CHAPTER 1

Seven Years Ago

1985

Renz's POV

She said it was going to be a relaxing visit; that the change in scenery would make me less prone to my frequent bouts of hot temper, and the fresh air would soothe me. My mother— ever the liar.

She also said I can ask to be taken to the town proper if ever I was bored at my paternal grandfather's plantation. I don't know when she last came to Aguadulce, but to call its center the town proper is a gross piece of overstatement.

What passed for "town proper" is a wet market consisting of tired-looking single-floor buildings that sell various sorts of vegetables, meat and old-fashioned clothes. Right across the market is a plaza filled with weird-smelling flowering trees they call kalatsutsi. At the plaza's center stands an ancient and dilapidated chapel.

The most exciting thing that probably happened in this hick place in years is my coming home, twenty years after my father's exodus. Go figure.

The next time I opened my eyes, we have already stopped in front of an old mansion.

"Señorito, buligan ko na po kayo," the driver exclaimed as he quickly got out when he saw me open the car door. (buligan is Hiligaynon for "tulungan")

Nagtaas ako ng kamay para pigilin siya, at nilabas ang isang crutch ko para maalalayan ang sarili.

"Isang paa lang ang pilay ko, hindi ko kailangan ng assistant," I replied coldly and moved away from him. His forehead creased at what I did but he only nodded silently.

"Sorry po."

"Ayos lang po ako, Kuya. Kaya ko na."

I took out the other crutch carefully and slowly got off the car. It's not the easiest thing to do, but not entirely impossible.

A girl suddenly came bounding up to me. "Hi! Nandito ka na pala! Ako si Lena."

I glanced at her for a second and started walking away on my crutches towards the entrance of the mansion.

"Nasa plantasyon pa ang lolo mo. Pero uuwi na rin 'yon."

This girl clearly does not take hints. She even had the audacity to walk beside me, a big smile on her face.

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at humarap sa kaniya. "Kunin mo ang bag ko."

I know I'm being a jerk but it's the only way to discourage her friendly advances. She amiably turned back towards the car.

Nakapila ang tatlong kasambahay sa bukana ng mansyon. May isang mukhang nasa kuwarenta na at lumapit sa akin at bumati, "Maligayang pagdating sa Guimaras, Señorito. Ako po si Bolet, ang mayordoma rito."

"Magandang hapon din po, Aling Bolet."

"Nang Bolet na lang. Siguradong gutom na po kayo. Tayo na sa dining room. Nagpahanda ang lolo mo ng meryenda." (Nang is from Manang- Hiligaynon for "Ate")

They all stepped aside to let me pass and the woman led me inside. For some reason, pagkaupo ko sa hapag-kainan ay umupo rin 'yong Lena. Hindi na lang ako nagsalita at naghintay na lamang na hainan nila ako ng pagkain.

It was only after a few moments that the woman eventually realized I was waiting to be served. Hindi ba iyon naman talaga ang trabaho niya?

"Ano 'to? Gata?"

"Opo, Señorito. Paborito po ni Don Isong ang linugaw. Ginataang bilo-bilo po yata 'yan sa Tagalog," sagot ni Nang Bolet at nakuha pa niyang ngumiti sa'kin.

"Masarap 'yan, Renz. Tikman mo! Masarap mag—"

"Hindi ako kumakain ng may gata. Saan ang kuwarto ko? Magpapahinga na lang muna ako. Dalhan 'nyo na lang ako ng grilled cheese sandwich."

The smile finally left that girl's face as I turned my back on them.

The room was my father's. Lumang-luma ang istilo. Kailan kaya huling na-renovate ang mansyon? Baka ang mas tamang tanong ay: na-renovate na ba ito? Mukhang hindi.

The bed was canopy style, thankfully the mattress was quite comfortable. May aircon din naman kaya kahit papaano ay komportable. Nang Bolet (what kind of a name is that?) turned on the air conditioner and closed the wooden sliding windows before leaving the room.

Buwisit. Siguradong mamamatay ako rito sa kabagutan. Bakit kasi naisipan ni Mama na ipatapon ako rito while she's off gallivanting on an Asian cruise with her friends. I could have stayed alone in our house. Better yet, I could have lived with Rachel's family. The bottom line is I never should have agreed to come to this place. Stupid.

🌿

To say that my grandfather was not pleased with my presence was an understatement. The hell I care. I was warned about this.

Sabi nga ng ermats ko, matagal nang hindi magkasundo si Lolo at ang tatay ko, bago pa man siya pumanaw. Halos hindi nga raw kami pansinin ni Lolo nang iniuwi namin dito ang mga labi ni Papa. My father died when I was not yet five years old so I only have vague memories of the time we spent here.

My grandfather looks so much like my father in the pictures that hung around our house in Alabang. 'Yon nga lang, masungit masyado ang dating ni Lolo; yong tipong masisindak ang tropa ko kung sakaling makita nila siya.

🌿

"Hindi ka raw kumain ng nilugaw sabi ni Bolet? Hindi mo ba nagustuhan?"

We were having dinner that first day when he threw that bomb at me. So many years after last seeing his only grandchild and that is the first question he asks. Nice.

"Hindi po ako kumakain ng gata."

He gave a stern, dismissive snort. Why is he judging my eating habits? What's wrong with not liking the damn stuff?

"Ah, sayang hindi mo natikman ang gawang lugaw ni Nang Bolet. Masarap magluto 'yon." The girl said the whole sentence smilingly.

Hindi ba 'to tumitigil sa kakangiti? I could not help but notice that there was a certain charm to her smile though I shook the thought away quickly.

"Hija, kumuha ka pa." My grandfather's face totally transformed pleasantly when he smiled at her.

"Opo, Don Isong."

That Lena clearly has him wrapped around her little finger.