“Parang ayoko na dito sa Baguio. It is so crowded. I just want to go back to Sagada and relax all day,” reklamo ni Dashielle kay Wolf. Papunta sila sa mansion ng mga Archer para mag-dinner.
“Don’t forget that you will discuss your project with them. They can help you a lot. Just think about your tennis clinic and the children who will benefit from it,” malumanay na paliwanag ni Wolf sa kanya.
She let out a sigh. “Yes. I understand. Excited din naman ako sa tennis clinic. But I am just to tired at the moment.” Nasanay na siya sa malamig na hangin ng Sagada. And suddenly, the air in Baguio was too thick. She couldn’t breathe.
Mabuti na lang at masigasig si Wolf na I-encourage siya. Ito ang tumitiyak na magiging maayos ang development ng tennis clinic. He was planning everything with her. Iniisip kasi nito lagi ang mga batang matutulungan nila. He had a heart for kids. She realized that he would be a great father someday.
“It is good to see again, Dashielle!” bati ni Mrs. Margarette Archer nang salubungin sila. “And you bring Wolf with you, I see.”
Bata pa lang ay kilala na sila ni Margarette. Kaibigan ito ng director nila kaya naman todo suporta ito sa mga projects. Ito rin ang nakapansin sa potential niya sa tennis nang makitang nagpa-practice siya sa public tennis court. Kaya ito nag-offer ng scholarship para makapag-aral siya sa tennis school. She owed her a lot. Libangan na nito ang mga charity works kaya tutulungan pa rin siya nito.
“He is the one who inspired and helped me lot with the project,” aniya at nakangiting tiningala si Wolf.
“And I heard from your Mom that wedding bells will follow soon.” Margarette clasped her hand. “Magtatampo ako kapag hindi ninyo ako kinuhang ninang.”
“We are still deciding whether it is a traditional Sagada wedding or Apache or we will combine those two. Are you sure you won’t mind to wear our ethnic dress?” she asked. Kailangan kasi na lahat ng dadalo sa kasal ay naka-costume rin.
“That’s exciting. And even if it is a nude wedding, I will still come.”
Nagku-kwento si Mrs. Archer tungkol sa project nito sa Kenya nang dumating si Wyndham kasama sina Baroness Arabella at Lady Kesca. She stiffened after seeing the older baroness. Kumapit agad siya sa braso ni Wolf na parang naghahanda itong protektahan mula sa matapobreng babae. Habang wala naman siyang napansing pagbabago sa reaksiyon ni Wolf.
“Wolf, this is Baroness Arabella La Fleur and Lady Kesca La Fleur from the Kingdom of Mar Quinton. And of course, you know my son, Wyndham Archer,” pagpapakilala ni Mrs. Archer. “This is Wolf Anthony Allen. He is an international performing artist who already traveled the world.”
“Yes! I’ve see him before,” sabi ni Kesca. “I saw him perform in Wentworth Theater before. It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Allen.”
“He will also join us?” Arabella asked grimly.
“Yes. He is accompanying Dashielle,” sagot ni Mrs. Archer.
“I don’t want him here,” nakataas ang kilay na sabi ni Arabella.
Nagulat ang lahat sa inasal nito. “Mama!” bulalas ni Kesca.
“I refuse to join a dinner with a savage. If you won’t ask him to leave, me and daughter will leave instead,” Arabella insisted.
“Ma, what’s wrong with you? Mr. Allen isn’t doing anything wrong,” depensa ni Kesca. Mukhang hindi rin nito maintindihan ang inaasal ng ina.
“He is a savage!” Arabella uttered.
“That’s enough!” aniyang hindi na makapagtimpi sa masamang ugali ng baronesa. “I won’t allow you to call Wolf names because we came here as civilized people and I expect you to treat him as such. I don’t really know what your problem is. But savage or not, Wolf is staying.”
Hinawakan siya sa balikat ni Wolf. “Dashielle…”
Alam niyang gusto nitong tumigil na siya sa pakikipagtalo. Pero di siya papayag na apak-apakan ang pagkatao nito.
“I don’t want to hear this from a person who picks up tennis balls all her life,” Arabella stated acidly.
Namula siya sa inis. Insulto kasi iyon sa pagkatao niya at sa propesyon niya. Subalit nakuyom na lang niya ang palad bilang respeto sa host nila.
Pumagitna na si Mrs. Archer. “Ladies, we can discuss this properly. There isn’t really a serious problem, is there?”
“Mama, stop this!” saway ni Kesca. She had always been gentle. Pero sa pagkakataong iyon ay mukhang galit na ito. “You are unreasonable. If you can’t be civilized to our guests, we are leaving.”
Matalim na tiningnan ni Arabella ang anak. “Are you siding with the savage?”
Napayuko na lang si Kesca at mukhang maiiyak. But she didn’t succumb into tears. “I apologize for my mother’s behavior. She is not in her elements today.” Nanginginig ang boses nito. Sa palagay niya ay nagtitimpi ito ng galit.
“I am the Baroness of Mar Quinton. I am not leaving!” Arabella refused. It was like power tripping. Gusto nitong ipakita kung sino ang maimpluwensiya. She really didn’t understand what she had against Apaches.
“I am leaving,” anang si Wolf at bahagyang ngumiti. “Thank you, Mrs. Archer. It is a pleasure to meet everyone.”
“No, Wolf! You are not leaving!” tutol niya.
Humalik ito sa pisngi niya. “I will wait for you at the car.”
Nakita niya ang matagumpay na ngiti sa labi ni Arabella La Fleur. Lalong sumiklab ang galit niya. “I am afraid that I have to leave as well,” taas noo niyang sabi. “If you want, we can discuss this some other time. I apologize for the bother.” Saka siya nagmamadaling sumunod kay Wyndham. “Wait for me!”
“Dashielle, bakit sumunod ka sa akin?”
Huminga siya nang malalim. “I don’t want to stay there with that Baroness. If we met hundreds of years ago and I am an Apache woman, I will scalp her head myself and I will pull her teeth at the back.”
“Easy!” He patted her hand. “Paano ang sports clinic mo? Malaki ang maitutulong nila sa project mo.”
“The Archers will understand why I left,” she said then rode at the car.
Gusto niyang maawa kay Wyndham kung sakaling magiging biyenan nito si Arabella La Fleur. The woman was a vicious one. And she really hated the type.
“I don’t want to ruin your project.”
“It is not your fault, Wolf.” Kinintalan niya ito ng halik sa pisngi. “And we don’t need people like Arabella La Fleur to help us. I won’t allow her to hurt you.”
“Thanks. But I am not hurt. Really,” he said and gave her an assuring smile.
“Sinasabi mo lang iyan para hindi ako mag-alala. But you are hurt.”
“I am not,” giit nito. “How about we go back to Sagada tomorrow?”
“I love that. Para di ko na makita ang baronesa na iyon.”
“Let’s just forget about her, okay?”
“WHY do you keep on watching your match with that Japanese girl? You defeated her right away, right?” tanong ni Wolf at tinabihan si Dashielle. Nasa hotel suite siya ni Wolf dahil di siya makapag-concentrate sa resthouse ng mga Lizardo sa Baguio sa panonood. Dapat nga ay uuwi na sila ng Sagada pero may dumating na bisita ng pamilya para sa dinner. Kinabukasan pa sila makakauwi.
In-slow motion niya ang twist-spin shot ng kalaban. “Look at her. She is so promising. She’s only sixteen. Malay mo sa susunod na magkaharap kami, matalo na niya ako. I feel older and older each match. Pabata nang pabata ang kalaban ko.”
Pinisil nito ang pisngi. “You are still the best.”
Binuklat niya ang mga DVD na ipinadala sa kanya ng coach niya. “I have to study this as well. Yoga will be part of my training.”
Nag-ring ang doorbell. “I guess that is the room service. Stay here.”
Pinanonood niya ng basic ng yoga nang mapansin na di pa rin bumabalik sa kuwarto si Wolf. “Saan na nagpunta ang lalaking iyon? Ang tagal bumalik.”
Bubuksan sana niya ang pinto papunta sa reception area ng suite nang marinig niya ang galit na boses ng isang babae. “How dare you show my face to me? You are not my son. I am the Baroness of Mar Quinton and I don’t have a savage child! Put that in mind!”
Bahagya niyang inawang ang pinto at nakita ang galit na galit na si Arabella La Fleur. Nagulat siya sa natuklasan. Ito ang ina ni Wolf. That highfaluting, racialist baroness was Wolf’s mother? If she was Wolf’s mother, why did she deny it? Bakit ayaw nitong kilalanin si Wolf ngayon? Kung ipagtabuyan nga nito si Wolf ay parang mababa pa sa hayop. At may lakas pa ito ng loob na humarap kay Wolf ngayon.
“You can’t deny the fact that you are my mother,” kalmanteng sagot ni Wolf. “We have the same eyes. And we have the DNA test to prove it.”
Naging malamig ang mata ni Arabella. “Just a mere technicality. I already left you and your father. I never really cared about you two!”
”You never really loved my father?”
Nagsindi ng sigarilyo si Arabella at ibinuga ang usok. “I met your father when I was on a desert trip with my friends. He was our guide. I found him unique. I was fascinated. I fancied my self in love with him. I didn’t mean to end up pregnant. I tried to stay with him, with you. But I don’t have plans to stay at the reservation, chew rawhide and die in poverty. It is not my dream, Wolf. You can survive in the reservation. You are part-Apache. But I am not! I don’t want to be miserable. Look! Please understand. If I stayed with you and your father, I won’t be a baroness. Now, I live in castle and not in some wickiup.”
Mapait na ngumiti si Wolf. “So you just left us to be miserable. Father drowned himself with alcohol since you left. While you were too busy mingling with royalties, I had to satisfy my self with what he can give me when he is sober. He died when I was seven. Until his last breath, he wished that you’d come back for us.”
Saglit na napipilan si Arabella. “He is dead?”
“Don’t be guilty, Baroness,” he said slyly. “You said yourself that you are a baroness now. I am sure you are happy leaving your son and husband behind.”
Naging malupit ulit ang mukha ni Arabella. “Why did you show up now? Do you want money from me so you won’t tell anybody that you are my son? How much do you want? I will write a check right now.”
Hindi makakibo si Wolf. Pero kahit di ito magsalita, alam niyang nasasaktan ito. Sino bang anak ang matutuwa na babayaran ang pagkatao nito ng sarili nitong ina? It was too much for her to just listen at the back of the door. Ayaw niyang may lumabas pa na salita mula sa bibig ng baronesa na makakasakit kay Wolf.
Pabalabag niyang binuksan ang pinto. “Before you bother writing a name and amount on that check, Baroness, I suggest that you leave,” aniyang tinitimpi ang galit sa boses. Iniisip kasi niya na nanay pa rin ito ni Wolf. Kung hindi ay walang salita niya itong kakaladkarin palabas ng hotel suite. But she was so mad that the baroness had the guts to face Wolf and offer him money.
Napaawang ang labi ni Arabella. “You are asking me to leave? Do you know who I am?”
Umangat ang gilid ng labi niya. “Yes. You are the Baroness of Mar Quinton. And you are most unwelcome here. You have no right to insult Wolf.”
Tumaas ang kilay nito. “Do you also want money to keep your mouth shut? Sure! I will fund your pathetic tennis clinic.”
Nakuyom niya ang palad at direktang tiningnan ang baronesa sa mata. “Keep your money because I will give you ten folds of what you can give me so that you will stop hurting Wolf.”
Dinuro siya nito. “How dare you!”
She didn’t flinch. Hindi siya natatakot dito. Alam kasi niya na nasa katwiran siya at pinoprotektahan lang niya ang lalaking mahal niya. “Before, I want Wolf to see his mother. I was hoping that it would make him feel better to see the only family he has. Now I know why he refused to do so. You are not worth it.”
Noon, akala niya ay walang ina na nakakatiis sa anak. May mga ina na nag-iiwan ng anak sa ampunan dahil di nito kayang buhayin o kaya ay nagpapa-ampon para bigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang anak.
Ngayon lang siya nakakita ng nanay na di na masayang iwanan ang anak para sa sarili nitong ambisyon. Ipinagkait pa nito ang karapatan na kilalanin. Malas lang ni Wolf dahil nagkaroon ito ng ganoong klaseng ina.
Tumiim ang labi ni Arabella. Malamang ay tinamaan ito sa sinabi niya. Kulang na lang kasi na sabihin niya dito na wala itong kwentang ina. “I will let you get away with this. But once the news leaks that Wolf is my son, I will hold you two responsible for this. And I will definitely give you hell once my reputation is ruined.”
Tumawa siya nang nakaka-insulto. “What reputation of yours will be ruined? I am more scared of Wolf’s reputation actually. It would be a shame for the world to know that he has a mother like you. There is nothing to be ashamed of having a son like Wolf. He is talented and he made it on his own at a very young age. He has a successful career and he was able to survive without any of your help. He is proud of his heritage. You are the one who should be ashamed of yourself.”
“That’s enough!” sigaw ni Arabella at matalim na pinagpapalit-palit ang tingin sa kanila ni Wolf. “I don’t want to see you two ever again!” Nagmamadali itong lumabas ng hotel suite at pabalabag na isinara ang pinto.
Nanlambot siya nang mawala si Arabella. Di kasi niya inaasahan ang komprontasyon na iyon. Habang si Wolf ay tahimik lang habang nakatitig sa kanya. Wala siyang mabasang ekspresyon sa mukha nito.
Hinawakan niya ang braso nito. “Wolf…”
“Go back to the room and watch the yoga DVD,” he instructed formally. “I will just call to follow up our order.”
Ni hindi nito binanggit ang tungkol sa pagdalaw ng ina nito. “Galit ka ba sa akin dahil nakialam ako sa inyo ng nanay mo? Pag-usapan natin ito, Wolf.”
“Anong kailangan nating pag-usapan?” kaswal nitong tanong.
“Your mother, Baroness Arabella,” she answered with utter frustation.
Ngumiti ito at hinaplos ang buhok niya. “Let’s just forget about it, okay?” anito at nag-dial sa telepono. Mukhang ayaw na lang nitong pag-usapan ang tungkol sa nanay nito. Pero kahit di nito ipakita, alam niyang nasasaktan ito.