KEEP HER IN THE DARK

It was already eight in the evening when Flora Amor finally arrived home. She found her parents and siblings still gathered around the dining table.

“Oh, why are you only coming home now?” her mother asked sharply, her eyes narrowing.

“Ma, didn’t I tell you? I had research work today,” she answered wearily, before taking her parents’ hands to show respect.

“All right then, sit down and eat,” her father cut in, speaking with his mouth full while still chewing.

Flora Amor glanced at the food on the table—dried fish, fried bananas, and fried eggplant.

“Leave me some eggplant, Pa, okay?” she said with a grin.

Of all vegetables, eggplant was her favorite, cooked in any way. She set her bag down on the sofa in the living room, then returned to the table and slipped into the empty chair beside her brother Harold.

He immediately handed her a clean plate.

“Pa, could you add more to my allowance tomorrow? I need to buy something,” she asked, breaking the silence that had fallen over the meal.

“Me too, Pa! I need to buy a pencil. Mine’s worn down to a stub,” chimed in Maureen.

“Ate, rice,” her younger sister ordered.

Flora Amor leaned over, scooped rice from the container, and filled her sister’s plate.

“What about you, Harold? Don’t you need anything?” their mother asked while feeding rice to the youngest child sitting on her lap.

“None, Ma,” Harold replied.

Flora Amor glanced at him. Since they had moved to Manila, she had never once heard Harold ask their parents for money—not even for school allowance.

“Just make sure you all do well in school,” their father said. “Your mother and I work hard to send you there. You see me waking up before dawn to buy fish at the market, just so I can bring money home for your schooling.”

The table fell silent. Their father always seemed to lecture while they were eating.

“When I was your age, even a peso made me cry. You’re lucky I can give you whatever you ask for.” He shook his head, still chewing.

The silence stretched on.

“By the way, Flor, Anton said you’re going to his father’s birthday party,” her mother mentioned suddenly.

Flora Amor frowned.

“Why did you agree to that, Ma?” she asked accusingly. “You know I don’t have money to buy anything decent to wear.”

“Oh, come on. Just wear pants and a blouse. You have your school shoes, right? That’ll do,” her mother said casually.

Flora Amor almost choked on her water, setting the glass down with a thud.

“Ma, I’m turning eighteen! I can’t show up in an outfit like that—it’s embarrassing.”

Her parents exchanged looks.

“Ate, dried fish,” Maureen interrupted, tugging at her sleeve.

“Why do you always make me get your food? You’re old enough to do it yourself,” Flora Amor grumbled.

“Because I love you,” her sister answered sweetly.

Flora Amor looked at her, unsure whether to laugh or be annoyed.

“Do you want some Avon products, dear?” her father suddenly asked.

She froze, her fork halfway to her mouth, staring at him in disbelief.

Avon? Since when did dads buy Avon?

“Come on, just admit it—you want a makeup kit, don’t you?” her mother teased, struggling not to laugh. “I was planning to order from Mamay Elsa anyway. Anton said you’re the only one at school who doesn’t wear makeup.”

Her shock quickly melted into joy. Trust her mother to notice her needs, even though she wasn’t the type to fuss about appearances herself.

“Pa, Ma, no backing out, okay? Makeup kit it is!” she said, giggling.

Her father roared with laughter. “Promise! As long as you put your studies first before boys.”

“Pa, with this face, only Beshie bothers to stick with me at school,” she replied wryly. “Half of them even say Anton’s gay, which is why he’s my best friend.”

Her parents exchanged glances.

“No problem, dear. Just finish school first, don’t entertain suitors yet,” her father advised.

“Yes, Pa,” she answered.

Suddenly, her heartbeat quickened.

Did someone just call her?

She glanced toward the doorway. No one was there. Frowning, she resumed eating.

By ten o’clock that night, she was still wide awake.

“Amor?”

That word kept echoing in her mind.

No one had ever called her “Amor” before. To everyone, she was simply Flora or Flor. Who could it have been earlier?

Her lips parted as a thought struck her.

“That guy in sunglasses? The one with the car?”

She shook her head. Impossible. He didn’t even know her.

Still turning it over in her mind, she overheard muffled voices from her parents’ room.

“You won’t hear anything from me. Just promise to keep it from our daughter,” her mother’s tearful voice whispered.

Then baby Precious cried, drowning out the rest.

But Flora Amor was too distracted by thoughts of the man she had seen earlier. Fair-skinned, flawless, handsome—even with sunglasses on. The kind of man who looked every bit the educated, wealthy type.

“How old is he? Twenty-five, maybe?”

A smile crept across her lips.

What if he was the one she’d end up marrying someday? She blushed furiously and rolled onto her side.

“You move too much, Ate,” Harold grumbled.

She had forgotten they shared the same bed.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” she whispered.

“How could I sleep with you tossing and turning, giggling to yourself?” he snapped, clearly irritated.

“Huh? Really?” she asked, startled.

Stop thinking! Just sleep already! she scolded herself, finally shutting her eyes. Eventually, she drifted off with a smile.

The next morning, her mother’s usual scolding was strangely absent. She turned to the clock on the wall and leapt out of bed.

Five o’clock already!

She bolted for the bathroom.

“Harold, why didn’t you wake me up?” she shouted.

“Didn’t wake you? I nearly lost my voice calling your name! You just kept snoring!” her mother barked from outside.

“Ma, please cook my lunch! I don’t have time!” she hollered from the bathroom.

“You lazy girl! You know you have to travel far for school, but you stayed up late again!” her mother ranted.

“Ma, don’t forget my lunch, okay?” she yelled back, ignoring the scolding.

“Fine, it’s ready on the table, you ungrateful brat!” her mother shouted.

This was their daily routine—her mother nagging until Flora Amor finally asked for her lunch.

“Here’s the Avon brochure. Take it to school and pick out what you want,” her mother said, handing it to her as she rushed out the door with her lunch.

Flora Amor’s ears practically tingled with happiness.

“I love you, Ma!” She hugged her mother and kissed her cheek. That’s when she noticed the deep shadows under her eyes.

Poor Mama. Precious must’ve kept her up crying again last night.

“I’m off, Ma.”

“Take care.”

“Yes, Ma.”

…....….................

The moment Flora Amor stepped down from the jeep, she spotted her friends waiting outside the gate.

“Beshie!” they called out.

She waved and ran toward them. As expected, Anton tried to put his arm around her, but she quickly dodged and walked ahead, with Mariel falling in step beside her.

Anton stood there, momentarily stunned, before shrugging and catching up.

“Let’s hang out, Beshie. No classes this morning—the professors are in a conference until noon,” Mariel announced.

“Really? Where are we going then?” Flora Amor asked, though her eyes were drawn to the spot where she had seen the man yesterday.

“Hey, bakla, where are we going?” Mariel turned to Anton.

“Wherever,” he muttered, his brows furrowed, gaze fixed behind Flora Amor.

“Anywhere, Beshie,” Mariel echoed. “But wait, where are you heading?” she asked, realizing Flora Amor hadn’t stopped walking.

“To the department,” Flora Amor answered quickly.

“But didn’t I just say there’s no class? What are we going to do there?” Mariel pressed, confused.

“Huh?” Flora halted abruptly, frowning. “No class?”

“I told you, the professors are in a conference.” Mariel’s own brow furrowed.

“Ohhh,” Flora Amor nodded blankly.

“Let’s just sit at the waiting shed,” she suggested, resuming her walk toward their department.

“There’s one at the back, we could—” Mariel didn’t finish, rushing to follow Flora Amor, while Anton trailed silently behind.

“Finally, I get to sit down,” Flora Amor sighed, collapsing onto the bench.

She adjusted her seat to face the department building, her eyes darting around.

“Are you looking for someone?” Mariel asked curiously.

“Huh? No!” Flora Amor turned away quickly.

What was wrong with her? She couldn’t understand herself. She was searching for someone she couldn’t name. And when she didn’t find him, she bit her lip and lowered her gaze.

Anton slid closer, draping an arm over her shoulder.

“Beshie, did you sleep at all last night?” he asked, studying her face.

“No, I stayed up because—ah, Precious cried all night, we barely got any sleep,” she mumbled, blushing furiously.

“My mom gave me a brochure of Avon. She told me to pick a makeup kit.” She smiled, lifting her gaze—only to find Anton staring at her intently, as though trying to read her thoughts. She quickly ducked her head and pulled out the brochure.

“Here, help me pick what suits me,” she said, nudging his arm off casually.

“Woah, this one’s perfect for you!” Mariel exclaimed, sliding in beside Anton.

But Flora Amor’s attention had already drifted to the sleek car that pulled up in front of the commerce department.

She glanced casually, then froze when she saw who stepped out.

“Are you sure you really want a makeup kit?” Mariel asked, raising a brow.

“I need it for Anton’s dad’s birthday. I can’t just show up with powder on my face,” Flora Amor said.

At that, Mariel smacked Anton’s head.

“Hey, why’s Flor the only one invited? Why not me too?” she demanded.

“Ouch, that hurt!” Anton yelped, rubbing his head.

“When is it? I’m coming too. Don’t you dare go without me, Beshie,” Mariel warned.

“Don’t worry, I’ll bring you for sure,” Flora replied, smiling as she patted her friend’s shoulder.

“You better wear a dress,” Anton insisted.

Mariel flushed, words catching in her throat. “C-can’t I just wear something casual?” she stammered.

“No way! Don’t embarrass me in front of my father. I only invited you and Flor,” he said firmly.

“Amor!”

The word struck her like lightning.

She spun around, scanning the area. None of the nearby students were looking her way.

“Amor…”

The wind seemed to carry the voice to her.

Her eyes swept across the construction site beside the commerce building, but aside from the workers starting their day, no one was there.

She turned back to Mariel, who was holding the Avon brochure, only to find both her friends staring at her with raised brows.

“What’s wrong with you?” they asked at the same time.

“Nothing!” she shook her head quickly, forcing a smile.

“So… where are we going now?” she changed the subject.

.........................

They ended up at SM Fairview.

Since moving to Novaliches, Flora Amor had only been there three times. She wasn’t fond of going out; her routine was usually just home–school–computer room, unless Mariel and Anton dragged her along.

But once inside the mall, she was like a child, pointing at everything that caught her eye.

“Beshie, look! So pretty!” she tugged at Anton, pointing at a gown on display.

He chuckled, amused by her excitement.

Mariel took the lead, guiding them toward Cybercity, where all the gadget shops were.

“Hey, look! Oppo has a new release,” Mariel said, heading into the store.

“They’re beautiful!” Flora Amor exclaimed.

But she knew she could only look. The only gadget she had ever used was a computer for schoolwork. Smartphones? Never. She didn’t need one, she told herself. She was content with what she had.

Still, she couldn’t deny wanting one like her friends’. She just didn’t want to burden her parents. She’d buy herself one someday, once she finished her studies.

“Woah, eighteen thousand?” she whispered to Mariel, reading the price tag.

“You could do home credit, Beshie,” Mariel replied. “I’ll bring Mama next time so she can see.”

Flora Amor felt a pang of envy.

Both of Mariel’s parents worked at BPI, and as the youngest of three, she had every gadget she wanted. Yet she was a tomboy at heart, never caring about appearances.

Flora Amor, on the other hand, was the daughter of fish vendors. Still, she reminded herself she had no reason to envy. Life was simply like this for now. Things would get better once she graduated.

She sighed, then managed a smile.

Her gaze drifted toward the glass outside the store.

“Pa—?” she gasped.

It was her father.

What was he doing at SM? Wasn’t he supposed to be at their market stall? Or maybe he and her mother had gone on a date, keeping it secret so the kids wouldn’t tag along?

She giggled at the thought.

Excited, she hurried after him. But as soon as she stepped out of the store, he was gone.

She quickened her pace.

There! On the escalator going down.

“Pa!” she called, but he didn’t turn.

She followed him to the ground floor and saw him turn left. But when she got down there herself, he had vanished.

Disappointed, she searched the crowd but couldn’t find him anywhere.

Her excitement turned to dismay as she made her way back to Cybercity—only to find Mariel and Anton gone too.

A saleslady told her they had followed her out earlier.

Flora Amor searched for them on the ground floor, hoping they were waiting outside SM.

But halfway down, she stopped cold.

Which way had they entered earlier?