Hurt, Juliet accepted the obvious.
Nakadungaw si Barbie at si Jen sa window nila, whispering to each other as they watched Aling Iling tack on a “Vacant Room for Rent” on her door. “Sama ba si Juliet sa bakasyon natin? Para naman maaliw sya ng konti. Bastos na Dave yan…sabi ko na nga ba, lukoluko yun!”
“Di ata yan ang drama mo nuon, kaw nga ‘tong baliw na baliw sa kanya…” paalala ni Jen.
<3
Kapangan – As a revered member of the community, a canao was held to honor the memory of Kate’s father. Tapuy and strong Benguet Coffee were served to wash down pork, hot camote and pandesal, and to keep warm against the cool mountain air.
Josh and Dave quietly sat themselves away from the throng of people participating in the rituals. To the rest of the crowd, they looked like two ordinary local men enjoying their tapuy over shop talk. But they had serious business in mind, particularly that of Kate.
“I have to leave after the burial but Kate stays a few days for their ngilin,” Josh informed his brother. Ngilin was the practice of honoring the dead by refraining from communicating with the outside world in any way, achieved mostly by staying at home.
“Ok. So what’s new,” Dave asked.
“I got a call from one of my men. Apparently, someone broke into Kate’s apartment last night. I havent told her yet, as she has more important things to worry about. The place was thoroughly searched. Apart from pieces of jewelry, nothing was taken. I suspect that this was a search for important information…. I know it’s a lot to ask…”
Dave nodded in acknowledgment. He understood what his brother was asking of him, and he couldn’t say no. “By the way, I was told that lawyers have already filed a writ of amparo against the police. I dont know how that will turn out, but I seriously doubt they will give any information as to Kate’s friend. Between you and me, I wont be surprised if his body turns up somewhere in the north. How’s Kate’s right hand?”
Josh smirked in delight, “Getting better and better…I need to be careful what I say now…she could very easily aim at me and hit the mark…” His smirk turned into a grin as they both stared at the young lady walking towards them. She was lugging a small jug of rice wine with her, but her eyes were fixed on Dave. Both of them declined the offer, though. Disappointed, but giving Dave her cloying sweet smile, she turned away and walked back to the house.
“I see you’ve managed to charm her,” Josh commented, as they both stared appreciatively at the young lass’s swaying behind.
“Nahh…young girls are not for me, young inexperienced virgins most especially. Let the other bastards play with them….,” sagot ng binata. “I prefer them experienced…” Dave was in fact thinking about one particular experienced and level headed woman in Baguio, regretting that he didnt give her a proper explanation for leaving abruptly.
<3
Six months after her aborted romance with Dave, Juliet was still trying to get her emotional moorings together, which was a wonder in itself. Nothing really specific happened between them, no commitments were made, so there shouldnt have been much collateral damage to Juliet’s heart. Pero, putik talaga!, natamaan sya ng husto kay Dave, bagay na ayaw nyang aminin kahit kina Barbie and Jen.
So everyday after their week-long vacation, Juliet put on her cheerful smiling face as a show. Deep inside, however, her heart had withered and shrunk just a little, as if something bright and happy inside her died. By then, Juliet had thrown herself in to more work, and more activities to keep her from mulling about Dave, where he is, what he was doing, wondering whether he still ran every morning. She accepted an invitation from the barangay captain to help with preparations for the barangay fiesta. As a distraction, it was effective. Getting to know her neighbors led to more business, and now she was busier than ever.
One sunny day in May, Juliet was invited to Kate and Josh’s house. They had just gotten married, and Kate had just moved in. Sundalo ang asawa ni Kate, and palaging wala dahil nadedestino sa malayo. Katulad ni Juliet, Kate was looking for ways to keep herself busy while her husband was away. Juliet met Josh when he was home for a brief break. Juliet could see why na-in-love si Kate kay Josh, despite their contrasting personalities. He was charming, kind, funny, and such a gentleman – and obviously very in love with his wife. Watching them was painful para kay Juliet. Whenever they were in the same room together, hindi kaila how so “together” they were, so much so that nakaramdam si Juliet ng konting inggit at her new friend’s luck in Josh. Any woman would be happy to have him, unlike someone she knew whose name will never be mentioned, ever! she thought vehemently.
Her neighbors had just had their house renovated and she was invited over for a housewarming party. Juliet dressed for the occasion in ballet flats and a cotton sundress the shade of pale blue, which worked very well against her strawberries-and-cream complexion. With her housewarming gift in hand, she tentatively knocked at the slightly opened door. “Tao po….Kate, dito na ko…”
As if on cue, Kate appeared and ushered her to the back of the house, where everybody seemed to be congregating. “Come join us at the back, nandito na sina Jen and Barbie.”
Juliet happily joined her friends as they shared a bit of fruit and a little punch as an appetizer. They were all talkative and light hearted, kaya lang, it felt to Juliet, that Josh and Kate kept staring at her, even Jen and Barbie were acting oddly around her. After a few minutes of talk, Kate asked her to join her upstairs to bring up some food for the other visitors. Sumunod si Josh.
As Kate walked ahead of her, Juliet took her time following her as she was admiring the changes to the house. “Jules, dito tayo,” she heard her say from an open door which led to a porch overlooking the backyard. As she stepped through the door, natigilan sya.
There, nonchalantly leaning against the porch, was the devil himself!
<3