Within the Walls

Chapter 16

  The acidic tang of Sinigang contorted my body to an involuntarily shiver, as I uttered a low, moan of pleasure as I bit into the chewy, succulent okra that dissolved in my mouth in an instant. The slight spice being the chef’s kiss as I swung my head around with closed eyes, squinting it open a little and glimpsed at Aurelio. His eyes staring at me with a piece of meat halted at his smiling lips, tilting his head slightly.

 I stopped my frantic swinging and made me stop my eating, as butterflies filled up my stomach. Sitting up straight, I twiddled with my fingers and gawked at it. My lips parted into a smile as I steal a glance to Aurelio’s direction who’s still eyeing me.

 I breathe in a sharp handful of courage and turned my head to Aurelio, he shoved the fork and nibbled on the meat with his eyes darting everywhere except my direction. I pursed my lips and flashed a small smile. “Aurelio?”

 “Hmm?” Finally, he looked back at me still chewing, but, his smile wasn’t there anymore. He had a neutral expression in his eyes, the only emotion coming from his raised eyebrows.

 “Tungkol sa piyano…” I suggested the piano, the topic halted from an abrupt invitation to eat.

 “Anong mayroon?” He impaled another piece of meat, not even gazing at me as if we didn’t even talk about the piano.

 I opened my mouth, but from how he reacted, I decided to shut it for the time being as the table continued to eat.

 “Kompadre! Anak mo pala iyang si Josefina!” Aurelio’s father boomed from his chair, pointing at me addressing the idea of me being my father’s daughter. “Kayganda niya! Nababagay sa aking Aurelio! (She’s beautiful, fit for my Aurelio!).”

 “My pride and joy.” He beamed at me.

  Aurelio coughed all of a sudden as if clearing his throat from being choked from the meat. I gawked at him, but he stared directly at his father. He’s acting weird, I thought. Was it something I said? The piano? I shouldn’t have brought that up. A wave of guilt brushing past my racing thoughts as I sipped at sharp, tang of soap.

 Everyone finished their meals, the servants approaching the table as they grabbed each of our plates. I mouthed a ‘thank-you’ in Tagalog to the one who grabbed mine and she smiled, bringing the plates and utensils to another room to what I think is the kitchen.

 Aurelio’s father scanned the area. “Son, the package?” His chin resting on the space formed from his intertwined fingers.

 Aurelio sipped from his metal cup. “Secured.”

 His father nodded and stood up, heading out of the dining room. While Aurelio stood up, regarding only his father and mine, “Mga ginoo.” He smiled and walked away, the door screeching as he exited the room. I scoffed, my eyes trailing to his vanishing figure, and looked down at my hands that gripped my knees.

 My father stood up, then plopped down the chair next to mine. “Anak, mabuti ka lang ba?” He asked if I was okay.

 I paused. “Yes.”I blurted out.

 He raised an eyebrow, shaking his head. “You’re a bad liar.” He chuckled.

 “Daad!” I slapped him playfully and we laughed.

 “What’s on your mind?” He relaxed in his chair.

 I pondered to the entrance of the dining room. What’s with him all of a sudden? First he’s all protective at the alleyway, and now he’s gone cold all of a sudden.

 “Aurelio?” My father breaking my reverie.

 Hesitantly, I nodded. He just smiled and rested his arm on my shoulder, the bridge of his two brows scrunched and the left side of his lips slightly parted.

 “Men are the greatest liars, you know why?” He asked to which I shook my head, “because everyday, they lie about what’s eating at them.”

 “I may be laughing here and then, but never a second goes by I don’t think about your mother.” He receded his hand and looked down at the floor.

 “Dad?” He looked up, a broken smile on his face, a feeling inside of me telling it was fake, “we can go home now, I have the Polaroid with me.”

 “We–.” He blurted out, “I can’t.” He turned his head to the side.

 “Why?”

 “I have made several enemies here, and they will not stop even if we go back.”

 I cupped his cheek and made him look at me. “What did you do?”

 He gasped for breath and went silent, a nagging thought lingering in my mind that he can’t say it since he’ll be known.

 I nodded, it was no use to poke and prod, and clutched him in a warm embrace. I noticed the capiz shell window parted, the twinkling silver dots in the sky along with the bright moon mimicking a painting with a black canvas. The cold breeze hitting my skin as I shivered.

 I released my arms and stood up, offering a hand to my father. “Gabi na tay, tulog na tayo.” I asked my father and I to sleep since it’s already night.

 He rolled my hand into a fist and clutched it. “Mauna ka na anak, may gagawin pa ako.” Smiling after instructing me to sleep already since he has things to do.

 I looked at him and raise my eyebrows, he released my hands and mouthed a ‘go’ with a reassuring expression. I smiled back at him and exited into the living room, catching a glimpse of my father’s head hung low.

 Reaching the living room, I immediately eyed the smooth, oak wood piano. Its cover raised revealing the intricate mechanisms inside. I don’t know how to play but I am in love with the music, always listening to a dulcet tone from a playlist in YouTube when I’m studying.

 “Do you play?” Aurelio’s father asked in a hushed tone as he stood beside me.

 I shook my head as I traced my fingers on the black and white keys emitting a monotonous tone.

 “His mother used to play, they would always play together during the morning.” He reminisced, swaying his head as if there’s music.

 “May I ask what happened?”

 He took a deep sigh. “Follow me.” He walked towards the other end of the living room, he opened the sealed capiz window, a gentle breeze pricking my skin in its cold bite.

 “We saw my wife–his mother…” He pointed to a lone branch that extended into the lawn.

 I turned to look at him, my mind processing what he just said. Until, it hit me. My eyes widened, covering my mouth to hide my fear. Shaking my head as if in disapproval.

 He wiped a tear that fell from his eyes still gazing down at the lone branch. “We heard a commotion on our lawn, then we saw it.” He paused and gulped, looking up as if he saw it once again. “Spanish guards were at her lifeless body, when Aurelio rushed to his mother’s, he got hit on the head with their gun.”

 “They read a piece of note to Aurelio in front of anyone.” He cried, I asked him to sit down and I placed a comforting hand on his back. “I couldn’t take it anymore, I ran back to the house and…”  

 “I’m sorry…” The only words I could utter as he continued to cry in a hushed tone. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his tears, sniffling for one last time before standing up.

 He forced a chuckle. “Paumanhin binibini, at nakita mo akong umiiyak.” He apologized for me seeing him cry.

 “It’s fine.”

 “I must be off to bed, it’ll be an early day tomorrow.” He placed his hand on mine, and smiled, before retreating to the bedroom hallway.

 I peered out the window once more, reminded by the quiet night before me. Until, I heard thumping sounds coming from below me. And I saw Aurelio in front of the tree, throwing rocks as he’s legs crossed on the grassy lawn.

 Oh, Liwayway…