The Two Decade Myth

3- Wineglass and Blood

Kinabukasan ay maaga kaming umalis sa bahay. Dala namin ang ilang equipment namin para sa shoot tulad ng laptop at ng camera. Si Tyrell ay kinausap na ni kuya na magdala ng isa pang camera para makakuha kami ng ibang angle.

Were on our way to go to the SotoReal Media building in Manila to pick up one of our staff: Lisa. Bago lang sya sa art department at dapat magkaexperience siya on-field. We're also picking up props and costumes for the shoot.

"Etzel, dito ka lamang sa loob ng kotse ha. Tatawagin ko lang si Lisa at kukunin ko yung props. I-ready mo na yung script." Syon stepped out of the car and went inside the building.

Yes, I'm in charge of the script. Scriptwriter ako and cinematographer of our group. Inside the building, may dalawang main groups: Sotomayor and Monreal. They make very different films that were both fantastic and beautiful. But this year is special kasi nagcollab sila for the first time.

What's more is that kaming mga bata ang nakaassign sa film na ito. This film is said to commemorate the partnership of the Sotomayor and Monreal.

"Good morning po ma'am." nakapasok na pala si Lisa sa kotse. May bitbit siyang dalawang kahon na puno ng gamit para sa shoot. Inilagay niya ito sa backseat. "Balik lang po ako sa building at kukuhanin ko lamang po ang isa pang box." tumango lamang ako at tiningnan siya mula sa passenger's seat.

Sunod naman na dumating ay si Syon. Madami siyang bitbit na kahon na kaniyang inilagay sa trunk ng sasakyan. Pumasok na siya sa loob at nag-seatbelt.

"Let's wait for Lisa." sabi ko.

"Of course, ikaw talaga." sagot nito sabay tawa. Pinunasan niya ang kaniyang luha dahil sa pagtawa.

"You know-" naputol ang gusto nitong sabihin nang nakita na niya si Lisa na natakbo dala dala ang huling kahon.

"Sorry po." paumanhin ni Lisa pagkapasok.

"It's fine, nag breakfast ka na ba?" tanong ni Syon. She nodded.

I turned on the radio kasi ang tahimik sa loob. I took a short nap kasi babalik nanaman kami sa Laguna since nandoon ang Vizcaino Vinery. The trip was longer than what I expected. Naipit kami sa traffic this time, it's monday kasi at may pasok ang mga sstudents.

I took another nap and woke up with the sound of door being closed. Nag uunpack na sina Syon. Nakarating na kami sa Vinery.

Agad akong bumaba at nag-inat. I was greeted warmly by Eleanor. She was wearing a shirt hidden by a 'jumper' and her hair was braided in pigtails that was complimented by her hat.

"Oh my go-" kinamayan niya ako.

"Ang ganda mo." she added. I just smile awkwardly and thanked her. I'm not used to being complimented. Mukhang mabait naman pala si Eleanor.

"Eleanor Vizcaino, the youngest of the three Vizcaino sisters, pleasure to meet you and to work with you. You can call me Elly."

"Nice to meet you too Elly, I'm Etzel, the scriptwriter."

"Hi Miss Vizcaino, I'm Syon, Etzel's brother. I'm in-charge of a little cinematography and editing. Nice to meet you."

"Wow-genes. Like. Di ako makapaniwala. Nakakaexcite naman po." she shook our hands for a minute while smiling.

"So saan yung entrance sa vinery?"

"Ayyy oo nga po pala. Dito po." naglakad siya papunta sa tapat ng kinalalagyan namin at sinundan namin siya. Bumungad saamin ni Syon at ni Lisa ang isang malaking pader at metal na gate. Binuksan ito ni Elly at doon namin nasilayan ang malawak na taniman ng mga Vizcaino.

May mga puno na nasa harap, tig-lima sa bawat tabi ng daanan. At pag nakalampas ka pa ay makikita mo na ang malawak na lupa na pinagtataniman nila ng mga grapes. Ilang lakad mula rito ay makikita ang winery kung saan ginagawa ang mga wine. Sa tabi ng winery sa may bandang kanan ay nandoon ang wine cellar na di ganon kalakihan.

Sa left side ng winery ay may space na nagbubukid sa bahay nina Elly.

"Our business is been going up and down. Last time na naging mabenta ang wine is way back then on 2002. Halos sumabog orders saamin." Eleanor as she walks slowly in the path towards the vines.

" Pero di din nagtagal bumagsak ulit ang aming winery dahil wala na masyadong nabili dito. Bibihira na lang ang naorder, pero nag gagawa padin kami. Itinatago lang namin ang mga wine sa ilalim, sa cellar." Eleanor touches the vines of the grapes and examines the soil underneath.

"Dalawang taon matapos ang pag-angat namin ay bumagsak na naman ang winery. Noong 2004 hanggang kasalukuyan, mas mabenta ang lambanog ng mga Lamora dito sa Laguna." Tinuloy niya ang pagsasalita saka humarap saamin.

"Pero, magkaibigan naman ang pamilya namin." she then forcefully smiled as her explanation was interrupted by a beep from a car.

"Si Tyrell na siguro yon." Syon confidently guessed.

"Ako na magbubukas." Eleanor volunteered.

Pagkabukas ng gate ay may kahong dala-dala si Tyrell. Tyrell wore a plain white shirt covered by a colorful blue and yellow jacket that can be zipped. His jacket was not worn but instead hanged into his broad shoulders. My brother went to the table near the winery to put the boxes he also carries, so as Lisa. Lumapit ako at tinulungang bitbitin ang isang box.

Eleanor stared at Tyrell while holding a box. She was staring at him with amusement the whole time as Tyrell enters the vinery. Eleanor's eyes shined brightly as if she was in love. I don't know why I breathed so loudly, letting out a sigh and suddenly pick up a box Tyrell was holding. I pouted my lips the whole way back to the vinery. I marched heavily but Eleanor was still there, stunned by Tyrell.

Napailing ako. I let out another sigh as I marched off quickly to the table. I was then stopped by a rock. A mere rock. The gravity pulled me downwards as well as the open box I've been carrying. The glasses inside the box flew out as I fell into the ground.

Syon is about to pick up another box on the ground but he rushed towards me until the glasses hit me in the head. All I felt is a stinging pain on my left cheek. My head was also slammed into a small rock.