Kabanata 2

DAHIL SA pagtatanong-tanong sa mga taong nadadaanan ko sa daan ay natagpuan ko ang resort ni Papa. Nakakahanga na halos lahat ng mga taong tinatanungan ko ay kilala siya, hihirit pa ng mga kwento tungkol sa tulong na binigay sa kanila ni Papa. Para namang interesado akong malaman iyon.

Pero interesado ako sa resort ni Papa, malapit lang pala sa bahay niya. Marami-rami ring resort dito, magkakasunod pa pero ang una mong mapapansin ay ang kay Papa. Entrance palang ay halatang kaniya na dahil sa laki nito, magandang disenyo at pagpinta. Pero hindi iyon ang nakakagulat, ang mas nakakagulat ay ang pangalan ng resort niya.

I couldn't believe what I was reading, it was the least thing I was expecting.

'Carolina's Resort.'

I thought it was his resort, but why does his mistress' name was carved on the wood arc on the entrance's roof?

My amazement was replaced by anger and disgust. I didn't want to join them for lunch because of that woman, but I was unknowingly heading towards a resort where her name was written on the arc vividly and large. My heart was beating insanely fast from disappointment and anger, I was disappointed with my father once again. I couldn't accept the fact that he truly adored her that he had to name his resort using her name.

Even when my blood was boiling, I still drove inside with a straight face. A man approached me, I'm guessing he was the one taking care of the entrance payment.

He knocked on the window carefully. I rolled it down, biting the inside of my cheek and remained looking straight ahead.

"Good noon, Ma'am. Welcome to Carol—"

"Huwag mong banggitin-banggitin ang pangalan na 'yan." Pagbabanta ko sa kaniya, nakataas ang isang daliri ko upang senyas na tumahimik siya.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya, kahit na nagtataka ay tumango lang ito.

Peke akong ngumiti. "Entrance payment ba kamo?"

"Opo, Ma'am. Dalawang daan lang po."

"I think hindi ko na kaylangang magbayad, anak ako ng may-ari ng resort na 'to."

Parang nagliwanag pa ang mga mata nito. Inasahan ko na magtataka siya pero tila na-excite pa ito.

"Ah, ikaw po ba si Ma'am Samantha? Oo nga po, nakekwento ka sa amin ni Sir Robert. Sinabi ko na nga ba, magkamukha po kayo eh!"

My lips parted, I blinked twice before everything compiled inside my head. Nakekwento pala ako ni Papa?

"Oh, is that so? Well, I'm entering now, okay?" I rolled the window back closed and drove carefully inside.

May malaking parking lot sa gilid na may silong, duon ko pinarada ang kotse. I struggled to park the car, it took me about five minutes to do it without scratching it.

I pulled the car keys out, pagkatapos ay inipit ko ito sa hoop ng pantalon ko. Pinagmasdan ko ang sarili ko sa rear view mirror, inaayos ang buhok kong nakabagsak sa magkabilang balikat ko.

I wasn't wearing any make up unfortunately, my face looked so pale. I could totally pass as Snowhite because of my skin. People would always mistaken me as a foreigner and would be looking and talking about me. It was annoying.

At least, I'm pretty though.

Umalis ako ng kotse, tanging suot lang ay skinny jeans, a fitted spaghetti-strapped top partnered with a checked jacket, a black and white converse, and my backpack.

There were three pathways of road, the right one was leading towards the cottages, the middle one towards the beach and the right one towards the eateries, small shops and vendors. There were small fences protecting each sides of the roads. Between the gaps were stairs leading down the sand.

Down there were kids in their swimming trunks, topless and playing with the sand and a dead crab. There were a lot of people, in the distance I could see them playing volleyball. People were literally screaming at the top of their lungs.

Curious about the occasion, I went down the stairs and stepped on the squishy sand. Maingat akong naglakad sa ilalim ng init papunta sa mga nakatumpok na tao sa mga nagbi-beach volleyball. Nakisingit ako sa mga n*******d na mga tao, ang tanging suot lang nila ay mga swimsuits.

Mga gwapo, topless at malalaking katawan ang mga lalaking naglalaro ng volleyball. Akala ko ba naman kung ano, iyon lang pala. Agad din akong umalis, tumitingin-tingin ako sa paligid para makahanap ng pwedeng pagkaabalahan.

I wanted to swim, the water looked comfortable but I didn't bring any swimsuits or extra clothes in my backpack.

"Oh my gosh! Foreigner!"

Napairap ako sa hangin nang may narinig akong tumili na babae. Lumingon ako sa likod, nahuli ko ang isang babae na nakatingin sa akin at nakatakip ng bibig. Para bang first time niya lang makakita ng foreigner, except I'm not a foreigner.

"Hello, welcome to the Philippines! I'm Stephanie Cruz, nice to meet you!" She approached me happily, waving both her hands and offering one to me after for a handshake.

I chuckled, raising my brows to her. "Sorry to disappoint, pero hindi ako foreigner."

Napanguso siya at binawi ang kamay. "Hay, nako, sayang naman! Akala ko ba naman magagamit ko na ang english speaking skills ko eh!"

"But, I'm new here in Estrella Lanca though. Nice to meet you." I folded my arms over my chest, I looked around the place again.

"Oo nga, ngayon lang kita nakita rito. Teka, may hinahanap ka ba?"

"I'm bored, hindi ko alam kung anong pwedeng gawin ngayon," simpleng sagot ko.

"Okay, fine, iko-consider nalang kitang foreigner, tutal baguhan ka lang din naman dito." Pumamewang siya, nakalobo ang pisnge habang matiim na nakatitig sa akin. "If papayag ka, sasamahan kita at ipapakita sayo mga lugar. 'Yong malls, schools at iba pa."

She didn't look dangerous, she was dressed fine wearing a white shirt tucked in a striped short skirt and a pair of plain white sandals. She was tan, taller than me and maybe prettier as much as I hate to admit. Straight at hanggang balikat lang ang buhok niya, may konting make up siya sa mukha. Singkit ang mga mata at kulay itim, manipis ang kilay at mabilog ang mukha.

"The school, yes, I forgot. I think I will be transferring school. Alam mo ba kung nasaan?"

"Sa high school ba?"

Tumango ako. "Oo."

"Anong grade mo na?"

"Twelve."

"Oh my gosh, twelfth grade rin ako! Baka kapag nag-transfer ka ng school baka maging magkaklase tayo. Oh sige, sige! Sasamahan kitang maglibot. Tara!" Kumapit siya sa braso ko at hinila ako kasama niya.

Napilitan akong sumama sa kaniya, hindi naman siya mukhang masamang tao at saka curious akong makita kung anong itsura ng high school dito. But it was embarrassing that I was still in high school despite my age, I should have been in college two years ago.

I repeated my third grade because I remember hating school that time, I was always scared to be left alone by my parents and would cry a river. Everytime, my parents would fall for it and will allow me to stay at home.

And then on my seventh grade where everything fell apart, I repeated that year because Papa left us and I was so confused about everything that was happening. I remember crying to Mama about missing Papa, she was always angry everytime I ask her about him. It didn't help that I look exactly like him.

"Ano bang strand ang kukuhanin mo?" Mas dumikit pa siya sa akin na tila ba close na kami agad. What was her name again?

"I'll continue to study Humanities and Social Science, that was the strand I took at my previous high school back in Manila."

Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang tumili at nagtatatalon. Muntikan pa akong matumba sa ginawa niya.

"Same, same! Baka nga maging magkaklase tayo!"

Nang makarating na kami sa entrance ay huminto ako, sabay siyang napahinto kasama ko at nagtatakang tumingin sa akin. Tinuro ko ang pick-up car ni Papa sa kaniya, naglakad ako patungo rito at binuksan ang passenger seat door.

"Tara, magkokotse tayo."

Nalaglag ang panga niya, suminghap siya at hindi makapaniwalang lumalapit.

"Oh my God! Huwag mo 'kong pinaglololoko, ah? Nae-excite na 'ko!"

"Bakit naman kita lolokohin, why do you think na-unlock ang pintuan?" I raised the car key in my hand, I motioned her to get in but she was still overflowed in shock. "I said get in, baka magbago pa ang isip ko."

"Oo na, oo na! Hindi ko tatanggihan 'yan!" Humahagikhik siya habang pumapasok, bago ko isarado ang pinto ay tinanong ko siya ulit.

"What's you name again?"

She smiled genuinely, eye closed. "Stephanie Cruz."

The side od my lips tugged upwards. I guess I wouldn't be alone after all.

"I'm Samantha Clarkson."

GABI NA nang papauwi na ako sa bahay, natagalan ang paglilibot ko sa Estrella Lanca kasama si Stephanie, lalo sa sa eskwelahan. Dahil nagutom ako ay nanlibre na lang din ako ng pagkain, hindi naman pwede na ako lang ang kumain. Bukod duon ay hinatid ko pa si Stephanie sa bahay nila, medyo malayo rin ito sa bahay namin.

Habang nagmamaneho ako pauwi sa bahay ay mas kinakabahan ako. Hinihiling ko na sana ay tulog na ang mga tao sa bahay, gayon pa man, gusto ko rin na gising pa si Papa dahil naiilang akong pumasok sa bahay niya nang walang paalam. Pakiramdam ko ay magte-trepassing ako. And what if tulog na silang lahat at lock ang pinto?

I arrived at Papa's house and parked the car in front of it. It was scary outside, especially the strong waves of the ocean hitting the shore. I exited the car, making sure to lock it before walking towards the front porch. I didn't see any lights through the window. It was cold outside, luckily I was wearing a jacket.

I stared at the door knob, I bit my lip while trying turn it, hoping that it was open. But it was locked, just fucking great.

Inayos ko ang pagkakasukbit ng backpack ko, humawak ako sa dibdib ko at naglakas loob na kumatok. Inayos ko ang tayo, pinanatili kong walang emosyon ang mukha habang naghihintay na may magbubukas.

Please, don't be the mistress.

I kept chanting that prayer again and again but luck wasn't on my side. An unfamiliar lady opened the door for me, we were both stunned to see each other. I inhaled a nervous breath, I cursed so many times in my head and my knees was starting to get wobbly.

I hated to admit it but she was a beautiful woman. I think we had the same height, her skin was tan and her hair was short and curly above her shoulders. Her face was round but she had a very chiseled jawline. Her eyes were light brown, she had a thick eyebrows, a heart-shaped lips and a small pointed nose. She was wearing a plain night gown that perfectly fits her body shape.

"Samantha?" She asked like she was making sure it was me.

I dropped my quivering hand from my chest and lifted my chin. "Yeah."

She smiled. "Thank goodness, nag-aalala sayo ang papa mo. Nakatulog siya sa couch kakahintay sayo." Tumabi siya sa daanan at pinakita sa akin si Papa na nakahandusay sa couch at tulog na.

"Sorry, nalibang lang ako, hindi ko namalayan ang oras. Excuse me." Walang paalam akong pumasok sa bahay.

Why the hell am I nervous? This is Papa's house, it's not hers, right?

"Nakakain ka na ba? Tinabihan kita ng pagkain—"

"Nakakain na ako." Pagputol ko sa pahayag niya, tumingin ako sa paligid at mabilis na pinagmasdan ang kabahayan.

"O-oh, is that so? Then do you want me to walk you to your room? Okay lang ba sayo na magshare kayo ng kwarto ni Cassie? Dalawa lang kasi ang kwarto rito sa bahay."

"I can walk by myself. Is it upstairs?" I looked at her over my shoulder.

She seemed nervous, playing with her fingers and smiling awkwardly. As she should.

"Y-yeah, the first room on the right."

"Got it, thanks." I jogged upstairs, I quickly entered to the room she pointed.

I closed the door behind me quietly, I pressed my forehead against it and exhaled a sharp breath. I dropped my knees on the floor, my eyes watering and my heart constricting.