My mother sneaks in to my room that night. She taps on my shoulder lightly. Well, she didn't have to. I'm just pretending to be asleep.
"The Valderrama's said they will be back when you're okay to talk to. "
I clutch on my pillow as I turn my back away from my mother. "Really, so they're not so dumb after all."
"Danikka Faith! " my mother gasps.
" If only you listened to what they proposed, everything would've been fixed by now, " she continues. She adjusts my blanket down to my shoulder and starts combing my hair with her hand.
"They will not get married yet, if that's what you're thinking child."
"Only because I'm not married yet, obviously! "I snap back.
" That, and because your sister made an agreement with your late Inang."
I turn to her wide-eyed. " What ever do you mean?"
She takes out a folded piece of vintage paper out of her pocket.
"Your Inang shared the agreement with you too. I figured you might wanna try, " my mother gives me a faint smile I haven't seen in a while.
"Try what?"
She purses her lips and smiles once more. "Well, why don't you read it first and tell me about it?" She stands up and turns to the door.
Shaking my head, I unfolded the paper to find my Inang's shaky letter.
"My lovely Nikki..."
I read on till my tears smudge the piece of paper. I laugh at the ridiculous information she provided then bawl at her last message for me.
I sleep with my eyes puffy and wakes up to the smell of something hairy and wet. It smells like rug. Filthy, dirty rug.
"Aaaaaah!!!"
It's... a dog!
It is? It is! I look intently at the fluffy orange Chow chow dog that looks awfully familiar. It's walking all over my bed smelling my hair and jumping all over beside me.
"Oops! Sorry, Bingo escaped from my room." Renz walks in casually into my room like he owns it.
I hurriedly pull my sheets up to cover my face.
But what did he say the dog's name is? Bingo? MY Bingo?!
"Baby!" I hug Bingo but I was only able to grab his unsteady feet. Bingo looks at me with his cute silly face and went towards me to lick my face.
O... k.
"I've missed you!" I snuggle Bingo into my arms as I sit.
"He's mine now." I wish I didn't hear anything. I wish he just disappear!
"Since when?"
"Since you left him whimpering with a broken heart I guess."
The nerve of this guy! " Hey! I would never break Bingo's heart!" I bite my lips as I realize my voice went a bit too high.
" I love him."
"You abandoned him here. I took care of him. He's mine now."
"NO. He's not. Never will be!" I hold Bingo in my arms as I storm out of my room. I even hit Renz in the elbow when he got in my way. Too hard I guess, he had to step back.
***
"Ah, yes... Bingo lives with Renz now," my mother nods, sipping her morning tea.
"Bingo is mine, mom, you know it!"
"But you see child, when you left, Bingo never played with anyone, he wouldn't eat, he wouldn't move. That's until Renz made him. "
" I don't care. Bingo is mine. He's mine from the start, he's mine forever! "
My mother just look at me and smile. "And when you leave?"
"I..." I couldn't find the right words.
"Don't forget that Clara goes here every month and we get to chat a little everytime. She tells me how busy you always are."
Bingo struggles to get down so I set him free, he ran straight behind me where I heard Renz' annoying laughter as he plays with my dog. My dog, mine!
"Fine! Who cares about that stupid dog!"
I hear Bingo whimper but I hope it's not because he understands what I just said.
"Well, have you thought about it?" my mother looks at her cup while I fix myself some coffee.
I know she was talking about the letter. "Tempting." I mutter as I sip from my mug.
"Your sister will not get married until you get married, or, you can change your fate if you follow the letter. Your choice."
Tempting. I smile at my mother. " I hate treasure hunts."
She laughs at me. "If you win, you get to own everything."
"If I lose, I'll have wasted my time, my effort, and my business I left in the city will suffer."
"It's your Inang's last wish, child. Honor it."
If I want to honor it, if I really have to, I'd be needing someone who knows where this is going.
I walk towards the mango trees. Bingo is jumping up and down towards the hammock when he sees me. He wags his tail as he ran towards me.
"I'll be needing your help," I announce.
Renz looks at me with his thick dark brows raised.
"I need a driver."
***
"I will pay you for a whole month's service, if we happen to stop along the way after a while, you still get paid for a whole month."
"You're hiring me to be your driver for a month?" he scoff.
"Unless you're deaf, yes, that's exactly what I need you for."
My Inang's letter specifically said it should be a month. Either I waste my month's worth looking for nothing or I end up finding what Inang's wanted me to find.
"Where specifically are we headed?" he asks. I purse my lips.
Lots of places actually. But he doesn't need to know.
"Before I go back to where my real life is, I need to stop by some relatives. Spend a few days with them and then go."
"It never occured to me that you would be the type to go for an adventure to see some relatives."
Well. I really am not. "Guess you don't know me after all."
"Right, I'll get my truck ready."
" You mean the pick-up truck?" my nose wrinkle at the thought of his old pick-up. Will we even be able to go far with his truck?
"Do you want to go by a carabao then?" he teases.
I flinch.
"Hahaha! Kidding!" Renz winks, leaving me with my mouth wide open and my jaw dropped.
Did that... asshole just laugh at me?!