Riddle of the Dots

Four

"Sampaguita!"

Issa and Auntie Pita looked back. Here he was, in perfectly good mood, very different from last night. He was biking the whole morning. Despite his age he is still runs the pedals and balances excellently.

The old man looked startled at the sight of Issa. He was looking at her like a specimen as if trying to remember what a microorganism she is.

"Wait, is she one of our twins?", he looked at Issa. "Anthea or Alyssa?"

Smiling, Issa could not believe he is talking right now. He didn't have the rough attitude; in fact, he is not rude today.

"Opo, Lolo."

The old man's eyes brightened, he jumped from his bicycle and ran to Issa. Issa felt his arms suddenly thrown all over her.

"Tatang, yes she is Alyssa, your apo." Auntie Pita replied.

"You're all grown up!" the old man shouted. "Where is Anthea?"

"She is in Manila, 'Lo, I just came here---," Issa paused. She doesn't know whether telling her Lolo about her short stay will be of any good, or it might trigger his emotions again and revert to his rudeness.

As if disregarding her reply, the old man told her excitedly, "I have something for you in the farmhouse, for you and Anthea. I have been waiting for the two of you!"

Auntie Pita walked to her father. "Tatang, baka gutom ka na 'ho, come let's have some snacks in the house."

She glanced at Issa and whispered, "Don't mind him, it's just one of his silly games. He often gives us boxes of dried leaves, or strips of old newspapers, empty bottles, and so on. He is getting old, Issa."

Issa smiled at her Auntie Pita, heeding to her warning. She looked caringly to her Lolo. "Sige po, Lolo. We will look at that. But after we eat, okay? Alyssa is so hungry, too."

Issa held her Lolo by the arm as her auntie pushed the bike on their way home.

"You still remember this song, Alyssa?" her Lolo asked as they slowly walked.

"What song po, Lolo?"

The old man cleared his throat, and started singing ---

"On March sixteen fifteen hundred twenty-one..
When Philippines was discovered by Magellan
They were sailing day and night, across the big ocean
Until they saw a small Limasawa island----"

Issa could hear her auntie behind them laughing. She winked at her aunt and looked back at her Lolo.

" Of course, we have a recorded tape of that, " Recalling the lyrics, Issa continued the song---

" When Magellan visited in Mactan
To Christianize them everyone
But Lapu-Lapu met him on the shore
And drive Magellan to go back home.."

The old man stopped in front of Issa and her aunt. Standing straight, tucking in his shirt, and fixing his collar, he opened another song –

"How about this? --

Sayawan sa aming baryo
Orchestra ay nagkagulo-gulo
Ang kanilang mga instrumento
Ay luma at sintunado
Ang drummer ay inuubo-ubo
Hikain pa ang nagbabaho
Saksoponista ay mga gago
Taga-tororot ay sira-ulo"

Dancing with his arms and hips, her Lolo stopped and pointed his fingers to Issa, giving her the signal to sing along --

Issa laughed, so much of her childhood memories have been freed at that moment. She sang in return --

"Nagalit ang mga barangay
Orchestra'y kanilang inaway
Dahil sa kanilang tugtog
Na walang ka buhay-buhay"

Mimicking musicians, Issa let out a simple dance while singing - -

"Ipinalit ang hayop na kombo
Baboy ang nagbabaho
Ang drummer ay aso
Butiki ang nagpi-piyano
Pusa ang organista
Manok ang gumigitara"

In chorus they both sang---

"Ayos din ang aming disko
Sa tugtog ng hayop na kombo!!!!!"

A hearty laugh. Issa couldn't believe she just went through childhood again. They reached the farmhouse by near lunchtime. They were served with pinakbet and sugpo. Her Lolo added a special request - noodles with ketchup, their own version of spaghetti a la farmhouse.

"Is he always like this? He seemed very fine," Issa whispered to Auntie Pita.

"He's unpredictable. One day he's mad and difficult, the next day he's happy, sometimes he's too critical, sometimes too emotional. There were days he wouldn't talk at all." Auntie Pita whispered back.

Issa looked at her Lolo. She's confused but her heart feels elated with the happiness she's feeling right now, and she hopes, her Lolo feels the same. She looked at her Lolo eat the "farmhouse spaghetti".

"Is he on medication?" Issa asked

"He's taking some for blood pressure and cholesterol. Doctor said he doesn't need anything else...he's fine...though not so fine at all..."

Whatever is his state right now, as long as he's okay, then he is okay, Issa told herself. Perhaps the family turmoil - from the loss of her Lola to the chaos between her Lolo and other grandparents - altogether affected her Lolo so much. She watched him took his vitamins and leaned his back to his chair.

"Alyssa, are you happy with the food?" her Lolo asked.

"Busog na busog po," Issa chuckled. An unexpected burp followed.

"I told you I have something for you and Anthea."

Auntie Pita interrupted as she started cleaning the table. "Tatang, ano na naman po yan. Nag iipon lang kayo ng basura sa taas"

Ignoring Auntie Pita, Issa's Lolo continued. "Let's go upstairs, I have something for you my Ading". He got up and walked towards Issa. He held her gently by the arm. "Maykadtoy. "

Issa followed her Lolo, while her confused eyes were looking at Auntie Pita, hoping her aunt would get it, "What game is this?". Her aunt smiled and nodded, and mouthed the words "Sige na, samahan mo na."

He led Issa to the master's bedroom. An old man with very troubled emotions - how would his room look like? Issa could only imagine all the clutters her aunt has mentioned - dry leaves, old newspapers, torn strips of paper, boxes, empty bottles, and random things her Lolo must have picked from somewhere.

Opening the door, Issa saw the exact opposite. Although random things were in the room, the place is not so messy at all. In fact, it was very clean and organized. Everything in its own place. The room was well lit, the linens in the bed looked very fresh and clean. On the left part of the room hung several paintings of farmers and farmlands, at the center of all the frames was their family photo taken in Christmas of 1994, where Issa, Yna and Lennon were seated at the feet of their grandparents. On the right side was a long shelf containing assorted books mostly on history, music and art. Her Lolo knelt down and looked under his bed. Using the u-shaped end of his cane, he pulled out two medium-sized storage boxes. Issa couldn't believe he was keeping this under his bed. She assisted her Lolo to pull out the two heavy boxes. They dusted the boxes, triggering Issa's allergic rhinitis.

Her Lolo sat on the floor as he pondered on the two boxes, as if trying to recall who owns which. Finally, he smiled.

"These boxes looked exactly the same, and I forgot how to know which one is yours, and which one is for Anthea," remarked her Lolo, as he stood up and reclined to his rocking chair.

"Unless we open the boxes?" Issa suggested.