It was almost midnight. Manang Terry was announcing to all the visitors at pinalalabas na ang mga tao sa loob ng bahay para makapagpahinga na si Inang. May party pa rin naman, pero inilapit na nila sa may gate ang mga speaker and all the party stuff, so my grandmother could rest.

They left the front yard with no signs of the earlier feast. The lechon was only a memory of this morning. The booming cha-cha song missed the midnight clock. Thick clouds covered the sky, opposed to the clear blue of the latest noon. It didn't look like rain was about to fall any time soon, but the wind blew colder, and the night birds were shifting from one tree to another.

The window from the second floor facing east would probably be my favorite place in my grandmother's old house. Sinabi ni Ate Melba na bahay raw ng lola ni Snooty Guy ang nag-iisang mansiyon na makikita mula sa second floor. That huge house was always gleaming in the dark, and that was so visible from afar. Every single day, it looked like it owned all the lights on the horizon. Everything was covered in the darkness every night, but never that house.

My arms were resting on the window frame, legs crossed as I stood, imitating the number 4 figure. A few lights inside the house turned off, leaving some parts of the yard hidden in the night.

"William, dadaan ka ba rito bukas?"

William. My glare automatically searched for the owner of that name.

Right side? None.

Left? There.

Jessa was walking in the yard, tracing the light from the house with her footsteps. Seconds passed when my eyes found Snooty Guy riding his thoroughbred. His left hand wrapped the thick rope of the horse, while his other hand held a loaded, aesthetically looking burlap bag that looked more like a branded paper bag from afar.

"Wala kasing nabanggit si Inang kaya gusto ko lang malaman," pahabol ni Jessa.

"Pupunta ako rito bukas," malakas na sagot ni Snooty Guy, which sounded so weird kasi ang lakas ng pagkakasabi niya, dinig na dinig sa puwesto ko.

"Sige, aabangan na lang kita sa gate," masayang sabi ni Jessa. And to be honest, her flirty voice started to annoy me. "Ingat ka pauwi!"

Snooty Guy didn't reply to that, but he looked in my direction, as if he knew from the beginning that I was watching them. I subtly startled, thinking that he saw me, but I didn't budge. Ayokong makita niyang nagpa-panic ako sa wala naman dapat ika-panic. He smirked and turned his horse in the direction of the rice field.

I really hated his guts.

• • •

Nag-promise si Papa na uuwi siya sa wedding anniversary ni Inang. He did . . . with a caveat. I woke up at six—as if I had another choice. I took a morning bath with confidence, only to discover that all my casual clothes were in the laundry.

Walang nagsabi sa aking lahat ng pambahay na damit ko, lalabhan today! Even 'yong mga sinukat ko lang sana at naiwan ko sa kama!

Nagsabi pa naman si Papa na pumili ako ng maayos na damit. Now, lahat ng pagpipilian ko pa lang sana, wala na!

So, I stormed out of my room in my gray robe, hair drenched with water, and mouth ready to yell about a "simple" inconvenience.

"Hindi mo naman kasi sinabing malinis pala ang mga 'yon," sagot ni Ate Melba. "Wala ka bang nakuha kahit isa roon?"

"Wala po. I was planning to pick from those after my bath."

"Kaso nasa labahan na kasi. Paano na 'yan?"

Ang "laundry area" ng ancestral house, sa river pa. That was half a mile away from Inang's residence.

"Wala ka na bang ibang damit? Kinuha ko na kasi kaninang lahat ng nandoon sa kama mo. Alam mo namang kinukuha ko ang mga damit mo basta maliligo ka tuwing umaga."

Ayokong sigawan si Ate Melba kasi . . . I know. She was the one taking care of my clothes since day one. Fault ko na hindi ko agad niligpit after kong isukat. Pero every day na kinukuha ang damit ko, hindi man lang nag-wonder si Ate Melba na bakit six pairs of regular clothes ang kinuha niya this morning for the laundry?

Kahit magwala ako rito, wala rin namang mangyayari. All of my casual clothes, nasa malayo na at nilalabhan ng mga labandera sa ilog.

I went back to my room and changed into a red dress. It was the only dress and the only clothing in my bag that didn't look flashy somehow. It was a wine velvet mini dress with a flared skirt. I could wear it sleeveless, but it has shoulder straps. Since I didn't want to roam around strapless in this place, I turned it into a bow right above my nape. The last time I wore this was on Shanelle's cocktail party.

Last night ang party kaya sobrang late na ngayon ko pa naisipang mag-dress kung kailan tapos na ang wedding anniversary ng lola ko.

I went out of the house wearing my cocktail dress and black flat sandals. Hinanap ko si Papa para tanungin kung pupunta ba kami ngayon sa Manila, and I was so shocked when I saw Billy's mom mula sa malayo.

Holy cow. Don't tell me, nandito rin si Billy today?

Magkasama sila ni Papa palapit sa ancestral house. I stood here waiting for answers . . . and Billy's presence.

"O! Ito na ba si Esther? Ang gandang bata!"

Billy's mom looked so simple in a peach ruffled blouse and white slim pants. The pearls and gold she wore were screaming attention.

"Long time, no see, anak! My condolences." She kissed me from the right cheek to the left. "Ang ganda mo naman . . ." But she said that with her brows met, eyeing me from head to toe. Then she shifted her gaze to Papa beside us. "Kaya pala ang daming kuwento ni Billy. Biglang dumaldal ang binata ko!"

Hinanap ko si Billy kasi madalas, nasa likuran siya ng mama niya.

"Kilala mo pa 'ko, 'nak?" tanong ng mama ni Billy.

"Yes po. Tita Cel."

"Ay! Ang saya. Natatandaan mo pa 'ko."

"Nasaan nga pala si Billy?" tanong ni Papa, finally!

"May breakfast sila today kasama ng mga kapatid niya. Kasama si Analisa kaya hindi ko na kinuha. Gising na ba si Auntie? Para makausap na agad. May meeting pa 'ko ng alas-diyes."

"Sure! Tara sa loob."

Tita Cel walked past me, and just like that, wala na naman akong purpose dito. Binati lang ako, then moved on.

Pero sayang . . . wala si Billy kasi may breakfast kasama ng mga kapatid niya . . .

May mga kapatid na siya?