Mi Corazón (My Heart)

Capítulo 8

It was a hot, humid day and the gang went to Uli-Uli for a picnic. Malapit iyon sa Malacañan, kung saan nakatira ang gobernador heneral. It was Felix who suggested this before and it was Estrella who pushed this leisure time in a Sunday morning.

Hindi na nila kinailangan pa na magtawag ng kalesa. May sariling dalawang carruaje ang pagmamay-ari ng pamilya Zamora na siyang ginamit nila papunta sa Uli-Uli. Pito lang sila na pumunta— siya kasama sila Basilio, Felix, Estrella, Ignacia, ang tagabantay ni Estrella na si Simang at mayroon silang bagong kasama: si Romualdo. Si Herminio ay hindi nakasama dahil kinailangan nitong umuwi sa Laguna.

Romualdo wasn't supposed to come as he was not initially invited. Hindi ito kilala ng mga kaibigan niya. Sumakto lang na pagdalaw nito nuong Linggo ay nasa bahay nila ang mga bisita. Sinundo kasi sila at nasa sala sila kasama sila Estrella nang dumating ito.

Felix and the rest became acquainted now with Romualdo. Surprisingly, Estrella knew about his family. She has heard about them from his father.

Yradesa's friends were nice and welcoming. Maliban pa sa kanya, nagyaya din ang iba na sumama ito sa Uli-Uli. Si Don Eduardo naman ang siyang nagtulak na sumama ito. Romualdo looked hesitant at first. Dito napagtanto ni Yradesa na parang may pagkamahiyain din pala ito, isang bagay na hindi niya inaasahan sa isang musikerong nagtatanghal.

"Baka ay makaabala pa ako sa inyong kasiyahan," sabi nito. He said it with a hint of worry in his voice, but his expression still looked... stern.

Ang ama nila ay naruon din sa sala kung saan naruon sila at pababa na sana bago dumating si Romualdo. The Don was busy chewing his betel nut as he told Romualdo to come with them.

"Aba, mas mainam nga na sumama ka sa kanila upang iyong makilala rin ang mga kaibigan ng aking dal'wang anak. Huwag kang mahiya! Mababait ang mga iyan!" sabi nito.

...And so he came with them, accompanied by his violin.

Pagdating sa Uli-Uli, hindi lang sila ang grupong naruon. It was a Sunday, so she already expected that there were a lot of people of both sexes and of different age range, swimming and picnicking. Matagal na siyang hindi nakakapunta dito, mas matagal pa sa hindi niya pagpunta sa Maynila.

Wala naman masyadong nagbago sa lugar. Kung mayroon man, baka kaunti lang at hindi niya masyado napansin. After all, Yradesa knew that almost everything changes. Something may improve or deteriorate over time. Sa mundong ito, sa unang tingin, akala mo parehas lang, pero yuon pala, unti-unting may naiiba na.

...Parang sa kanila ni Felix.

Yradesa did some discreet glances at him as they fix their spot near the riverbank, under the shade of rows of Ipil-Ipil trees. He was wearing a sheer baro made from a light material with beautiful embroideries of nature-inspired designs, straight and narrow dark pants and black leather shoes. (that were squeaky clean as if Felix levitates as he walk) Naka-suot pa ito ng sumbrero. Dalang-dala nito ang buong kasuotan. Her other friends were in their clothes made from light materials too except for Estrella who was in her elegant European dress complete with her dainty parasol.

Naglatag si Felix ng magagandang uri ng tela na siyang dala ni Ignacia maliban pa sa panulak. Nilabas naman ni Simang ang mga pagkain na dala nila ni Estrella. These were Spanish chorizos, imported cheese and bread, as what Estrella mentioned before they went here. Si Felix ay nagdala ng empanada at si Basilio naman at siya ay may dalang kakanin na siya mismo ang nagluto. It was a little experiment of hers: Biko-Tsamporado which was obviously the marriage of the popular kakanin and the popular breakfast made from cocoa and rice.