Don Mariano Larena De Gracias passed away aged 55 years old, almost a year prior to Martina's 18th year birthday celebration.
He died of over injection of mercury as a treatment for Syphilis. Previously, he suffered mental illness caused by late-stage syphilis, which was once a common form of dementia.
This was known as the general paresis of the insane.
He would ran around the mansion stark naked, scarring off the household staff, screaming at the top of his lungs.
A few weeks before he passed away, Metring sneaked into his room, which was relocated to the upper floor room of the mansion.
" Don Mariano... Don Mariano! "
She called out to him from behind the Narra door.
There was no response.
She tiptoed closer to the four foster bed.
A foul smell emitted, and made her stomach churned. This did not deterred Metring; instead, she moved closer purposely.
" I do hope you can still hear me, and strongly pray that you do remember me." She hissed at him as she inched closer to the foul smelling, frail and balding man in the middle of the bed.
" ... because I certainly do! In this very same room, you rotten, evil man!"
Don Mariano did not move, but his eyes opened up wide; fear registered in his glassy eyes, as if he knew what his fate will be.
" No, Don Mariano. I assure you, I did'nt come here to ease your pains." Tears started to well up around Metring's eyes, and she could hardly see clearly. This was a woman driven by a purpose. She inched herself closer, ignoring the pungent smell now almost within her breathing space.
" Neither did I come up here today to bring you your supper... Instead, I brought you these!" Metring pulled out the green plants from the sack.
" These are Lipang-Aso, the Stinging Nettles. I'm sure you remember them? They grow wild by the river, and they are wonderfully prickly!
I brought these as a farewell present for you, as I know for a fact that you haven't got long to live." She hissed at him.
"Each slender hair of these acts like a hypodermic needle, and each of its little needles will inject a mixture of formic acid, histamine, plus acetylcholine into your skin, enough to give a wonderful itchiness all over your foul body!"
The sick man tried to raise his hands in protest, but could only managed to shake his shoulders.
" So... I will place these where your natural itchiness eminated from!"
She abruptly pulled his blanket off and placed the prickly plant over the naked man's swollen genitalia. Don Mariano attempted to scream, but his frail body can only managed to shrug, and from his eyes flowed tears brought by the pain.
A few days later, he was pronounced dead by the ever faithful family Doctor Subido.
The burial for Don Mariano Larena De Gracias was short and simple.
" Inutil... that imbecile Mario drove everyone in the household insane! " Dona Fausta looked searchingly at Yaya Metring, who remained stoically calm. "Thankfully, dear Tinang was spared of all that. I am glad that she is finally coming home tomorrow. She would be a welcomed change around here."
She added to change the subject matter.
" Fausta... that would really be good to have Tinang back home. Why, it's been almost 3 years since I last saw her! She will be turning 21 years old in a few weeks!"
Metring gushed to Dona Fausta, who half ignored her enthusiasm.
" I wonder if Tinang has grown taller?
Do you think that she has grown up as a proper lady by now, polished and well groomed from her years at Colegio De Sta Clara!"
Metring asked Dona Fausta further.
"Quit asking me Metring. We will soon find out. She's due to arrived soon. Mang Macario's driving her home from the pier. So there's no need to bombard me with your questions!"
Dona Fausta retorted.
Minutes later, the trusted driver, Mang Macario ran inside the main living hall of the De Gracias mansion screaming.
" Senyora...Senyora Fausta! Oh my good lord... Huh huh... " the elderly driver came rushing in gasping for breath.
" What happened Cario? Where's Tinang?" Dona Fausta asked.
" Senyora... am truly sorry, I tried my best... but the group of bandidos were too many... they had...guns!" the old man explained.
" What do you mean Mang Macario? Where is Martina?" Metring insisted.
" Metring... they blocked and stopped us on our way here, these Tulisan! They demanded to take Tinang with them!" the old man fished out a crumpled brownish paper and handed it to Dona Fausta.
" Senyora... very sorry, they gave me this...!"
Dona Fausta read what was scrawled down on the piece of paper.
" 300 pieces of silver coins must be delivered before sunset tomorrow.
Meet by the Carasoso Falls, or else..."
The message was clear.
" What...!!!" Metring and Dona Fausta exclaimed in unison.
" Madre Mio! What are we to do? Oh, How I wished that Mama Rosa was here, She would know what to do... "
She added.
" Right Metring? Hoy Metring!"
Metring remained quiet. Her mind was racing fast. Finally she said calmly, "Armando..."
**********************************
" It seems that our lives were meant to intertwined more frequently that we both probably wished..." Metring started to say to the head of the Tulisan who remained silent, his trademark well-worn handkerchief still covered half his bronzed face.
" Metring! Just hand over the bag to him will you!" Dona Fausta shouted.
" We just want Martina safe and back to us. Nobody will be the wiser." She assured them.
Dona Fausta, arrived at the designated spot well before sunset as was demanded in the ransom note.
Metring, Mang Macario and two more Hacienda Encargados tagged along with her, but only the two women were allowed an audience with the head of the Tulisan.
" I only want to speak with the mother." the bandit said and looked at the ladies in front of him.
" I am!" Dona Fausta volunteered.
" In this case, you may join the others up there!" He dismissed Metring towards the 3 men waiting at the top of the cliff.
" Then... here is your demand. I want Martina back, Now!" Dona Fausta was getting tired of the charade.
" No... I want a security that my men and I will be safe to leave, so I want you as the mother, to take Martina's place, until it's safe enough for us, then we will let you go!" the leader said forcefully.
" Then take me!" Metring stepped forward. " I'm Martina's mother!"
" Metring, that is so noble of you to do... but I am the real mother!" Dona Fausta stepped in front of him.
" Huh...you women think this is a joke? What games are you playing with me?" He looked searchingly at the two women infront of her.
" Admit it...Dona Fausta, please go... you know very well the truth, you are not Martina's mother!"
Metring took Dona Fausta's hands into her's, and looked straight into her eyes.
"I am... Martina De Gracias' biological mother!"
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...
