. Spaghetti anyone?” and he just laughed and laughed.
Oh my… What a boyfriend Dane is… Hehehe… Sometimes hindi ko siya magets… Pero he just executes his humor in a precise way that he does make it sure that he’ll make me laugh. Hahaha… My very own clown Dane. Bukas nga I’ll cook pasta for him, he loves it with some meat-BALLS. Hahaha!
Bulls-eye! Now I’ve hit on the jackpot. I do have a goal on what I should be giving for my Dane. Pero napatanong na naman ako sa sarili ko. Where would I start? That very afternoon nag-isip ako ng nag-isip and I had this great idea. Buti na lang at yun pa rin ang broadsheet na binabasa ni Dane. So I just decided to call their offices and had ask their archives people on how to locate Ms. Malagueña. Pero unang try palang I already had hit on a road block, wala silang address ni Ms. Malagueña. It’s a good thing na maabilidad yung taong nakausap ko and she had referred me on a showroom on where the said artist usually had her exhibitions on. Kaya I immediately called the said showroom, I was a bit nervous. Kasi it is about five in the afternoon already. Baka wala ng tao sa offices nila. Ayy… Sumagot ka na… On the fifth of sixth ring yata ayun may sumagot rin. The guy was accommodating though pero he adviced me that I should be patient enough para ma persuade si Ms. Emina. Mabait naman daw si Ms. Emina, pero she’s seems a bit sad looking. I jotted the address on a piece of paper and I put it in my bag. Nag-file naman ako ng emergency leave para bukas. At least I was all set for tomorrow.
7th of November 2008
Wow! Today is my Dane’s twenty-fifth birthday. Well technically mamaya pa yun, fifteen minutes before mag midnight. He specifically told me that he celebrates his birthday on that very time only. Hahaha… Minsan talaga may pagka-eccentric talaga tong baby ko na to. Pero okay lang masaya naman eh, parang extra challenge.
Kaya kagabi pa lang hinanda ko na yung mga kailangan ko for today. I had a bag full of some stuff, such as food, a gift for Ms. Malagueña for some token of appreciation lang ba and I had my list of instructions as well as her address stored in my phone. Iniwan ko na lang yung sinulatan kong papel ng address ni Ms. Emina sa home office table namin. Baka kasi mamisplace ko pa yung papel eh, may pagka-burara kasi ako.
But before going there, I decided to make my baby his breakfast and had put it on out bed. Birthday naman niya eh, he truly deserves some royal treatment. And I had left him a note saying.
To my very handsome baby Dane,
Hmmm… Technically just like what you have said,
hindi mo pa naman birthday at this very time.
Kaya hindi muna kita babatiin…
Pero this is one thing na hindi kailangan ng technicalities,
Para lang sabihin ko sayo…
I LOVE YOU my baby Dane! Mwahmwahmwah!
Kain ka na and enjoy your breakfast Mr. Takaw! Hehehe!
Xoxo
Love,
Raine… (P.S. I’ll be on time for tonight okay? Promise yan baby ko!)
I left our abode at about five in the morning. Sa totoo lang he has no hint on what am I upto for today. He didn’t even know about my leave. Sigurado na nagulat yun na wala ako sa tabi nya this morning. I decided on not using his car, kasi he might use it for some official business of his. Pero when I was already in Bulacan, parang napaisip ako.
“I should have used his car instead of commuting my way here…” medyo nawawala na yata ako. I though that the whole Bulacan kasi is an urbanized province already kasi katabi siya ng Quezon City. Pero may mga places pa rin pala ito na untouched by the city life. It still has its charm and its pristine beauty. Buti na lang at maaraw ngayon, if it’s raining today tiyak at patay ako.
Buti na lang at may napagtanungan ako na mabait na manong. Tricycle driver siya and it seems that he knows the place that I’m looking for.
“Ahh eto ba kamo? Sa kabilang barangay pa to’ Pag-aari ng mga Malagueña ang hacienda na yan… Ipaparuon ko kayo…” napakalalim niyang magtagalog. And a hacienda? I thought that Villa Flordeluz was a subdivision here in Bulacan. At inihatid na nga ako ni manong sa sinasabi niyang lugar.
After some minutes, I’ve already seen the signage of the next baranggay and it says “Welcome to Barangay San Antonio”… The air was very fresh here. And you could see the vast hectares of rice fields. I could also see small houses of some village people. Then manong driver had told me that Villa Flordeluz was just ahead of us. And he pinpointed this white ancestral house.
“Manong eto po ang bayad…” and I handed him a hundred pesos. I know that a hundred would be very helpful for him and his family, and besides. He was courteous and friendly so I think he deserves that.
So the tricycle driver left. I arrived the place maybe at about eight or nine in the morning? But I am not that quite sure about it. And then I observed the place, the lot has no high walls or such kaya kita mo naman ang nasa loob. The house itself was pretty amazing, it looks old though pero it still a charmer with its white marble post and intricate moldings and statues that adorns it. I though nga it would be just a typical ancestral wooden house, eh hindi pala. And on its black steel bar gates were its signage Villa Flordeluz. There was an antique bell on it and that is the very thing that I used to attract someone’s attention from inside. Pero after a minute parang napaaisip ako, parang walang tao. Kaya inulit ko. I repeated the bell ringing every fifteen minutes hoping that someone would attend on me. Kaso mukha talagang walang tao. Kaya nag-isip isip ako. Kailangan na bang mag back out? And have my plan B? The question is Raine? Do you have a plan B? Sige-sige one last time, I’ll ring the bell for the last time.
And so I did. But for the last time, mukhang wala ngang tao. To make things worse, sa kalumaan ng tali ng antique bell ay napigtal ito.
“Isn’t this a sign that you should back out?” sabi ko sa sarili ko. Well madali ko naman itong sinagot na yes Raine, senyales na nga ito, isang oras ka ng naghihintay dito and medyo kumakalam na ang tiyan mo. I was about to walk away when.
“Susuko ka na ba kagad niyan iho?” a woman’s voice had suddenly caught my attention.
Syempre humarap kagad ako. After all the time that I have been waiting susuko pa nga ba ako? But wait a minute? Sino na ba tong kausap ko? Impossible naman na care taker siya rito. She looks very regal to be one.
“So ano iho? Ngayon ka pa ba susuko?” tanung niya ulit sa akin. I think she is about on her early fiftees siguro. To describe her, she somehow looks like Gloria Romero in her younger years. Of course the first thing that I’ve did was to introduce myself.
“Good Morning ma’am… Ako nga pala si Adrian Rios, but you could just call me Raine… I am looking for Ms. Emina Malagueña po…” I told her politely. Medyo kinakabahan ako nung sinabi ko yun.
“Actually iho, I am just expecting for your arrival… Sige pasok ka na…” she is expecting me already? What did she mean by that? Oh my, si Ms. Emina na pala ang kausap ko. And then she led me into this vast garden of hers. It has all sorts of flowers that you could imagine. And just across the garden was a small but a very enchanting lake.
“Paolo my assistant at the showroom already had called me that you were actually looking for me… And ano naman ang maitutulong ko sayo Mr. Rios…” somehow she had a very sweet sounding voice, pero I have this sense na parang she is a bit interrogating me. And then she handed me a sprayer. She also had one too and she started spraying water on her wild orchids.
Hindi nako nag-paligoy ligoy pa and I just went straight to the point. At least kung tatanggihan niya ako I would still have time on finding Dane another gift.
“You see Ms. Malagueña, my fiancé is an admirer of your art…” buong tapang kong sinabi sa kanya.
“And what about my art Mr. Rios?” and she just interrupted me in the middle of my explanation. Sa totoo lang she’s a bit taunting, ewan ko ba. Pero I am already here just to give it a shot. Hinarap na niya ako kaya kailangan harapin ko rin ito.
“With all due respect madame… I wanted you to paint my love of my life Dane…” at nakahinga na ako ng maluwag ng nasabi ko na sa kanya. Pero bumalik din ang kaba ko ng maalala ko na hindi pa pala siya sumasagot.
And then it was dead silent. Somehow her aura changed.
“So do you like some tea or coffee while we talk about it?” and then she was all smiles when she invited me inside her abode.
Pinatuloy nya ako sa receiving area ng bahay niya. And dun pa lang you could see that she is a woman who celebrates life by expressing it on her artwork. She doesn’t only do portraits, she also does landscapes, and she really nailed the realism of it. Dun ko rin nakita yung infamous paintings nina President Bush and President Macapagal, I thought the article was referring to the present Bush and Macapagal, rather it was their fathers who are in Ms. Malagueña’s art pieces.
“So you actually had look for me just to make you an art piece for your fiancé?” Ms. Malagueña asked me.
“Yes madame… You see, it is his birthday today and just like what I’ve said earlier he is an admirer of your art and somehow he did mention it to me that someday he really wanted to be painted by you Ma’am” I told her with all my sincere thoughts.
“Raine right? Please just call me Emina… But the thing is, you have personally visited me here kahit na you’re not even sure na papayag ako na gawin yun for you? And for a fact that I know my assistant Paolo had already told you and some news about me also says that I’m not painting again? At the same time for a very short span of time gagawin ko yun? Do you have any idea on how long it would take me just to finish one? ” Ms. Emina asked me those questions.
Kahit ako napatanong. What did really drive you to do such a thing? And then I answered her,
“Love ma’am, it is just the thing called love that brought me here. I just wanted him to be happy Emi-na… I really do… And I do believe in your passion when it comes to art. You see Emina, my hubby is also an artist. He’s into photography actually…” with a straight face nasabi ko sa kanya lahat yun. Medyo nahihiya pa nga ako with addressing her with her first name.
She was astonished with what I just said. She was very interested on hearing on what I have to say. And I just told her our story. The love story of Dane and I.
“I know it’s not that perfect Emina… But nothing’s really perfect in this world right? Paintings are not even perfect right? It is on the perception of the observer or the artist on what is to be considered as perfect or almost perfect. That in those imperfections we do learn to mend and patch up the wrong doings and frustrations that we have…” and that I ended my story to her.
And then I just saw her smirked, I am not really sure if that means a “Yes” or what?
“Raine… Sa totoo lang you just don’t know how overjoyed am I on hearing your own love story. For the longest time, I am just looking for the right subjects for my artworks. I am actually looking for something specific. Specific in the sense that I could tell someone’s emotions, or somehow to tell someone’s story. Telling another person’s story is just like telling mines.” Medyo napapahinga na siya ng malalim nung sinasabi na nya ito.
“I was a very driven person back then Raine. It came to the point that I do want something new in my life. From the conventional I went into doing arts that somehow makes people smile. Alongside with that said change, my emotional life too also changed. My life somehow had put me into a very different sense of direction, a newer persepective. But I am all happy with all that I have done…” And you could see her face as if she was painting something with her vivid imagination. But she didn’t actually pinpoint the main reason on why she decided to stop making artworks for the longest time.
Still no affirmation from her. And from nowhere she just said,
“Okay… Sige I’ll do it…” nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Imagine, I have persuaded her on doing my very big favor.
And then she had asked me if she could have Dane’s photo, at madali ko naman itong binigay sa kanya.
“Kaya naman pala eh…” Emina suddenly said.
Kaya naman pala what? Napaisip na naman ako sa sinabi ni miss artisan.
“Somehow I could tell it on his eyes that he his very sincere about his feelings for you.” As she continued on what she was saying.
Ganun? Kahit sa picture nababasa niya kung anu man ang nararadaman ng isang tao? Well duh? Ms. Emina was an artist afterall. Ganyan din naman si Dane eh, they could easily read other people’s minds.
After that short chit-chat, she then toured me around her house. She told me that she’s going to start on her masterpiece after lunch.
We then went into the foyer and she had lead me into her veranda. From that very point you could see the extent of her estate. Ms. Malagueña has a stable with the finest horses. She had mango trees just along the house with enourmous fruits. You could also see the rice fields that the Malagueña’s owned. And there you could see the farmers waving back to us.
“After such a time I did stop doing portraitures, I did tried scribbling how life works here in the farm. Hindi naman talaga ako tumigil with my passion. Itinigil ko lang ung madalas kong gawin na konsepto. Ewan ko ba just like what I’ve said earlier, siguro may hinahanap lang talaga ako… And it seems nahanap ko na…” Emina reiterated.
Nahanap na niya? Ang alin? And after a while we just headed to her dining area. We had an early lunch kasi it is about eleven in the morning. She had prepared sinigang for that very day.
“Hey Raine… Kain lang ha, huwag mahihiya. Niluto ko yan kasi lately madalas ang pag-ulan. Masarap sana humigop ng masarap na sabaw. Pero tignan mo tirik na tirik ang araw. The weather is very unpredictable nowadays… Tsk tsk tsk…” at napapailing siya with what she just said.
I was amazed, kasi isang bandehadong sinigang yata ang niluto niya eh. Siguro at napasin niya na nagulat ako.
“I usually share my food with the farmers… Kaya medyo marami ang niluluto ko… O sige kain lang ha… Mamaya dadalhan natin sila…” and she assisted me with the rice.
After quite awhile sobrang busog na ako. Masarap ang sinigang ni Ms. Emina. And she had given me some pastillas for dessert. After nun dumaan muna kami sa bukid para dalhin ung ulam para sa mga magsasaka.
“Salamat po Manang Emina…” one farmer woman told her, as she took the casserole from her.
You could see the smiles with the people around her. Pero mas iba ang saya na nararamdaman ni Ms. Emina dahil makikita mo sa kanyang mga mata na bukal ang kanyang pag-tulong.
Maya-maya pa after spending some time with the farmers, Emina had invited me in her mini studio at the middle of the rice field. It’s a small hut with a make up bamboo veranda. There nakita ko ung sinasabi niyang mga scribbles niya of daily farming life. She told me that she’s into charcoal lately, puro charcoal pieces ang nakita kong mga gawa niya roon. After sometime nagsimula na syang mag-set up for her next art piece. Napaisip na naman ako. Anu kayang childish concept ang gagawin niya?
“Hmmm… Raine… Just feel free sa pag ikot dito sa hacienda… Treat it as your own okay? Medyo magfocus muna ako rito…” and somehow she started on her artwork.
Ako na rin ang nag decide na iwan muna ng panandalian si Ms. Emina. Baka kasi maistorbo ko pa siya, and besides I would also like to surprise myself sa kalalabasan ng kanyang masterpiece. Kaya nag-ikot-ikot muna ako.
Sa daan nakita ko yung mga magbubukid na dinalhan namin kanina ng pagkain. Sandali muna akong tumambay dun para pagmasdan sila. Maya-maya ay kinausap din nila ako. Tinanung nila ako kung taga-saan daw ako at dali ko naman silang sinagot na ako ay taga Maynila. Dun din daw nag aaral sa Maynila ang kanilang anak, iskolar daw ito at ang kinukuha ay nursing. Maya maya ay inaya nila ako kung gusto ko raw matuto na mag tanim ng palay. Well, once in a lifetime experience lang to anu, kaya why not give it a shot. Sa umpisa mahirap, haluan mo pa ng kaunting init sa araw. Pero napapawi din naman ito ng mga ihip ng sariwang hangin. Malamig din ang pakiramdam ng putik sa aking mga paa.
Sabi pa nila, nagtatanim lang daw sila sa ilang parte ng bukirin. Hindi daw sigurado ang magtanim ngayon at baka masira lang ito ng mga pag bagyo. Ang ipinakita nila ang mga gulay at rootcrops na kanilang itinatanim kapag tag ulan.
Mga ilang oras din akong nakapag ikot. Sinilip ko muna panandalian si Ms. Emina at dinalahan ng juice na dala ko sa aking jug. Buti na lang at may dala akong plastic cups. Boy scout di ba? Hehehe…
At iniwan ko sya matapos ang ilang minuto. Napigilan ko pa ang aking sarili para silipin ang kanyang ginagawa. Maya maya ay sinilip ko naman ang kanilang mga kwadra. Ang daming mga kabayo. Pero ang pumukaw sa aking pansin ay yung isang kulay puting kabayo, napakatikas kasi nitong tignan. I wish makasakay ako one time. Kaso hindi naman ako marunong mangabayo. Hehehe.
Sa aking paglilibot nadaan ko ung maliit na lawa. May mga bata na nagtatampisaw rito. Mga anak siguro sila ng mga magbubukid na dito nagtatrabaho.
“Kuya kuya… Mukhang matangkad ka ha… Maabot mo ba yung mangga?” a little girl approached me and had asked me a favor.
Nakita ko na may hawak silang panungkit. Hindi naman ako katangkaran pero syempre mas di hamak na mas malaki ako sa kanila. So I decided to go with them along the Malagueñas house. Tinulungan ko silang sungkitin ito, at sa pagsungkit ko ay sinasalo naman ito ng kanilang mga T-shirt o palda.
Ang saya-saya namin na kinain ang matatamis nitong bunga, umupo kami sa paanan ng puno at doon nagpahinga. Naalala ko si Dane na sana kasama ko sya dito ngayon.
Oo nga pala, si Dane!
Masyado yata ako naaliw. Hindi ko man lang nasilip ang mobile phone ko. Kaya dali-dali ko itong kinuha. Oh my, siguro mga one hundred calls and text na ang ginawa niya by this time. Nilagay ko kasi sa silent mode yung celfone ko para makatipid sa battery. At pagsilip ko eto ang nabasa ko…
3 new messages
Tatlo lang? wow bago yan ha… at binuksan ko na to isa-isa… Inuna ko ang pinakauna niyang text.
Good Morning baby ko…
Breakfast was really nice…
Sana I had you for dessert!
Hehehe!
Basta wherever you are, ingat ka po
Lagi ha…
I miss you! Basta I’ll won’t bother you
muna for today…
Alam ko na you are up to something…
Hehehe!
Mwahmwahmwah!
>>“My baby Domeng”<<
+63905-------
11/07/2008
7:14:21 am
Mukhang maaga siya nagising ha? Bakit ngayon ko lang nabasa? Mukhang delayed nakarating sa akin yung mga text ha?
It’s almost lunchtime babe…
Don’t skip your lunch,
Ako po eto kakain na…
Miss you very much! Mwah!
>>“My baby Domeng”<<
+63905-------
11/07/2008
11:44:16 am
And then I’ve read the last message.
Babe, medyo maulan ngayon dito,
I hope hindi ka po mag-papaulan
Kung nasaan ka man…
Ingat ka po lagi… Mwah!
>>“My baby Domeng”<<
+63905-------
11/07/2008
1:09:34 pm
And then I checked out the time. It is about three in the afternoon na pala. Kaya I decided to text him back kagad para hindi na siya mag-alala.
Babe, about the breakfast…
Wala yun, ang mahalaga
is nagustuhan mo po…
Hindi po maulan rito,
And I already had my lunch…
I hope nag-lunch ka rin ha…
I would be there before mag nine
Or ten, pero hindi pa ako sure…
Paguwi mo umidlip ka muna,
Gisingin kita pag celebration time na…
Miss you too baby Dane koh! Mwah!
>>mobile# ko to’<<
+63927-------
11/07/2008
2:57:19 pm
After texting him I just saw the children that they were staring on my phone.
“Kuya, may mag laro ba dyan?” one child asked.
I’m not that very techy pero may built in game naman yung Nokia phone ko, tinuruan ko sila on playing the 3-D snake game. And maya-maya pa sila na ang pinahawak ko. Sa gitna ng aming siesta, ay umihip na naman ang malamig na hangin. Hindi ko namalayan na nakaidlip na pala ako.
“Raine… Raine… Medyo dumidilim na…” akala ko nanaginip ako, si Ms. Emina pala. Ng silipin ko ang celfone ko ay magaalasais na pala.
“Halika, at sabayan muna natin silang maghapunan. Nagluto ang aking mga kasambahay ng calderetang kambing. Itutuloy ko na lang itong pag guhit maya maya. Patapos na rin naman at shading na lang ang gagawin ko…” at pumaroon nga kami sa isang mesang kainan sa may damuhan sa likod bahay.
Iniilawan kami ng mga lampara. Napakasaya, Siguro mga limang pares na mag-aasawa ang kasabay namin sa hapag. Isama mo pa ang mga bata.
Pagkatapos naming mag hapunan ay inilabas ko naman ang regalo ko kay Ms. Emina. It was a bag of chocolates. Paolo his assistant told me that she really loves sweets kaso wala lang time na lumuwas ng Maynila to buy one.
“Wow ang saya naman. Tagal ko ng hindi nakakakain ng tsokolate ha… Buti na lang at hindi ako diabetic… Hey Raine, let’s share it to them ha…” tanung niya sa akin. Of course I didn’t objected, ako nga ang nahihiya eh, sana pala nadagdagan ko pa ang dala ko. Pero kahit tama lang ang nadala ko for them. Kitang kita ko na napasaya ko silang lahat pati na ang mga bata with my sweet treat. Now I do understand the joy that Ms. Emina feels when she does kindness with other people, it is what you called the joy of giving.
And then nag-tulong tulong kaming lahat sa pagliligpit. I told Ms. Emina that kami na ang bahala at baka mapasma pa ang kanyang mga kamay kung tutulong pa sya sa hugasin. Kaya she just went to her studio at her marble house, at dun itinuloy ang pag-guhit.
After naman makipagkwentuhan sa kanila ng panandalian, ay nilisan na rin ako ng mga magbubukid at tinungo na nga nila ang kanilang mga bahay. Ako naman ay nagpaiwan sa hagdaan paakyat sa likod bahay nina Emina. May mga bituin ng gabing yun na may mga bahagyang ulap ulap. Mas lumamig pa ang simoy ng hangin.
“Babe, sana nandito ka…” sabi ko sa sarili ko.
Itetext ko na siya dapat ng biglang, na drain ang battery ng celphone ko. Hindi ko pa naman dala ang charger ko. Ayy buhay. Sinilip ko sandali si Ms. Emina para mang hiram ng charger, kaso Motorola pala ang gamit niya.
Kaya tiniis ko muna, maya maya pauwi na rin naman ako eh.
After siguro an hour or so, at about eight o’clock in the evening, Ms. Emina Malagueña was already done with her very latest artwork. Nilabas niya ito na may cloth pa na nakatakip pa rito.
“May I present to you, my latest creation…” at tinanggal niya ang tabing… “Dane sipping on spaghetti, with tomato sauce smudges…”
Ang cute! That was my initial reaction. Sobrang napangiti ako sa nakita ko. You could see then as if lifelike yung reaction niya with the pasta while holding a fork and sipping it. The artwork was very sharp, kahit na it was made of charcoal and her attention to detail… Superb!
I was almost teary eyed when I saw the finished artwork of my baby Dane.
“Miss Emina, thank you!” at bigla ko siyang nayakap.
Medyo nakita ko na teary eyed na rin sya.
“Anu ka ba iho… Wala yun, it is a pleasure na nagawa ko yan for you…” sabi niya sa akin.
“No, I should be the one who must be thanking you. Kasi pinagkatiwalaan nyo ako with all of this. Maraming salamat po talaga…” and mas niyakap ko pa siya ng mahigpit.
“Wala yun sabi ko sayo di ba… O sya balutin na natin yan…” Emina suggested.
Then I suddenly remembered, “May gift wrapper po akong dala…” I told her.
“O sige sige, I do have some ribbons there, I could make you a rosette para maidesign mo man lang…” at tinulungan nya akong mag balot.
Then I checked out the time, it is almost nine in the evening already. Lapit na deadline ko, kailangan ko na makuwi. I promised Dane na uuwi ako para magkasama kami sa oras ng birthday niya.
Emina had given instructions on how to get home at this time of the night. Actually inalok niya ako na ipag-pabukas na ang pag-uwi. Kaso I insisted na kailangan talaga.
She then told me na in order to get a tricycle at this time is kailangan kong lakarin ang tatlong kanto. Pero pwede rin naman akong mag hintay kasi may padaan daan kung minsan.
Lumipas ang ilang minuto at wala pang dumarating. Nag paalam na ko kay Ms. Malagueña.
“Mauna na po ako at medyo gumagabi na po…” and given her a handshake.
“O sige iho mag-ingat ka sa daan…” at nagdesisyon akong maglakad.
Sa di kalayuan nakikita ko sa langit na gumuguhit ang mga kidlat. Mukhang mali pa yata ang desisyon ko. Eh nangalahati na ako sa pag lalakad. Malayo rin pala yung mga kanto na ito sa isa’t isa. Nadudurog ang puso ko. Mukhang nawawala pa yata ako. Hindi ko kasi makita ang pangalawang kanto na tinukoy ni Ms. Emina.
Tiningnan ko sa wrist watch ko, mag teten thirty na pala. Naiiyak nako, I am very desperate to go home. Wala naman akong kasama. Dane… Nasan ka?
I cried and I just cried. Ang masama pa mas lumakas pa ang pag kulog at kidlat. Maya-maya ay umambon na. Tuyot pa naman ang mga puno sa kinalalagyan ko, wala akong masilungan. The wind blew harder. Then the droplets of rain became bigger. I cried just like I never cried before. Niyakap ko yung artwork, hoping na hindi ito mababasa ng ulan.
Seconds became minutes, minutes became an hour… eleven thirty na ng gabi, nangangatog nako sa lamig. Hindi ko alam kung ihahakbang ko pa ang mga mapuputik kong paa. I really became hopeless by that time. Pagod na ang katawan ko. Nasira pa ang pangako ko sa kanya na makakasama ko siya for tonight. Raine ang tanga tanga mo.
May nakita akong malaking bato. Dun ako ay umupo, dun na lang ako naghintay kung titila pa ang ulan or what. Napakadilim wala akong makita. May bahay man, napakalayo pa. Wala na akong magagawa. Hinubad ko pa ang suot ko itinakip sa regalo ko hoping na hindi mababasa ito, but it seemed useless.
Sabi ko na puro countdown na lang ang buhay ko, imagine five minutes to go, birthday na nya… At wala ako sa tabi niya, nakakainis. Gusto kong sumigaw! Sa halip ay tumungo na lang ako. Hinintay ko na lang matapos ang isang buong limang minuto.
Maya-maya pa, nawala na ang pag patak ng ulan sa aking likuran. Tumila na nga yata ito. Pero nagulat akong sa paligid ko ay pumapatak pa ito. Tumingin ako sa itaas, ang nakita ko ay isang pulang payong.
At tinignan ko ang aking likuran, I cried for joy. Nanaginip bako? Is it my Dane? O siya nga ba talaga?
“Oh babe, umabot ka sa birthday ko…” and he just confirmed it that I wasn’t dreaming by that time.
“Dane?...” I told him. “Happy birthday babe…! Mas lalo akong napaiyak at niyakap ko siya at hinalikan ng hinalikan. As if hindi ko siya nakita for the longest time.
Dali dali kong pinulot ang regalo ko sa kanya.
“Is this it? Is this your surprise?” dali dali naman niya itong binuksan.
I waited for this very moment kaso parang masyado kong inanticipate.
“Wow… I look like a Picasso painting here…” Dane was all smiles, mukha naman nagustuhan niya ang bigay ko. Pero hindi ko nagets ang sinabi niya, kaya sinilip ko ito.
I was really shocked when I saw the chaos that had happen, and then I passed out.
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