Bending The Truth

Chapter 14

TRULY God is the preeminent artist of them all. The way he painted the picturesque landscape of Asturias mountains complementing the vast and turquoise-colored water of Cartebian sea is just so fascinating.

She heaved a sigh and was comforted by the silence. She's never been the poetic type of a person, but she's willing to write a poem accordingly on how gratifying the silence between her and her grandfather is.

" Cómo es tu vida hasta ahora?" (How's your life so far?) Sandali syang natigilan sa tanong nito. After a decade of being his granddaughter, this is the very first time that he asked about her well-being.

" Bonita ambigua." (Pretty ambiguous) Payak na sagot niya, bagama't nahihiwagaan sa kaniyang abuelo. They never talked like this because when they do they always end up arguing.

Quarter to 3 in the afternoon. They are in an exclusive café near the Cartebian Sea. The warm sea breeze is so inviting that she wants to continue her afternoon nap. Kagagaling lang nila sa simbahan, they attended the 3 o'clock mass. Relihiyoso ang mga tao dito, sa katunayan dito matatagpuan ang karamihan sa religious site ng Spain. They are also pretty conservative and way too traditional, which she admires and condemns at the same time.

" How's the divorce paper? Did he signed it already?" Sumama ang timpla ng mukha niya, wari'y natunaw lahat ng kapayapaan niya sa kalooban. He's always the domineering abuelo she know. And the one who's never a fan of the sanctity of marriage.

" I love him abuelo, you can't make me." Matigas niyang saad. Ibinaling niya ang tingin dito. He's staring blankly at his cup of tea.

" You're truly a spitting image of your deceased father. The only difference is that you're the upgraded version." He softly chuckles, as if he remembers something funny about her deceased father.

" Well, I am not your granddaughter for no reason." Ngiti niya.

" And I will never make a move to void my marriage with Zerachiel just to please you." Patuloy niya, limang taon na ang nakakaraan nang gumawa sya ng isang hakbang na lubos na ikinagalit nito. Lihim silang nagpakasal ni Zerachiel. Isang taon bago sya kunin ng kaniyang abuelo para ipakasal sa lalaking gusto nito para sa kaniya. Nanirahan sila sa Bicol province nang halos isang taon. Malayo sa mga nakakakilala sa kanila, lalong-lalo na sa mga mata ng kaniyang abuelo.

Batid niyang hindi naman talaga niya matatakasan ang galamay nito. Muntik nang mamatay noon si Zerachiel dahil sa kakahabol sa kanila ng mga tauhan nito. But she's not Priam Gertrude Elizondo for nothing. Bago pa man sila ikasal ni Zerachiel, inamin niya na dito ang lahat ng tungkol sa totoo niyang pagkatao. Kaya bago mangyari ang aksidente, they already planned everything ahead of time to deceived her abuelo. They are adequate actors after all.

Nagpanggap si Zerachiel na na-comatose matapos barilin ng mga tauhan ni abuelo. Kinuha naman sya ng kaniyang abuelo at dinala sa Espanya. Kinulong sya nito nang halos isang taon sa mansyon. Nang malaman nito na nagkamalay-tao na si Zerachiel ay muli syang ipinadala nito sa Pilipinas upang papirmahan ang divorce paper nila. Pero nagka-amnesia kuno si Zerachiel, kaya halos limang taon sila noong palihim na nagkikita. Until they got tired of playing games with her abuelo because deceiving him was never a good idea.

" Crees que puedes engañar a este viejo?" (Do you think you can fool this old man?) Napangiwi sya sa tinuran nito.

" Pero la forma en que ustedes dos me engañaron me hizo darme cuenta de muchas cosas, que tiendo a condenar antes. Deseé ser tan intrépido como tú, para que yo no termine así. Crecí teniendo un punto de vista que yo debería seguir lo que otros quieren que sea y no qué mi corazon dolor de tener. Estoy cansado de jugar el papel de villano Priam." (But the way you two deceived me made me realize a lot of things, that I tend to condemn before. I wished I was as dauntless as you, so that I don't end up like this. I grow up having a standpoint that I should follow what others want me to be and not what my heart aching to have. I'm tired of playing the villainous role Priam) Wari'y tumalon ang puso niya sa huling katagang binitawan nito.

" Qué quieres decir?" ( What do you mean?) She chirped like a credulous child who wanted to receive a present.

" Has pasado Priam Gertrude." (You have passed Priam Gertrude) Ngiting sagot nito dahilan upang sumilay ang masayang ngiti sa kaniyang labi.

" Muchas gracias abuelo." (Thank you very much abuelo) Tumayo sya at niyakap ito mula sa likuran. She was never been elated like this.

" No, thank you for being my granddaughter. And I'm sorry for all the trouble I have caused you." Tinapik-tapik sya nito sa kamay.

" I'm at fault also abuelo, let's just bygone by bygone." She already forgive him a long time ago. Sino ba naman sya para magtanim ng sama ng loob dito. Tao lang din naman sya, nakakagawa ng pagkakamali. Hindi maiging inaalagaan ang sama ng loob, kung sakali man na lumaki at mamunga ito sya rin lang din naman ang mahihirapan.

" Perdóname por interrumpir, pero Senior Silvano es hora." (Forgive me for interrupting, but Senior Silvano it's time) Kapwa bumaling ang kanilang tingin kay Mr. Francois.

" Okay, I'll leave you here in the meantime. I have to deal with someone first." Paalam nito bago lumipat sa kaniyang wheelchair.

Masayang tinanaw niya ang papalayong pigura nito.

" Mamá!" Wari'y may mainit na bagay na humaplos sa kaniyang puso nang masumpungan ang isa sa pinaghuhugutan niya ng lakas. At dahilan kung bakit mas pinipili niya ang magpatuloy. Nag-init ang magkabilang sulok ng kaniyang mga mata nang kaniya itong mahawakan. Ngumiti ito sa kaniya ng malawak, he's really a spitting image of his father.

They have the same eyes, same smile, and same personality. Noong mga panahong nagkalayo sila ni Zerachiel ay lalo lamang syang nangungulila sa asawa kapag kasama niya ito.

Binuhat niya ito at mahigpit na niyakap.

" Stop crying Mama, everything will be alright,"