Days slowly passed by. Biglang pumutok ang balita dahil nagbukas ulit nang panibagong hearing para sa pagkamatay ni Vice-Governor Apollo Sze ng Lucena, Quezon. A person who is very close to me, to my heart, and to my family. Everyone suddenly knew the full story because it is everywhere. The controvesy of Vice-Governor Tandang assassination and the Rios' involvement got all over the townspeople of the province.
Loud calling of justice from the bereaved family. Pointing against the terror of the defendant as one of the most influential family in the province of Quezon. Kaya 'di na rin ako magtataka kung kayang-kaya nilang malusutan ang kaso tungkol dito. Alam kong kaya nilang manipulahin ang problema. Ngayon pa na mas lalo pang lumala ang ingay at gulo dahil sa panawagan na si Congressman Rios ang idinidiin na primary suspect ng shooting ng karamihan.
Rios are well-known family. They are beyond rich for almost a century. Well-maintained ang mga assets generation by generation. Aside from their businesses inside the country, their connection abroad is quiet hidden and mysterious. Isa pa, maliban sa iilang mga assets nila from foreign countries, malakas ang mga Rios sa simula pa lang.
I'm in the middle of my own investigation when I saw a 1900s story archive. A Rios mystery poor man, well-defined physique, owned a ship way back the colonial era, where gold and diamonds demanded the country's wealth. But what interest me more was this man was not born rich. He was a messenger of a rich Spanish heir of the biggest shipping line of the world. Surrounds with the sort of many familia Ilustrados and noble class in the society, who has the capacity enough boarding to travel back and forth to the country.
"Ilustrados are known of highly educated and erudite group of people during the Spanish colonial period, usually belong from middle to upper class families."
Speechless.
"Does that mean... when that rich Spanish heir left the country and his gold to Mr. Rios man as a trusted messenger, letting himself studied here and abroad. Then, what the family earned everything now..." saad ko sa sarili.
"...it is definitely because of his perseverance."
Damn. I blinked twice of my own thoughts. No. More blinking and blinking until I suddenly realized. Napailing ako nang ilang beses sa 'di makapaniwala samga nababasa. Do they really have golds and silver bars in their storage up until now?
"Is this for real...?"
That blown my superficial mind to read and read and read the story the fucking whole day. Inabot pa ako ng madaling araw para pagnilayan ang lahat ng mga detalye. I do not want to put dirty work inside the story since it was not confirmed yet. I thought of someone. Someone must have helped me to get through of these details.
By the end of the story, he married a diamond princess. The one and only daughter of 3 succeeding terms as gobernadorcillo in the province. The socialite couple climbed on the top to manage their wealth and power in the highest class of the society ruling the rich and poor people in the province. Mind-blowing.
As I tried to scrolled down for more. To get all these sink in, I tried and manage reading it out loud, kaharap ko ang laptop screen habang nasa nakadapa sa kama.
"A soft-spoken young lady ignited by the fire of the young man through his peculiar attention whenever they met in a fine garden favorite of many young couple," while me reading almost making a face to the writer who wrote the story.
I rolled my eyes to what they called modest. Nagbago agad ang timpla nang emosyon ko ng banggitin iyon sa sinulat. I meant there is no wrong in praising women by their traditional clothing style. But invalidating women just because they wear short dresses and such, that could be wrong. It is like choosing them getting naked or getting dressed.
Did they just make out with these long and heavy dresses? I made a bark of laughter on my own thoughts, even discouraging these fine, traditional, and modesty they carried all the years in the past? I am just being pretty honest and open in my intrusive thoughts.
Looking both at the Rios man and the young lady looked incredibly gorgeous and a downfall beauty of nineties. I wonder where is the painting from the picture right now. And where could that be in Lucena, huh.
A shocked expression crawled all throughout my face, while curling my fingers as I highlighted the sentences of the love letter written from the archive using in a papyrus paper. It is very old type of paper, plain light brown-colored, and rough texture. For I've known this types, hindi madaling mapunit ang gan'tong klaseng papel kaya naman... maybe it is still existing.
Cortijo's wealth remains a fourth, it turns maybe a half if it will join Cuevas. Pero mukhang hindi pa rin ako sigurado. Hindi ako masyadong maalam sa buhay na meron noon ng mga Cortijo. Kung hindi man patago ay walang saysay naman ang kinukwento. That was when I lost interest to know history of my family.
The power they gain back in 1930s, it is triple and quadriple times of Cortijo. No wonder. The suspected year where the business started. Keeping it a secret and hidden is nothing but meaningless. Bigla tuloy akong napaisip gayo'ng bakit wala akong alam sa nakaraan ng pamilya na kinabibilangan ko.
Is it just me or... what?
Aside from the wealth that people are actively talking and engaging about, it is the only thing prevails. It is nothing compared to what they all had. Tingin ko wala rin namang nagbago sa estado na mayroon sila. O baka mas lalo pang may tinatagong 'new product' since they have foreign investments from their new ventures in technology industries. Rich people gets richer.
And what happened last time, if not because of my friend, Piola, who talked about Tandang's killing few weeks ago, I would not know their riches. I should have treat next time Piola alone because of this.
Their mysterious and hidden identity, other than being rich and influential, I do not know how they got on top of the politics. Being a congressmen, it must be easy for him to crawl on top of the list not only because of money and fame. I know that there is something that I want to know. They should have history that the people known them for something to be trusted.
I am trying to think rationally of what I have read from the archive. Pero wala naman akong nabasa na may kinalaman sa politika dahil kung mayroon man, I should have remembered it immediately. Cuz what immediately hurts me right now is my neck.
Damn.
I know that the essence of politics does not only revolves around being popular and the wealth. To the fact na may given history, encrypted to every resident here in the province, alam kong iyon ang posibleng maging rason. O mas maging batayan.
Politics is in between principle and the will to give honor as a representative for your people. An advocate who will take uninterpreted bounds making it easy and convenient to the people you are serving. Vice-Governor Tandang was like that. The way he speak towards his willingness to serve the people, the more I strongly connect my values to him. But then, I just realized that I never got the chance to say goodbye to Tandang on his last days.
"Dalhan mo rin ako ng pasalubong 'pag makauwi ka na rito sa Lucena ah."
"Galingan mo sa presentation!"
"I-close mo ang deal para manatiling manilbihan ang mga kababayan sa ating probinsiya."
I am getting a remorse while reading back those messages from him. I could've blame myself of not being with him that day. I do not know but I couldn't hold my memories of him become non-existing. A scene splashed of him smiling at me while, waving a hand as a goodbye after our last meeting on his office. I cannot help my tears falling back to my cheeks while still reading up some previous conversations, relapsing good memories.
So it is really true. About the death, we only have a temporary life in this world. I have not yet awaken to reality of someone might leave the earth, not until Tandang. Hindi ko na siya nakikita ngayon. Where is he now? Hindi ko na s'ya nahahawakan. I cannot even call his name! Gusto ko pang ibigay 'tong sapatos na regalo ko sa kanya!
Humahagulhol ako habang tanaw ang sanctuary building mula sa labas kung saan nanatili ang kanyang katawan. Hindi ko s'ya kayang harapin ngayon na malakas ang loob ko na gustong makita s'ya. Pinalis ko ang mga luha sa mga mata, at suot ang black shades na regalo naman n'ya. Bubuksan ko na sana ang pinto ng kotse nang bigla akong may natanaw na kalalabas lang niya sa building.
He's wearing also a black shades like mine but in different frame, black long sleeve tucked on his black trousers, and shoes. He's immensely definitely giving a darkest aura. That is very him. He is a stunning young man with his statuesque height, dark, alluring features, and indisputable good looks that can turn people's heads whenever he goes. Example, me.
He was greeted by the security guard of the building before closing the door. Saglit din silang nagkausap at nagtawanan. While I was staring very closely at his moves, I cannot help myself looking at the girls lowkey giggling at him. At alam ko naman na tinted ang salamin ng kotse kaya confident akong walang mapapansin at walang makikita.
He straightly walking towards his car parked nearby, and cannot deny my amusement.
"Wow."
Hmm. I raised my eyebrow while him leaning on his luxury car, Felli. It is a different one. Then before closing the door, he look first to his watch after leaving
It was the coffee guy. The one who ruined the night. And yeah, the last time was already settled. Hindi ko na rin kaya pang pahabain ang usapan gayong kaya naman sa isang upuan. It was not because of the coffee he's inviting me again, but because it was my fault.
Naging clumsy ako at 'di alintana ang dulot na ginawa ko na 'yon. Nakaabala pa ako ng mga tao sa gitna nang daan no'ng time na 'yon. Kaya inamin ko sa kanya na may pagkakamali ako na dapat kong ihingi nang tawad. And sa lagay ko na ako pa ang may kasalanan, ako pa ang nilibre n'ya nang kape.
Though when I realized that I wasn't following him again in the road, he also parked his car in the city hall's parking lot. I blinked my eyes twice baka nananaginip lang ako habang tanaw na tama nga ang hinala kong s'ya 'yon. My car is just beside him, yet nauna s'yang magpark kaysa sa akin at sa tabi rin ng kanyang kotse.
Is he a politician? Politician--- your face! Maybe from nearby sitios of Lucena? Pero wala pa rin naman akong nakita noon o no'ng mga nakaraang eleksyon na isang lalaking makapigil-hininga. I cannot help but to find him attractive in many different ways. Ilang beses ko nang naririnig nag sarili na sa tuwing nakikita ko siya ay agad na may kung anong adjectives sa utak ko! I am in dangerous situation right fucking now!
"Good morning Ma'am."
I smiled at the receptionist as response. I cleared my throat before speaking. I pursed my lips while looking at her.
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"The guy before me, w-what was his appointment here, Miss?" directly stating my point. Para saan pa ang kahihiyan ko, diba?
Just curious though.
"Po?"
Tinitigan ko lang s'ya. Pinipilit na sagutin ang mga tanong ko kahit na alam kong pribado dahil 'yon ang sinusunod na rules para sa mga may appointment. She then looked at me and my profile by now as I handled her my ID.
I managed to lower my shades for the confirmation of my documents without looking at her directly. In a swift motion, before returning it back to my eyes, I rolled my eyes at my frustration. Probably, I am losing my patience or whatsoever.
She still looked hesitant at first. But when I noticed how shocked her expression was, I knew what was her thinking. For once in my life, this is really what they call power and influence and I am disgusted how dirty this is.
"Ah. Kasi p-po..."
"Yes. I just really wanna know."
Damn it! On what excuse?!
"Actually, I am his girlfriend."
She then blushed.
"Po?" tipid akong ngumiti sa kanya. Still shocked and amazed.
"Actually Ma'am, he has really no appointment. He was being called from the--"
Called?
"Okay, okay. Okay na 'yon, Miss. Thank you!" I lifted my hand to stop her from saying more. I smiled before leaving.
But called from what and who? To my extreme confusion, I'm at the elevator thinking of the beginning why I was here. What am I doing, anyway?
Standing at the elevator, a perplexed expression rose from my face at my reflection, pressing buttons with uncertainty not knowing what floor to go to. Then, the elevator abruptly halted the at the offices where higher officials are in. A signage says 'district representative offices here' surprised me as I attempted to stepped in the floor I do not familiar with.
"I should go back," I whispered trying to say out loud, opposite from what's on my mind.
The picturesque of the interior of the building strike my inquisitive interests to walked for more, admiring the luxury of the floor quite unusual to offices here at the province. The floor was adorned with exquisite decoration and an aura of authority. As I marveled surrounds deeply appreciating the interior when a sudden, manly and hoarse deep voice behind interrupted my musings.
"You are lost, aren't you?" he said with his deep intriguing tone.
Startled and shrieked, as I turned around by the unexpected intrusion while almost taking my breathe away captivated by the painting of a purple-colored flower I was looking preoccupied. I didn't bother to look at him as I could not take away my eyes on how fascinating to capture the painting.
He was there, strongly fixed his eyes in front, seriously walking towards at the painting as I looked at him quietly. No one of us bothers to uttered a word but only the breathing pattern of us two.
An awkward moment of silence scattered, envelops the air while no one bothers to break the ice in appreciating the masterpiece.
"You are lost," directly, he said.
It is not a question, either.
The soft, muted lights captures the subtle melancholy as our gazes fixed upon the painting evokes a bittersweet longing, intertwined serene ambiance mirrors the beauty in a fleeting moment of time, giving an ethereal of romantic feeling as a reminder that even the most beautiful moments can be transient and elusive.
"A lavender."
In hues of deep passion and tender nostalgia, a spark suddenly feathers as our eyes gaze, time seems to stands still momentarily. then, everything stopped for a moment of us two staring each other.
Unexpectedly, my heart raced aggressively as I started to uttered while my voice is shaking incredibly, in a strange manner ignited by the unknown chemistry present in between, where I knew I was the only one who felt it.