Montepalma Series 2: Trapped by His Game

I stared at my mother’s grave. It was raining heavily while I’m letting the rain drop against my skin. I am wearing a black dress and her pearl necklace. Her pearl necklace was her favorite accessory and before she died, she gave it to me personally on her deathbed. Pinauna ko na si Dad dahil alam kong nasasaktan siya sa nangyayari at tuwing gabi ay nakikita ko siya na umiiyak sa study room. My hands were shaking in the cold. Halos lumabo na ang paningin ko sa kakaiyak. I used to be a cheerful girl in high school. Malapit na ako mag college at hindi man lang naabutan ni Mom ang high school graduation ko. I’m gonna graduate with high honors and she is not here anymore. Hindi ko na alam kung anong oras na ako nakatayo sa harap ng lapida niya. Ang alam ko lang ay ayaw ko muna siya iwan. Wala akong pakielam kung magkasakit ako. I’m f*****g torn and in great of despair. I don’t want her to leave. But we can’t do anything about it since she has breast cancer. We may be a wealthy family, but when it comes to sickness— your money is no use. I gulped. “I’m gonna promise to you Mom, that I won’t be a weak girl anymore. I will be strong for Dad. I’m gonna miss you Mom.” Parang ang bigat pa sa dibdib nang talikuran ko na ang lapida niya. I wish I could hug her right now. But I am shivering to the bone right now. Iniwan ni Dad ‘yung binigay niyang sasakyan sa akin nung sixteen years old ako. I'm the only child in our family. Kaya nga mas close ko si Mom kasi parehas kaming babae. Marami akong natutunan sa kaniya. She has the purest heart in the universe. I understand why my father really adores her. I inherited her porcelain skin, downturned dark eyes and narrow nose. She is half British and half Filipino. Maraming nagsasabi na para kaming magkapatid ni Mom. Sumakay na ako sa sasakyan ko. Damn. I am soaking wet! Ang alam ko lang ay ayaw ko muna umuwi. That’s when I realize that she is no longer with us. That I wouldn’t be able to see her smile again. My heart is breaking all over again as my mother tattooed in my mind. Napadpad ako sa isang pub at bumaba na ako sasakyan. Hindi ko na inaantala ang ulan kaya naglakad na lang ako papasok. Halos nakatingin sa akin ang mga tao pero wala akong pakielam. It’s very quiet. Maaga pa naman kaya mamaya pa siguro ‘yung mga music ng DJ. Umupo ako sa high stool at tiningnan ko ‘yung purse ko. Napakurap pa muna ‘yung bartender sa akin kasi basang-basa ako. Umangat ako ng tingin at tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. “Martini please,” I ordered. The bartender nodded. “Alright, Ma’am. I could offer you some towels if you want.” “Okay. I want one also.” Inasikaso na nung bartender ang inorder ko. Nilapag niya na ang martini sa harapan ko at nilagok ko ng diretsyo ‘yun. Tapos binigay na rin sa akin ‘yung towel kaya tinutuyo ko ‘yung sarili ko habang ginagawan ako ng martini. It’s already my fifth drink when someone hopped on the stage with a guitar in his hand. Mabuti naman na may tutugtog kasi ang boring naman kung wala. Napansin ko na tinatadtad ako ng missed calls ni Baby— she is my cousin. An unknown man suddenly plopped beside me. He is wearing a dark blue coat. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nag order lang ako ng inuman. I just want to remove the pain I am feeling. Bakit kasi kailangan niya pa magkasakit? She is the most wonderful woman I’ve ever known. “One bottle of bourbon,” the man ordered. His voice is very low and husky. Naibigay naman sa kaniya ng bartender ‘yung isang bote at isang shot glass. “Thanks, buddy.” Ironically, we own one of the prominent drugstores in the Philippines. But even our own medicine couldn’t help her. I smiled bitterly. We did everything for her in order to survive her disease. I saw in my peripheral vision that a man turned his head on my side. But I didn’t look at him but I kept drinking my martini. Mukhang alam na ng bartender ang gagawin kaya ginawan muli ako. “What happened to you?” he inquired. I felt my whole body stilled at his sudden question. Ngayon nilingon ko na siya habang nagtataka. Ako ba ang kausap niya? Tinuro ko ‘yung sarili ko. “Ako ba kausap mo?” “Who else? Tayo lang nandito sa bar counter,” he stated. “I’m sorry,” I chuckled. “Basically, s**t really happens to my life.” “Like?” “My mother died because of breast cancer. Kakalibing niya lang ngayon.” Tinungga ko na ‘yung martini at nararamdaman ko na ‘yung hilo. Kinuha ko ulit iyong towel at hinahawakan iyon. “I f*****g miss her already…” “I’m sorry. Condolence.” I smiled. “Funny thing is that we own a drugstore here in the Philippines. Hindi rin ata nakatulong.” “We also own a hospital nearby,” he said, in a baritone voice. He gave me a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m very sorry for your loss.” “What hospital?” I responded. Sobrang curious ko na ngayon sa lalaki na ito. Ang alam ko na malapit na ospital dito ay iyong pinakamalaki na ospital sa Manila. Pero gusto ko pa rin malaman kung anong ospital ang pagm-may-ari niya. He licked his lower lip. “My brother and I owned a hospital. It is Montepalma Hills Hospital.” My brows shot up. Doon namin pina-hospital si Mom e. Hindi ko aakalain na katabi ko na pala iyong may-ari ng ospital na iyon. Bigla naman ako nahiya at iniwas ko iyong tingin sa kaniya. Napakamot ako sa panga ko at ininom ‘yung martini ko. “Oh… doon na confine si Mom.” “What’s her name?” “Her name is Olivia Jewel Rodriguez,” I answered. Huminga ako ng malalim at ginagawa ko ang best ko para hindi maiyak. “She is the most beautiful woman on earth. Some people tell us that we look identically.” He smirked. “That is why you are beautiful also.”