The Scent of Savage

"THROUGH scent we can distinguish a place if paradise or hell. Even for food, if it containable of poison or not. Fragrance can calm down ones heart from beating wild. It cures mind. It can be a warning. Different meaning, different perspective or understanding, but through scent anyone can die. Especially when it was inescapable. You don't have a choice but to die."

Thaysky smirked when she remembered the passage she'd read during her whole trip.

Truly indeed, it is right.

Pinapanood niya ang malagong usok nang nasusunog na dayami sa bukiring dinadaanan ng kanilang sasakyan. From their distance she can smell the burning dry grass. At first it sting her nostrils but later on she'd like it. The scent was telling her how healthy the place with green grass.

"Miss Sky, malapit na tayo." The driver broke her reverie.

Habang binababa ang salamin ng bintana ay sinulyapan niya ito. Umihip papasok sa sasakyan ang hangin. Ang malamig na simoy niyon ay nagsasabing uulan. She looked up on the sky and saw the dark clouds coming on their way.

"Hurry up. Baka abutan tayo ng ulan."

"Opo, Miss."

Huminto ang sasakyan sa malawak na espasyo ng mansion. Mula sa puwesto ay tinanaw niya ang pahabang daan na nagtuturo sa main gate. The road was fences by Pine trees. And the huge gate looks small from her position.

"Ang aking Thaysky na ba ito?"

Hinarap niya ang babaeng tumawag sa kanyang pangalan.

She was big woman but nice looking. Her face was glowing even without make up.

She gave her a weak smile. "Auntie Criselda," she addressed.

Manghang-mangha ang ginang sa kanya. She even hugged her tight.

Her scent was very sweet; Vanilla or Strawberry, she's not sure but neither the two, she don't like it. "Auntie, where's mom?" She looked around, but the huge and white mansion screamed its emptiness.

"Iha, akala kasi nila bukas ka pa uuwi kaya mamayang gabi pa ang dating nila rito galing ng Manila."

The wind blew her hat upward. Sabay silang tumili ng tita niya. Pinapanood ang paglutang nito sa ere pataas sa ikalawang palapag ng balkunahe.

"Got you!" A soft and sweet voice echoed.

She waited impatiently to that girl, to give back her hat. Nangawit nalang ang leeg niya ay hindi pa rin binabalik.

"Ikaw diyan. Give me back my hat!"

Agad may sumilip sa itaas na babae at nagulat sa natunghayan. "Ikaw na ba 'yan, Sky?"

Hindi siya nakapagsalita sa sobrang mangha. She stayed in Australia and never seen such angelic face. Her brown and wavy hair matches her soft features. Those plump small lips we're captivating and suited her perfect sculptured nose.

Ito ang ikalawang beses niyang umuwi sa Casa De Rios at ngayon niya lang nakita ang nakatatandang kapatid. She's like an Angel for real most especially on those white dress.

Nakangiti niyang itinaas ang kamay para iwagayway. "Eury!"

Ngumiti ang kanyang kapatid sa kanya nang pagkatamis-tamis bago umalis sa veranda.

"Mister, pakihatid nalang ang mga gamit ni Sky sa kuwarto niya. Aling Percy, pakidaluhan itong si kuya." Hinarap siya ng kanyang Auntie. "Iha, tara na sa loob. Mukhang masama ang panahon ngayon. Panalangin ko lang na hindi ganito sa Manila."

Pumasok sila sa loob. The interior was similar to their house on Australia. No wonder what her father's signature of design was? Modern classic; ranging from natural color, white or dark. The mansion here was light one. It became classic because of old frames of their ancestors proudly pinned on the wall. One was located on the center of the side by side huge window. The second one was on the approaching second floor of grandeur staircase and one latest family picture of Suniga Family on the big living hall.

Ngumiwi ang labi niya sa nakitang solo picture frame. Picture iyon noong sumali siya sa Tournament sa Australia. She didn't hit the bacon but she did took the first runner up. Seeing that picture reminded her failure. Itinaob niya iyon bago nilingon ang eskandalosang pangyapak ng nakatatanda niyang kapatid.

"Eury, mag-iingat ka nga," her Auntie Criselda warned her sister.

Eury seems excited of not listening. Mas binilisan pa nito ang takbo para yakapin siya.

Nasaktan siya sa impact ng pagtama nito sa katawan niya. Muntik na siyang mabuwal kaya nasiko niya ang picture frame ni Eury.

"Diyos ko po patatawarin. Kayo riyan, linisin niyo agad ito." Ang ninenerbiyos nilang Auntie na pinapaypayan ang sarili kahit pa ang malamig na.

"Ang tangkad mo na. Hindi tayo nagkita the last time na umuwi ka. Sa mga picture mo, mukhang katamtaman lang ang taas mo." Kinikilig nitong isinuot ang sombrero sa kanya. "Ngayon ay halos hanggang tainga na kita."

Naagaw ng atensyon niya ang lalaking pumasok. Ito ang naglinis ng nabasag na frame. Nakatingin ito sa ate niya bago itinuon ang atensyon sa nabasag na frame.

Hinila siya ni Eury sa likurang bahagi ng mansion. Kumibot ang kilay niya dahil sa ambiance ng lugar. It looked mini golf course. Good place for old people. A hubby of boring humans. Tinapunan niya ng tingin si Eury na inaamoy ang pinitas na bulaklak. Nakuha nito iyon sa isang pahabang kama ng mga Aster. Aminado siyang maganda ang pagkakadisenyo noon, halatang sinadya ayon sa kulay.

"Nagpagupit ka ng buhok?" tanong nito sa kanya.

"Yeah. Mainit kasi rito." Natulala siya sa madilim na kalangitan.

The darkness makes the place looks night time. Even those clouds look heavy that if it pours the water, for sure it can dig a hole on their roof. She even noticed the trees and grass, they were swaying as what the air taught them.

"Bagay sa'yo. Lalo kang nagmukhang foreigner." Tumayo ito upang ituro 'yung parteng may highlights sa buhok niya. "Gusto ko ring maglagay niyan... kaso ayaw ni Papa."

Sinundan niya itong noong pumasok sa loob. "You think he will hate me because of this?" Binilisan niya ang lakad para maabutan ito.

"The last time we check your facebook profile, he's quiet. Sabi ni Mama nahahawa ka na raw kay Tita Axis."

Kumunot ang noo niya. She's not actually active on facebook or any social media. Tag photos? "And what does those mean?" Hindi niya na napigilang mairita. Mukhang nakakaramdam siya ng negatibong hangin, hindi dahil sa paparating na malakas na ulan, kung hindi dahil sa kanya. Her activities, everything.

Humarap sa kanya si Eury. Bigla itong ngumiti at umiling, "Forget it. Matagal na 'yon. Tara sa taas. Ipapakita ko sa'yo ang kuwarto mo. Matutuwa ka."

Eury successfully diverted her initial mood into fascination because of the tour. She got surprised on her room. Halatang pinagtuunan ng pansin at binase sa panglasa niya dahil sa buhay na kulay. It feels like home. She thought as her eyes twinkle. She love it.

Ang daming kuwento sa kanya ni Eury pero lahat ng iyon ay hindi niya gaanong inintindi. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng pangungulila. Kahit pa narito naman talaga sa Pilipinas ang pamilya niya, lumaki siya sa Australia kasama ang Auntie Axis niya. She raised her with no limits. But, there were times her Auntie say no for her plans, and she respect that. She's her second mother and she like her more than her real mother.

"How's Axis?"

Bumagsak ang laman sa kutsara na hawak niya dahil sa biglaang pagtanong ng kanyang ama. They're having their lunch on Rios De Rima, one of the major hotel on Casa De Rios. Dito sila dumiretso nila Eury dahil dito inabutan ng ulan ang magulang nila. Last night, dapat nakauwi na ito sa mansion kung hindi lang biglang bumuhos ang mala-bagyong ulan.

"As usual, addicted to abstract, Pa." She confidently answered half smiling. She even glanced to her Auntie Criselda which was sitting across her. Sa kanan nito ay ang kanyang ina na katapat naman ng ate niyang si Eury.

"Really? I heard, she's always out of the house. Why?"

"Honey, baka naman over time sa trabaho. Ganyan ka rin noon," ang kanyang ina na ang sumagot. Ngumiti ito sa kanya bago nakinig sa sinasabi ng kapatid nitong si Criselda.

"Two in the morning. You called it over time?" He mockingly lifted his upper lip in disgust. "Thaysky, will not know what she's about because our daughter is still young. She's not safe in there. She will stay here for good."

Hindi niya yata malunok ang kinakain. Bigla rin siyang nabalisa dahil sa pagbaling ng atensyon ng magkapatid. Their eyes looks weary and concerned.

She hated staying in the Philippines. Una, palaging umuulan at kahit umulan sa Australia the road was not dirty. There is no flood. The place was clean. Pangalawa, ayaw niya sa probinsiya. Walang night life at pagpatak ng alas siete ay tulog na ang mga tao. Pangatlo, ayaw niyang kasama ang kanyang ama.

"Eury, samahan mo ang kapatid mo sa makalawa sa pag-enroll. I already contacted Axis about her documents." Bumaling sa kanya ito, "Hindi ka na babalik sa Australia. I saw your assessment. I was very disappointed. Thaysky, what exactly Axis taught you the whole year? To sleepover with your drunken friends? To let boys go under your panties as Axis does to her life?"

"Gregery!" pigil ng kanyang ina. Hinawakan nito ang braso ng asawa para pakalmahin.

Umangat ang dugo niya sa ulo. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw niya sa puder ng totoong pamilya. They were very strict up to the maximum level. They put ring on Eury's neck. To follow everything he wanted. To dictate his ambitions not minding their personal opinion. This is the dark scent she anticipated from yesterday. A strong poison that will suck every bit of her body.

Nanatili siyang tahimik kahit na sa loob niya ay sasabog na siya sa galit. She's fully aware that she's about to cry but she chooses to stand up. "Washroom lang po."

Not waiting for any response she storm off the long pathway which is not going to confort room. Gusto niya ng sariwang hangin kaya doon siya dumiretso sa outdoor extension ng restaurant.

Umupo siya sa gilid kung saan may signage na smoking. Her tears were nonstop. The sting of her fathers word were drawing on her chest. She's hurt because he was right. About her grades, even his description to her friends they were all true. But, she never in her entire life done sex. Never.

Napalingon siya sa kaliwang bahagi nang magtayuan ang grupo ng mga kalalakihan. Some of them were obviously looking at her, but one person caught her attention. The one who's wearing a gym sando. Actually, his chiseled chest and lean shoulder were an calling attention.

Adonis really exist in this hidden and lost paradise, ha?

Nakapasok na ito sa loob pero bumalik.

Tumayo na siya para pumasok. Paglagpas sa isang mesa ay nasa isang linya na sila ng nilalakaran. But she got surprised when he handed over to her the tissue box of Rios De Rima.

"I guess, you need that." He suggested while staring at her for a couple of second before he left.

Tumingin siya sa tissue at sinulyapan ang gawi kung saan ito dumaan. Who is he?