When the Last Peso Falls

Chapter 6

Shocks and Secrets

The atmosphere in the Manlapig household was thick with unspoken anxieties. Lola Remedios's health had been steadily declining, and the once vibrant home was now cloaked in a quiet tension. The family gathered more frequently, each visit marked by worried glances and hushed conversations. Despite their efforts to maintain a facade of normalcy, the weight of the inevitable loomed large.

Mila sat on the edge of the veranda, her eyes locked on the garden that Lola Remedios had cherished so much. The bougainvillea, vibrant and full of life, seemed a stark contrast to the pallor overtaking her mother. Mila's thoughts swirled with worry and uncertainty.

"She's getting worse, isn't she?" Tonyo's voice broke the silence as he joined Mila on the veranda. His usually confident demeanor was softened by concern.

Mila nodded, not taking her eyes off the flowers. "The doctor says she's stable, but we know what that really means. It's only a matter of time."

Tonyo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I hate this, Mila. Just waiting. And not knowing... it's driving me crazy."

Mila finally turned to look at her brother, seeing the fear in his eyes that mirrored her own. "I know. But we have to stay strong, for her. And for each other."

Tonyo nodded, but the furrow in his brow deepened. "I've been thinking a lot about... what happens after. You know, the will."

Mila stiffened slightly, the conversation veering into territory that had been lingering at the back of her mind as well. "Tonyo, let's not—"

"I'm not saying this to be disrespectful," Tonyo interrupted, his tone urgent. "But you know how things can get. Money... it changes people. We need to be prepared."

Mila exhaled slowly, considering his words. "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying that we need to be realistic," Tonyo replied, lowering his voice. "Mom has been secretive about her finances. We don't know what's in that will. What if... what if it's not what we expect?"

Mila's heart tightened at the thought. Her mother had always been careful with her wealth, never flaunting it but also never fully revealing its extent. "You think there's more to it?"

Tonyo nodded. "I wouldn't be surprised. And if there is, we need to be on the same page. We can't let this tear us apart."

Mila considered his words, her mind racing through the possibilities. She had always believed that her mother's wealth would be divided between them, a straightforward inheritance. But now, with Tonyo's doubts creeping in, she realized how little they truly knew.

"We'll have to trust that Mom did what she thought was best," Mila said finally, though her voice wavered slightly.

Tonyo frowned, clearly unsatisfied. "Trust is one thing, Mila, but we need to be ready for anything. What if there's a surprise? What if we're left with nothing?"

Mila shook her head. "Don't jump to conclusions, Tonyo. Mom isn't like that."

Tonyo leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But what if... what if there's someone else? Another beneficiary? We don't know who she's been talking to, what promises she's made."

Mila's mind flashed to the visits Lola Remedios had from Atty. Cruz and the way her mother had been spending more time alone in her study. She had dismissed it as part of the aging process, but now, doubts began to form.

"We'll deal with whatever comes," Mila said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "But we have to be united, Tonyo. No matter what happens."

Tonyo's eyes met hers, and for a moment, they shared an understanding, a silent pact. But as the silence stretched between them, both siblings knew that the real test was yet to come.

As the days passed, the whispers grew louder within the family. Patricia and Luis, Mila's and Tonyo's spouses, exchanged their own speculations behind closed doors. Each family member tried to mask their unease with forced smiles and empty reassurances, but the underlying tension was palpable.

Lola Remedios, though growing weaker, was keenly aware of the unease among her children. She observed them quietly, her sharp mind still intact despite her failing body. She knew that her decision, once revealed, would bring about a storm of emotions—shock, perhaps anger, and hopefully, understanding. But she could only hope that the love she had nurtured in her family would prevail over the inevitable conflict.

Late one evening, as Aling Ising helped her prepare for bed, Lola Remedios caught the worried look on her loyal maid's face. "They're starting to wonder, aren't they?" Lola Remedios asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aling Ising hesitated before nodding. "Yes, Lola. They're talking about the will."

Lola Remedios closed her eyes, a deep sigh escaping her lips. "It's only natural. They're worried about the future, about what I'll leave behind."

Aling Ising looked at her with concern. "Are you sure you don't want to tell them, Lola? It might ease their minds."

Lola Remedios shook her head slowly. "No, Ising. They'll find out when the time is right. Until then, they must learn to face their fears and trust in what I've taught them."

As she drifted off to sleep, Lola Remedios's thoughts were with her family—her children and grandchildren who would soon face a test that would challenge the very bonds that held them together. She could only hope that when the time came, they would remember the love that had built their legacy, and not let it crumble in the face of greed and suspicion.

And so, the Manlapig family waited, each day bringing them closer to the moment of revelation, unaware of the shocks and secrets that lay ahead, hidden within the sealed envelope in Aling Ising's care.