Book Of Unknown

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Matthew’s Point Of View

We arrived safely at my grandfather’s mansion— Solden Mansion. It took us a few hours to get here, the rain had stopped but we were still on the trip. When we got here, Maia was waiting for us outside the mansion— the one who took care of my grandfather. She has been here for a long time and it looks like she has no intention of leaving here in the mansion because grandpa has no caretaker left, grandpa expects her from time to time so Bianca and I have nothing to worry about.

Hindi pa rin binabago ang mga bulaklak dito sa labas ng mansyon, it is because of my grandpa’s wife who died peacefully five years ago, si grandma ang nag-alaga sa mga bulaklak na nandito kaya hindi pupwedeng alisin lang ni grandpa ang mga ito sa labas ng mansyon niya. Mabuti at walang pagbabago’t napakalinis pa rin ng paligid, walang pagsisisi si grandpa na ang mga tao niya rito ang mga kasama niya’t nag-aalaga sa kanya.

We went inside the mansion, may hagdan dito papasok at malaki ang pinto na gawa sa ibang klaseng kahoy.  My grandpa’s mansion was neither big nor huge compared to the oval of Andreada University. There are many things but they are historical, unlike other things in the mansions which are pure and precious, made in gold and iron, and are expensive-looking.

“Sino ang kasama mo, Matthew? Ngayon mo lang ito sinama rito, bakit hindi mo kasama si Bianca?” Maia suddenly asked me as we finally entered the mansion.

I unbuttoned my black coat before answering her question, “She had to attend a quiz bee. I can’t take her with me to visit here, and because the rain was heavy earlier, she might get a cold, sakitin pa naman siya, hindi ba, ‘te?” I uttered.

“Tinatawag mo na naman ako ng ate, hindi ba’t sinabi ko na sa ‘yo na ayokong tinatanda ako?” She shook her head from my response and turned her gaze to Bellia and pointed her, “Girlfriend mo?” Walang alinlangan nitong tanong sa akin.

I saw that Bellia was shocked by Maia’s unexpected question to me because she suddenly looked at Maia and quickly shook her head. “Naku, hindi po, ate. We’re just schoolma—”

“Friends. We are friends, Maia.” I cut her off.

Tumango si Maia at saka hinawak ang balikat ni Bellia. “O, sige, Senyorito at Senyorita, hubaran niyo na ang suot ninyong jacket, baka mas lalo kayong ginawin,” sabi nito nang tumungo ito sa likuran ni Bellia at tinulungan na alisin ang suot niyang black coat.

I nodded as I put my black coat off.  “Thanks, Maia. Where’s lolo? I’m sorry if I took so long to arrive, where is he now?” tanong ko rito nang tuluyan ko ng mahubad ang suot ko.

I put the black coat on the small wooden chair and I removed my necktie from the uniform and then laid it there. I also took off my boots and set them aside on the side of the chair. All I’m wearing now is long-sleeved white and blue jeans — our plain uniform.

Tinuklip nito ang hinubaran na black coat ni Bellia at saka inilagay ‘yon sa kanyang braso, “Kanina ka pa nga hinihintay no’n, e. Iniisip niya na baka sinuway mo na naman ang pangako mo sa kanya. Nasa kwarto niya siya ngayon, ako na ang tatawag sa kanya’t magpahinga na muna kayo ngayon dito,” anito at saka kinuha ang hinubad kong black coat na nakapatong sa upuan.

I thanked her as she walk away and straight from upstairs. I turned myself to Bellia and there she goes, inililibot niya ang kanyang paningin sa loob ng mansyon, mukhang manghang-mangha siya dahil nakasingaw ang bibig nito, “You should close your mouth, baka tumulo laway mo.” I urged and then walk away from her.

Narinig ko ang mabilis niyang yapak upang makasunod siya sa akin at saka tumigil sa aking tabi. “Hey, I know we are ain’t this close but your grandfather’s mansion is huge yet adorable, Matt. These things in here is literally historical, bakit hindi mo ipaalam ito sa mga headteachers? Especially to Mrs. Casanova, she likes historical kinds of stuff and she is the one who is assigned to be the guider on field trips, right? I am sure that she would like to visit here and offer your grandfathe—”

“This isn’t a museum to visit a lot of students, Bellia. Look, come and think, yes, malaki ang mansyon ni lolo and it has a lot of historical stuff, pero ‘yong kaingayan na babalot dito sa loob at labas ng mansyon? Grandpa might get crazy because of noise, he loves peacefulness and I’m sure that he wouldn’t agree if I will convince him— if I’m not against you.” I unbuttoned the first button on my uniform when I felt warm, “Your uniform is okay? It wasn’t wet?”

She took a few seconds before she answered me with a “No,” while staring at me in both eyes. I awkwardly nodded and then looked at her eyes down to her lips. “Okay? Hihingi ako ng damit kay Maia na kakasya sa ‘yo. I gotta leave you here for a few minutes, I have to get a pair of slippers in the other room. I’ll be right back.”

She nodded and I didn’t wait for her response.

I went straight to the small stock’s room and then hurried to find two pairs of slippers. I saw one but it was only one pair and it was just for her because it looked like it would fit her and her foot was not that big.

I grabbed a pair of slippers and then left the stock’s room. I hadn’t even closed the door. There were two who greeted me from behind me. I looked at it and saw Aling Ria, grandpa’s cook, along with her husband Mang Joey, the mansion’s gardener. They have been here for a long time and just like Maia who has no intention of leaving the mansion while grandpa is still alive.

Joy flashed across my face when I saw them again, “Aling Ria at Mang Joey, nagagalak po ako na makita kayong muli rito, kumusta po rito sa mansyon?” I asked them cheerfully.

Tumawa si Aling Ria dahil sa galak. “Naku, Senyorito, ayos lang at maayos naman dito sa mansyon. Salamat, e, bumisita kayo rito ngayong buwan ng hulyo. Kanina pa kayo hinihintay ni Senyor, halos oras-oras tumatawag siya isa sa amin upang itanong kung narito ka na ba.”

Mang Joey took the white handkerchief placed on his shoulder and then wiped his face before speaking, “Oo nga, Senyorito, magagalak ‘yon kapag nakita ka na niyang nandito sa mansyon, nasasabik na siyang makita ka sa mga natitira niyang sandali sabi nga niya, e, hinihintay nga rin niya si Senyorita ngunit malabo siyang bumisita rito dahil wala siyang nasabi sa amin na bibisita siya rito ngayong buwan. Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat, Senyorito, e, masaya kami na nandito ka ngayon.” He urged happily with a wide smile on his face and while nodding.

Ngumiti ako at saka hinawak ang aking noo, “Oo nga ‘ho, e. Mabuti’t nagkaroon ako ng oras upang makabisita rito. At saka si Bianca ‘ho, malabo nga ‘hong bibisita ‘yon dito sa kadahilanan na maraming nakalaan na gawain sa kanya ngayon sa aming iskuwela, pero nasisigurado ko ‘ho na sa susunod na bisita ko rito, e, magkasama kaming dalawang bibisita.” I uttered as I removed my hand on my forehead and laughed at what I said.

We talked about what happened every day in the mansion. I was happy that grandpa’s companions were so vigilant. It was good that they did not neglect him and let him do the things that should not and were forbidden to him.

In the middle of our conversation, Maia suddenly called me and said that grandpa was no longer in his room and was waiting for me in the big living room. I immediately said goodbye to Aling Ria and Mang Joey, they greeted me warmly again and then preceded them in walking towards the living room.

“Akala ko nasa garden ka’t tinitingnan ang mga bulaklak ni Senyora, halos nilibot ko ang mga kwarto ngunit hindi kita nakita, mabuti na lang at sinabi ng kaibigan mo na kukuha ka ng pares na tsinelas.” She said as she walked before me.

I inserted one hand into the pocket of my pants while my other hand held the pair of slippers. “Aling Ria and Mang Joey greeted me cheerfully and their eyes were sparkling when they suddenly saw me, they are so nice to everyone, aren’t they? Hmm, I wonder how lucky their child is,” sabi ko at saka tumingila nang maramdaman ko ang pagod sa byahe.

Napatigil siyang bigla sa paglalakad at saka tumingin sa akin habang nakangisi ngunit kita ang kanyang ngipin. “Ikaw talaga, dinadaan mo na naman ako sa mga ingles mo, Senyorito. Pero naintindihan ko ‘yon, ah? Oo, ang bait nila, sobra. Swerteng-swerte ang kanilang nag-iisang anak na si Hideo, ‘yong anak naman nilang ‘yon, e, tulad lang din nila, sobrang bait at mukhang walang mailalabas ‘yon ng kapangitan na loob at ugali.”

Ibinaling ko ang tingin ko sa kanya at saka siya tinuro sa aking hintuturo sa may hawak kong tsinelas. “Ikaw ba, Maia, hindi ba’t nasa edad trenta ka na? Anong balak mo sa buhay mo at parang dito na lang iikot ang mga panahon mo. I told you already that you can resign anytime, dapat mong sumaya at saka mag-enjoy dito sa mundo, explore yourself and unknowledge, date someone, make friends, and so on. Hindi mo ba gusto ‘yon?”

She smiled slightly and then straightened up, placed her left arm under her chest, and then placed the other elbow on the hand that supported her chest, “Hmm, hayaan mo akong mag-isip diyan, Senyorito. Ah!” She adduced as she laid her index finger between her chin and lower lip. “I want to spend those times together with your grandpa while he is still alive, at sa mga oras na nakalaan na lamang sa kanya ngayon.”

I slowly nodded my head as the smile suddenly flashed on my face. “Mm-hmm. Okay. I do respect your own decision, so should I say thank you, then? Kidding. But yeah, thank you for staying on my grandpa’s side. I wish you all the best and bless, Maia.”

Malapad na ngiti ang bumakas sa kanyang mukha nang pinunasan niya ang kanyang pisngi, “And so I thank you for letting me be what I wanted to be, Senyorito.” She sincerely urged.

I nodded and began to walk straight to the living room. Maia was next to me and I could see her wide smile didn’t fade.

I went inside the living room and I saw grandpa sitting on the couch, while Bellia was in front of him, sitting on a chair. I could say that they are having a chit-chat because Bellia was laughing out of a sudden.

Grandpa turned himself in my direction and fixed his eyeglass. His smile flashed on his face when he saw me, he waved his hand on me. “Matthew, my dear grandson. I’m glad that you are finally here.”

I hurriedly walked towards them and hugged him. “I’m sorry, ‘lo, if I took so long to visit you here. There was so many stuff to do first, but look at me now,” sabi ko at saka kumawala sa aming yakap.

He laughed and then coughed softly, he motioned me to sit in the vacant seat next to Bellia. I sat there and then handed her the pair of slippers I was holding, she accepted it and then put it on while whispering “Thank you.”

Grandpa leaned himself on the couch and then took a deep breath as he watched the two of us. “Hindi mo nabanggit sa akin na mayroon ka pa lang kaibigan maliban kay Biya.”

I laughed and then put my two arms on my two legs,  “It’s Bianca, ‘lo, bi-yang-ka, not Biya. Anyways, this is Bellia Laurent, one of my schoolmates, ‘lo. Do you remember Gabi? My classmate from primary school to middle school, you remember, right? This is Gabi’s closest friend, only his closest friend, ‘lo.” I said in a nice way and carefully to him to understand.

Tumingin ako kay Bellia at binulong na si Gabriel ang tinutukoy ko.

His mouth sniffed as he slowly turned his gaze to Bellia and slowly nodded, “Ah? So you knew Gabi? Oh, I suddenly remembered when we both played billiards right there in the games room, he’s so good at playing billiards at the age of eight, he even defeated me known as the legend at playing billiards.” He said while shaking his head and smiling, his gaze was on Bellia, maybe he can see Gabriel’s appearance to her.

“I didn’t know he knew how to play billiards. He also didn’t say anything about you, not even Matthew. But after all, I am glad that Gabriel and you had made a genuine memory, and so nice to meet you po.” She said,

Nabigla ako sa biglaang pagturo ni grandpa kay Bellia sa kanyang hintuturo na para bang may biglang naalala, his mouth sniffed again as he pointed her. “Bellia, hindi ba? Gabi’s first love was named Bellia, naaalala ko pa, hindi ba, apo? He mentioned it to us back then.”

How could he remember it? It’s been a long time. You can’t do this, grandpa.

Bellia frowned. “Po?”