Bumaba ng van si Dashielle bitbit ang picnic basket na may lamang pagkain. Naabutan niya si Wolf na nagbibigay ng instruction sa mga bata. Nagpa-practice kasi ang mga ito para sa Panagbenga Festival sa Baguio City sa susunod na linggo. Kasali kasi sa street dancing competition ang cultural group ng Sagada.
“Hello, Miss Dashielle!” sabi ni Kristine. “Late na po kayo. Uuwi na kami.”
“Ha? Bakit naman?” tanong niya.
“May date daw po kayo ni Sir Wolf!” singit naman ni Christian.
“Kids, wala akong sinasabing ganyan!” saway ni Wolf sa mga ito. “Practice the routine one more time. Kapag di ninyo na-perfect, di tayo uuwi!”
“Ay!” angalan ng mga ito.
“Pagmiryendahin mo muna ang mga bata,” sabi niya. “May dala akong torta blitz at brownies. Alam ko na favorite nila iyan.” Tinawag niya ang mga bata. “Kids, break time muna! Kuha kayo ng miryenda ninyo dito.”
Nagkanya-kanya nang kuha ang mga bata at nag-enjoy siyang panoorin ang mga ito. Masaya siya dahil na-appreciate ng mga ito ang dala niya. Subalit mukhang hindi naman masaya si Wolf. “Your diet is ruined. At idadamay mo pa mga estudyante ko. Mahihirapan silang magsayaw.”
“Come on. They are still kids. Hayaan mo muna silang mag-enjoy.”
Ngumisi siya. “Yeah, right! You want to spoil them as well.”
“Pero bago ko sila I-spoil, ikaw muna.”
Umiling ito. “I must say no if it’s torta blitz or brownies.”
Inilabas niya ang Tupperware. “It is Caesar salad. I would deeply regret it if I ruin your gorgeous body because of sweets. I prepared it myself.”
“Masarap pala kapag may nag-aalaga,” sabi nito at sumubo ng cucumber.
“Because you always take care of me. Maybe it is high time that I return the favor. Nagpa-prepare din ako kay Aklai ng food para sa night picnic natin.”
Napaupo ito. “Kakain ka na naman?”
“Pabayaan mo na lang ako. Pagbalik ko sa tennis camp, magiging strict ulit si coach sa diet ko. Mami-miss ko ang torta blitz, brownies at strawberry whip cream.”
“Ask them to make it low in calories,” he suggested.
She shook her head. “No. Iba pa rin kapag galing sa Sagada.”
“Then I will bring you some when I visit you.”
“But you can’t bring Sagada with you, right?” tanong niya. Ngayon pa lang ay ikino-consider na kasi niyang tahanan ang Sagada.
“You can always come back here. Maybe after the Wimbledon and French Open.” He touched her chin. “Cheer up! Mauulit pa rin ang bakasyon mo dito.”
“I am just a bit sad. You will stay here and I won’t.” She groaned. “Pwede bang huwag na lang akong bumalik sa paglalaro ng tennis? Dito na lang ako.”
“Ang sabihin mo, gusto mo lang kumain nang kumain at mag-relax.”
“And I don’t want to miss you that much,” dagdag pa niya. Nasanay na kasi siya na lagi silang magkasama. Parang ayaw na niyang bumalik sa mundo kung saan tinitilian siya pero lagi siyang mag-isa sa huli. She was satisfied to be with Wolf.
“Mahaba pa naman ang bakasyon natin. May two weeks pa tayo.”
“Sir Wolf, mag-practice na po tayo para makapag-date na kayo,” sabi ni Christian. “Miss Dashielle, thank po sa torta blitz. Pwede pa pong umulit?”
“Sure. Marami pa dito. Pero mamaya na pag-uwi ninyo. Kaya I-perfect na ninyo ang sayaw ninyo para makauwi na agad kayo.”
“So that’s the trick. You treat the children with your sweets and they will perfect their routine,” sabi ni Wolf at tumatango-tango.
“At mas mabilis tayong makakapag-date,” aniya at inilabas niya ang pagkaing dala niya. Matapos ang practice ay tumuloy sila sa clearing ground kung saan natatanaw nila ang buong cocoa farm at ang mga bituin. Ang paborito na nilang lugar ni Wolf. “I hope I am like you.”
“What do you mean like me?” tanong nito.
“You may leave a certain place but you leave your mark on it. Katulad dito sa Sagada. Aalis ka siguro dito pero nariyan pa rin ang mga batang naiwan mo. Itutuloy nila ang nasimulan mo at tutulong din sila sa ibang bata na may talent din. Katulad ka rin ni Mommy at ni Kuya Leonard.”
“Well, you can do it yourself. First, you are already an inspiration to the children here. Ibig sabihin kaya rin nilang abutin ang pangarap nila.”
“But I still want to help. That’s why my next project is to help underprivileged children. I will build a tennis clinic for them. Matutulungan ko na sila, mapapalawak ko na rin ang tennis sa Pilipinas. Para maraming Filipino na mag-mark sa tennis world.” Huminga siya nang malalim. “Do you think that is possible?”
“Of course. Nagawa mo ngang maging Grand Slam champion, di ba? You can also help those children who admire you. And you have the power of media. You are popular. You can get help from patrons all over the world. And of course, I will be the first in line to help you.”
“Thanks! At least now, I know that I will have my own accomplishment.” Itinaas niya ang kamay at tinitigan ang bituin sa langit. “I want my own star to shine brighter. I won’t be just a name and a tennis player anymore.” Ibinaba niya ang kamay at kinuyom. “Actually, I want something more.”
“What else can you ask for? You are successful already.”
Huminga siya nang malalim. “I am not getting any younger. Hindi naman pwedeng habambuhay akong maglaro ng tennis. Someone younger and better is bound to defeat me anytime. I wonder what’s waiting for me after tennis.”
“The horses are waiting for you.”
Kumunot ang noo niya. “The horses?”
“Yes. The horses that I will give to your family once you agree to marry me.”
“Pakakasalan mo ako?”
“Yes! Anytime you are ready.”
Niyakap niya ito at tumumba siya sa blanket. “I am ready anytime. Saan mo gusto? Kailan? Is it an Apache wedding or Sagada wedding or… basta kahit anong wedding.” Matagal na niyang hinihintay na alukin siya nito nang kasal. Matagal na niyang pinapangarap iyon. And now, she was too excited.
He groaned. “Not too soon. We still have ceremonies and rituals to conduct. Well, I would be happy to marry you. Kahit na ilang beses pa. Pero kailangang pagplanuhan nating mabuti. I want it to be memorable at kasama ang lahat ng mga taong importante sa atin. We will finish our compromises first.”
“Uunahin ko muna ang baby project ko na tennis clinic. Siguro kapag established na iyon pwede na tayong magpakasal.”
“Yes. And we have to plan our menu for the wedding.”
“Torta blitz, brownies and strawberry whip cream.”
Umungol ito at tinakpan ng palad ang mata. “Not again!”
Humalakhak siya. She knew that life would be perfect for both of them. Nang bigla siyang may maalala. “Who will represent your family?”
Nagkibit-balikat ito at lumungkot ang anyo. “I don’t know.” Patay na kasi ang guardian nito limang taon na ang nakakaraan. So he was practically alone.
“How about your mother?” she asked in a rasp voice. Sa palagay kasi niya ay mas masaya kung may tatayong magulang dito.
Pain etched on his face. “I never had a mother, Dashielle,” anito at iniwas ang tingin sa kanya. “Its just me and my father.”
Nakagat niya ang labi. Masakit para dito na pag-usapan ang inang nang-iwan dito noong sanggol pa lang ito. Pero sino ba namang anak ang di masasabik sa magulang kahit na gaano pa kasama ang ginawa dito?
“I am sorry.” Ginagap niya ang kamay nito. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I thought that you want to be with her. Naiintindihan ko kung galit ka sa kanya. But remember what happened to us and my dad’s family before? Nagalit din kami nila Mommy sa kanila dahil inilayo siya kay Daddy. Pero matapos naming silang makaharap, nawala na ang galit naming. Baka may paliwanag siya…”
“My case is different from your case,” anito sa maigting na boses. Halatang handa nang sumabog ang galit nito. “Just don’t force me to see her. She never really cared about me. She doesn’t want me and my father. Mas mabuti nang matanggap ko iyon. I am happy with my life now. I am happy with you.”
She kissed the tip of his nose. “Okay. Let’s just forget about it.”
Ngumiti ito at nagkwento na tungkol sa mga bata. Na parang wala silang napag-usapang makakasama sa loob dito. Nagpatangay na lang siya dito. Kailangan niyang igalang kung ano ang nararamdaman nito. Ito ang nasaktan sa pag-alis ng nanay nito. Nasira ang pamilya nito dahil doon. Ni hindi nito alam kung bakit basta na lang ito iniwan. And he just wanted to leave it.
Subalit alam niyang sa puso ni Wolf ay naroon pa rin ang malalim na sugat sa ginawa ng ina. There was still a part of him where he felt unloved and alone. It was something that she couldn’t cure herself. I just hope things would be better for you, Wolf. Kung may magagawa lang sana ako para magbago ang lahat. Para di ka na masaktan. If only I could.
“HI, WOLFIE! How’s the competition?” tanong ni Dashielle habang kausap ito sa cellphone. Nakatayo sa terrace ng isang mansion sa Baguio at pinagmamasdan ang pagbaba ng fog. Gabi na noon at imbitado siya sa party ni Mrs. Archer, ang Mama ni Wyndham at siyang nagpaaral sa kanya sa tennis school.
“We got the first place. The kids are now performing on stage,” kwento naman nito. “And guess what? They will perform in Sydney to represent the Philippines itself for the Igorot conference.” Isa iyong conference kung saan nagtitipon-tipon ang lahat ng Igorot sa buong mundo.
“Oh! That’s great! I am happy for them.”
“And right now, Uncle Benjie is discussing the details with the Governor,” paliwanag nito. Si Benjie Sta. Maria ang director ng foundation nila Wolf at siyang tumatayong ama ng lahat ng miyembro niyon.
Bahagya siyang nanlumo. “Ibig sabihin hindi pa rin kayo pupunta dito?”
Imbitado rin sila Benjie at si Wolf bilang assistant nito. Isa si Mrs. Archer sa mga benefactor ng foundation. At inaasahan din niya na isa ito sa mga tutulong sa tennis clinic na gusto niyang itayo. “Masyado mo naman akong nami-miss.”
“Yes. And there are other guys swarming around me.”
“Like Wyndham Archer?”
Natanaw niya si Wyndham na kinakawayan siya mula sa loob ng mansion. “Speaking of the devil. He will definitely ask me to dance with him again.”
“Don’t worry. I am not jealous. I know that you love me.”
“Do you think I will lose their support to the tennis clinic if I step on his foot again?” she asked with a naughty smile.
“Don’t worry. I will come soon to save Wyndham Archer’s poor feet.”
Matapos magpaalam dito ay nilapitan agad siya ni Wyndham. “You are not enjoying the party, Dashielle?” anito at inabutan siya ng champagne.
“No. I think it is lovely. I am just waiting for my boyfriend.”
Napatikhim ito. “Is that a cue to ward me off?”
“Yes. Aside from the fact that I love my boyfriend, he is an Apache. He is very territorial. He still believes in headhunting.”
Humalakhak ito. Parang di natakot sa banta niya. “Don’t worry. Hindi kita aagawin sa kanya. Gusto lang kitang maka-kwentuhan. Nasabi sa akin ni Mommy ang tungkol sa tennis clinic mo. How about we discuss it tomorrow? You can bring your boyfriend if you want. Just to make sure that I won’t harm you.”
“Himala! Ngayon lang yata kita nakita na nag-behave.”
Nahaplos nito ang sariling batok. “I am not used to it but I have to. Or else, itatakwil ako ng parents ko.”
Sabay na lang silang nagkatawanan nang may lumapit sa kanilang isang blonde na babae na sa palagay niya ay nasa singkwenta na. Kasunod nito ang isang brunette na babaeng bahagyang nakayuko at di nalalayo ang edad sa kanya. They looked elegant and graceful. And their faces looked familiar.
“Wyndham, Kesca and I are looking all over the place for you,” anang blonde na babae at inilahad ang palad.
Hinalikan ni Wyndham ang likod ng palad nito. “It is good to see you, Baroness Arabella.” Hinalikan din nito ang kamay ng isang babae. “It is nice to see you again, Kesca. I want you to meet Dashielle Gomez. Dashielle, they are Baroness Arabella La Fleur and Lady Kesca La Fleur from Kingdom of Mar Quinton.” Mar Quinton was an island kingdom in the Mediterranean famous for its beaches and diamond mines.
Bahagya siyang yumukod. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Nagulat siya nang kamayan siya ni Kesca. “You are that famous tennis player,” she said in an eager voice. Akala kasi niya ay kasing suplada ito ni Baroness Arabella pero mukhang hindi naman. “Is it okay if I get your autograph and…”
“Kesca!” saway ni Arabella dito. Tumiklop agad si Kesca at pinagsalikop ang kamay. Naging pormal ang mukha nito. “I apologize for my daughter’s behavior. She is not in her elements at the moment. Perhaps a dance with Wyndham will cure that. What do you think, Wyndham?”
Ngumiti si Wyndham at inilahad ang palad kay Kesca. “How about a dance, Kesca? The music is nice.”
Atubiling tinanggap iyon ni Kesca. “S-Sure.” Lumingon ito sa kanya at alanganing ngumiti. “Please excuse us.”
Pinagmasdan na lang niya sina Kesca at Wyndham habang nagsasayaw. Then she heard Baroness Arabella’s remark. “They are a lovely couple.”
“Yes, I must agree,” aniya at simimsim ng champagne. Mukhang isa si Baroness Arabella sa mga nanay na gustong mapangasawa ni Wyndham Archer ang anak nito. And she couldn’t really blame her.
Gulat itong napalingon sa kanya. “I am sorry, Miss Gomez. I believe that you are one of the women Wyndham dated before. I saw in the magazines. I am really sorry to put your hopes down. But my Kesca is engaged to him. Their engagement will be announced soon. And there is nothing you can do about it.”
Nagkibit-balikat siya. Sanay siyang I-handle ang mga katulad nito. She had encountered people like her a thousand times before. “Don’t worry, Baroness. I’m not interested with Wyndham. He is not my type.” Ngumiti siya nang makita si Wolf na papalapit sa kanya. “As a matter of fact, I already have a boyfriend.”
Hinalikan siya sa pisngi ni Wolf paglapit. “Nainip ka ba?”
“Not really. Baroness Arabella keeps me in company.” Umabrisyete siya kay Wolf. “I want you to meet Baroness Arabella of Mar Quinton. Baroness, my boyfriend Wolf Anthony Allen. He is from Arizona.”
Natulala na lang si Baroness Arabella habang nakatitig kay Wolf. “Y-You are…”
“Part Apache-part Irish,” dugtong ni Wolf na parang inaasahan na ang itatanong ng baronesa.“It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Akmang kakamayan ito ni Wolf nang biglang iwinaksi ng baronesa ang kamay. Parang takot na takot ito at ayaw makita si “D-Don’t touch me! Stay away from me, savage!” sigaw nito at nagmamadaling umalis sa terrace.
Napakapit siya sa braso ni Wolf. “How rude! She has no right to say that. You are not wearing a war regalia and you are not scalping her head.”
“Get use to it. Hindi ba may iba rin namang tao na ganyan ang reaksiyon kapag nalalaman na galing ka sa Cordillera o kaya ay Filipino ka o Asian.”
“Discriminators. They are vicious!” she said bitterly. “She should apologize.”
Kinintalan siya nito ng halik sa labi. “Knock it off! Let’s just stay out of her way. I don’t really care about her opinion.
Yumakap siya sa baywang nito. “Wala akong pakialam kahit pakasalan pa ng anak niya si Wyndham Archer o siya pa ang pinakamayaman na tao sa mundo. I won’t allow anybody to throw snide remarks at you or treat you like trash. You should judge people by their race.”
Naalala niya kung paano siya apihin noong bata pa siya dahil sa lahi niya. And she believed that racists are the lowest scum on earth. Napaka-irrational kasi ng ginawang pagtrato ng baronesa kay Wolf. Di gawain ng edukadang tao.
“Don’t let her ruin your night. Let’s enjoy the party,” he said coolly.
“How can you take things lightly?”
“Your opinion is all that matters to me.”
“Like you are the most gorgeous savage on earth?” she said with a giggle.