Simply The Best

26

"SHE WOULD love you. Everyone does."

Kunot ang noo na napatingin si Ember kay Ivo sa sinabi nito. Kasalukuyan silang nasa sasakyan ng lalaki papunta sa farmhouse ng lola nito sa Batangas. Ivo looked so relaxed and she tried to be too, but it was impossible.

"I can't believe we're doing this," sabi na lang niya. Sinubukan niyang maghanda. She tried to know everything that is needed to know about Miss Amelie Zandeja. She was definitely not your typical grandmother. She was a former beauty queen. She was one of the beautiful faces. Hindi lang noong kabataan nito pero hanggang sa kasalukuyang edad. She had the classic beauty and never went out of style. She became the face of beauty and elegance.

She married an affluent man and according to what she read, they loved each other. They made a really perfect picture of true love and happy ever after. They were the perfect power couple. But then cancer took him.

Miss Amelie Zandeja had been active in helping people. She devoted her time to charities and other various causes. She was also an environmental activist.

Ember wanted to be her when she grew up.

What if Ivo's grandmother didn't like her? What if she believed she wouldn't do for her beloved grandson?

Banayad na tumawa si Ivo. "It's going to be fine. This weekend is going to be so much fun. I promise."

Alam naman ni Ember na pagsusumikapan talaga nitong maging fun ang weekend na iyon para sa kanya. Alam niyang hindi siya pababayaan ni Ivo. Still...

"Alam mo kung ano ang naiisip ko ngayon?" sabi niya kay Ivo.

"Ano?"

"Alam mo 'yong mga napapanood sa teleserye o sa mga Korean drama minsan? 'Yong anak-mayaman si bidang lalaki, 'tapos 'yong nanay o kaya lola niya tutol sa bidang babae kasi hindi nila kauri. Sa palagay mo, aalukin kaya ako ng milyon para lumayo sa 'yo?"

Napahagalpak ng tawa si Ivo. Napangiti si Ember. She loved the sound of his laughter. Musical and manly. Mukhang sobra talagang naaaliw at nasisiyahan.

Totoong ang mga ganoong eksena ang naiisip niya sa kasalukuyan pero hindi rin naman niya seryosong iniisip na mangyayari ang mga ganoon sa totoong buhay. Gusto lang talaga niyang isipin ang pinaka-worst para maging handa siya kahit na paano.

"Ilang milyon ba ang gusto mo?" tanong ni Ivo na natatawa pa rin.

"Hindi naman ako greedy. One lang sapat na. Mapapalago ko na siguro 'yon."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Humugot na lang ng malalim na hininga si Ember. Ginusto niya si Ivo. Kailangan lang niyang harapin ang lola nito at ipakita ang best version of herself. She didn't need to impress, wala pang gaanong ka-impress-impress sa kanyang pagkatao ngayon. Wala pa siyang napapatunayan sa buhay at maipagmamalaki. Wala pang gaanong buti na naiaambag sa mundo.

She could show her potential. She didn't need to be over the top. She just had to be herself.

Sana lang ay maalala niya ang lahat ng iyon kapag nakaharap na niya ang lola ni Ivo.

Narating din nila sa wakas ang farmhouse. It was an extraordinary farmhouse kagaya ng kanyang inaasahan. Parang sinaunang Philippine architecture ang pagkakagawa ng bahay. Mukhang luma pero hindi talaga. Sinadya lang magmukhang luma. It was elegant.

What really made the place so great was the greenery that surrounded the house. The grounds were immaculate and well-tended. Hindi lang mga halamang namumulaklak ang sagana, maging mga punong namumunga. May mga herbs din at siguro ay may mga gulay sa ibang bahagi ng lupain.