Dearly Beloved by Camilla

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

SINA Lisa at Macy ang nagdomina ng usapan.

True sisters that they were. Patango-­tango lamang si Candice, pangiti-­ngiti bilang pagsang-­ayon sa mga pinsan. Nang magsalita ang isa nilang kamag-­anak, saka lang nasentro sa kanya ang usapan.

“How long are you planning to stay here, Candice?”

“Oh, that depends on the contents of Papa’s will,” mabilis na sagot ni Dr. Elsie Davila-­Gomez in behalf of her. “I’ve talked to her, Kuya Soc. She will be staying for at least a month whatever the outcome will be. Aba, na-miss ko yata ang tisay kong pamangkin!”

Napangiti ang tinawag na Soc. “I have a feeling that the great Amante Davila had in his mind a strategy as to how to keep this lovely woman here in his very own place. He mentioned it to me once. He wanted you to stay in San Joaquin, Candice.”

Ngumiti siya nang buong galang. “Uncle Soc, I’m a ballet dancer,” paalala niya. “That is my profession and I love it so much. I don’t think I.can leave it just like that. And besides, Canada is where my heart is.” Sinundan pa niya iyon ng kindat.

“C’mon!” angil ng kuya ni Lisa, si Donnie.

“You’re bad, Bugs Bunny. Talaga bang ayaw mo na sa 'min kaya hindi mo na kayang bumalik dito sa San Joaquin?”

“There’s a blue-­eyed boy who’s waiting for her back in Ottawa,” natatawang singit ni Lisa.

“Even if I want to stay here for good, ano naman ang gagawin ko? Ballet is my life. I can’t imagine a world without my favorite tutu!”

Tumikhim si Dr. Davila. “Well, it’s too early to tell. Maybe something could keep her from leaving.”

Bumungisngis si Macy. “Like what?”

“Falling in love, perhaps?”

“You’re damn right, Lisa,” ani Candice, sabay halakhak.

Nagkatinginan ang matatanda, kumunot ang mga noo.

“What’s wrong?” sabi ni Dra. Gomez. “It’s one possibility.”

“Among a million others,” salo ni Benedicto.

Natawa pa rin si Candice. “Damn right, damn right.” Ipinagpatuloy na niya ang pagkain, hudyat na tapos na ang “Candice topic.”

Pagkatapos ng hapunan, muli nilang ipinagdasal si Don Amante bago masiglang nagkuwentuhan habang nagpapaantok. For Candice, it was impossible to court sleep dahil kagigising lang niya. Mag-­a-alas-­dose na ng hatinggabi ay nasa asotea pa rin siya, nagpapahangin. Pumasok na sa kani-­kanilang silid na inookupa sina Lisa at Macy kaya wala siyang makausap.

Ang mga kapatid naman niya sa ama ay hindi pa at ease sa kanya. Hindi naman siya gumagawa ng effort para mag-­establish ng rapport sa pagitan nila. Sabihin nang selfish at immature, pero wala siyang amor sa mga kapatid. At least, not yet. She would need more time.

Natatak na kasi sa isip ni Candice noon na ayaw niya sa mga ito, so she had gotten used to it. But one of these days, she would try to be friendly to them. After all, kapatid naman niya ang mga ito. If Caroline treated her the same way she treated Rachel and JR, what would she have been?

“A penny for your thoughts?”

Awtomatikong napalingon si Candice sa pinagmulan ng magandang tinig na iyon; parang sa isang disc jockey. Sa pintuan na siyang lagusan patungo sa asotea, there stood the tall, bulky figure of a curly-­haired man. Sa silhouette ay nakilala niya ito bilang si Ambet Yuson, the silly guy who almost died for Therese. And Therese. Come to think of it, I’ll make it a job to smile at her twice, maybe even thrice tomorrow, bigla niyang naisaloob.