Milieu Euphony (In Act Series #2)

Phase 27

PHASE TWENTY-SEVEN

CARVINGS ON THE MOON

I do not like social gatherings because they did nothing but brag.

"This is my daughter, Xeverna Lael," my mother introduced, a gentle smile on her face.

"Oh, the Constiñiano's best art prodigy?" Mrs. Ortiz, a socialite who was around her late fifties, looked at me with interest. "It's so nice to meet you, hija! I heard all your fantastic feats in the arts! What are you pursuing right now?"

I felt a little push at my back, courtesy of my mother's impatience. I had to be careful with my words, was what she meant. She wanted me to hide the truth—that I wasn't pursuing this ill-saken discipline called sculpting because I'd gather nothing but mockery.

But I was past that.

I wanted to cement the truth before their eyes.

"Sculpting." My mother stiffened at my reply. "I'm studying sculpting at RCA."

"Ah, sculpting..." There was disappointment in her tone. She tipped her champagne flute in her mouth before she let out a dry chuckle. "Hindi ka ba natatakot na mangyari sa 'yo ang nangyari sa pinsan mo?"

"Ano pong nangyari?" tanong ko, tinatagpo ang tingin niyang ngayo'y nag-aalanganin na.

Naramdaman ko ang matalim na tingin ni Mommy, pinatitigil ako. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagbulag-bulagan.

I know what the woman meant, but I want to hear it from her mouth.

She drew her head closer, afraid that anyone could hear the mockery in her tone. "You saw how they treated Ophelia Agostini? They are belittling her because she's not useful in the community."

When she drew her head back, a hint of sarcasm was on her lips. Her eyes glistened with the champagne that filled her glass.

Minamaliit nila si Ophelia.

Kaya ba gano'n na lang ang tingin nila sa pag-iiskultura dahil sa ginawa ng pinsan ko?

"Bakit hindi na po siya naging useful?" tanong ko ulit na siyang nakatanggap ng mas mabigat na tingin mula kay Mommy.

"Pinsan ka niya pero hindi niya sinabi sa 'yo? Grabe talaga ang batang 'yon, napakamakasarili!" She snickered. "Anyway, I heard that she stopped sculpting kasi binasted siya ng estudyante niyang limang taon ang bata sa kan'ya. I heard she's a groomer."

Five years older? The rumor that she heard was wrong.

I acted interested. "May tinuruan po si Ophelia?"

"Yes, hija! Alam mo bang teaching assistant si Ophelia sa studio na 'yon at doon niya nakilala 'yung lalake niya? They were intimate and I saw it. Nakita ko silang naglalampungan sa labas nang nag-surprise visit kami sa studio na tinuturuan niya."

"Tanda niyo pa po ba 'yung itsura ng lalake?"

"Xeverna!" my mother hissed, but I was deaf, so I didn't listen.

She sighed, frustrated. "Ayon nga eh! I forgot the boy's face pero kung pakikitaan mo 'ko ng picture niya baka mamukhaan ko pa. Pero, I remembered that he had a tan skin and a dark look in his face. He looked mature for his age, at iilan lang naman 'yung mga batang gano'n, 'di ba?"

Tan skin and a dark look on his face...

"Hija, why are you smiling? Do you know the boy?" Her eyes studied me.