FLIPSIDE: A series of AD | MD one-shots

Sulyap

Photo credit: Eat Bulaga Twitter

I wanted to take a shot at writing something that relates to the whole Anselmo-Nidora-Miguel story, because the recent KS arc is just so lovely and inspiring. I hope you like it!

Let me know what you think! (@skienat_pex on Twitter) :)

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A black Cadillac pulls over in front of an intricately-designed gate, attached to vine-covered walls that tower over the quiet streets of Manila. In the backseat is a man whose face stood out among a crowd, despite being among men who are of a similar stature.

He holds a bouquet of flowers freshly wrapped in sheets of newspapers in one hand and a basket of the sweetest and most succulent fruits in the other. He is in a crisp suit made by the finest tailors in Europe, only the best for this particular day. He takes a quick look at himself in the rearview mirror and adjusts the collar of his shirt.

He then takes out a few peso bills and hands them over to the chauffer, telling him to head to the store to grab a bite to eat. His visit might be long and he didn't want his trusty driver Erning to starve to death.

Erning stuffs the bills quickly in his pocket and turns to ask him if he's ready to go out now. He tells him to wait a few minutes, and that he should go outside first. His hands were shaking and his heart was racing in his chest as he tried to calm the butterflies that were fluttering in his stomach.

Kaya mo 'to, Miguel. Bibisita ka lang.

He then knocks on the window to where Erning was leaning against. He was ready, at least he felt like he was.

He's been in this place before, two days ago in fact, after responding to a telegram from Senyora Ariana Miley Zobeyala. She had invited him to come over for dinner to discuss a possible partnership with his late father's business. She also mentioned that her daughter Nidora was in town after vacationing in Zambales and that she needed to expand her social circle a bit with well-deserving people.

He only said yes because the Zobeyalas were one of the richest families in town and it would surely be to his family's benefit to go into business with them. Truth be told, he wasn't that interested in meeting her eldest daughter, even if she, along with her sisters Tidora and Tinidora, were always the subject of talks among the bachelors in town.

Besides, Miguel only fancied women with blonde hair and blue eyes, like those who he had affairs with when he lived in Europe.

But when Nidora came down the flight of stairs to greet him, he couldn't help but stare and take back what he initially thought about her. She sported curly hair and a petite frame, the total opposite of the foreign women he romanced in the day. 

Despite being small, she exuded both an air of confidence and a sense of humility, like she didn't know that she had an effect on other people.

And when she came up close, he could almost feel his breath being taken away by her mesmerizing eyes that rivaled those of the brightest stars he's seen. Her hand was soft when she shook his hand, and if not for Senyora being just a few meters away, he wouldn't have let it go.

And when she bid him goodbye, thanked him for the flowers and told him that it was nice to have met him, she flashed a wide smile and his heart stopped for a split-second.

That is why here he is again, about to say hello to the young lady who is beginning to own parts of his heart. He did not bother asking permission from Senyora, as she had whispered to him before he left that he is free to visit at any time he pleases.

He walks up to the gate to find it opened, and thinks that probably the guards had left it this morning. He pushes it and begins on the cobbled path towards the front door, one nervous step in front of the other.

Ano ba, Miguel? Huwag ka ngang kabahan.

Miguel stops in his tracks and takes a look around his surroundings. The Zobeyalas had a knack for gardening, and Senyora mentioned that she herself sometimes tends to the plants and the bushes sprawled in their yard. Nidora even planted the carnation flowers near their front door herself, which she took pride in when she talked about them over dinner a couple of days ago.

His breathing starts to calm down when he begins hearing faint sounds over the left side of the yard. He places the flowers and basket on the front porch, and proceeds to follow the sound, his hand now yielding a pistol he carries around his ankle. It might be robbers, he thought as he began to walk slowly, watching out for dried leaves or branches that might reveal him to the perpetrators.

And just as he was about to aim his weapon, his eyes caught something that made him hide behind the trunk of the big mango tree.

There was a man in a Camisa de Chino, rolled-up pants and black tsinelas looking up. His right hand was placed on his chest, the left reaching up to the terrace, while he sings a kundiman that he hasn't even heard of before.

Miguel then finds Nidora looking down from the terrace, listening as the man continued on with his hymn, her head resting on her arms.

He wanted to tackle the man to the ground and punch him until his blood turns the whole garden red. He wanted to run to the front door and make a ruckus, shout Senyora's name and say there is an intruder trying to lure Nidora with his song and charm.

But he froze in his place as he stared at Nidora, her eyes sparkling more than when he first saw her. She was humming to his tune, her head softly swaying left to right. Her wide smile was now a little grin, with her lips in a little pout which made her face even lovelier than the first time he saw it.

And when the young man was done, she clapped her hands and flew kisses his way, one after another, after another.  Then she cups her hands near her mouth to say a few words that Miguel wants to land on his ears too.

Iniibig kita, Anselmo.

Miguel was never the eavesdropping type, like how a gentleman should always be, so he slowly walked back to the cobbled path, making sure his steps made as little noise as possible. His heavy feet led him back to his Cadillac, where he finds Erning leaning on the hood, smoking a cigarette.

"Ginoong Miguel, tapos na 'ho ang bisita ninyo?"

"Wala raw si Nidora, Erning. Mayroon ka pa ba niyan, maaari bang humingi ng isa?"

"Bilhan ko na lang ho kayo ng totoong sigarilyo, naroon lang po ang tindahan."

"Huwag na Erning, hindi naman ako mapili." Erning hands over a stick and a box of matches, and Miguel quickly lights it up.

"Narinig ko ho mula sa ilang binata doon sa tindahan na napakaganda raw ni Nidora, Ginoo. Napakaswerte niyo ho na kayo lamang ang pinayagang umakyat ng ligaw ng Senyora."

Miguel only nodded as he puffed smoke out of his mouth.

May bukas pa, Miguel. May bukas pa.