All Rights Reserved ® Kwentongsulatpinoy Stories 2018

Simula.......

     Sa kalagitnaan ng gabi- or so it seemed- nagising si Christy ng isang ingay na noong una ay di niya mawari that it was her door-bell. Nang ma-realize niya iyon ay agad na nagbangon siya ng ulo at agad na tinignan ang kanyang electric alarm clock.

     Dalawang oras na siyang tulog, having to come to bed early at ten. Past midnight na ngunit bakit may nagdoor-bell pa sa kanyang flat? Mukha pa naman siyang manang sa suot niyang night-gown. She's a woman who rated comfort above glamour. A woman who slept alone. Tumayo siya at sinuot ang roba niya na lalo pang nagpamukha sa kanyang matanda.

     Ilang taon na ang nakaraan, before the events which quenched her sparkle, the youthful Christy had been considered a beauty. Now at twenty-five, she still had the fine, clear skin, the silver-brown eyes and full lips na nakuha pa niya sa dady niyang banyaga na taga rito sa London. But time and experience had tempered her personality and made her almost unrecognisable as the glowing, effervescent young creature she had been on her nineteenth birthday.

     As she was switching the lights, bigla niyang naisip na baka kaya hindi mahinto-hinto ang pagri-ring ng kanyang door-bell ay baka may mga lasing na nagloloko lang. For this reason she left the safety chain in place when she opened the door, and was releaved to see a stranger.

"What do you want?" tanong niya sa estranghero sa pag-aakalang isa itong banyaga.

     Nahihirapan kasi siyang makita ang mukha nito dahil sa kakulangan ng ilaw sa corridor. But he was very tall and broad-shouldered with a dark skin.

"Mrs. Weisz?" nagsalita ang binata.

"Yes?"

"I'm Ashton Ryan Vergara. Your sister's husband was my half-brother. Perhapse you'd like to check my identity."

     Meron itong inabot sa kanya, it was a passport, "Open the first page, with Mr. Ashton Ryan Vergara written in the space for the name of the bearer." dagdag pa nito.

     Sa pagkakataong iyon ay biglang nagbalik sa gunita ni Christy noong araw matapos ng aksidenteng kinasangkutan ng kanyang ate at ng asawa nito na siyang naging mitsa ng buhay nila. Na gumawa pala ang kanyang brother-in-law ng will. Tungkol ito sa kung sino ang maaaring maging legal guardian ni Toby, ang kanyang pamangkin, sakaling may mangyaring masama sa kanila. At iyon ay hindi siya, kundi ang estrangherong kumakatok sa pintuan niya ngayon. Ashton Hellin, a man about whom she knew little except that he had been expelled from a private school that's famous here in London and was sent back to her mother pabalik sa Pilipinas.

     Wala ni isa sa kanila ng kanyang ate ang nakilala na ng personal ang lalaking ito. Tanging ang mga bank checks lang na pinapadala nito as a wedding present and to some special occations could have meant that naging matagumpay ang naturingang Black-sheep ng pamilya sa Pinas. Ngunit hindi man lang ito bumisita kahit kailan sa kanila. Tanging sa email, skype at telepono lamang ito nagpaparamdam.

    She undid the chain and stepped back para makapasok ito sa loob. And with the better light on her loby, nakita niya na hindi pala itim ang kulay ng balat nito kundi deep tan, dark hair and very dark eyes. Bigla niyang naalala na ang nanay daw nito ay isang foreigner from one of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean. Pero kung nakuha man nito ang skin complexion ng ina ay matagal na itong nawala dahil narin sa climate na meron sa Pinas. Malamang ay lagi itong nakabilad sa init ng araw.

     Having walked through the living room, and dump a small grip on the carpet, he turened and offered a hand to her.

"Sorry kung nagising kita sa pagkakatulog Mrs. Weisz, but I haven't any time to waste. I landed at Heathrow an our ago, and I have to fly the day after tomorrow. Kasi buong araw ka sa trabaho bukas so naisip ko na dumiretso na lang dito kaysa maghintay pa ako sa'yo tomorrow morning."

     Although, sa mga nakaraang linggo, before the school broke up for the Christmas holidays, ay nagsimula nang lumamig ang temperatura. Pero ang kamay ng binata ay hindi malamig bagamat wala itong suot na glooves. His fingers closed firmly on hers in a powerful but not crushing clasp.

"How do you do, Mr. Vergara?" sabi niya. "Sana tumawag ka muna before you came here, di sana I could prepare a meal and waited for you."

"I didn't know untill the last moment na makakapunta pala ako dito kaya hindi na ako tumawag. This is the busy time of the year for me. Kumain na ako sa eroplano, kaya I'm not so hungry. But I wouldn't mind a drink."

     Pagkasabi ni Ash 'non ay may kinuha siya sa isang bulsa ng kanyang hinubad na coat. It was a rain-proof coat. Christy, who liked good clothes noticed the label of it. Mamahalin lahat ng damit na suot nito at alam niya na hindi biro ang halaga ng mga iyon. Kasalukuyang nakaupo ito sa sofa suot ang isang navy-blue seaman sweater.

"I took the precaution of bringing my own supply of rum. Naisip ko lang na baka wala ka nito dito. Will you join me?" tanong ng binata.

"Oh, no, thank you- not at this hour. Ikukuha na lang kita ng baso." sagot ni Christy.

     Habang papunta si Christy sa sideboard sa may dulo ng dining area sy pumuwesto na ang binata at umupo sa sitting area. At nang inabot niya rito ang baso ay nagtanong ito. "Is this your only form of heating?" tinukoy nito ang glass fire set na nagsisilbing artificial fire place ng bahay.

"Yes, but it gives a good heat. Sisindihan ko lang." she went to do so, at pagkatapos gawin iyon ay nagsabing. "Would you excuse me for a moment, I'll just go back to my room."

    She went back to her room to brush her fair, shoulder-length hair and smooth it back from her face with a tortoise shell clasp at the back to keep it neatly in place. Never niyang nilulugay ang kanyang buhok kapag umaga.

"So bakit ka napunta dito, Mr. Vergara, kung sabi mo ay busy ka sa mga panahong ito?" tanong niya matapos makabalik sa living room. Natagpuan niya itong patingin-tingin sa kanyang bookshelves hawak sa isang kamay ang baso ng rum.

     Tinignan siya nito mula ulo hanggang paa. Siguro he is thinking that she is a mousy-looking female.

     "As we are, in a fashion, related, why not call me Ash?" he suggested. May punto nga naman ang binata dahil in a way they are somehow related to each other. They both have Toby as their nephew. "Your name is Christina, I believe."

"Yes, but I'm always called Christy." naglakad siya palapit sa fire place at umupo sa isang upuan malapit dito.

"I've come to take charge of the child." pasimpleng sagot nito.

"Take charge?" she said warily.

"Kinailangan mo siyang alagaan for a period of time because you were near and I wasn't. Pero hindi iyon nangangahulugan na mananatili siya dito sa poder mo. I'm here to take him off your hands." pagpapaliwanag ni Ash.

Sabi niya in a quite, pleasant tone, "Pero ayoko siyang mawala sa poder ko. I'm very happy to take care of my sister's son. I'm the natural person to do so."

"Kung naging babae siya- oo, perhapse you would have a stronger claim. Pero hindi maganda para sa isang batang lalake to grow up under a woman's aegis with no masculine influence as a counterbalance. Bata ka pa, at may posibilidad na mag-asawa ulit. And that's all the more reason for me to take him. Ano na lang ang mararamdaman ni Toby when you treated him only just a second priority? Trust me, I know what it feels Christina."

     His strongly marked brows had drawn into a forbidding frown, and she saw his jaw muscles cleanch. Pero sa kabila ng lahat ay nanatili ang tono ng boses nito. "I'm not married, at wala akong planong magpakasal kaya malabong mangyari ang mga circumstances na iyon. It's better that he grows up with me."

"Why are you never likely to marry?" na-curiois siyang magtanong. "Sa gwapo mong iyan, wala kang balak pakasal?" deep into her thought..

    Somewhat Christy saw a cynical amusement in his sombre dark eyes ng sumagot ito sa kanyang tanong.

"Because, unlike most men who depend on your sex for all their creature comforts, I do not. I find my life runs more smoothly without the continual presence of a woman in it. But it doesn't mean that I don't like them. I'm a man, and at times I find their company very necessary. But I don't need it all day and everyday."

    Ash made it clear that his only use for women was what the liberationists called sex objects. At iyon ang ikinagulat ni Christy. She said stiffly, "You may not but, while he's little, Toby does need a womans daily care. I'm afraid you can't just march here and remove him from my care. You see, Jenna left Toby in my custody, Mr. Vergara. James was killed outright, pero nabuhay ang kapatid ko for a short period of time. During that time she made me swore to take care of Toby."

    Her voice was not perfectly steady as she spoke of her sister's last hours. The tragedy is too recent to be referred to dispassionately. It had seemed such a cruel irony of fate that Jenna, with so much to live for, had been the one to be taken while she, Chisty, a childless widow with no possibility of remarrying, lived on.

"Pero iniwan sa akin ni James ang responsibilidad sa bata. Not verbally merely, but legally, in his will. At maaaring pumayag din ang ate mo sa testamentong ito." sagot nito.

"Posible, oo. Pero she was a happy-go-lucky at madali lang siyang maimpluwensiyahan lalo pa ng asawa niya. She may have agreed because she felt it was impossible for anything bad to happen to her and James. Kung isa siyang taong mahilig mag-alala di hindi sana siya sumama kay James knowing na kaskasero iyong mag drive."

"You thought he drove badly?"

"He had several minor accidents, and he often drove above the limit." malumanay niyang sagot. And then she went on. "Walang nabanggit sa akin ang kapatid ko about the will as I spent at her bedside. She was heavily sedated, and it made her very confused. Ang tanging malinaw lang sa kanya ay ang papangakuin akong alagaan si Toby. And some of the medical staff know it, including the doctor."

"Certainly I believe you, pero ang mga pangakong ganon, knowing the fact that she was sedated heavily is erelevant." tinapos niya ang pag-inom at isinet-aside niya ang baso. Then went on. "I'm sure we both have the childs best interest at heart. Pero hindi mo maikakaila na mas magiging maganda ang kinabukasan niya sa poder ko. He won't remain four years old forever. A growing boy needs more scope of healthy activities than a flat in the suburbs can offer. With me pwede siyang lumangoy, and sail, at mabuhay sa ibat-ibang masayang outdoor life in a year-round good climate."

"But he might not be the outdoor type, and if he should turn out to be a scholarly, surely London has far more to offer than whatever it is back in the Philippines?" pagkontra niya dito.

"At present I live in a Schooner," sagot nito. "My base is in Camiguin and all neighbooring islands there."

"I'm sure it's lovely" simula niya. "Pero-

"It's one of the most beautiful Islands in the world, and I've been to a great many islands, kaya alam ko ang sinasabi ko. Kung doon ka nakatira, you wouldn't be pale-faced all winter, and hindi mo na kailangang mabalot iyang katawan mo ng ganyan. You'd be brown and healthy, and sleep in a thin cotton night dress."

"I daresay, but Philippines must have its draw-backs, like everywhere else, or why have so many locals come to live abroad?" she asked.

"That's true. It isn't a paradise for everyone. But for such as myself it's very close to it. I've done well over there. I can afford na ipadala si Toby sa mga schools dito or in America if it turns out na matalino siya sa mga academics."

He continued...

"You work for a living, and I understand that. Pero nung mawala ang asawa mo I think mas nahirapan ka. You might be undergoing a quite financial strain."

     Hindi siya makatanggi sa usaping iyon, her job as a domestic science teacher was not paid badly. But just like others, she was a victim of inflation, high taxes and soaring interest rates.

"Excuse me. I think the kettle must have boiled by now, sinalang ko kasi kanina. Ano bang gusto mo, kape o tea?" tanong niya.

     Inayos ni Ash ang pagkakaupo at sumagot. "Kahit ano, ikaw ang bahala."

    Hindi mahilig uminom ng regular coffee si Christy kaya gumawa siya ng decaffeinated coffee. Hindi kasi makakabuti iyon sa kanyang trabaho, it just cause fatigue and depressions.

    Kumilos si Ash upang abutin ang kape mula kay Christy ng dumating ito dala ang tray na may kape.

"Where are you staying tonight, Mr. Vergara?" pormal niyang tanong.

"Here, if you have no objection." sagot nito.

"Here? But I can't put you up. The only bed in my spare room is Toby's."

"Your sofa looks long enough for me. Unless hindi mo ako gustong manatili dito.?" sagot nito sa kanya.

    Imagination nga lamang ba ito ni Christy ng makita niya sa mga mata nito na tila naghahamon si Ash. Binalewala na lamang niya iyon at sa halip ay nagsabing.

"Not at all, but surelly you would be much more comfortable in a hotel?"

"Kung dito ako matutulog we can continue this conversation tomorrow morning at breakfast. You don't want to stay up too late tonight, right? Hmm.... naalala ko lang, anong ginagawa ni Toby sa umaga kapag wala ka dito.?"

"Pinapabantayan ko siya sa isa sa mga neighboors ko. She used to be a childrens nanny, so she likes children and knows how to manage them. Parang alam mo halos lahat about me, who told you?" tanong ni Chisty.

"James solicitor, nung tinawagan ko siya sa telepono. He said you were a teacher and had lost your husband. You must have married very young. Maaari ko bang malaman kung bakit?"

"I was nineteen. Ang husband ko naman ay twenty. Hindi niya alam na meron pala siyang congenital heart defect. He died very suddenly six months after our wedding." sagot ni Christy.

    Tinignan siya nito ng puno ng simpatya. "Life has given you a rough deal- losing your husband and now your sister. Buhay pa ba ang parents niyo?"

    Nakatungo lamang ang ulo ni Christy. "Mas malala pa ang mga dinaranas ng ibang tao kaysa sa akin. I'm healthy. I like my job. And now I have Toby." she returned his scrutiny with a resolute look. "James may have named you as Toby's guardian, but I'm not sure that a father's wishes count for more than a mother's; at kahit pa half-brother mo si James at tumira kayo sa iisang bahay noong mga bata pa kayo, James didn't know you as a man. At kahit na mas marami kang pera at ari-arian kung ikumpara mo sa akin, that doesn't necessarily make you a fit person to have charge of Toby." giit pa ni Christy.

    Tumaas ang isang kilay ng binata. "Are you hinting that you'll contest the will.?"

    Napailing lamang siya. "Hindi ito magiging mabuti para kay Toby na pag-awayan natin siya knowing that we are the only family he have left. Kung makukumbinse mo ako na ikaw ang karapat-dapat na mag-aruga sa kanya, I would give him up- not gladly but, with a good grace, for his sake."

"Perhapse we can arrive at a compromise." he suggested.

"Perhapse." tugon niya.

But during the restless night that followed, Christy could see no way in which they could compromise. Dahil narin sa kadahilanang nakatira sila ng sobrang layo sa isat-isa. Sa magkabilang dulo ng mundo, kaya paano mapaghahatian ang pag-aalaga sa bata?

    Ginising siya ng kanyang alarm clock at six. She had always got up at seven but, with Toby to attend to she need an extra hour. Sa halip na bumangon ay bumalik siyang muli sa pagkakatulog. It was a big mistake for her part. At sa mga sumunod na sandaling nagmulat siya ng mata ay may yumuyugyog na sa kanya ng marahan. And a deep voice was repeating her name.

"Oh, my goodness! Anong oras na ba?" pabalikwas niyang bangon, realizing what she had done. At mas concern pa siya sa isiping baka ma-late siya sa trabaho kaysa maging concern sa presensiya ng isang lalaking kagabi lang niya nakilala.

"Six twenty pa lang, madami ka pang oras. Narinig ko kasi ang alarm clock mo, saktong katatapos ko lang maligo. I guessed you'd had a disturbed night, and thought you might like some tea kaya gumawa na lang din ako."

    Itinuro ni Ash ang platito and mug na nakapatong sa kanyang bedside table. Nakasuot ito ng silk dressing gown na may silk at apple-green cotton pyjamas. Naligo ito pagkatapos niyang pumasok sa kwarto para matulog. At ngayon he had wash his hair. She could even smell his after-shave.

"Thank you....but you needn't have bothered."

Sa halip na umalis ay nanatili itong nakatunghay sa kanya. And his hands in the pockets of his dressing-gown. As if he hadn't seen a woman in bed before? She suspected he had see many, pero hindi kagaya niya na naka pajamas. Mga babaeng nakasuot ng clinging satin, filmy chiffon or, more probably, nothing at all but an aura of expensive scent.

"Mga anong oras ba nagigising si Toby?" tanong ni Ash.

"Malamang gising na iyon sa mga oras na ito. He usually reads until I go in to him." sagot niya.

"Nagbabasa? At his age?" namamangha nitong tanong.

"It's not really reading, tumitingin-tingin lang siya sa mga pictures sa picture books. And he talks to himself."

"Mabibigla ba siya kung maghe-hello ako sa kanya?" tanong ni Ash.

"Well, hindi naman siguro. His a very friendly little boy."

     Pagkatapos sabihin iyon ni Christy ay nagsimula ng maglakad si Ash sa pinto.

"Mr. Vergara-"

"Ash." sabi ng binata.

"Ash," pag-ulit niya. "Toby.... hindi niya alam na patay na ang mga magulang niya. He's to young for the word. At hindi mo rin pwedeng sabihin sa kanya na nasa heaven na ang mga magulang niya kasi, they're not that religious, he doesn't even know how to pray. So far hindi pa naman siya nagtatanong ng mga ganoong bagay. Pero kapag nagtanong siya, I don't know what to do or what to say. I guessed it's better to say nothing. Mrs. Donelly also agreed to me- she's the neighboor I mentioned to you last night."

Tumayo ito. "I won't say anything- for the time being. Napag-isip-isip ko while I was shaving that your work involves long holidays. Pwede mong dalhin si Toby sa Pilipinas and stay with him for a few weeks habang nag-aadjust siya sa bago niyang kapaligiran."

    Bago pa magawang magprotesta ni Christy sa mga sinabi nito ay naisara na nito ang pintuan ng kanyang silid.

Inabot ng mga twenty minutes si Christy na maligo at magbihis ng damit. Hindi na siya nagsuot ng make-up ever since she lost her husband. Hindi na niya nagagamit ang box ng cosmetics na niregalo sa kanya ng kanyang ate noong huli niyang birthday.

    When, dressed in a pleated grey skirt, white blouse and grey lambswool cardigan, she left her bedroom, amoy na amoy niya ang bacon habang naluluto at naririnig niya ang boses ni Toby na nanggagaling sa kusina.

    Bago niya narating ang pinto ng kusina ay naririnig niya na nagtanong si Ash kay Toby. "Where does your aunt keep the marmalade?"

    Bilang sagot ay itinuro ng bata ang kinaroroonan nito. Dahil nang pumasok na siya ay nakita na niyang binubuksan na ni Ash ang cupboard na naglalaman ng mga home-made marmalade and jam.

"Di pa iyan nagagamit. Andito ang mga jars na nabuksan na." Sabi niya sabay bukas ng panibagong cupboard door. Nang mailapag ang jar sa mesa ay dumukwang siya upang halikan si Toby sa mabilog nitong pisngi. "Good morning my lamb!"

    In return, niyakap siya nito. He was an affectionate child who loved to sit on her lap to be read to. Tumatakbo din ito at kumakapit sa kanyang mga binti sa tuwing kinukuha na niya ito sa kapitbahay niyang si Mrs. Donelly. The thought of losing him, of living alone again, filled her  with dread. To spend the rest of her life without anyone on whom to lavish her deep reserves of affection seemed unendurable. To love and be loved by a child was all that was left to her. At nanganganib pa itong ipagkait sa kanya.....

"One egg or two?" tanong ni Ash sa kanya pagkatapos niyang halikan si Toby.

    Ash had come back to the cooker and was breaking eggs into a pan of hot oil. Tomatoes cut into halves were sizzling gently in a second pan. Nakasalang narin sa grill ang mga bacon.

"One please." sagot niya.

    She was impressed sa paraan nito sa pagbiyak ng itlog on the edge og the pan na gamit lamang ang isang kamay. Ang brother-in-law at asawa niya ay parehong hindi maaasahan sa kusina. Ash had aquired his competence, and remembered his remark the night before that he didn't depend on women for all his creature comforts.

"Why do you scrape your hair like that? Mas bagay sayo ang nakalugay." tumingin ito sa kanya habang tinatapos ang ikalimang itlog na sinalang nito sa pan.

"In my job neatness and hygiene are more important than looks." she answered stiffly. Nabigla kasi siya sa sinabi nito, knowing that kakakilala lang nila kagabi, and now nag co-comment na ito ng ganon. Feeling close na agad!

"Wala ka pa sa trabaho," tanging tugon nito, at muli ay sumulyap sa kanya mula ulo hanggang paa. But if he was critical of them, he didn't say so but left the cooker para ipaghila si Christy ng upuan.

    Nagpasalamat si Christy at umupo, she unrolled her napkin which matched the red linen cloth. It felt strange to be treated like a stranger sa mismong pamamahay niya.

    The importance of a nourishing breakfast had been impressed on her during her training, at mukhang ganon din ang paniniwala ni Ash. To begin the day with a healthy meal. Pagkatapos nitong kumain ng dalawang itlog, limang bacon rashers at two slices of tomatoes ay naghiwa pa ito ng home-made wholemeal bread at kumuha ng marmalade at butter para maging palaman.

    Mapapansin ito sa kanyang pangangatawan that his intake of food was balanced by a high output of energy. That means, kung ano man ang trabaho nito sa pinas ay nangangailangan ng extreme energy output.

"Sabi mo you had done well back sa Pinas, at what?" pagtatanong niya habang nilalagyan niya ng gatas ang mug ni Toby at bago lagyan ng kape ang mug ni Ash at sa kanya.

"I'm a charter skipper o manlalayag. I cater to people, mostly American tourist, who want to get away from it all; but still have good food and modern conviniences. I provide them all the comforts nature and life could offer. A home that they longed to have. It's the way I like to live, too, but I have it all the year round. Dun kaya ako nakatira, and they only enjoy it for two to four weeks." salaysay nito.

"Ikaw ang may-ari ng yate?"

Tumango ito. "She was left to me."

"By someone on your mother's side of the family?" pero sa pagkakaalam niya ay wala ni isa sa mga magulang nito ay may-ari ng isang charter boat. --My gosh! Ganito pala kayaman si Ash?!-- sa isip niya.

"No, her provious owner was no relation. She was just an old lady I knew. Wala siyang tagapagmana ng mga ari-arian niya so she inherited it all to me. And that started my luck. I started from scratch actually, I was just an ordinary boat men. Hindi ako kumikita ng malaking halaga. I was lucky to run into tugboat Ann, as some people called her."

    Ang alam ni Christy ay mas matanda ito ng mga apat o limang taon sa kanyang brother in-law who is twenty six noong namatay ito. So Ash is on his early thirties.

"How old were you when this happened?" tanong pa niya.

"Twenty-two. The boat badly need a refit. It took me sometime to get organized for the business. And at twenty four I was in business. I've never looked back. It wasn't the future which was forecast by my father or my schoolmasters." dagdag pa niya habang naalala ang nakaraan.

"I'm sure you have been told that I left England under a cloud."

"I believe so, But that was long ago," sagot niya sabay tingin kay Toby.

    Naintindihan naman ni Ash ang pahiwatig ng tingin ni Christy. So he didn't pursue the topic.

"What was your mother's nationality?" tanong ni Christy.

"She was half-greek. Kaso hindi ko na maalala masyado ang mga details about her. We are not that close and she died a year after ko nakabalik sa pilipinas." huminto ito saglit sa pagsasalita. "Hmm.... as of your gonna be busy the whole day, how would it be if I took care of the supper. Ipagluluto kita ng Filipino food."

"That's nice of you, pero baka mahirapan ka sa paghahanap ng mga sangkap."

"With the numbers of Filipinos in London -no problem. Tsaka instead of staying to Mrs. Donelly, Toby could come with me so we can go shopping together. It will give us a chance to get to know each other."

    Natapos ng mag breakfast si Toby kaya dinala na ito ni Christy sa banyo para magsipilyo at bumalik siya kung nasaan si Ash.

"Liking small doses of other peoples children is not the same as having a child on one's hands all the time. Frankly, I just can't imagine how you could fit Toby into your life. I'm sure na ang mga mayayaman mong mga pasahero ay hindi gugustuhin ang isang maliit na bata on the ship? How could you captain a boat and at the same time nursing him kapagka nagkasakit siya?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Christy.

"I could hire a nanny to do the job, if that happen."

"At least ako, I could give him my undevided attention for two days every week. And all through the long school holidays."

Tinignan lamang siya nito ng matagal. Tila sinusuri kung nagsasabi ba siya ng totoo.

"More coffee?" naiilang niyang tanong.

"Thank you!"

    At habang nilalagyan niya ng kape ang cup nito ay mas napansin niya ang kabuohan nito. She was suddenly aware of the sinewy brown firearms resting on the edge of the table, and the breadth of his shoulders under the blue cotton shirt. Hindi masyadong mainit sa loob ng kusina at ultimo siya ay nilalamig. Yet he, newly arrived from a much warmer climate, had his shirt sleeves rolled up displaying his huge biceps. And the top two buttons ng suot nitong shirt ay nakabukas. Macho masyado tignan si Ash ng mga sandaling iyon.

    He was superbly fit. Naisip ni Christy na baka bunga ito ng kanyang energetic outdoor life plus an unpolluted atmosphere. Most people looked like that for a few days after a holiday. Pero hindi sa buong taon. Naisip niya tuloy na makakabuti nga siguro para sa pamangkin niya ang ganoong uri ng life style kasama ni Ash. At baka lumaki ito just like his uncle: tall and strong, with a dark coffee tan at higit sa lahat..... Gwapo!...

    Sabi ni Ash. "I think we should postpone our discussion until tonight. Anong oras ka bang uuwi?"

    Sinagot ni Christy ang tanong nito and then excuse herself para puntahan si Toby sa banyo para paliguan ito. Para narin e-explain sa bata na medyo may pagbabago sa nakasanayan niyang routine. Pagkatapos makapagbihis ni Toby ay naisaayos na ni Ash ang kusina at kasalukuyang naglalaba ng isang damit. "Saan ko ba pwedeng isampay ito para patuyuin?" tanong nito kay Christy.

"May sampayan dun malapit sa banyo. Pagnasampay mo na, just turn the wall heater for an hour or two." sabi niya. "I'm going upstairs para maabisuhan si Mrs. Donelly na isasama mo si Toby para mag shopping.

    Biyuda ring kagaya niya ang kapitbahay niyang si Mrs. Amanda Donelly which thirty years older than her. Pinagbuksan kaagad siya nito ng pinto dahil kagaya niya ay early riser din ito.

From time to time napupuna rin ni Amanda na kung malalagyan ng make up at makapagsuot ng magandang damit ay tiyak na lalabas ang kagandahan ni Christy. Even Amanda admitted na gusto parin niyang makapag-asawang muli. At iyon din daw dapat ang isipin ni Christy. Whereas Christy had put marriage behind her and, by dressing like a modern nun, attracted little male interest on her. At nasabi rin sa kanya ni Christy na may mga gabi parin daw na binabangungot siya ng malungkot na nakaraan.

"Christy! Is anything wrong, my dear?" tanong nito nang mapagbuksan siya ng pinto.

"No, nothing. I'm sorry to interrupt your breakfast, Amanda. Did you enjoy the play last night?"

Sinagot nito ang kanyang tanong, malumanay na nakinig si Christy sa mahabang sagot nito sa kanya. At ng magtanong ito sa kanya kung nasaan si Toby ay sinabi na niya.

"He's with his uncle. James half-brother. He arrived lately last night from abroad. And he is only here for a short time. Toby's going to spend the day with him, that's why I'm here."

"It's ok, I shall have my Christmas gift finished." sagot nito. "What's he like- your visitor?"

"He seems very pleasant." sagot niya. "He's certainly the most capable man I've ever met. He cooked our breakfast, and I left him washing out a shirt. Toby will be quite safe in his charge. I'm sure of that." dagdag pa niya.

"He stayed the night with you?" pag-uusisa nito.

"Yes." alam ni Christy ang dahilan kung bakit nagulat si Amanda. Ito ay dahil sa alam nito ang pagka limited ng sleeping facilities sa flat niya. Rather than a moral disapproval. "He didn't turn up until after twelve, and we talked for sometime, and then he suggested dossing down on the sofa. At that time of the night it seemed rather inhospitable to push him out to a hotel."

"Oh, yes, I was forgeting about your sofa. Where has he came from" tanong nito.

"From Philippines in the south-east Asia."

"An expensive journey! And , oh, you once lived there right?" she asked.

"Yes, but that was a long time ago. My mom decided to live here to be with my dad." sagot niya.

"He must have be a goog-hearted man to concern himself with Toby's welfare. What age are his own children is?"

"He's a bachelor."

"Oh," at muli ay ikinagulat ito ni Amanda. "In that case perhapse he'll be able to help you financially." bulgarang sinabi nito na pwedeng makatulong sa kanya si Ash kung makakasal sila.

"Perhapse. Enjoy your sewing day. You'll be able to go on faster without having Toby with you." she ignored what she said.

"Thank you for letting me know, dear, See you later." at nagpaalam na ito.

    Habang pababa siya ng hagdanan papunta sa kanyang floor ay nagsisi siya dahil sa hindi niya pag co-confide kay Amanda tungkol sa problema niya. Amanda could have given her an advice.

    Natagpuan niya si Toby na kuntentong naglalaro ng simpleng wood and plastic construction set. At ang half-uncle nito ay nasa loob parin ng kusina.

"Maaari ko bang gamitin ang mga panlinis mo ng sapatos?" tanong ni Ash sa kanya.

"Of course." at kinuha niya ang mga ito mula sa broom cupboard at inabot sa kanya.

     Nakita niyang hindi naman madumi ang chesnut brown leather slip-ons nito, makintab pa naman. Siguro ay kagaya ng kanyang ama ay naniniwala ito sa kasabihang Never trust a man with a dirty shoes "

At na impress siya sa ginawang iyon ng binata.

Looking back, naisip ni Christy na siguro ay hindi siya nakapag-asawa ng maaga kung nabubuhay pa ang kanyang ama. He would never allow it. Her mother died when she was fourteen and her sister Jenna fifteen. At dahil sa sobrang kalungkutan at pangungulila sa asawa ay namatay din ang kanilang ama after three years. May mga naiwang ari-arian at pera ang ama, but that wasn't enough to sustain their needs for three years. After finishing her science training, her sister Jenna had married James and it wasn't for long that she met Steven and Married him after five months.

    But now she had realized that she did not love Steven. Napilitan lamang siyang pakasal dito dahil sa pangangailangang pinansiyal. And she wanted a companion of a man in her life. Kung hindi lang ito namatay ng maaga ay baka nauwi lang din ang kanilang pagsasama sa hiwalayan.

"Do Toby's outdoor shoes need cleaning?" Ash question interrupted her thoughts. Huminga siya ng malalim, hinamig ang sarili at bumalik sa kasalukuyan.

"They may not be up to your standards. sagot niya. Pagkatapos nun ay kinuha niya ang mga sapatos ni Toby. It was fairly new, pero sa bilis ng paglaki ni Toby ay kailangan na nitong mapalitan. Hindi niya masyadong natutustusan ang pangangailangan ni Toby dahil kinakapos siya sa budjet.

Problema din niya ang pagbili ng mga damit nito na panlaban sa lamig. And to the fact na malapit na ang winter season. Nainggit tuloy siya kang Ash, having to live in a climate where thick clothes were never necessary, and the rain came in a short heavy downpours instead of long days of drizzle.

"Baka kailangan mo ng payong mukha kasing uulan eh." sabi niya matapos dumungaw sa bintana. "I'd better leave you mine, it isn't far to my bus stop. Meron naman akong waterproof mac.

"No, no-dalhin mo na ang payong mo. Kapag nagsimulang umulan habang nagsa-shopping kami, I'll just pick up a taxi for us." pagtanggi niya.

"Wala masyadong taxi dito sa amin, you'll have to ring them up to rent one."

"Then we'll ring up. Huwag ka nang mag-alala sa amin." There was a note of raillery in his vioce which made her feel foolishly fussy.

"Ok, I'd better be going." pagpapaalam niya.

It seemed a very long day. Nahirapan si Christy na mag focus sa trabaho habang nag-iisip siya na baka mawala sa kanya si Toby. Ang batang tanging nagpapasaya sa malungkot at boring niyang buhay.

    She came late pag-uwi niya. May dinaanan pa kasi siya pauwi kaya ito nangyari. May ibinigay na siyang spare key kay Ash kaya nadatnan niya ang bahay na may tao na. Amoy na amoy niya ang kung anong niluluto nito sa kusina. May music din sa living room. After hanging her coat sa lobby ay pumunta siya sa sitting room. Sinalubong siya ng mga bulaklak na Carnation na nakalagay sa isang vase sa gitna ng mesa. The room was warm, tanda na matagal ng nasindihan ang gas fire ng bahay.

    Naglakad siya upang pumunta sa kusina. Medyo nakabukas ang pinto ng kusina kaya nakita niya si Ash na nakaupo suot-suot ang striped butcher's apron niya. Habang si Toby naman ay nakakandong sa isang binti nito.  Patingin-tingin sa isang bagong picture book.

"Hello! How have you two been getting on?" masaya niyang tanong.

Inilapag ni Ash si Toby sa kanyang mga paa at tumayo. With his towering height ay halos hanggang shoulder-level lang siya nito.

"We had a good day." sabi ni Ash. "Ikaw, kamusta ang araw mo?"

"Hmm.... ayos naman. Ano iyang naaamoy ko? Mukhang ang sarap. Toby is that book new?" sabi ni Christy.

"Chicken adobo, Filipino style!" tanging sagot ni Ash.

"Yes, uncle Ash bought it for me. He bought a present for you too!" sagot naman ni Toby.

"The flowers... yes I saw them. They're lovely. Thank you very much.!" nagpasalamat siya kay Ash.

"No, not the flowers." tugon nito. "For Americans, flowers or a pot plant are the usual offering para sa isang mahalagang tao. Sa pinas naman ay binibigay na lalaki sa kanyang nililigawang babae as a symbol of love. Pinili kong cut flowers kasi you are not gonna be staying around here para madiligan ang isang pot plant." paliwanag ng binata sa kanya.

"What do you mean by, I won't be here?" tanong ni Christy. Tsaka hindi rin malinaw sa kanya ang mga bulaklak. what was that for?

"Can you fetch the envelope I left on the table in the other room Toby?"

     Tumango lamang ang bata at nagmadaling kinuha ang envelope na inutos ni Ash dito.

"I hope you like champagne."

"Di pa ako nakakatikim niyan."

"Talaga? Never? Kahit nung sa kasal mo?" gulat na tanong ni Ash.

"It wasn't that sort of wedding." tanging sagot niya.

Tumingin ito ng makahulugan sa kanya.

"Any glasses will do, kung wala kang wine glass."

    Tumango si Christy bago binuksan ang cupboard para kumuha ng baso."Ano bang ibig mong sabihin na wala ako?" muli niyang tanong.

    Sakto namang nakabalik na si Toby bitbit ang isang malaking envelope. Manghang-manghang pinagmasdan ni Toby ang half-uncle niya ng binuksan ang bote ng champagne.

"You wouldn't like this my boy." sabay kinusot nito ang buhok sa ulo ng bata. Hindi maikakaila na sa maikling panahon ay napalapit na sa kanya si Toby.

Inabutan ni Ash si Christy ng isang baso and proposed a toast. "To the future!"

"To the future." pag-ulit niya. Pero pakiramdam niya ay may ibang pahiwatig ang mga katagang iyon na sinabi ni Ash. Ano kaya ang ibig sabihin niyang "To the future?"  deep into her mind.

    Ininom ni Ash ang champagne at inabot kay Christy ang envelope. Naamused si Ash dahil nag-aalangan si Christy na buksan ito.

Isinantabi muna ni Christy ang baso at binuksan ang envelope. Nakita niya ang mga tickets nila ni Toby for a flight to Philippines. Tumingala siya kay Ash. "I think mas mae-enjoy mo ang pasko under the sun kaysa mag white christmas dito sa London. Wala na munang snow this year ha?"

    Gustuhin man niyang magalit o tanggihan ito ay hindi niya magawa. Sa sobrang laking halaga ba naman na bilhan siya nito ng ticket upang itawid siya sa kabilang dako ng mundo. And to the fact na parang nagsisimula na itong diktahan siya in an arrogant manner sa lahat ng mga actions niya. Masasayang lang ang gastos nito kapag tumanggi siya.

End of chapter.....