" Andoy... you had me thought of you for dead! Why...? How...? Where did you go?"
Metring rapid-fired questions to Armando.
She hardly slept last night after their encounter the other day in Valencia.
Before departing, Armando managed to whisper to her; " Same time, same place... tomorrow!" after which, he disappeared into the bushes, behind the rock crevices of Casaroro Falls.
Now sitting in front of Armando, by the Ambuclao River once more, memories came flooding in, and brought back many emotions to the confused Metring. She sat by the rocks, a safe distance from Armando, and remained still.
" I have realized my mistakes..." began Armando." and am truly resentful of myself, of what I have done to you...and for the shames that I had brought to your family, as well as to mine!"
Metring remained quiet.
Armando continued.
" ... and I cannot thank you enough for giving me this chance to explain, and redeem myself... not so much to others, but most importantly, to you, Metring!"
" Andoy...you have hurt me badly..." Tears started to form around her eyes.
" Please Metring... I asked of you, don't cry!" he started to approach her, but upon seeing her tensed up, Armando stepped back, and continued.
" I am now living a vagabond's life, living inside the forest much like a wild animal... of which I have no one to blame but myself. I have spent so many restless nights regretting what I have done, and damned it Metring... I have even dreamt of what my life could have been... a life with you..."
" No Andoy! Speak no more!"
Metring stood up and gestured to leave.
" Metring... Please, please for the last time, do hear me out, and I promise, I shall forever leave you in peace!"
She relented, and sat herself down amongst the hard rocks.
" I have accepted a lot of things during my solitudes. One of them was that... it was you, that I truly loved..."
" Stop... Stop, Andoy!" Metring shook her head, her hands waving in the air in protest.
" Metring, I know everything is much too late now, but... I want you to know that not a day had passed that I don't kick myself for my betrayal of your trust. I was blinded by the glitter of Fausta's social status. Sadly, I know now that I had been much like my great great Lola Nana Sepa; I was attracted to the colourful gem that was Fausta, and have forsaken the virtue of the real diamond that was you...and for that, I have suffered, and continued to suffer!"
Metring lifted her face up, her eyes soaked in tears, she shook her head vehemently and said. " Much too late indeed... much too late Andoy!
I am no longer the pure and innocent maiden you once knew!"
Armando curled up his body, as if a huge carabao has landed on his chest.
" It was all my fault... may the Almighty forgive me." He turned his back to wipe away his tears.
" So long Metring. Farewell my true love!" He waved, and rode on his black stallion.
Metring saw him disappeared into a tiny dot from her tear-blurred sight.
*****************************************
Don Mariano shivered in disbelief upon hearing the result of his examination.
" Syphilis??? No way! This must be a mistake!" He insisted to the De Gracias's family doctor- Doc Raul Subido.
" My advised to you Mariano, is to refrain from further visiting the Casa of Ah Kong in Colon. It's there, and there alone that you could have inflicted yourself with that virus." was the doctor's gentle reply.
His head still spinning from the news, Don Mariano went straight to see Margarita, also known as the "hot lips Itang", for whom a native flower was named after, at the notorious inn instead.
As soon as he was face to face with the infamous courtesan; he gave her a sudden and violent slap on her face that sent the prostitute rolling on the floor.
" Cabrones! You stupid woman. How dare you... " He attempted to bring his right hand once more to her face, but the two burly guards of Ah Kong dragged him up by his arms, and threw him out of the inn.
" You will regret this... don't you know who I am? Why, I could easily have you shut down!" the ruffled Don shouted at the top of his voice.
" You no welcome here! No more come to casa! No sick man allowed in here!" Ah kong admonished him.
" Ingrates! I helped you build your business... this is how you will repay me?" Don Mariano stood up and dusted off his linen pants.
" You will see... you will feel the wrath of Don Mariano."
The Innkeeper and his bodyguards simply laughed at him. They had orders from someone more powerful than this sad fool of a man. Ah kong gestured to his men, and they immediately shut the gates to the inn.
Don Mariano was left with no other choice but to straddle back on his horse; departing with bruised arms, sore buttock, and an even more bruised ego.
From behind the red satin curtains, Margarita looked down at the departing Don Mariano. She gingerly fished out the bagful of silver coins, jiggled them, and smiled.
" Dona Fausta surely paid me a handsome price for that one. Certainly it's well worth the Syphilis I had to endure. Who said money can't buy everything? Huh! Certainly not here at Casa Paradiso... money, is everything!"
She thought to herself, as she closed the red curtain behind her.
YOU ARE READING
FOREVERMORE ( Simula Ng Walang Hanggan)
Historical Fiction" According to stories, which may or may not be true, this was half of a whole. This used to be a tiara, a mini crown when Nana Sepa got it. She was awaken one midnight by a voice calling her name...Sepa! Sepa! So she followed the calling, well thr...
