Within the Walls

Chapter 15

 He emerged out of the shadow of the alley, into the orange light from which my fidgeting body stared on to the man in front of us, never blinking. The man wore a charcoal tuxedo that matched the heavy beard that covered most of his face, he had a slender figure but taller by a few inches compared to Aurelio.

 The man trod the distance between us, a smile on his face that grew wider as he opened his arms. “Josefina!” He cried.

 I stepped back, one of my hands clutched on my chest as I felt my ragged breathing. The man crept closer, but Aurelio stepped in, scowling at the unknown man.

 “Ang pinag-usapan.” Aurelio demanded with chest puffed out.

 “Josefina,” he peered from Aurelio’s head, “hindi mo na maalala ang iyong tatang? (Do you not remember your dad?)”  

 Aurelio glanced back at me, awaiting my reply. To which I stared back, shrugging my shoulders and shaking my head.

 Aurelio sighed. “We’ll just take the goods and lea–”

 “Si Carmen, kamusta naman. (How’s Carmen?)” The man blurted.

 “How do you know–”

 “You used the Polaroid, didn’t you?”

 Only my father would know these, now my scared heart filled with longing and hesitation. I examined him once more, everything about him became thinner. His beer belly gone, the puffy cheeks flattened, but his eyes were hidden under small, round glasses. He changed so much.

 “Ikaw ba talaga yan tay?” My eyes started to prick with tears as I asked if it really was him.

 “Oo (Yes),” he smiled, “alon.”

 There. That magic word.

 “TAY!” I rushed to hug him, enveloping me in his embrace. I felt his beard tickling my neck as he clutches my back.

 “I’ve missed you!” I cried while my head’s buried in his boney chest. I raised my head and my father looked down on me, “have you eaten anything dad?”

 He coughed viciously, a hoarse breath of air boomed from his chest. “Dalawang linggo lang anak, malakas naman ako.(Just two weeks, don’t worry, I’m fine.)” He smiled with a fist in front of his mouth.

 I turned my head to find Aurelio wasn’t there, looking around, I saw Aurelio next to the barrel. He peeked into one of the gaps and grinned, then, he glanced back at me.

 “So, he’s actually your father…” His gaze never leaving me.

 I nod in reply with closed eyes and a smile.

 He stretched out his hands to my dad and I saw him gulping, “Ginoong Josefina…” The two shook hands. My father with a glare, and Aurelio only having eye contact for a split second. Aurelio coughed, and from what I heard is an imaginary lump in his throat.

 “Paumanhin sa aking kawalang galang.” He apologized for his attitude.

 I felt my father’s hands, his shoulder draped around me, gripped tighter as he continued to glare at Aurelio, who’s eyes darted all over the place.

 “Aurelio, can we bring my dad to your house? He hasn’t eaten.” I pleaded.

 “Hmm?” he looked restless, “sure, but we have to drop this off at the Aduana.”

 “Lead the way…Aurelio.” Still my father’s glaring.

 I wonder what’s with these two. Aurelio gulped again and guided us to the Aduana. My father and I trailing behind, but his eyes kept darting from side to side.

 “Kamusta ka naman anak?” My father asking how I am.

 “Saan ka nagpunta itay?” I steered the question to where did he go.

 He sighed and shut his eyes momentarily before opening his mouth, “the Polaroid malfunctioned, it was supposed to be with me to here but it didn’t.” He looked out into the streets lined with the lamp posts emitting a warm light.

 “I went crazy; running around the streets shouting your name,” his voice cracking where he took a pause, “all I thought about was you, I left you alone there, I prayed for you to be okay.”

 “His father,” he pointed to Aurelio, “took me in, fed me, gave me water, gave me a job for the revolution.” He whispered the last word.

 “Revolution? Parang kay Andres?” I asked with widened eyes if it was related to Andres Bonificio’s revolution.

 He nodded, “Tayo ang bahala sa Intramuros, dahil may plano si Andres kung mapasa-atin ang Intramuros.” Dad explained that Andres’ has a plan if we overrule the government of Intramuros. I felt my body chatter.

 “So in those barrels…” My mind could only imagine what was inside.

 He nodded with sad eyes.

 “Ang daming namatay noon! Paano kung mahuli ka!” I cried, whining about the countless deaths of revolutionaries in this era. “I don’t want you to get away, please!” Tears started to stream down my face, my sniffling getting a little loud.

 “Shh, shh, alon.” He wrapped his arms around my head and hugged me.

 I gazed back to him, my nose runny and sniffling. He reassured me it won’t happen, “hindi yan mangyayari, I promise.”

 They continued to tread the dirt road of the Aduana, men opened the door for us. Aurelio let out a sharp breath as he gently placed the barrel down at the room we went inside earlier, which was now darker and empty, particles of dust floated on the air – visible from the lights we have opened.

 Suddenly, a loud grumble echoed from the room. “Sorry.” My dad laughed, and I giggled.

 “Marahang umuwi na tayo.” Aurelio joked that we should go home already. The two’s cold interaction ceased as we head outside.

 “Siya nga pala, nasaan na ang Polaroid?” My father asked as we trailed behind Aurelio.

 I gulped, and my eyes widened. “Uhh…”

 “Ligaya?” He quaked as we paused in the middle of the dirt road.

 “Na kila Mang Narding po, kasama po ng iba pa niyang gamit.” Aurelio butted in explaining it’s at Mang Narding’s house. Now I’m confused, he used ‘po’ and opo’.

 Dad breath a sigh of relief and continued into Aurelio’s house.

 As we reached the door, Aurelio knocked and the door opened, the same opening the door us, greeting us a ‘good evening’ as we climbed the wooden stairs. As soon as we were atop the stairs,  the men removed their shoes and I my bakya. As I held on to the banister, a man nearby the window caught my attention, gazing outside.  

 “Aurelio?” He asked.

 “Itay.”

 Aurelio’s father looked at us, and a smile formed on his face.

 “Placido!” He stretched out his hand as walked closer to my father, they both shook hands with a pleasant expression. 

 “Kamusta na?” Aurelio’s father chimed as they gestured my father to sit at the living room, which housed a large piano that I only noticed now. 

 I decided to ask about the piano but Aurelio, glaring at his father, rolled his eyes before he saw me looking at him. 

 “Ligaya.” Aurelio surprised.

 I don’t want to intrude on what his beef is with his father so I continued to ask about the piano.

 “Who plays the piano?”

 His shocked face from earlier contorted into a slight frown as he gazed at the piano. “I did but–”

 “Alfredo! Paghandaan mo kami ng masarap na hapunan, gutom na gutom na ang aking kompadre!” Aurelio’s father exclaimed as a servant nodded and headed to the kitchen.

 After a minute, the servant returned. “Nakahanda na ang mesa.” The servant stated the table was ready.

 “Halika na! Aurelio, Josefina, kain na!” He stood up along with my father, inviting us to eat at the table.

 “Ako’y nagugutom na rin, kain na tayo Ligaya.” Aurelio quoted his father.

 My question left unanswered but we both head straight to the dining area.

 After eating, it’s my time to press him for answers.