ANY OTHER NAME

CHAPTER 2: MISTAKEN IDENTITY

Asunta pressed her both arms in the balcony facing the sunlight in the morning. She wore an oversized dress with floral raffles. It is best partnered with her plain flip flops and lace tied in her hair. She wore a light weight stain on her pale lips, yet her face cannot hide her emotion.

“How can I suppose to paint your face? It’s still early and you look like you lost the stars in the night sky!” Leandro startled the morning.

“LEANDRO!” Asunta exclaimed.

“Oh yes it is me, the single and only one, Leandro!”

“I thought you already left the country yesterday? Anyway, thank you for guiding me last night. Just like the same routine way back in high school, I used to disturb you for so many reasons,” Asunta responded.

A quick laugh and smile plastered in the man’s lips. He approached Asunta and pinched her cheeks.

“All is well. How can I resist you?”

“Ouch! That hurts badly!”

“By the way, I brought you something,” Leandro added.

Leandro went straight to the kitchen and placed the pandesal bread in an oval plate and sliced white cheese from cow’s milk. He brewed black coffee and served it hot to Asunta.

“Here take this!”

“It is been a long time since the last time that somebody prepared a food for me,” Asunta expressed in her serious tone.

“How was it?” Leandro asked.

“Well, it tastes good! Is this from Sta. Cruz?”

“HAHAHA! Yeah it’s from there. But--- I’m actually asking how was it being away from your husband? Does he call you already?” Leandro asked continuously.

“He did not and he cannot,” Asunta expressed in her low voice.

“Asunta you are too old to look like a grumpy pig. HAHAHA! Mind to walk in the sea bay?” Leandro insisted as he tries to get back Asunta’s smile.

“Yayyy! I missed this thing! I will just leave a message to Aunt Clindra that we are out for a walk!”

She held her tummy and talked to her child just as if she knows that somebody is already answering from there.

“Did you hear that young kid? Hey baby, say hi to Uncle Leandro. He is your mother’s childhood friend.”

Leandro from afar went closely to Asunta’s tummy. He kneeled down and spoke.

“Hello dear. Your mom must be really waiting for you for a couple of years now. She must be so happy to see you. You have to behave, okay?”

Asunta is rubbing her child when she felt that the seven months old baby was more than alive within her. She can’t hide the extravagant feeling and excitement that she was really blessed with a child in her age of thirty-seven. Miracle as it may seem but it was not treated by Ruffo just the way she expected it.

“You must take good care of yourself Asunta. You must be healthy and safe in your delivery,” Leandro stated as he traced Asunta’s eyes.

*FLAAAAASHHH*

*FLAAAAASHHH*

*FLAAAAASHHH*

“Is there a lightning from here?” Asunta questioned as she embraced her tool cloth around her arms.

“Let’s get inside. Maybe a heavy rain will fall anytime! Let us take a walk tomorrow at six in the morning” Leandro spoke as he assisted Asunta inside the house.

“Anyway, I will go. Rest Asunta and will see each other tomorrow for a walk.”

“Sure. Take care!” Asunta responded.

| R U F F O’ S P O V

THE NUMBER YOU HAVE DIALED IS EITHER UNATTENDED OR OUT OF COVERAGE AREA, PLEASE TRY AGAIN LATER …

THE NUMBER YOU HAVE DIALED IS EITHER UNATTENDED OR OUT OF COVERAGE AREA, PLEASE TRY AGAIN LATER…

*TOOOOOT*

*TOOOOOT*

*TOOOOOT*

I have been calling her a million times now, but I can’t reach her line. I am in my most furious state now. I am really stuck with the idea of her child birth and the rumors that approach my thoughts. I drove fast to visit her parents. It is the last place where I know she can stay.

I knocked so hard and shouted at the door. Her father came rushing and her mother’s face was quite worried.

“What is it son? Is there a problem?” mother expressed her concern, but I was enraged.

“YOU GUYS ARE THE PROBLEM! YOU SHOULD NOT HIDE YOUR CHEATING DAUGHTER AWAY FROM ME. SHE SHOULD HAVE PAID THE PRICE!!!”

“RUFFO!”

It was a serious expression from Esteban.

“You do not have the right to shout at my wife! Look what happened? Did my daughter just left you? Look at yourself now!”

“Sir, tell those discussions if you could show me your child and let her explain about her cheating and child conception!” I exclaimed angrily in his thoughts of me.

Who is he to say that I am the black sheep here? He must know the story first. I was really disgusted!

“She can’t do such thing to you. She really loves you more than you ever know,” she cried as she explained her daughter’s side.

“ELEANOR, GET INSIDE NOW!”

“I will tell you this Ruffo and it is up to you whether you will believe me or not. Really, my daughter is not here. If she is here, I will let you talk to her but I won’t let you take her away from us, not again. You have really changed a lot,” Esteban added that froze my senses. I can’t move for seconds.

They already closed the gate and door, but I’m still standing here.

I get inside in the car as soon as the rain began failing. I covered my face in the steering wheel and started to cry. This is too deep and Asunta is the only one who can understand every portion of my thoughts. She exactly knows what and how to recover my senses when I almost lose my conditions and when my emotions are waving.

|| End of Ruffo's POV

***

| A S U N T A’ S P O V

I am here in a small barrio in Liliw. It is far from all those other people who know me. In fact, aunt Clindra only knows where I am. I know in my age I will still get scolded by my parents, but either way, I don’t want them to get involved. Likewise, I don’t want that my parents will treat Ruffo differently.

I was about to write a letter for Ruffo when I was startled by a voice. It was Leandro, my childhood friend here in Laguna. It was really his habit pinching my both cheeks till it get red. I just missed this person too. We get along for the longest time and our companion was greatly built for more than two decades.

“Here take this!” he said as he gave me a piece of bread and a hot brewed coffee.

“It is been a long time since the last time that somebody prepared a food for me,” I expressed in a serious tone.

“How was it?” Leandro asked.

A best friend like him was not asking about good food. He may be a jerk and humorous, but his wisdom always hits me hard. I just said that the pandesal and white cheese was good, but who would believe that he is referring only to the food?

There, he restated his question.

“HAHAHA! Yeah it’s from there. But--- I’m actually asking how was it being away from your husband? Does he call you already?” Leandro asked continuously.

“He did not and he cannot,” I expressed in my lowest voice. At this point in time, I know he is already looking for me everywhere, and if my senses are right, I’m so sure that my parents already know my situation. I just really hope that they do not have such mean conversations, knowing Ruffo now is ill-tempered.

I admit it. I really miss Ruffo not just seeing him, but feeling him. Nowadays, I don’t exactly miss physical presence, but the values that they embody. I can’t help but erase the smile in my face, but really, Leandro knows how to make things well. He knows exactly what to do to make me feel fine.

It is a beach walk.

The best feeling for me is to walk in the bay and feel the breeze of the air that embraces my soul. When I see the waves, I just felt how wondrous the seas are made and how the waters are fighting uncontrollably. Despite the waves that keep drowning me, I know deep down, somewhere there, somehow, there are wonders hidden and reserved just for me. Cause why not? I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God.

I hold my womb as I introduced Leandro to my child, but what really surprised me is that Leandro went too close to me. I cannot move and I feel like he can smell me from there. It is quite uncomfortable! Gosh!! If Ruffo is around, I know he will ask for a World War III. Either way, the melancholic chills hunt me from there. I wonder and imagine if Ruffo is here. What if Ruffo is still the same Ruffo that I used to know? What if Ruffo is still the same man I used to love?

*FLAAAAASHHH*

*FLAAAAASHHH*

*FLAAAAASHHH*

A strong light directed in our position. I don’t know if that was a lightning or a reflection from a mirror, but it was too fast that we did not determine where it came from. Leandro instructed and assisted me to get inside. Thereafter, he bided his goodbye.

“Asunta, why you are still here? I thought you are out for a walk?” Aunt Clindra asked as she went home from her weekly grocery.

“Actually, he just went home a couple of minutes ago. He used the main gate, didn’t you see him passed by?” I asked.

“I saw him actually, but he used the second gate in the backyard. I just wonder why he did not respond when I approached him, he just looked away and walked fast,” Aunt Clindra replied.

Aunt Clindra went to the kitchen as I was left in wonder in the couch. Really? He was seen at the second gate? I traced him with my eyes when he used the main door as he leave. It is impossible that he used the other way and I’m not too old for poor eyesight.

Maybe…

My senses are correct. I am right!

|| End of Asunta's POV

***

| R U F F O' S P O V

“I really miss her!” This is the repeated terms in my head, but my fears and insecurities keep on crushing me.

“Haaaay…”

A deep registered sigh outburst from my lungs. I went home at two in the morning and Sabel woke up just to serve me.

“Go back to your sleep. You are too old to serve me,” I said as I traced my way on my room.

“Do you need anything?”

“A bottle Of Domaine Leroy please,” I instructed in my low voice.

It’s too cold tonight so I had to adjust the air conditioner and purifier. This room is an empty friend that I used to talk with, a long time ago. Back then when I first lost a woman in my life. I opened my laptop to check documents for signing and other project proposals. But then I was engaged by a sudden notification that appeared in my screen.

“Here is a Burgundy offering for you,” Sabel said as he poured out the expensive wine in my glass.

“Thanks. Please get back to your sleep and take milk so you will fall asleep faster.”

Sabel is not just a care taker and maid, but a friend and mother to me. He worked for decades in our family and I have seen how she loves her family. At some point, I am envious with her children. Imagine that they have the best mother and they experienced a motherly love.

In the middle of my cogitation, I spilled more wine in the glass, as I turned back my attention towards my laptop. It appeared my wide wallpaper, our wedding picture.

Suddenly, another email was sent from the same author. I opened it and it froze my whole self for a second.

“I found what you are looking for…”

*BLAAAAAAG*

*CRAAAASHH*

Tears and crimson blood stream in the floor…

“What happened? Ruffo!!!” Sabel exclaimed!

|| End of Ruffo's POV

***

| L E A N D R O' S P O V

I saw a man looking up high from the fences. He must be spying Asunta so he can report to Ruffo, or maybe another…

I was moved when he took a photo of us in that position. If Ruffo just wanted to know where Asunta is, then to take a picture is unnecessary. But--- I think, he must be somebody else. I grabbed Asunta’s arms and assisted him inside the house.

Immediately, I told Asunta that I’m leaving, but I’m actually out to check the man.

There, I saw him. I shouted at the man near in the second gate, but it looked down and walked fast. He must so suspicious that I badly wonder who that man is.

*I should be over all the butterflies…”

“Hello… Who is in the line?”

“Hello Leandro? This is Eleanor. Are you with Asunta? How is she? I know, even before she always run after you and with sister Clindra. Ruffo was so furious when he visited us here, please take good care of my daughter,” Asunta’s mother continuously spoke of her thoughts.

*TOOOOT*

*TOOOOT*

*TOOOOT*

The call already ended and I tried to call her back. She sent back a message to me that mark her urgency to leave.

“Esteban should not know where Asunta is, please take good care of her.”

I do not know what exactly happens between these people and I do not know what is happening between the Ecuador couple, but since I am here, I will be the one to take charge for Asunta’s safety.

|| End of Leandro's POV

***

The glass was broken.

Sabel found Ruffo’s fist bleeding and the helpless cry of the man was slowly turned into a raging fire.

“After all these years of infertility, I did not expect that her impatience will root to unloved me. Now, it is even worse than what I thought.

“You must be mistaken. Asunta loves you more than you could ever imagine,” Sabel entered as she helped Ruffo get up away from the broken pieces of glass in the floor.

“No! All of those stupid pictures sent to me are all evidence of his infidelity. I cannot forgive her, I swear! She and her man will rot in hell!” Ruffo exclaimed as he gnashed his teeth.

“Don’t make decisions when you are mad, hijo.”

“Mark my words Sabel, I will surely put this promise to myself and no one, any other girl can broke my pride. Not now and ever!!!”

Ruffo enclosed his fist and any amount of bleed that sheds was containable. He was numb and heart of stone. You can see the fire and anger in his eyes that consumed him completely.

| R U F F O' S P O V

“Leandro! Your too much character in the story will never be forgiven!”

|| End of Ruffo's POV