Write About the City

Chapter 12 - Last Call at Ivan's

Mataas na ang sikat ng araw ay hindi pa siya bumabangon. Ilang araw na siyang nakikipanuluyan sa tirahan ng mag-asawa, pakiramdam niya ay inaabuso niya ang imbitasyon ng dalawa. Ngunit kung magpapakatotoo siya, ayaw niyang iwan sina Emerald at Sergi. Hindi siya mapalagay sa isipin na tuloy pa rin ang agos ng buhay niya samantalang habang-buhay nang nagbago ang hinaharap ng dalawa. Sa mga simpleng bagay ay nakakaligtaan ng mga ito na wala na ang anak nila. Bubuksan ni Emerald ang telebisyon sa kusina at maghahanap ng pambatang palabas at bago pa nito matunton ang pakay, mapapahinto ito, saka papatayin ang telebisyon. Ngingitian sila ni Sergi na parang hindi nila naintindihan ang nangyari. 

Minsan naman ay tahimik kung kumilos si Sergi sa loob ng bahay lalo na kapag oras ng siesta. Hindi pa rin nito maialis sa sarili ang nakasanayang gawin nang buhay pa ang sanggol. 

Inuubos niya ang oras niya sa pag-sort at pag-ayos ng photo album ng sanggol. She wanted to do it for Emerald who was too busy then printing every photos and buy albums without really using it properly. 

Kung bagot naman siya, sasamahan niya sa kusina si Emerald at ipaghahanda ng makakain si Sergi tuwing manggagaling ito sa labas. 

Katulad ngayon, may bitbit itong isang sako ng hindi purong bulak. Calamansi juice lang ang ginawa niya samantalang nag-prito ng maruya si Emerald. Tatlo silang nagsalo sa likod-bahay at pawang pigil ang mga ngiti at tawa. 

“Ikaw, Jess,” tuon sa kanya ni Sergi. “Are you gonna tell the writer you’ll be staying for more days?” 

“Is your postal office good?” tanong niya. “I wanna write to him.” 

Nagtinginan ang mag-asawa. “E-mail is faster,” ani Emerald. “Why send through post office?” 

Nagkibit-balikat siya. “You’re right. I would only look like a fool, wouldn’t I? Magmumukhang patay na patay sa kanya.” 

Tumango-tango si Sergi. “I see. You’re in love with this guy.” 

She just smiled. 

“Ayos na ba kayo ni Ignasi?” asked Emerald. 

Mabilis siyang tumango. “Oo. We didn’t talk much, but we said what we wanted to say, what we wanted to hear, and I think it was more than enough. We are not friends, though, I wouldn’t say that. Civil, is more likely.”

Sumandal si Sergi sa upuan. “And that’s enough for both of you. I’m glad you sorted things out by yourself.” Then there was shared silence. Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon ay hindi na nila sinusubukan pang pahabain ang usapan. Tatayo sila mayamaya upang magligpit, pero sa ngayon ay hahayaan muna nila ang presensya ng isa’t isa, pakikiramdaman ang pagtaas-baba ng dibdib, pakikinggan ang pag-ingit na nililika ng silya nila. Wari’y mga estranghero kung umasta, pero ito ang alam nilang paraan upang hindi maungkat ang masakit at mapait na alaala ng literal na kahapon, ng isang araw, ng nakaraang linggo. 

Ngunit may nagbago ngayon. 

Patayo na siya nang pigilan siya ni Sergi, sinenyasan siya nitong umupo. Sa halip ay si Emerald ang umalis at sa pagbalik nito ay may dala na itong pang-himagas. “Ika-sampung buwan na dapat ni Ivan ngayon. Siguro naman, okay pa rin kung ikain na lang natin ang ‘would be’ niya kaysa magkulong lang kami sa kwarto at piliting iwaksi ang mapait na katotohanan.” si Emerald na inaabutan kami ng kutsarita at maliit na mangkok. Ito na ang nag-serve sa kanila ng ice cream. Lihim siyang napangiti. This is her comfort food. She feels really blue lately, with the circumstance between the couple and her leaving Dumaguete for the time being. 

“And you have to get used to hearing his name, Jess, we are soon opening our joint partnership and business.” pahayag ni Sergi na hindi maitago ang excitement sa tinig at mukha. Palipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa dalawa, naghihintay ng eksplenasyon. 

“Well, don’t just sit there and explain it to me!” she said frantically and then managed to laugh silly when she realized her outburst.

Inabot ni Sergi ang kamay ng esposa at hinaplos iyon. “Sana nandito ka sa ribbon cutting. We will appreciate it, truly. I want the whole gang here when it happens.”

Si Emerald naman ang humawak sa kamay niya. “We are opening a tavern called Last Call at Ivan’s. Isn’t it exciting?”

Nasapo niya ang dibdib at labis na tuwa ang nadama. “Hindi ko alam na may business na pala kayo! Of course, we will be there! Oh, my goodness, you, guys. You’re moving forward, see?”

Natigil ang dalawa sa narinig, siguro ay kinailangang marining ng mga ito iyon. At walang masama doon. Totoong nawalan sila ng anak, pero hindi ibig sabihin ay tinanggalan na sila ng karapatang mabuhay o magsaya o sumulong sa buhay sa kung anumang paraan nila naisin. With the tavern, the baby would live on. In the name, in their spirits, in their hearts. 

“Can I see it?” she asked. Nagtinginan muna ang dalawa. “Jess, we need help for some details. It’s not aesthetically pleasing enough, not homey enough, not Westside enough, if you know what I mean.” si Emerald.

“Oh, girl, you better call Mel. I mean, I can fill the lack of aesthetics, but it’s a tavern, and he has seen some really authentic ones across the globe. Besides, he’s still a guy. He knows what men want.” ani Jess sabay tingin kay Sergi. “I guess you didn’t bother with that because you were busy with the whole planning, building, financing, and whatnot.” 

Sumang-ayon ito. “It kills me but yeah, you’re right.”

Again, they sat in silence, but this time, they are comforted with ice cream and excitement for the coming of the tavern. 

****

JESSIE WASN’T REALLY DOING anything, not at all, so she decided to take out her notebook and pen. In it she wrote to her dearest. 

Lucas, 

Home. It is anywhere where my heart is full and at peace. I feel at home with my friends Sergi and Emerald. I hope to write about this city.

You see, they harvest cotton, and they sell it. Sometimes Sergi would bring just one sack of cotton and it’s not much.

Other times we would go to the cheapest beach ever with the five-peso entrance. I love it there. Black sand, cottages made of sawali and bamboo, endless pools of water, us, Mother Nature, and thoughts of you. 

When Emerald and I are bored to death, it’s either we cook or we go to their rental cabins to busy ourselves with Em’s family business. I can confidently say Emerald is cut out for this type of career. Oh, and by the way, this morning we visited their tavern called Last Call at Ivan’s, took photos and made notes. The photos are for Mel, the notes are for me. One way or another, this will be a big project for us friends. 

If you think about it, home is where your friends are. Home is where your family is. My friends are my family. I am home. 

I don’t feel like I’m wasting my time here. I get to know Emerald more, her kwentos about motherhood and after, as she put it. The same with Serg. Parenthood became them. They’re the same but not really, wiser but not… really. Lol.

Oh, dear. Now I feel so selos about these two, hoping I could make the same intense lambing to my dearest. And you know what you are? Not close to home, but my dearest. Just take it as a compliment. I am not a complete fool. I feel things about you, cough, because you’re a p***y and won’t let me admit it, but I wouldn’t dare say you are my home. Sighs. If you could just fall in love with me completely. What a bliss. 

Last call. 

All my loving,

Jessie

She feels stupid, really. Ipinagkibit-balikat niya na lang iyon. Tiyak na walang makakabasa niyon. Sa kanya na lang itong kalokohan niya. Wala naman siyang balak ipadala iyon kay Lucas. Ano kaya ang ginagawa nito ngayon? Muli niyang binasa ang sulat at natawa nang mabasa ang parteng sinaniban siya ni Kris Aquino. Her TagLish level is astounding, as if she didn’t hate it before. Maipadala na nga lang niya ang litrato ng Ivan’s kay Mel.

When someone knocked on the door, she was expecting it to be Sergi based on the heavy footsteps. But surprise, surprise. It was Ignasi. “The f**k are you doing here?” ang bungad niya pero agad niya itong nilapitan at kamuntikan itong bigyan ng magaang halik sa pisngi ngunit nagkasya na lang sila sa yakap. “As soon as I heard about the opening, I flew here. Five weeks left but I was told there are still things to do.” anito.

“Yeah. Is Mel with you?”

“I flew alone.” sagot nito. “Susunod daw sila in a few days, not sure when.”

“Where are you staying?” She hopes not here.

“Oh, you know Sergi, he insisted that I stay here. I don’t want to impose so I said I’ll rent a cabin. Emerald was delighted. Dagdag pera raw.” He laughed.

She scoffed. “Wow, ta’s ako, freeloader lang dito sa kanila, gano’n?” Pero agad niya iyong sinundan ng ngiti. “I’m teasing.” 

“Well,” Lumabas na sila ng kwarto. “You won’t see me much around here. Sergi and I will busy ourselves with Last Call at Ivan’s.” anito.

“It’s a blessing, really, when you think about it.” aniya. “Meron silang pinagkakaabahalan. And at the same time, they’re honoring baby Ivan.” Nilanghap nila ang sariwang hangin nang makarating sa labas ng bahay. 

Tabi lang ng highway ang bahay, pero hindi naman ganoon kaingay dahil may pathway mula sa gate bago ang bahay. Nanatili lang sila doon, hindi alam kung paano sundan ang usapan. Wala naman siyang pupuntahan. Kung ito na lang kaya ang kusang lumayo? Pakiramdam niya ay iyon nga ang balak nito, nagdadalawang-isip lang. Base sa body language nito, naiilang na ito sa katahimikan nila. Okay, fine, sa isip-isip niya, she already suffered a lot of embarrassing moments, kaya siya na lang ang puputol ng usapan. “I assume you have plans so I wouldn’t hold you hostage.” sabi niya at nakita niyang nakahinga ito ng maluwag. A quick goodbye and then she was alone again.