Persona Non Grata

Scene 6 - Mother and Child

It was a busy afternoon at the estate, with our attendants moving about the premises in preparation for the coming feast. Spectating from the balcony of the house, I can see them attend to a variety of tasks - with a majority of the women preparing the meats and other ingredients for the meals, while the men are busy unloading crates of wines and fruits and carrying them to towards the pantry at the back of the house.

Unexpectedly, I felt a light tug at my skirt, followed by a yawn that sounded all too familiar for me not to recognize.

"Mama."  the boy called out. "Are my friends here yet?"

I turned to gaze at my little boy's unkempt hair as he went towards the railing of the balcony to spectate the view. "You're up early, my dear." I answered as I tidied Miguel's hair with my fingers. "I'm afraid your friends are still having their siesta at this time of the day."

"Aww." my son pouted in disappointment. "Can't you ask them to get here a little earlier, mama? I'm getting bored."

"Now, what did I tell you about that attitude of yours?" I gently scolded him. "You won't make a lot of friends if you're like that, Miguel."

"But I'm bored, mama! If only papa would take me to the shooting range..." Miguel complained.

"Now's not the time for that, mijo. Today's your birthday, remember?" I said with a smile. "You're a big boy now, and big boys don't act like that, yes?"

"But mamaaaaa..." Miguel bawled.

At this point, my gaze started to sharpen. "Miguel!" I warned him. But as I was about to reprimand my little boy, my attention was caught by something familiar approaching from afar. From a distance, I can see a carriage moving towards the gate of the estate. The car itself was not known to me, but the cochero wearing a salakot...he looked familiar.

"Isn't that Penitente's cochero? What is he doing here this early in the afternoon?" I muttered to myself.

"Mama...who is that?" Miguel asked curiously, pointing at the direction of the carruaje.

"He's...a friend." I lied as I patted my boy's head. "Now, be a good boy and go to your room, mijo. Mama just needs to talk with her visitor." I ordered as I sent him away. Miguel, though reluctant, complied with my orders and went inside - dragging his feet along the way. As soon as I heard the door of his room close, I immediately went down the stairs in order to greet the guest.

As I made my way outside, the carriage went into a halt, it's car door facing the entrance of the house. The cochero then got off the carriage and opened the car doors for its passengers. What happened next subverted my expectations.

"Good afternoon, Doña Pelaez." Isagani greeted with a smile as he got off the carriage, with Don Basilio closely behind him. "I hope you don't mind us coming here this early unannounced. We just thought we'd drop by to pay you a visit. Is Don Timoteo home, by any chance?"

"I'm afraid Don Timoteo is off attending to some important matters at the moment. Have the two of you gentlemen had your lunch? Would you like me to call for our attendants to prepare you one?" I offered.

"That won't be necessary, but thank you, Doña Pelaez." Don Basilio answered, waving his hand apologetically to chorus with his refusal. "Perhaps my friend Isagani would like a meal."

"Uhh, no. Thank you. I have had a hearty meal earlier in the morning. Perhaps you could offer the meal to our cochero Peralta instead. Perhaps he would like to have some lunch before we depart." Isagani presented.

"Yes, please. I'd very much appreciate a meal, señora." the cochero Peralta exclaimed.

"Very well. I'll have one of my atten-"