Tangled Tides

Kabanata 1

I grabbed my temple and shook violently when I heard the voice from the phone I was holding.

"I said I don't need a bodyguard, Dad. I can take care of myself."

I tried not to raise my voice to the person I was talking to because I didn't want to ruin my day and still, I want to show my little respect.

"Pero anak, I will feel more at ease if Henry is there with you. Para na rin makakarating sa akin kung may nangyari mang masama sa’yo."

The voice that was coming out of the thing I was holding made me upset. "I said what I said. I don't need the presence of your bodyguard. Again, I can handle myself. Bye."

Hindi kona napigilang ibato sa saking tabi ang cellphone at napasabunot sa aking buhok. Bakit pa n’ya ako pinauwi kung babakuran n’ya rin lang naman ako? I'm not a child anymore for pete sake who still needs assistance.

I have a very good and stable life in the states with my friends. Kung hindi lang ako nahihiya na tumanggi sa pabor ni Dad na bumisita dito sa Pilipinas, I wouldn't let myself breathe the polluted air here.

I turned to my right side and watched the passing trees. We were going to the town of Alfonso where my stepmom grew up. This is what Dad wanted me to do, to visit his second wife.

Napagkrus ko ang aking kamay sa aking dibdib at mas bumigat ang nararamdaman ko. "Tsh."

I love Dad and as long as I can do his favor, I will do it, pero ang makipag-plastikan sa pangalawang n'yang asawa ay hindi ko talaga makaya. Dad wants me to visit my stepmom because it's her birthday and one of her wishes is to see me in person.

Muli akong napailing sa mga tumatakbo sa aking isip at mas isiniksik ang sarili sa inuupuan. "After that party, I will go back to the states," bulong ko at ikinalma ang sarili.

~*~

"Mabuhay po, Ma'am Carol!"

Napataas ang isa kong kilay nang may isang matandang lalaki na sumalubong sa akin bago ako tuluyang makapasok sa hacienda. Alam kong hospitable ang mga Filipino pero hindi ko sukat akalain na ganito sila ka welcome sa mga bisita. I kinda like it, mas nakakawala ng stress.

He was wearing clean and ironed white and black clothes while his two hands were behind his back.

"Welcome to Hacienda de Venice. Nalulugod akong makita ka matapos ang ilang taon, Carol."

Parehas nang napataas ang aking kilay sa narinig. "Do I know you, Sir?"

The old man smiled even more at my question and came closer to me. "I'm Julio, your mommy Eden's old friend. Pero palagay ko ay hindi mo na ako naaalala pa." Saka ito bahagyang tumawa. Nanliit ang mata ko at pilit s’yang binabalikan sa aking memorya. Julio? I hate this because I can't remember that he once passed into my life.

He took the suitcase I was holding and politely took me inside the hacienda. The Hacienda de Venice is one of my biological Mom's properties from her family and its beauty has been preserved until now. Kadalasang nagbabakasyon dito ang pamilya ko sa side ni Mom.

The very clean and beautiful interior of the hacienda dawned on me. Tama lamang ang taas ng kisame at napakalawak. Masasabi kong wala masyadong nabago sa loob ng hacienda pero ang ganda nito ay hindi nababawasan. To this day I am still impressed by the charisma of the place. But when Mommy Eden passed away, my stepmom took the responsibilities of the Hacienda de Venice. How could she do that?

"The years have passed but the beauty of Venice still remains. Ako ang nakatalaga noon sa pangangalaga ng hacienda pero kalaunan ay ipinasa ko na rin ang posisyon ko sa aking kaibigan." My eyes went to Julio while he was directing the two maids.