Chapter 3

I put on my best dress for the dinner. It's an ivory lace dress I only wear during special occasions. Gulat na gulat ang stepfather ko nang malaman ang balita na inimbitahan ako ng mga Monterio sa mansion nila.

"Remember what I taught you." My mother reminded, fixing my hair in front of a mirror.

"Pero Mama, paano kung..."

"Ssh. You're going to make it out alive." She said, eyeing me closely. "Just act accordingly. I don't know what the senior Monterio wants from you. Do your best not to upset him."

Tumango ako. Inihatid ako ng stepfather at mama ko sa Avanza na naipundar ni Mama sa ilang taon niyang pagtuturo. I quietly climbed out of the car and was immediately escorted by men in black suit. Tinanguan nila si mama. The car pulled away and I was left surrounded by them.

"This way, Ma'am." One of them politely said. I searched for the man named Zian. He seems like a really good person. Siguro naman ay hindi niya isusumbong na sumilip ako sa surgery ni Sage kapag nakita niya ako.

Ang kwarto pa lang ni Sage ang napapasok ko kaya manghang-mangha ako nang makatapak sa engrande nilang lobby. Two swirling staircases that mirros what you see in Roman castles welcomed me the moment I stepped into their huge front door. Iginala ko ang paningin. The walls are cream-colored. Crimson-themed paintings hung accordingly on the wall and a huge piano sits on the center of the luxurious room.

My heart skipped a beat.

"My, if it isn't my visitor." Kinilabutan kaagad ako sa malalim na tinig ni Sir Sebastian Monterio. He's in his usual three-piece suit, looking fierced and in-charge. On his left hand is a fat tobacco and on his right clung a woman about my mother's age. I assume this is his wife.

Nang tuluyan na silang makababa sa hagdanan ay bahagya akong yumuko upang batiin sila. "Good evening, Sir."

"You are Mallory Rose Castillo, yes?"

I swallowed. "O-Opo..."

"Good." He glanced at the three waiting maids by his side. "Is the dinner all ready?"

They simultaneously nod their heads.

"Perfect. Let's eat, then."

Naglakad na ang mag-asawang Monterio. Sage's mother is a kind-looking woman who look like she was thrown in a secret underground society but didn't cared at all. She smiled at me and looked at ease, as if her son wasn't operated just yesterday or she's really good at hiding her feelings behind her perfectly-made make-up.

The maids served us during the dinner, pouring water into my wineglass every now and then and making sure everything is being taken care of.

"So, Mallory..." napaigtad ako nang magsalita ulit si Sir Monterio. I wanted to search for Sage but he's nowhere to be found. Alam kong magiging mas panatag ang loob ko kapag narito siya sa paligid. O kahit si Zian. Malamang ay nagpapahinga lamang siya sa kanyang kwarto ngayon at nagpapagaling. "When did you start playing the piano?"

"Piano?" I repeated dumbly. I did a quick calculation inside of my head. His presence itself is making me feel blitzed. I can't think straight without worrying for my life lalo pa nang makita ko kung paano niya tratuhin ang kawawang doctor upang iligtas ang anak niya. "Around five years old, Sir."

"Five?" he cocked both of his eyebrows at me. "Then that means that you're excellent in playing then."

"Not really—"

"I want you to play during my welcome party this weekend. It's a private dinner party. Nothing special. Simple lang." He said nonchalantly.

I secretly sighed in relief. At least he haven't mentioned anything about sneaking into his son's bedroom or watching the secret surgery.

"Yes, Sir."

"Are you a fan of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky?"

Tumango ako.

"Good. Then perhaps you can play the Sleeping Beauty Waltz." It came as an order rather than a question. Tumango ulit ako. Ang nasa isip ko'y mga mahihirap na piece gaya ng Moonlight Sonata III of Bethooven o di kaya'y S.141 , in A minor. VI. Of Grandes Etudes de Paganini.

"I'm expecting a lot from you, Mallory."

The dinner continued with a light chat. Ibang-iba siya sa Sir Monterio sa nakita ko noong isang araw. He really looked powerful to do anything with just one lift of his finger. Now I'm getting all nervous of the idea of performing in front of him and his elite visitors.

Nang makarating ako sa bahay ay ikinuwento ko kaagad kay Mama ang nangyari. Even my stepfather is discreetly listening to our conversation, pretending to read the newspaper.

"Well... that's great." Bumuntong-hininga si Mama. "Akala ko kung ano na ang nangyari sa iyo. I couldn't stop worrying."

I clutched her hands and squeezed it. "I'm sorry, Mama."

She nodded at me. "You'll just need to practice and make sure that you get out of the mansion alive the next time."

I didn't answered. I can't tell if she's joking or not.

---

The next day, my mother told me to go home early para makapag-practice kami. We only have three days left until the party. Pinag-igihan ko ang pag-eensayo para naman hindi ako mapahiya sa mga Monterio.

Sa ikalawang araw ng pag-eensayo ko ay kumalat na sa buong paaralan ang welcome party ng mga Monterio at ang personal na pag-iimbita nila sa akin. My classmates keep on asking me questions about the mysterious family.

"Diba sa kanila yung rice field?"

"Pati yung grapes plantation? Sa BUDA?"

"May anak daw si Don Sebastian? Diba patay na yun?"

Ngiti lang ang isinagot ko sa kanila at iniwasan ko sila hangga't sa makakaya ko. Kung tutuusin ay dapat hindi ko nakita ang mga nakita ko. Hindi ko maaaring sabihin sa kanila ang mga nalalaman ko.

"Mallory!" biglang hinigit ni Sierra ang kamay ko habang naglalakad ako papalabas ng gate. Alanganin kong tiningnan ang kaibigan ko. "Totoo ba yun?" tanong niya kaagad sa akin. She searched for my eyes. "Imbitado ka sa handaan ng mga Monterio?"

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko. "Magp-perform lang naman ako doon, Sierra eh."

"Ang sabi mo hindi mo kilala ang mga Monterio tapos biglang imbitado ka!" pinaningkitan niya ako ng mata. "May hindi ka ba sinasabi sa akin, Mallory?"

Ngumuso ako. "I can't tell you."

Tinitigan niya ako nang matagal bago siya bumuntong-hininga. "Fine. Hindi ko rin naman pipilitin, eh. Basta Mallory, mag-iingat ka ah?"

Tumango ako at tipid na ngumiti. "Salamat, Sierra."

"O, tara. Sabay na tayong umuwi?"

"Sige."

Katulad nang nakagawian, ako nalang mag-isa ang nagtungo sa gubat nang makauwi na si Sierra sa kanila. Nasa bayan kasi ang kanilang bahay samantalang sa amin ay nasa loob pa. The dried leaves crunched under my black school shoes. Malayo pa lang ay tanaw ko na kaagad ang engrandeng mansiyon ng mga Monterio.

Kahit pinagbabawalan ako ni Mama ay dito pa rin ako dumaraan papuntang eskwelahan at pabalik ng bahay. Bukod sa shortcut ang daanang ito, hindi ko rin mapigilan ang sarili ko na masilayan ang mansiyon. Ang ganda ng lumang mansiyon nila. Nakaka-akit talaga.

Yesterday, I managed to went home without sneaking into the mansion again. Pero ngayo'y parang tinatawag na naman ako nito.

Kumusta na kaya si Sage? Ayos na ba siya?

I took a deep breath and turned left, towards the mansion. Talagang napakatigas ng ulo ko. But I couldn't help it. I am deeply drawn to the mansion and to the young Monterio.

Tanaw ko kaagad ang dalawang bakal na upuan na inilabas sa kanilang patio. Pinapalibutan ito ng isang bakal na round table. May vase sa gitna pero wala namang kahit anong bulaklak. Bukod roon ay nanatili pa rin ang lahat sa ayos.

I sneaked into their back yard, careful to avoid the lingering men in black suit. Diretso kaagad ako sa ikatlong kwarto ng unang palapag ng bahay. I peered into the window.

Sakto namang may pumasok na doktor sa loob ng kwarto ni Sage. I immediately recognized him as Dr. Atamosa. Ang anethesiologist na tumulong kay Dr. Acosta sa pag-oopera kay Sage. Bahagya akong yumuko pero nanatiling nakasilip.

Sumunod naman ang isa sa mga tauhan ni Don Monterio, nakabantay sa bawat galaw ng doktor.

Tulog si Sage sa kanyang kama. He looked exhausted and in pain. Bigla tuloy akong nagtaka. Ayos lang ba siya?

"Please don't wake the patient anymore." wika ni Dr. Atamosa, attaching the BIS monitor to Sage. "He needs a full recovery treatment. If you keep on interfering with the patient, it might lead into complication."

Napakamot ng ulo ang lalaking nakabantay sa kanya. "Eh, doc, kusa lang naman siyang nagising noong isang araw. Akala ko pa nga mananatili lang siyang tulog pagkatapos ng operasyon eh. Delikado pala yun?"

The doctor glared at him. "Of course, you idiot. It might lead to induced coma. We're all gonna die here if something bad happens to Don Monterio's heir. He needs proper rest after the surgery." Sinulyapan niya si Sage pagkatapos bumalik ang kanyang tingin sa lalaking nakabantay. "Oo nga pala, alam mo ba kung sino ang luminis sa sugat ni Sage?"

"Huh? Hindi ba ang nurse?"

Umiling si Dr. Atamosa. Biglang kumalabog ang puso ko sa kaba. "Tinanong ko siya. Hindi raw siya ang naglinis ng sugat. Sage is unconscious for two days now. Hindi ko rin naman siya matanong."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"May ibang luminis ng sugat niya." His lips went into a thin line. "Tighten the security around this area, will you?"

"Sige, Dr. Atamosa. Sasabihin ko po kay Sir Zian."

Hindi na sumagot ang doktor. Sage remained sleeping when they all left. Nanatili pa rin akong nakasilip hanggang sa namalayan ko nalang ang sarili kong binubuksan ang bintana ng kanyang kwarto.

I tip-toed inside the room and approached his bed. Sinulyapan ko ang kanyang vital signs. Mukha namang mabuti ang kanyang kalagayan. May ikinabit si Dr. Atamosa na nasal cannula kay Sage.

I sat on the edge of his bed, watching him intently. Why did you woke up right after your surgery, Sage?

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kanyang kamay na nakakuyom. Dahan-dahan ko itong binuklat habang pinapakiramdaman ang kanyang reaksiyon. Sage didn't respond a bit. Siguro ay may itinurok sa kanya si Dr. Atamosa na kung anuman para makatulog siya at makapagpahinga.

"Magpahinga ka nang mabuti..." I squeezed his hands before I picked my bag on the floor and jump into the window again.

---

Mamayang gabi na ang party. Mas lalo akong kinakabahan. My mother went to Davao today. Ang sabi niya'y siya na daw ang bahala sa susuotin ko. Kailangan ko lang daw mag-focus sa pagpa-practice nang maayos kahit na kabisadong-kabisado ko naman ang Sleeping Beauty Waltz.

Nang matapos ang aming klase ay dumiretso ako sa music room ng paaralan. I am not a member of the club kaya humingi ako ng permiso sa kanilang president kanina kung pwede ko bang hiramin ang piano nila para makapag-ensayo sa hapon.

When I reached the music room, I found Serenity holding a violin and a bow. I gently pushed the door open. Napatingin kaagad siya sa akin. She squinted her eyes at me.

"What are you doing here?"

"Mag-eensayo lang."

"Only club members are allowed here." Masungit niyang sabi.

Nginitian ko siya. Serenity has always been like this to me before. Ayaw niya akong nakakapartner sa music recital at palagi siyang galit sa akin sa hindi ko malamang dahilan.

"I already asked for permission from Leon. Ayos naman daw sa kanya."

"Oh, so you're flirting with my boyfriend now?" tumaas ang kanyang kilay.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Serenity drains me. A lot. Kung anu-ano nalang ang pinag-aawayan namin noon. Sa huling taon ko ng highschool, pilit ko siyang iniiwasan dahil ayaw ko na nang gulo. Hindi naman kami nagtatagpo ng landas until now.

Hindi ko pinansin si Serenity. Nagtungo ako sa piano at naupo sa piano bench. I tested the pedal and lifted the fall board. The old keys of the Davis piano came into view. Napangiti ako.

I took a deep breath and adjusted the pedal a little before I started playing Tchaikovski's piece. Narinig ko ang paglapag ni Serenity ng kanyang violin. Nilapitan niya ako.

"So I heard you're going to perform at the Monterio's tonight?" her lips lifted up in a smirk.

"Yeah..." tamad kong sagot.

"I wonder how you can do that."

"Do what?"

"Yung pagiging ambisyosa mo. Nagmana ka talaga sa nanay mo." She tsk-ed. Nagtiim-bagang kaagad ako. Mas lalong dumiin ang bawat pindot ko sa keys. The music reflected my intensity. Tumawa si Serenity. "You're the best pianist, right? Let's see..." she eyed my fingers dangerously.

Hindi ko siya pinansin. Mayamaya pa ay bigla niyang ibinagsak ang fall board sa mga daliri ko. I shrieked in pain. Even the piano made a groaning sound. The sharp pain put me on shock. I tried to withdraw my fingers but it was too late. All of them are throbbing in pain.

Serenity smiled sweetly at me. "Now, Mallory, how can you play the piano with broken fingers?"

Tears escaped from my eyes because of the pain. Dahan-dahan kong iniangat ang fall board. Namumula na ang mga daliri ko. Nasasaktan ako kapag inaangat ko ang isa sa kanila.

"Serenity..." I gritted my teeth in anger.

"This is what you get for flirting with my Leon. May this serve as a lesson to you not to mess with me." she scoffed before picking up her violin and leaving the music room.

I stared at my fingers again. All of them are throbbing in pain. Some maybe broken.

Goddamit. I can't play the piano tonight.