SHADE

Chapter 2: First Eve

"Unya(So)" sigh Joerge as he stir a spoon in a cup filled with hot chocolate. He saw a piece of black chard floating in the surface of the cup. He was busy trying to scoop it out of the cup but was hastily speaking because he remembered something in his mind.

"Naa pakay plano ipadayon ang pantalan Pa? (Do you have plans to continue the port operations father)" Joerge told aloud.

His sisters' attention was caught by the clinking sound as he stirs the cup rapidly in frustration. They sat on a long mahogany table with purple cloth and a long, creamy, white dresser scarf at the center. The table is filled with newly cooked meal and assortments. The flowers at the center of the table are freshly put, with aroma mixing with the steam from the stewed duck. The scent of the boiling bone broth in the stew lingers on the throats of those who smells it, partnering the rich flavors of the roasted beef ribs. The roasted ribs are dripping on the large silver making a moist layer underneath it but is cooked in a beautiful dark brown crust with melted sugar giving it a glossy texture.

The blizzard continues to make little clicking noise on the window of the house and the whistling of the wind ensued. Outside, from the house, no road is visible when looking at the horizon. With only the thick layer of deep white on sight. The sudden movement and hurdle of the wind gave a pausing sound as if the mountain is resisting the gust. Inside, the wooden pillars of the house gave aloud creaking sound as the wind blows stronger, stretching and almost visibly tilting the house as the blizzard continues.

"Basig human sa tingtugnaw akong maasikaso(Maybe after the winter I'll tend to it)" the old man replied as he puff another smoke from his pipe, not even eating the rich, savory food in the table.

"Sir Calony?" one of the maids asks.

"Uhm?" the old man replied, tilting his head towards the direction of the asking maid

"Mag...,magkuha ba ko og bino?(Sho-should I bring some wine)" the maid added while clutching her hand together making Joerge stare at her, curious of her fearful behavior.

"Dad-I mi og pula nga syrah sa bodega (Bring us a bottle of red syrah from the wine cellar). Kadtong ubos sa eramulead(The one beneath the eramulead)." Calony commanded at her. As he glances at the face of the maid, she merely looks down. Not wanting to meet the eyes of the Master of the house. She hurried her way then to the direction of the cellar, passing by the sisters' seat where they too look at her as she walks away. They cannot hide the weirdedout look on their face by the fearful behavior of the maid.

"Bag-o lang to siya no? (New maid I presume)" Elissa told her father, glancing quickly at him but looking back at the food on her plate as she eats.

"Akong nakuha na sa usa ka amigo nga negosyante(I got her from a known merchant)" Calony replied to her daughter.

"Pasabot nimo maguulipon? Mga langit, sundog sundog gyud ka sa uso Pa (You mean a slaver. Good heavens, you really are a slave to fashion Father)" Christina asks her father in a satirical tone and with a sharp glance at the old man. Making the old man place his hand holding his pipe on the table. His face is illuminated by the casual strikes of lighting probing inside the house through the glass window.

"Kumusta man pagtuon nimo Tina? (How's your studies Tina)" Calony asks his daughter, changing the subject.

Christina merely raised her shoulders in response and continue eating the food off her plate. A sadness curved in the eyes of Calony from the distant and coldness of his youngest.

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"Pasayloa sir (Pardon me sir)" a maid made an apology to Joerge when bumping into him.