ECHOES OF THE WILD

4 - Le nom (The Name)

“Would you mind if we roam a little? I want to give Summer something.” Tanong ni Myrtel kay Dante nang patapos na silang kumain. They were eating at the mall. Sa isang Filipino restaurant nila napagkasunduang kumain. Pareho silang nagbabakasyon mula sa ibang bansa at nangungulila sa lutong Pinoy.

“Wala ka pang gift?” He asked as he signalled the waiter so they could settle the bill.

“Meron na for them both pero I wanted to give Summer something else. For her  only.” She took her purse out to give her share on the bill but he shook his head. He is one of the rare male species na real gentleman at ayaw magpapabayad kapag may kasamang babae.

“Lingerie ba ‘yan? Pang-akit?” Paglapit ng waiter ay iniabot nito ang itim na lagayang may laman ng bill. Sinilip lang ni Dante ang total amount at naglabas ng dalawang buong libong piso. Marami silang inorder na pagkain. They feasted on everything Filipino gaya ng adobo, sinigang na hipon, inihaw na pusit at bangus at crispy pata. Napangiti si Myr nang inalok ng waiter si Dante ng kare-kare ngunit tumanggi ito dahil allergic si Myrtel sa mani.

“Hindi no. What makes you think na lingerie lang ang pang-akit? Another thing, sa tingin mo ba hindi pa dead na dead kay Summer si Dom? Hindi na nila kailangan ng aphrodisiac o damit na pang-akit.” Tumikhim si Dante nang mapansing hindi pa umalis ang waiter at nakatingin lang kay Myrtel. Tinitigan pa nito ng masama ang lalaki na napayuko na lamang. Pag-alis ng waiter ay saka lang nagsalita muli si Dante.

“May point ka diyan. Parang ginayuma ng pinsan ko ‘yang si Summer. Hindi nga umubra ang kaguwapuhan ko.” He leaned on his chair and sipped his water.  She was surprised on how at one moment he looked irritated then became relaxed after a second.

“Naikwento nga sa’kin ni Shan na type mo raw dati si Summer.” He smiled and shook his head.

“Type talaga ang term? For a while, yes. Summer and I became friends during a tough time in my life and I mistook our care for each other and friendship as something else. When she introduced Dominic to me and saw the way they looked at each other, I realized that what we had was just that. Friendship. Madali naman akong kausap, well usually. I know when to stop fighting.” Napaseryoso ang mukha nito.

“Talaga ba?”

“Yes. That’s maturity.”

“But how do you stop fighting if you want something or someone so bad? Hindi ba dapat kung gusto mo ang isang tao ipaglalaban mo?” It was Myrtel’s turn to be serious. Magkaiba sila ng paniniwala.

“For me, it depends on who you are fighting for and how intense you feel about the person. Minsan kailangan mong sumuko bago ka pa matalo dahil matatalo ka lang kapag hindi mo na kayang pasayahin sa paraang gusto mo ang taong mahal mo.”

“Wow. That’s deep. Pero paano kung sa pagsuko mo ikaw naman ang masasaktan?”

“Kung sa pagsuko ko mapapasaya ko naman ang taong ‘yon, mas gusto ko nang masaktan.” Napaawang ang bibig ni Myr. She was not expecting that kind of answer from him. Mukha naman siyang hindi nababasted. Masyado siyang gwapo para hindi mapili. Ibang kaso ang kina Summer at Dominic dahil magkababata ang dalawa at wala talagang panama si Dante kay Dom sa pagkakatong ‘yon. Pero naisip ni Myrtel na kung sa ibang lalaki, mas lamang naman na ‘di hamak ang gentleman na kasama niya.

“Charotero. Masyadong mabait ang dialogue mo. It doesn’t go with the face.” Namula si Myr nang masabi ng malakas ang huling linya. He smirked when he heard it.

“It doesn’t go with the face? Ang pagiging mabait o ang pagiging martyr ba ang wala sa mukha ko? Why? Dahil sobrang gwapo ko?” Kumapit pa ito sa baba at nagpa-cute. She snorted and he laughed. Sakto namang dumating na ang resibo nila. Kinuha ni Dante ang sukli at nag-iwan ng isang daang piso bilang tip.

“I mean, parang hindi ko ma-imagine na positive pa rin ang tingin mo kahit nasasaktan ka na.”

“Alam mo kasi, sa dami ng mga nakakausap ko araw-araw at nagagamot ko na may hinanakit sa mundo, I try to be more optimistic and positive about life and love. Simply because I don’t want to end up like them. I want to help them heal but how could I do that if I myself is broken.”

She stared at him in awe. She had to clear her throat because she was at a loss for words. May mga tao pa palang ganito mag-isip.

“This conversation really gives me a different perception of who you are and life in general.” She frowned and took out her phone, wanting to divert her attention for a while.

“You seem bothered. May problema ka ba?”

“Nope. I’m all good. Tara?” Pagtingala niya ay nakakunot ang noo ni Dante na nakatingin sa kanya.

“Where are we going?”

“Sa department store. I’m sure mayroon noon dito.” He stood up and helped her with her seat.  Nakaakbay lang si Dante habang naglalakad. She tried to remove his hand ngunit lagi nitong ibinabalik kaya’t pagtagal ay hinayaan na lang niya.

“So tell me this gift that you would want to buy.”

“It’s something close to my heart.”

“Sana ako rin.”

“Ikaw rin ang alin?”

“Close to your heart.” Mahina lang ang bulong ngunit narinig niya. She felt her cheeks turned hot.

“Baliw.”

“Sa’yo? Malapit na malapit na.” She stopped on her tracks. Seryoso ba? She dismissed the thought. She couldn’t think like that right now.

“Umayos ka nga. Bibigwasan na kita.” Sinubukang palisin ang braso na nakaakbay but he was too clingy.

“Sungit.”

She ignored him as she searched for the gift.

“Ayan, mayroon nga.” Napahinto sa paglalakad si Dante kaya’t dumiretso na si Myr sa aisle na hinahanap niya. Paglingon niya muli sa kasama ay nakatitig ito sa mga boteng may pangalang Myrtel’s Parfum Collection.

“Woah. I didn’t know you have a perfume collection. Ang ganda mo rito.” Tumapat si Dante sa isang blown up picture niya na may pangalan. Hinaplos pa ang mga letra bago ito muling lumapit sa tabi niya.  

“Hindi mo alam ang trabaho ko?” She had to smile at his innocent expression. Umiling itong parang bata na nakanguso pa ang ibabang labi.

“Not really. Sinabi lang ni Shan na nag-aaral ka ng Psychology pero hindi ko alam na model ka pala and you have this line of perfume. Kaya naman pala tinitingnan ka ng mga tao kanina. Pati ang waiter gusto ko nang sundutin ang mata kakasulyap sa ‘yo.”

“Exaj ka. Hindi naman ako sikat. Familiar lang ang mukha ko siguro. May clothing line rin ako under my name by a designer friend based in France.”  She took one boxes each of her Mystic Dream and Hidden Desire scents. Umikot pa siya at inamoy ang ilang pabango. She decided to take the two scents for Summer.

“Bakit nga pala M-y-r-t-e-l at hindi M-y-r-t-l-e ang spelling ng name mo? Not that I am complaining or what. Usually kasi the letter E is at the end of that name.” He was looking at her like she was a specimen under a microscope. Nakatitig ito at tila nag-iisip.

“Funny that you would ask that like the rest of the universe whenever they see me write my name.”

“Sige na. Humor me.” Napairap si Myr. Ilang beses na niyang naikwento ang dahilan. Dapat siguro ay gumawa na siya ng recording para i-play na lamang kapag may nagtanong.

“I’ve been using Myrtle ending with E as my name until I had to apply for a passport when I was in Elementary. Mali pala ang spelling na ginagamit ko ever since. Myrtel Shayne with a Y pala ang nasa birth certificate ko and not Myrtle Shane with E and without Y na nakalagay sa baptismal certificate ko at sa lahat ng school documents until Elementary. Na-wrong spelling raw pala ang Papa ko when they registered my name sabi ni Mama. Sabi naman ni Papa, it was my mom who filled up my school records at mali rin pala ang ginagamit niya. Kaysa magsisihan pa ang mga magulang ko na may kanya-kanya ng buhay at humaba pa ang usapan, I just used the correct spelling.”

“I see. It’s unique and it sounds just the same.” He gave him a smile so charming that it was infectious.

“I agree. Kahit naman anong pangalan ko, ako pa rin naman ‘to.”

“Yes. It’s just a name. What’s important is who you are.” Tumango si Myrtel at nagsimula nang maglakad patungong cashier.

“Let’s go. I have everything I need.”

“Wait!” She stopped and looked back at him.

“Ano?”

“Which one do you use? I mean, you do use one of these as your scent, right?”

“Oo naman! Loyalista ako ng sarili ko. Sino pa ba ang magsusuportahan kung hindi ako at ako rin.” He laughed at her joke. Lumapit muli si Myr at inabot ang isang bote na tester. Heaven Scent ang nakasulat.

“This one is my favorite. Ito lang rin ang dala kong scent dito. Feeling ko kasi ito ang pinakabagay sa klima ng Pinas. Why?”

“I’ll buy some.” Kumuha si Dante ng anim na kahon na may label ng itinuro ni Myrtel at inilagay sa kinuha nitong basket. Napaawang ang bibig ni Myr bago ito nakapagtanong.

“Bakit naman ang dami? Ipapangregalo mo ba?”

“Nope. I’ll spray them on my pillows.” Napanganga siya bago sumagot.

“Hindi ‘yan Downy!” She smiled at the thought. Ginawa pang fabric softener ang pabango niya.

“I know! I just love your smell. Didn’t you realize by now? Hindi pa ba naubos ang pabango mo kakasinghot ko?” Ano naman ang maisasagot ni Myrtel doon sa pasaring ni Dante kung hindi pamumula ng mukha at isang pabirong tugon at pag-irap.

“Baliw!”

“I think I’m getting there.” He winked and took the ones she were holding and transferred them at his basket. Dumiretso na ito sa cashier at nagbayad.

“I was supposed to pay for that.”

“I got this.” Napahalukipkip na lamang siya habang pinapanood ang bagger na inilagay ang mga pabango sa dalawang paper bag. Isa para sa kanya at isa para sa kasama.

“Come on. Maghahanda pa tayo para sa wedding. Baka hinahanap na ‘ko ng groom at bride. May pictorial pa kami sa hotel mamaya.” He took her hand and they walked to the parking lot.

“Is it weird that you’ll be Man of Honor ni Summer at hindi Best Man ni Dom?”

“There’s actually a story about that. Nag-contest pa ang dalawang ‘yon kung sino ang kukuha sa’kin. Mga sira ulo lang ‘di ba? Pati ako sinali sa kalokohan nila. Mabuti na lang talaga at Royal Blue ang motiff. Kung hindi, naka-pink na Suit siguro ako.” She laughed at the sillyness of it all. Pinagagawan pa pala siya.

“Close talaga kayo ni Dom kahit recently lang kayo nagkakilala?”

“Yes. We clicked right away. Well, simula noong sabihan ko siya na hindi na ‘ko magiging third party sa relasyon nila ni Summer we treated each other like brothers, madalas parang bestfriend na rin.”

“Pero si Summer talaga ang bestfriend mo?”

“Oo. Kaya when Summer won their bet wala akong kawala at choice kung hindi pumayag na Man of Honor ako at hindi Best Man ni Dom.” Napangiti siya doon. Malaking parte raw si Dante sa pagkakabalikan nina Dom at Summer. Hindi man niya alam ang buong istorya ay alam niyang kabutihan lang ang dulot ng lalaking kasama.

“It’s really great to be friends with cousins. Sabi nga nila ‘di ba, our cousins are our first best friend. Ganoon rin kami ni Shannon.”

“I agree. Natutuwa nga ako nakilala ko ang mga Arguello. I didn’t know I have relatives until I met Dom. Si Shan, mukha ngang close na close kayo.” She just nodded her head. Nakarating na sila ng parking lot. Isinakay muna siya ni Dante sa kotse at saka ito umikot para ilagay sa backseat ang dalawang paper bag. After he got in, they drove off towards the hotel in comfortable silence.

It was just past one pm and they would have enough time to prepare for the wedding. This time, Myrtel would need time dahil formal occassion at kailangan niyang maging presentable. When they were in front of her room, she thanked him for the day.

“Thank you for the flowers, movie, lunch and for these.” She raised the paper bag.

“You’re welcome. I had a great time. See you later.”

“Sure.” She turned her back and took the key card from her bag and used it to get inside. Akala niya ay umalis na si Dante but he was still a few inches away from her when she turned to look bago niya isara ang pinto.

“Ahm, Myr...can I...”

“What?”

“Nothing. See you later.” Napakamot ang ulo nito na naglakad na palayo. Lumingon pa ito sa kanya at sumaludo. She smiled at him and closed her door.

She took her phone out to send a message to her cousin when it rang. When she saw the name on the caller ID, her heart rate doubled and her hands shook. She gripped the phone tightly. Kahit numero sa Pilipinas ang gamit niya ay ang cellphone na ‘yon rin ang gamit niya sa France kaya’t alam niya ang pangalan ng tumatawag. Nang sinagot niya ito ay napatulala siya sa narinig.

“I’m coming there to get you.” When she recovered from the shock, she cleared her throat and answered. Tiningnan niya muli ang numero and she breathed a sigh of relief. Nasa Niece, France ang kausap.

“Elvis, leave me alone. Ano pa ba ang gusto mo? Wasak na wasak na ‘ko.”

“I will find you soon, Shayne at kapag nahanap na kita...”

She ended the call but it was too late. She looked at the mirror in front of her and she was white as a ghost. Sa sobrang panginginig rin ng mga kamay niya ay nabitiwan niya ang telepono at ang hawak niyang paper bag.

Paano na kapag nagkita na naman sila?