KINABUKASAN naggising si Lexine na wala pa ring Night na bumabalik. Maging sa pag-almusal ay mag-isa lang siya. Nang tinanong naman niya si Sébastien ay hindi rin nito alam kung saan nagpalipas ng gabi ang binata. Mas lalo tuloy bumigat ang pakiramdam niya.
Dahil wala naman siyang ibang magagawa kung kaya naisipan niyang maglibot-libot sa malawak na garden sa likuran ng mansion habang pinagmamasdan ang mga hardinero sa pagdidilig ng mga halaman. Tahimik siyang umupo sa coffee table habang pinanonood ang mga trabahador.
"Would you like afternoon tea, mademoiselle?" Paglingon niya sa kaliwa ay nakatayo na sa tabi si Sébastien at may dala-dalang tray ng tsaa at biscuits.
"Yes, please. Thank you," aniya at ngumiti.
"My pleasure." Binaba nito ang tray sa table at nagsalin ng tsaa sa maliit ceramic na tea cup. Humigop siya at napapikit sa sarap na dulot niyon sa kanyang lalamunan. "How was your date yesterday with Monsieur Fuerdo? Did he bring you to the famous Eiffel Tower?" tanong nito. Maliwanag ang mukha nito na tila sabik na makarinig ng kwento mula sa kanya.
"Yes, it was terrific. I'd never been to Paris before. I love everything about this city." Kinuwento niya pa kung saan sila nagpunta ni Night maliban sa parte na dinala siya nito sa mismong tuktok ng tanyag na tower. Magiliw lang itong nakinig sa kanya at paminsan-minsan ay tumatawa kapag may nakaaaliw sa mga kwento niya.
Sabay nilang pinagmamasdan ang abalang mga trabahador. Ilang sandali pa nang malalim itong bumuntong-hininga. "For the longest time that our family has been serving Monsieur Fuerdo, yesterday was the only time that I saw him genuinely happy. I'd like to send my greatest appreciation to you, mademoiselle."
Nabigla siya sa sinabi nito. Nahihiya siyang ngumiti. "Oh, no, I think you've mistaken my relationship with him. Me and Night are only..." Natigilan siya dahil hindi niya rin mabigyan ng label kung anu nga ba silang dalawa.
Mahina itong tumawa. "Oh, my dear lady. You maybe not know that Monsieur Fuerdo has been following you for the last five years. In fact, he has watched every ballet show of yours."
Tumaas ang dalawang kilay niya sa narinig. "Is that true?"
"Yes it's true. If you would allow me, I have something that I'd like to show you." Nilahad nito ang isang kamay upang alalayan siyang tumayo. Inabot niya iyon at dinala siya nito sa malawak na living room. Pansamantala siya iniwan ni Sébastien sa sofa at pagbalik nito ay may dala-dala na itong brown leather album. Inabot nito iyon sa kanya.
"What is this?"
"Please open it," nakangiting udyok nito.
Binuklat ni Lexine ang album at bumilog ang mga mata niya nang makita ang mga ticket ng kanyang ballet shows. Bawat ticket ay may katabing pictures na galing sa magazine o diyaryo kung saan nafi-feature ang kanilang ballet group. Partikular ang mga competition na kanilang sinasalihan mapa-national man or international. Lahat ng iyon ay compilation ng mga play at competitions niya for the last five years. All this time, Night has been watching her dance. She doens't know what to make out of it.
"Did you make this?" tanong niya sa matandang butler.
"Yes, a special gift for him. Each time, after he watches your show, I have kept all of these as a memento. I still remember the evening when we went to your play at Singapore."
Tinuro nito ang picture niya na nakangiti sa camera habang nagpe-perform sa stage. She was not the star of the night for that particular play. Isa lang siya sa mga background na ballerina. She only had a short time of appearance. That was the period when she's still struggling in her training and proving her worth as a ballerina.
"I would never forget the sparks on Monsieur's eyes when you first showed up on the stage. He was solely mesmerized by your grace and beauty. He'd never left his eyes on you. After you performed, we then left the theater. I asked him if he favored the show. He said he did not fancy it." Lumambot ang mga mata nito. ��Because he only adores watching you and nothing else matters."
Isang mainit na kamay ang humaplos sa puso ni Lexine. She can't discern the right words she wanted to say. Ballet has a tremendous purpose in her life, and knowing that Night has secretly been there throughout her journey meant something personal for her.
"Monsieur Fuerdo may be difficult on the outside, but he's only a lonely man on the inside longing for affection. My ancestors have been serving him for centuries. He has done so much for our family. And it'll be my great honor to serve him until my last breath."
Tumatak kay Lexine ang mga sinabi ni Sébastien. Nakita niya sa mga mata ng matanda ang loyalty na mayroon ito para kay Night. Kung siya nga na ulila sa dalawang dekada ay lubos ng nalulungkot, paano pa ang katulad ni Night na isang immortal at matagal ng nabubuhay sa mundong ito na nag-iisa?
Muli niyang pinagmasdan ang album. Something inside her was slowly melting, and she doesn't know how long she would keep her heart guarded.