Taming Sun in the Heir's Heart

"Francy, you have to go home! Hindi porke maganda na ang buhay mo diyan, mananatili ka na diyan!" Bulyaw sa akin ni Kuya Vince, "Mom's asking for your presence for two years now! Kung hindi ka namin pupuntahan, hindi ka rin namin makikita?" Kuya has been calling me months by months now, pleading and bargaining a lot just to make me go back to the Philippines. "Bitbitin mo na lahat ng kakailanganin mong bitbitin diyaan. Umuwi ka na rito dahil wala na akong alibi para pagtakpan ka pa!" "E Kuya, I'm not yet done with my work here." saad ko habang nagtitipa sa aking laptop, "I haven't finished my project here. And I have another project in Thai—" "Is that THAT important to ditch mom's 60th birthday, Francine Lucy Ignacio?" I breathed out. My brother giving me that last blow... I know he can make me go back home now. "Perhaps may tinataguan ka rito kaya ayaw mong umuwi, Lucy? Are you still affected? I thought you've moved—" "Okay! This conversation is over! I have alot of things to do!" medyo galit na sabi ko, "If you want me there, don't ever bother me again and DON'T—" I stopped to inhale, fully fuming mad. "DON'T EVER MENTION THAT, KUYA! GALIT AKO!" Instead of saying sorry, Kuya Loco just laughed it off and turned off the call. "Was that your brother?" Ralph asked. "Yeah." I sighed, "Asking me to go back to the Philippines again." "And you will?" Medyo gulat niyang tanong. A swivel chair from far rolled near us. Louis with eyes wide open is now looking at me in shock. "Of course. Do I have a choice?" At parang nanalo sa lotto ang dalawang lalaki at nagtatalon sa tuwa. Hawak ang T-square ay iwinagayway iyon ni Louis sa ere. Mga siraulo talaga. Our other colleagues are looking at us curious of what we're talking and celebrating about. We're in spain. Some of them couldn't speak english but most of them are foreigners too so most of our colleagues can speak in english. "But we will finish our project here and in Thailand before going back to the Philippines." I warned them, "Para wala na tayong po-problemahin." "Sandali! Pwede na natin tanggapin yung big project sa Pinas dahil pupunta na rin naman tayo roon!" Louis agreed to Ralph and that made me shook my head. I only planned a few days of vacation in that country and coming back here again after that and not staying there for a long time or for good. "Francine, you have an interview this afternoon with a spanish reporter, lo entiendes?" "Si." Maikling sagot ko. We are a freelance Architect in this field for two years now after gaining recognition in Thai, Indian, and Canadian Architecture. We entered an international Architectural firm three years ago and we had projects around the world. After staying in that firm for a year, we decided to accept freelance projects. And after another year, I left the firm while the two men stayed. "Sana all." Patuyang ani Louis. We, the two boy and my freelance work, are currently here in the firm's branch in Spain for a joint project to build a colleseum. Aside from that, I had a project I am working on right right now. It is the La Costa Casa. The renovation of the Costa's mansion. I accepted the project a year ago. And now that it was well built, it gained recognition as well as I became famous in this field. "A Filipina Architect is now here with us, please welcome, Francine Lucy Ignacio!" Maligayang bati ng isang espanyol na host sa matigas na ingles. "Hola, España! Nice meeting you all!" Bati ko sa mga manonood. Wearing my simple corporate attire. Black bralette lace top, rose gold blazer and shorts partnered with hot pink stilletos. "Now, now! What a fine, stunning lady we have here! You look wonderful, Architect Ignacio." She smiled and I thanked her, "We have here some personal questions and some archtectural related questions to ask you." I nodded. "Go ahead, please." "We heard that you were a youtube sensation and a t****k dancing queen before you left the Philippines. Is that true?" "Yes. I was a youtuber, a vlogger along with my Archi friends and a t****k dancing queen!" I laughed, "Before I left the Philippines." "So was it just a simple vlogging or?" "Oh, we vlog our daily lives of how an Architecture student in the Philippines live their lives. And I sometimes cover and write songs so..." "A vlogger and singer-song writer on Youtube, a dancer on t****k, and a trending Architect in the Architectural firm! Wow! What a full package!" masayang turan ng host. Kailanman ay hindi ko naisip 'yan sa sarili ko. Full package, huh? I'm not even the best at any of it. Not even close to being good at any of it. Kaya kong gawin pero hindi magaling. Being called as full package... wow. That's something big! I can see people from a far, the staffs, laughing with us and cheering for me. They are very welcoming. Far from the rumors of Spaniards being bad and cruel to Filipinos. "May we ask why did you decided to work abroad and not in the Philippines?" "Well, it was a long story. But to make it short, me and my friends applied to all architectural firm open for more than five fresh licensed architects in that time. We applied together." I explained our journey happily, "Until we were called by a foreign voiced man, asking us, my friend Ralph and Louis, for an online interview." They are listening attentively so I smiled and continued enthusiastically. "And that's when we realized, we applied to an international architectural firm without us noticing! Among us eight, it was just the three of us who passed in that firm. The other five also passed in another international firm as well." "Wow, so it was unintentional! Very great and interesting experience you had back then!" Host exclaimed, "But behind that, I know how difficult it was to leave the people you grew up with. The people you love." That made me sigh and rethink my decisions back then. It was as if we were blinded with the opportunity. It was as if we could turn our backs to the people who stayed with us just to achieve our dreams, leaving them behind. My heart aches remembering the unfortunate events happened before we left. How I ended up like this... I sighed and smiled to cover up the heavy feeling in my heart. "It wasn't easy, of course. That's where we grew up. That's where we built ourselves. That's where our love one's live. That's where our memories live." I smiled feeling the pain. "But all people dreamed big. Wishing for a better opportunity to come into their lives. A turning point for the best. And that opportunity, it is a once in a life time opportunity. And not all people are given a chance to have this. Grabbing it, embracing it may sound and look selfish, but that's what it should be." "That is true. And I am sure, the people that loves you are happy now that you are achieving the life you dreamed of after you grabbed that opportunity to work abroad." "Yes, of course. But that won't change the fact that they want me to go home!" We laughed together. "Who, Francine? Your family? Friends? Or boyfriend?" The host teased. "I am sure you have a boyfriend before you left!" "I had." I smiled, "Next question!" They laughed at my craziness. "But do you have a man with you right now?" The host asked, "I will not believe you if you don't! You are very beautiful!" "A man?" I laughed. "More like a baby boy." And the host was shocked. "What a cute endearment you have there!" "Architecture is like a star in the sky. Mysterious, full of wonders and elusive, yet it gives light in the dark, gives hope for a brighter future. Make architecture that shines brighter, not for the sky, but for the people that dreams high." The interview goes on. It was very refreshing actually. I wasn't a bit uncomfotable with the questions. Hopefully, they did not digged my past relationship. Whew! I forgot to read the questions before my interview so I answered it all impromptu. "To become an Architect, just widen your imagination and dream big. And your feet will automatically lead you to a world where you belong. Architectural World as we call it." My last statement as the interview ended. "Next week uwi natin?" tanong ni Ralph habang nakahiga sa sofa ng unit ko. "Ba't ba kasi kayo sasama? Ako lang naman ang pinapauwi." Nakakunot ang noo kong inaayos ang gamit para sa pagbakasyon sa Pilipinas. Oo, bakasyon. Hindi magi-stay doon! Bibisita lang ng mga ilang linggo at pupunta na ng Thailand! "Gusto ko maki-kain ng shanghai, bakit ba?" Inabot niya ang bimpo sa sahig at ibinato iyon sa center table na para bola ng basketball. "Huwag na kasi. Dumeretso ka na sa Thailand." Dudugtongan ko pa sana ang sasabihin ko nang bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto ng unit ko at lumabas ang dalawang batang makulit. "Zeke and Cyra, slow down!" Agad tumigil sa pagtakbo si Zeke. Nang tumuloy pa rin si Cyra ay hinatak na ni Zeke ang damit nito. "Ang cute na kambal! Hali kayo rito! Kiss to Popsy Ralph!" Saka lang nagtatakbo na naman ang mga ito palapit sa nakahigang Ralph. Umiling na lang ako at isinarado ang isang bagahe. Kinuha ko ang isa pang bagahe at ipinag-tabi sa gilid upang maihanda ito agad. Akala ko'y magtu-tuloy-tuloy pa ang laro ng mga ito kasama si Ralph nang may yumakap sa hita ko. "Mama, going somewhere?" Zeke, my baby boy asked. "Yes. And you're joining me again." Zeke' and Cyra's eye twinkled with joy, "We're going to mommy's birthday party in the Philippines, okay?" "Really, Mama?" Zeke asked. I nodded and kissed her forehead. "Oh my! Does that mean, we will meet our papa na?" My sweet daughter, Cyra, exagerately gasped. "Papa lives in the Philippines, so we will be meeting him now!" My twins celebrated, "I hope he's no longer busy so we could have fun with papa!" "Papa will make time once we surprised him for sure!" The Ralph and Louis hearing the twins' words made them raise an eyebrow. "Okay sa'yo? Gusto mo?" Ralph asked simply, making sure the kids won't understand. "Gusto nila." I explained shortly. They looked at me suspiciously. Lumapit si Louis sa dalawang bata at hinagod ang likod ng mga 'to. "Do you want to meet your papa, badly?" "Yes, Popsy Louis. Mama promised that when we go to the Philippines, she'll let us meet our Papa." The unforgetful of promises baby boy said. "Papa is busy so he can't visit us here. So when we have time, we will visit in the Philippines to live with Papa. A happy family!" My smart baby girl. "Happy family pala, Francy, e." Ralph. "Nangako pala kasi e." Ani Louis kaya tumango naman ang mga bata. "So, let's pack our things kids. We're going to the Philippines! Weird as f**k when the place you thought as home is now unknown. Bitbit ang aking bagahe, dali-dali ko itong ipinasok sa likod ng kotse ni Kuya Vince. Kuya Vince and Ralph helped me with it while Louis helped the kids to get inside the car. "Active pa din ba fans mo kahit ilang taon kang nawala?" "Di na siguro nila naalala mukha ko. Three years na din, Kuya." Hinugot ko ang bottled water sa shotgun seat nang makaupo na doon at iniabot iyon sa likod. "Pero nagco-compose ka pa din kasi ng unofficially released songs mo. Walang mukha pero ang dami pa ding views." saad niya, "kalat pa sa tiktok." "Pati sa news, Kuya Vince! Iba talaga 'pag hinubog ng espaniya ang imahe 'no." pang aasar ni Ralph sa akin sa back seat. "Manahimik ka. Kala mo naman 'di ka nagbenifit sa pag-angat ko." Patuya kong sabi habang nakatingin sa labas. Three years, huh. Matraffic pa din at madaming billboards. Ano pa na 'di nagbago dito? "Buti binalik mo si Arki at Chief sa bahay. Sobrang lungkot ni mama nung halos 'di ka na umuwi." "Arki and Chief!" Zeke shouted. "I missed them." Cyra said sadly. "Busy kasi, Kuya. Saka tumatawag naman ako lagi kay mama." "Busy ba talaga? O, may tinataguan ka lang?" Gusto kong ibato kay Louis ang hawak kong cellphone kaso baka tumama lang sa hawak niyang mga bata. "You mad, Mama?" Zeke asked carefully. "No, baby." "Wow. Carbon copy ah. 'Di sakaniya lumaki pero kuhang-kuha." Kuya Loco laughed, "Mula mukha, kilos at ugali, kuhang—" "Sa akin nagmana! Ako ang nagpalaki!" I said angrily but the three men just laughed. I looked behind me. Zeke is playing with the water bottle, sitting on Ralph's lap while warching the road. Meanwhile, my princess, Cyra is leaning on Louis' side, sleeping. "Itatago mo ba 'yan? Hindi maikakaila e." Bahagyang bulong ni Kuya Vince, "Lalo si Zeke." "Balak ko naman sabihin. Kukuha lang ng tiyempo at baka may pamilya na rin 'yung tao." sagot ko habang pinaglalaruan ang daliri sa kandungan. "Ipapakilala mo? Paano kung kunin?" "I made sure he can't do that. I have all the means to raise my twin. Ni sustento niya nga hindi ko kailangan e." Irap ko, "Ipapaalam ko lang at ipapakilala pero hindi ko ibibigay. Akin sila." "Malaking pamilya 'yon, Francy. They can do anything they want. You have money now? Well, guess what, they have a lot more than yours." Kuya exclaimed, "They can always take them away from you, you know." "Tignan muna natin. Baka nga kahit titigan ay hindi nila magagawa para sa mga anak ko e." Medyo sumikdo ang kirot sa aking puso para sa mga anak. "Ah, basta! Ipapakilala ko lang at babalik na kami sa dating gawi! Hindi namin siya o sila kailangan." After all the things that had happened, hindi mawawala sa akin ang galit at poot nanararamdaman sa pamlyanh iyon at sa magpipinsang iyon. I suffered a lot because of them. At ang pagtagong mga anak ko sakanila ay ang naging ganti ko. Three years break seems too fast, huh? Hindi na siguro dapat muna ako umuwi? Fresh pa sa mga tao ang relasyon namin at baka... sila na lang ang hindi pa nakakamove-on. "Hoy, gaga ka! Buti at humihinga ka pa?! Kung hindi ako ikakasal, hindi ka talaga uuwi ano?!" Agad bungad ng nanggalaiting buntis na si Nica. I sat on the chair beside her, "Miss you too." I am not a very vocal person. I don't talk much about my problem. Simple because I don't want anyone to pity me and I only want the people around me to always be happy. Sharing my problem means I'm sharing my burden with them, too. That's a no, no. So whatever happened three years ago? Ako at ang pamilya lang ni Damon ang nakakaalam. At ang mga nangyari sa ibang bansa? Si Ralph at Louis at ang pamilya ko lang ang nakakaalam. "Akala ko baby shower at bridal party 'to? Ba't ang daming tao?" "Nag aalala si Bruce baka kung anong gawin natin habang wala siya, kaya sinama mga tropa niya." No choice na sabi nito. "Over protective naman ni fafa Bruce. Hindi nagbago." Maloko kong saad. "Syempre, aba! Unang apo 'to both sides at unang baby sa 8balls 'no!" Ani Nica. Unang baby daw, pangatlo kaya... I only smiled. The babies are left at my mama's care. Sobrang namiss ang mga apo kaya hinayaan ko na lang. At saka... hindi ko naman pwede bitbitin. Walang nakakaalam sa mga ito. "Ay bigla kong naalala! Pupunta nga rin pala si... 'yon. Basta 'yon. Pupunta daw. Kala ko kasi di ka makakarating kaya..." "Okay lang. Matagal na din naman." I sighed and stood up to get a drink. "Woy, 'wag mag iinom ng sobra. May meeting agad bukas." Paalala ni Ralph na katabi ni Louis nang madaanan ko sila kasama ang ibang mga lalaki. "Sobrang blooming, ah! Parang iba tubig sa Spain! Nakakaganda!" Biro ni Erick at niyakap ako. Nakihalo ako sakanila nang makilala ang mga ito. Tila na-miss ang isa't-iss ay niyakap ko nang mahigpit sina Erick, Chris, Angelo, at Andrei. "Sa ilang beses umuwi 'tong dalawang mokong na 'to, ngayon mo lang naisipan?" Andrei hugged me tight. "Kala ko kinalimutan mo na kami e. 'Di na sana kita papansinin." Angelo. "Alam ko naman na 'di niyo ako matitiis e." Medyo naluluhang sabi ko. Matagal pa kaming mga nagusap. Nakihalo na rin si Nica. Nakipaglokohan at tawanan. Mukha kaming nagre-reunion ngayon. "Damon, pre! Buti nakarating ka! Upo ka dito, oh!" Sigaw ng walang hiyang Bruce na nasa tabi ko at pinapaupo sa bakanteng upuang nasa harap ko. Hindi tinignan ang paparating ay para akong napapaso na pumihit sa kaliwa ko at naglakad paalis, "kuha lang ako ng drinks pa." Shit. That same old feeling. Ang kiliti sa tiyan at hindi maitagong ngiti kahit anong kunot ng noo. At ang walang pakundangang malakas na pagtibok ng puso. Putcha. Sabing huwag marupok e! Walking near the bar counter, I felt stupid for walking away. Ba't ako umalis? Ako ang nauna ha? Siya dapat at ang pamilya niya ang mahiya, hindi ako! Pero nakaalis na ako, ano pa magagawa ko?! Akward kung bumalik pa ko don at tumayo ulit doon! Nagdadabog na pinulot ko ang ice gamit ang tong. Dahil sa pagdadabog ay muntikan kong mabitawan ang baso. Mabilis pumintig ang puso ko nang may kamay na humawak sa kamay kong may hawak na baso. Bracelet chain with a sun pendant. I know who it is. "Be careful, please. Don't do something when you're mad." Napapaos niyang saad. Hawak pa din ang baso at ang kamay ko, siya na ang naglagay ng yelo. Memories I tried to bury deep inside my restless mind, but failed successfully, is now shooting back to me like a falling stars. Years may had passed. Time can tell us that. Feelings may fade, but memories? It stays and plays. "I'm always careful." Binawi ko ang kamay ko at naglakad palayo bitbit ang basong may yelo pero walang alak! T*nginang katangahan, Francy! Nakakahiya!