CHAPTER TWO [STOP IT, VESPER!]

Del Valle Residence, 9 Years Ago

HABANG PINAGMAMASDAN ni Vesper ang paligid ay hindi niya mapigilan ang pagsilay ng alanganing ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. Kanina pa siya naroon at nakatayo. Pinagmamasdan niya ang mga taong nagkakasiyahan sa may kalawakan nilang harden. She was there, hiding behind the red bougainvillea with a stolen glass of wine in her hand.

Wedding anniversary ng Mommy at Daddy niya at mayroong kaunting salo-salo. There were forty guests, at least. Mostly are her father's political friends pretending they liked each other.

She's fifteen but she observes.

Dumako ang mga mata ni Vesper sa mahabang mesa kung saan nakalatag ang iba’t-ibang pagkain. Buffet style iyon at may iilang bisita na kumukuha ng pagkain.

Napangiwi siya nang mapako ang kanyang mga mata sa lechon na nasa pinakagitna. Kahit may kalayuan siya sa mesa ay kita pa rin niya ang namumula at nangingintab na balat ng baboy. Bawas na iyon ay halos kalahati na rin ang natanggal na balat.

Wala sa loob na napahawak si Vesper sa kanyang batok gamit ang libreng kamay. Para siyang nangilo bigla. May paella din na lumalangoy sa saffron. Lumpia na ayon sa kanyang Tita Glory ay “recipe" daw nito iyon kahit na alam naman nilang lahat na ipinaluto lang nito iyon sa kusinera nito.

Her Tita Glory is her mom’s younger sister.

Mayroon ding chocolate fountain kung saan niya nakikitang paulit-ulit na sinusundot ng pitong taong gulang niyang pinsan. Anak ito ng kanyang Tita Glory.

Bumuga ng hangin si Vesper. All in all, okay naman. Amoy bawang na may halong mamahaling perfume ang hangin sa paligid. Humalo rin ang amoy ng hawak niyang wine.

And the surroundings? Oh, majestic as it should be!

There were string lights, crisscrossing around the garden. They turned the bougainvillea dark red and the carabao grass gold. And it's giving a fake starry night vibe. Warm, yellow and safe. The kind of light that will make you believe that everything is okay — that nothing bad could ever happen under them.

“Lies…” usal ni Vesper bago tiningnan ang hawak na kopita na may lamang wine na wala pa ring bawas.

There's no such thing as “perfect” everything. Just a facade, caging the true color of everything around.

Humangin ng malakas at tinangay niyon ang laylayan ng suot niyang dilaw na sundress. Kaagad iyong hinawakan ni Vesper para mapigilan sa paglipad.

Napatingin siya sa puno ng santol na nakatayo, ilang metro ang layo sa kinatatayuan niya. Mayroon doong swing kung saan siya madalas isakay ng kanyang Uncle Kane.

Wala sa loob na napangiti si Vesper. The swing was her sacred place. Doon siya madalas tumambay kapag pakiramdam niya ay nag-iisa siya dahil parehong busy ang parents niya.

It was her sanctuary. Punong-puno iyon ng memory.

And speaking of Kane, Vesper turned her head to scan the crowd. And there he was, standing beside her father. Nag-uusap ang mga ito pero kaagad na dumako ang pansin niya sa babaeng kaharap nito.

Her brows furrowed. The woman was his age, she assumed. Tall, sophisticated, classy, and beautiful.

Sumikdo ang batang puso ni Vesper. Humigpit ang kanyang hawak sa tangan niyang kopita at wala sa loob na dinala iyon sa kanyang bibig. Tinungga niya ang laman niyon at sinaid.

Napaubo si Vesper nang humagod sa kanyang lalamunan ang hindi pamilyar na lasa ng wine. It tasted like punishment. Like cough syrup. Like adulthood.

But enough for her to gain some courage.

Muli niyang tiningnan ang gawi ng lalaking laman ng bata niyang puso. At eksakto namang tumingin ito sa kanya. Their eyes met and their gaze locked into each other. Vesper’s heart beat erratically.

“Holly molly… Be calm, my heart.” she whispered.

—-

HABANG KAUSAP ang kaibigan niyang si Roman Del Valle ay pana-nakang sinusulyapan ni Kane ang isang bahagi ng malawak na harden ng mga Del Valle. He knew she was there. He saw her the second she stumbled out from behind the bougainvillea.

Vesper, Roman’s one and only daughter. And she’s fifteen.

Nang muling tingnan ni Kane ang dalagita ay kaagad na nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya nang makitang tinungga nito ang laman ng hawak nitong baso. At kung hindi siya nagkakamali ay wine ang laman niyon.

‘Shit! What is she even thinking?’ he silently murmured.

Kailan pa ito natutong uminom?

Mabilis na nagpaalam si Kane kay Roman sa babaeng ipinakilala nito sa kanya. As usual, another lady from the elite society. Oh, definitely not his cup of tea but yeah, nevermind. Saka kauupo lang niya bilang bagong Mayor ng San Agustin. Marami siyang plano para sa bayan nila kaya wala siyang oras para sa love life.

Or is that so? Kane's eyes followed Vesper.

“I'll be right back."

"Where are you going? Iiwan mo si Lizzie dito?”

“I think I saw Vesper. Pupuntahan ko lang.”

Napansin ni Kane na saglit na tumitig sa kanya si Roman bago ito tumango.

“Ah, she's just right there.” ani ni Roman bago luminga sa paligid.

Mahinang tinapik ni Kane sa balikat ang lalaki.

“I got her, man."

Tuluyan nang iniwan ni Kane si Roman at ang babaeng ipinakilala nito sa kanya. Mabilis ang kanyang mga hakbang na pinuntahan si Vesper na kasalukuyang nakaupo sa swing na siya mismo ang gumawa noong bata pa ito. Nakayuko ito kaya hindi kaagad siya nakita.

“Vesper Rosette Del Valle,” malamig ang tinig na tawag niya sa buong pangalan ng dalagitang kaagad namang nag-angat ng paningin. “What are you doing?” tanong niya sa tinig na pinanatili niyang walang emosyon. Steady and safe.

She looked up to him and caught him off-guard. His fist clinched. Damn but those glassy brown eyes. Nagtaas-baba ang dibdib ni Kane. Dumako ang mga mata niya sa mga labi nitong namantsahan ng red wine. His teeth greeted. And shit but her messy hair doesn't add up. Naka-ponytail ito pero dahil may kalakasan ang ihip ng hangin ay may mga buhok nang kumalas sa pagkakatali nito. Her cheeks were flushed, maybe because of the red wine.

“Hello, Uncle Kane,” nakangiting bati nito sa mahinang tinig. Her braces glinted under the string lights.

God, the braces.

“You’re drunk,” puna ni Kane sa dalagita habang ang naniningkit na mga mata ay pilit na inilalayo sa mukha nito.

“I’m fifteen,” Vesper shot back. “I’m practically an adult. Saka isang shot lang naman ‘yon” hirit pa nito na tila ba proud na proud sa sarili.

“No. You’re a child who stole wine.” sikmat niya rito bago inagaw ang hawak nitong kopita na wala nang laman.

Their fingers brushed. She didn’t let go.

“Vesper,” babala ni Kane sa kaharap na dalagita.

His eyes squinted in anger. He was trying his goddamn best not to flinch at her touch.

‘Damn, Kane! Pull yourself together. Don't even think about it.’ anang isang bahagi ng kanyang isipan.

“I don’t want to go to New York,”

His chest tightened. He knew. Roman told him last week. He asked him to put some sense in Vesper's mind, leaving him with his infamous words “she listens to you".

“Vesper, it’s for your own good. Better education. Better—”

“I don’t care about it, Uncle!” bahagyang garalgal ang tinig na sabi nito. Dama niya ang sama ng loob sa tinig nito. “I’ll be alone there. I don’t know anyone. I don’t—”

Tumigil sa pagsasalita si Vesper at tumingin sa kanya. Matapang nitong sinalubong ang mga mata niya.

"I want to stay here — with you.” she whispered in a cracked voice.

Shit!

Kane’s jaw clenched. He stepped back to create a distance between them. Nakita niyang natigilan si Vesper dahil sa ginawa niya pero hindi niya ito pinansin.

“Vesper. You’re fifteen. Stop it, young lady!" may diin sa bawat salita na sabi ni Kane sa pagalit na tinig.

Taas ang noo na muling nagsalita si Vesper.

“I know and so?” pursigidong sabi nito bago tumayo mula sa inu-upuang swing. She stepped forward, closing the distance he just made. “I know what I want, Uncle Kane.” halos pabulong na patuloy nito habang ang mga matang nagsusumamo ay nakatutok sa kanya.

Kane flinched. She was too close — too close that he could already smell the faint aroma of the red wine that she took in mixed with her favorite cherry candy.

Ah, she really is a child.

“I like you, Uncle Kane,” Vesper declared in a stern voice. Clear and deliberate. Drunk, but not enough to blame it on the alcohol later. “I like you. Not as…. not as my Uncle but as a man.”

His blood ran cold. He once again took his steps back.

“Vesper, stop it. You're just a child. Hindi mo alam kung ano ang sinasabi mo. May gatas ka pa sa labi.”

Bumakas ang sakit sa mukha ni Vesper at kitang-kita ni Kane ang mga luhang pilit nitong pinipigilan. Kumuyom ang mga palad niya.

“I know you think I’m a kid. But I won’t be a kid forever. I’ll be eighteen in three years. Then you can—”

“I said, stop it, Vesper!” he said in a sharp voice — too sharp that it made her flinch.

Narinig ni Kane ang pagsinghot nito kasunod ng tila garalgal na tinig.

“Uncle Kane…”

Kane's jaw clinched. He ran a hand through his hair as he silently cursed himself.

‘Damn it, Kane Ynares! Think, you're an adult!’

“Uncle, please…” she pleaded in a cracked voice. She sounds tired too.

Pakiramdam ni Kane ay tinusok ng libo-libong karayom ang puso niya dahil sa kanyang nakikita. He couldn't stand seeing her hurt. Jesus Christ, he doesn't want to but it was the right thing to do.

“You’re not even my type, Vesper,” he mumbled in a cruel voice. It sounds surgically firm. “You’re just a child. And I bet you don't even know how to kiss a man properly.”

Her face crumpled. Kane saw it and his mind registered it. Holy shit, he hated himself for it. But he didn’t take it back.

“I’m sorry,” aniya na bahagyang lumambot ang tinig. “But this, whatever it is that you think you feel, it's not real. You're just being used to having me around, that's why you have to explore, Vesper. You're young. You'll forget me when you're in New York. You'll meet boys your age. Boys who–”

Hindi na naituloy ni Kane ang kanyang sasabihin. He was terrified of the possibility that Vesper might really forget him.

“But I don’t want boys my age!” she yelled in tears. “I want you! Why can’t you see that?!”

‘Because if I see it, I’ll want it too.’ sabat ng isang bahagi ng isipan ni Kane.

The thought ambushed him. Unbidden. Disgusting.

He was twenty-nine. She was fifteen. She had braces. She still called him Uncle two minutes ago. He was a Mayor. He put men in jail for less.

‘Damn, Kane!’

He took another step back. More distance.

“Vesper, listen to me.” usal niya sa malamig na tinig. Cold and firm, the kind he used to reject corrupt contractors. “This conversation is over. You’re going to New York. You’re going to study. You’re going to live your life. Do you get me?” aniya rito na pilit na pinapaunawa ang kanyang sinasabi.

“And you? What will you do?”

‘Try to forget you ever looked at me like that.’ ani na naman ng isipan ni Kane.

“I’ll do my job,” he said instead. “Go back to your room and clean yourself. You stink like cheap wine.”

Hindi gumalaw si Vesper. Nakatitig lamang sa kanya ang mga mata nito na puno ng iba’t-ibang emosyon. Tears streamed down her cheeks. For a second, he thought she’d run into his arms like she did when she was seven.

Instead, she wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Isang walang buhay na ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi nito.

“You’re a coward, Uncle Kane. I said I like you. And you called me a child.” She mumbled, voice was cold as ice. “Goodnight, Mayor,” dugtong nito bago binawi ang paningin sa kanya.

Mayor. Not Uncle. Finally, she drew the line. That's better.

She turned and walked away. Natigilan si Kane. His hand twitched. He wanted to stop her, at least for a second. And then she's gone. Yellow sundress disappearing into the party lights. And everything for Kane went silent.

“This is for the better.” aniya sa sarili bago nagpasya nang umalis.

Everything was clear to him. Her eyes say it all.

She hates him. And that's what he wants.

Or was it?