Chapter 6
“There will be a festival later. You wanna come? Para naman hindi ka lang dito sa bakuran natin namamasyal,” Dad told me while we are having our lunch.
Mom looked at me. “Oo nga, hija. You should go to the Sentro. Sasamahan ka ni Manong Fred.”
I sighed.
“I don't think I can go there. Masama po ang pakiramdam ko,” I lied.
I just really don't want to go outside anymore dahil bukod sa pangmamata sa akin ng mga tao rito, baka makasalubong ko rin si Yves sa daan.
He's getting into my nerves these past few days!
“Alright. Just rest first. Mamaya darating na ang homeschool teacher mo..”
My eyes widened while looking at my Dad. “You already found one?”
“Yeah actually.. oh she's here!” Biglang tumayo si Dad para salubugin ang babae. “I thought you'll be late, Miss Yangco?”
The petite woman smiled at my Dad. She has a very fair skin. She's undeniably beautiful!
“Akala ko rin po, Mr. Rivera. I can't come later. The governor invited me to their mansion for the ceremony..”
“Yes. I understand. May festival kasi,” Dad told her and looked at us. “Anyway, this is my wife, Minerva Rivera and our unica hija, Alindra..”
“It's nice to meet you, miss.” We shook our hands together. Ganoon din ang ginawa nila ni Mom.
She wears red long sleeves and black pencil skirt. She seems very formal and collected at all the time.
“Maupo ka, Miss Yangco,” sabi ni Mom at ngumiti nang kaunti. Miss Yangco sat down as what my Mom said. “So I heard you're also a local here. Magkakasundo kayo ng anak ko for sure. She's loving it here now. You can tour her around sometimes if you're not busy.”
Do I love it here, Mom? You're wrong!
Miss Yangco smiled politely. “Of course, madam. Pwede ko siyang ipasyal.”
“Ano ka ba, Minerva? Teacher si Miss Yangco ng anak natin, not a tour guide,” Dad said and smiled.
“After nga ng class. You're not listening..”
The three of them laughed but I didn't even get their discussion. I just want to roll my eyes right now. Nagkunwari akong nahihilo at humawak sa ulo ko.
“E-Excuse me, my head hurts. Maybe I should take a rest muna, Mom, Dad and Miss Yangco..”
Tumango sila sa akin kaya kaagad akong tumayo. I'd rather stay inside my room all day than to hear people's judgment about me.
“Pasensya ka na, Miss Yangco. My daughter's tired. She can't join us anymore..”
Hindi ko na pinakinggan ang sinasabi ni Dad at pumasok na ako nang tuluyan sa room.
I don't know what's happening to me these past few days. The only thing that I know is staying here in this freaking place is the reason why I have this strange feeling.
This is just so messed up!
I pulled my hair in frustration. Nag-ayos na lang ako ng sarili. Walang mangyayari kung magmumukmok ako rito. I stared at myself in the mirror. I look so beautiful even when I'm problematic right now. People here are just maybe envious of me.
Ako si Alindra Salvatierra Rivera — the daughter of Alesso and Minerva Rivera. We are one of the richest families not only here but also in the whole country. Kilalang-kilala ang pamilya namin especially when it comes to business.
Kaya sinong hindi maiinggit?
But fine! If the locals here don't like me without any acceptable reason then alright! Hate me more until you all die! The hell I care!
After a few minutes, I decided to take a cold shower quickly to freshen up. I also put a light makeup on my face. I'm still in my robe. Hindi ako makapili ng susuotin kahit festival lang naman ang ipupunta ko sa labas. Yes. I decided to go out and watch for that freaking festival.
Patapos na ako sa pag-aayos nang may makita akong lalaki na dumaan sa harapan ng mansion. My eyes widened when I realized that he's the one I saw last time!
I was about to go out when I heard a few knocks. Binuksan ko naman ang pinto. Bumungad sa akin ang aming maid.
“Ma'am, makakasama raw ho ba kayo kina Sir?”
“No. Please tell them that I have something important to do,” nagmamadali kong sabi sa kaniya at nilagpasan siya.
“Wait po, ma'am! ‘Wag muna kayong umalis!”
I'm already at the stairs when she called me again. “I'll go now! Pakisabi na lang sa kanila!”
“P-Pero naka-roba pa po kayo..”
My eyes widened when I realized that. I rolled my eyes at her when I saw her smiling a bit. Mabilis akong nagsuot ng damit. That hot guy might go to the Sentro to witness the celebration! I should go there, too!
Nang dumaan ako sa likuran ng mansion para hindi makita nina Mom — bumungad sa akin ang maraming tao. I tried to look for that guy but I can't see him anymore. He must be here around!
I tried to search for him again when I got closer to the shore. Dito ko siya nakita noong nakaraan, baka dito ko rin siya makita ngayon.
And the reason why I'm looking for him? That's only because of my deal with Erica.
Siya lang ang nakikitaan ko ng potential na maging boyfriend ko sa buong isla ng Puricia Grittonia even when he is poor or not.
“Looking for someone?”
“Oh, Vander,” I was a bit shocked when I saw him. He's wearing a loose dark blue polo paired with khaki shorts. “Yeah, may hinahanap ako. Hindi ko makita. Hindi ko rin kilala..”
I saw him grinned. “Hinahanap mo pero hindi mo kilala?”
“Yeah. I'm somewhat.. interested..”
“Pwede kitang samahan na hanapin ang taong hindi mo kilala,” he told me. I raised a brow. “Don't worry, this time hindi na kita ipapahatid kay Yves Marcus. I heard you didn't like his company last time..”
My forehead creased. “Sinabi niya sa ‘yo?”
Umiling naman siya. “Pansin ko lang..”
I laughed when he said that. Halata nga siguro ang pagka-inis ko kay Yves. Sinamahan nga ako ni Vander maghanap. I don't even know his name. I only know his appearance so how can I find him?
I'm just really interested..
“Ano bang natatandaan mo sa kaniya?” tanong ni Vander.
“He is handsome.. hot and he has this messy hair. Sayang lang, I didn't get to know him. I saw him in front of our mansion. Hindi ko na siya naabutan..”
“So he is a guy?” I nodded. “That's why you're very interested.”
Hindi ako nakasagot. We continued to walk and look for him. I also asked some people but all of them didn't know who is that guy. Kahit ako hindi ko rin naman alam!
In the end, Vander just toured me around the place. Nahihiya na rin ako dahil kanina pa kami naglalakad.
“Do you have a girlfriend, Vander? She'll surely hate me if she sees us here,” I told him while we are walking inside the crowded market.
Tumingin naman siya sa akin at ngumiti nang kaunti. “Don't worry, wala akong girlfriend.”
“W-What? Wala?” I suddenly remembered Yves. Nainis lang ako. “You should get yourself a girlfriend. I can volunteer.. just kidding.”
“I don't have rights to have a girlfriend. Parents ko rin naman ang pipili ng mapapangasawa ko..”
I'm about to laugh when I heard him say that. I stared at him — he's smiling but there is still loneliness in his eyes.
“So.. eventually, you'll marry a woman that you don't even love?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I will marry a woman that I don't even know.”
“Pwede ka namang humindi.. you can disobey your parents, Vander..”
“Just for my own happiness? No,” he told me as he looked at me directly. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang ganito kaseryoso. “As much as I want to find a woman that I'll love and I'll marry someday, I can't. Mas matimbang para sa akin ang pagpapahalaga at pagmamahal ko para sa pamilya. You're lucky that you're not involved in arranged marriage..”
Napaiwas ako ng tingin sa kaniya. “How unfortunate but yeah.. I must be still lucky...”
. . .
It's almost dark when Vander and I separated ways. We failed to find for that guy that I don't even know. Napagod na rin ako. I just decided to watch the lantern festival that they are talking about.
I'm somewhat sad about what Vander told me earlier. Ganoon pala ang sitwasyon niya. I didn't know that until now, fixed marriage is still existing. Unfortunately, my Dad was once belong to that thing. I'm very lucky that I'm not experiencing it.
It's so unfortunate to marry someone you don't even love. Even if my perception in love is kind of distorted, I still want to be with someone whom I love the most. I want to marry a man who loves and cares for me until he dies.
At ganoon din ako sa kaniya..
After several minutes, the evening celebration of the lantern festival has finally started. According to the locals that I passed by, kakain daw muna saka paliliparin ang lanterns by 7 PM.
Ngayon lang ako makaka-witness ng ganitong festival. I didn't know that there's such a festival like this in Puricia Grittonia.
I'm still at the Sentro, roaming around. Hindi naman siguro ako hahanapin nina Mom since they also want me to go here. There are so many foods around me especially those foods that they called as kakanin and also street foods.
The streets are decorated with colorful lanterns that makes the scenery more beautiful even when it's already night time. I'm somehow enjoying my stay here tonight because of this celebration.
I temporarily forgot that I don't really belong here.
Maingay rin ang paligid dahil sa sobrang daming tao. Puricia Grittonia is such a small island but there are a lot of things to do here to make your vacation special and worthy. Kung hindi nga lang dahil sa mga tao rito ay talagang mag-e-enjoy ako.
I was busy looking around when I saw a very beautiful store. It has a lot of lanterns inside. Naagaw kaagad ng mga iyon ang atensyon ko.
“Gusto mo bang bumili ng lantern, hija?”
I stopped from looking at the lanterns when an old woman came to approach me.
Ngumiti naman ako nang kaunti. “Hindi po, Lola. Your lanterns are beautiful. Gawa ho ninyo?”
I suddenly want to wring my own neck right now. Kailan pa akong naging interesado sa mga ganitong bagay?
The freak!
“Salamat, hija. Pero ang apo ko ang gumawa lahat ng iyan. Ang gaganda, hindi ba?” she said and chuckled. “Tumingin ka lang. Marami pa rito sa loob..”
I forced to smile when she pulled my hand to go inside their store. Mas marami ngang lanterns ang nandito.
“Ito tingnan mo 'to, hija. Sobrang laki at maganda. Ilang buwan ding pinaghirapan ito ng aking apo..”
I got a bit intrigued about her grandchild because of what she's saying. Nagulat naman ako sa lantern na hawak niya.
It's so huge! Halos hindi na magkasya sa pintuan ng store!
I smiled while looking at it in so much appreciation. Whoever did this masterpiece is such a very great artist! I've never seen a huge lantern like this even when we went to China before!
“Sandali lang, hija. May bibili.” Tumango lang ako sa matanda. I'm busy appreciating the lantern.
The tiny details of the lanterns are glowing. I was shocked when someone held the lantern, too.
Nagkatinginan kami saglit ni Yves. Nagtataka akong nandito siya. The glowing parts of the lantern made his face slightly illuminated. Because of that, I saw almost every details on his face. Sobrang magkalapit kami at hindi ako makagalaw. Ang lantern lang ang pagitan namin.
“W-What are you doing here?”
I want to slap my face now for stuttering in front of this freaking guy!
Sinasabi ko na nga ba't makikita ko na naman ang lalaking 'to! It seems like Puricia Grittonia is really such a small place huh?
Napakurap ako nang kuhanin niya ang lantern sa kamay ko. He looked away from me as he puts the lantern back to its box.
“Tindahan namin ‘to..”
My forehead creased immediately. “Wait, what?!”
“Apo, nandito ka na pala!” sabi ng matanda na kapapasok lang sa store. She looked at me and smiled. “Ito, hija ang apo ko na sinasabi ko sa ‘yo! Si Marcus! Ang gwapo niya, hindi ba?”
I looked at Yves. He wasn't looking at me a while ago but he looked at me after he heard that from his grandmother. Ngumisi siya sa akin.
I sighed. “Yeah.. a little bit.” I almost rolled my eyes. “Mauuna na po ako sa inyo, Lola. Mamamasyal pa ako. Bye!”
After I said that, I quickly went out of their store. Mahirap na, baka maabutan pa ako ni Yves at mag-offer na naman siyang ihatid ako.
Kung ano mang sinabi ko tungkol sa kaniya kanina, ngayon binabawi ko na! He isn't a great artist! He was just lucky to create a lantern like that!
Relax, Alindra! You should stay calm! You're too mad at that Yves guy!
Lumayo na lang ako sa store nila. I want to go home now but I also want to look around. I just want to enjoy even just for now!
“Alindra.. nandito ka lang pala..”
I was about to enter the market again when I heard a very familiar voice. Dahan-dahan akong lumingon saka ko nakita si Felix. I startled immediately when I saw him.
“What the hell are you doing here? Did you follow me?”
He smiled wearily. “I came here to see you. Gusto ko lang makita ka..”
I came closer to look at him directly. “Sinasabi ko sa ‘yo, Felix na hindi ako interesado sa ‘yo! So pack your things and leave this place now! Wala kang mapapala sa akin!”
“Please, hindi ako titigil. I truly like you. Please give me a chance,” I felt his sincerity when he said that but I don't care.
“Kapag hindi mo ako tinigilan, hindi mo na ako makikita kahit kailan!” He held my hand and pulled me closer to him. “What the?! Help! He's harassing me!”
I smirked when I caught people's attention when I screamed for help. Nang lumapit sa kaniya ang mga tao, nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon para makatakas sa kaniya.
The hell with that guy! He's freaking crazy! Fuck his obsession with me! Hindi na ako natutuwa! I came here to avoid him but he just followed me!
I continued to run away from him as I tried to call Rachel.
“Come on. Pick up the phone, Rachel,” I said while catching my breath.
Tumakbo lang ako nang tumakbo hanggang sa marating ko ang dalampasigan. Siguro naman umalis na iyon! I'm hoping!
“Hello? Lindra?”
“Finally! You answered!” I looked around, scared that Felix might follow and see me here. “I have a problem! May festival ngayon dito at nasa labas ako ngayon! I freaking saw Felix here! He followed me!”
“H-Huh? Paano siya nakapunta diyan? We didn't tell him!” she answered.
My forehead creased even more. “Then how the hell did he know that I'm here?! Talagang nababaliw na ang lalaking ‘yon!”
I didn't let Rachel to speak again. I just ended the call because of so much irritation. Hingal na hingal ako dahil sa pagtakbo.
Damn it!
Maybe tomorrow morning, I'll go back to the city again. But I know Felix, he'll surely follow me again. Kahit anong gawin niya, hindi ko siya papatulan!
He's one sick, disgusting freaking guy!
I was busy looking around when my long dress suddenly got stuck on one of the bamboo chairs. Kaagad ko iyong inalis. Nagulat naman ako nang may biglang lumapit sa aking mga bata.
“Ate ganda, ikaw po 'di ba 'yong binigyan namin nina Kuya Yves ng bulaklak?”
My forehead creased when I realized that she was the one who threw flowers instead of giving those to me. Lingon pa rin ako nang lingon sa paligid. Baka masundan pa ako rito ng lalaking iyon!
Tumango-tango na lang ako. “Uh, yeah..”
“Laro tayo, ate!” A little boy held my hand as he showed me his paper boat.
Nagulat ako nang marinig ko ulit ang boses ni Felix. I can now see him from here! Argh! Seriously?!
Tumingin naman ako sa bata. “Sige, laro tayo. Pero sabihin niyo sa lalaking ‘yon kapag hinanap ako, hindi niyo ako nakita. Do you understand?”
The two children nodded their heads. Felix is now nearing us so I immediately jumped into the sea just to escape from him. Dahil alam ko, hindi siya titigil kahahanap sa akin!
Ganoon siya kabaliw!
Pumunta ako sa madilim na parte ng dagat at kung saan hindi nila ako makikita. Felix is now asking the children about me.
“Nakita niyo ba?”
Please, lie! Don't tell the truth!
The other one saw me. Tiningnan ko lang siya. I thought he'll say the truth but he just said, “wala po. Hindi namin nakita..”
I sighed in relief because of that. I thought Felix will finally stop after that but he walked closer to the seashore! Isang hakbang pa niya, makikita na niya ako!
I have no choice but to go deeper. Kinakabahan ako at baka malunod ulit ako pero wala na akong magawa!
Lalangoy pa sana ako palayo nang may biglang humawak sa baywang ko. I thought it was Felix and he finally caught me but I was surprised when I saw Yves Marcus in front of me! He's also under the water!
What the hell is he doing here?!
Nahihirapan na akong huminga! I need to catch for air! Kung hindi ay tuluyan na akong malulunod!
I was surprised even more when Yves suddenly kissed me. I tried to push him away from me but he's holding me tight. At nanghihina na rin ako sa ilalim ng tubig.
I don't know why he's here and kissing me without my permission. But because of his kisses, I survived under the sea and I got to escape from Felix.
And I hate to admit it but he, again saved me from almost drowning..
... ... ...