27 Summer of Surprises

This was Aunt Helen's story: She was eight years old when my father arrived on the farm. He was fifteen years old. He was tall, lanky and good looking. My father exuded an aura of melancholy. Maybe because he was orphaned at a very young age. This only added to the mystery around him. He rarely smiled. But when he did, everyone was blown away. It was his smile that captured Aunt Helen's very young heart. And she did everything to make him smile. She'd make up excuses to be with him. She followed him around the farm. She succeeded in making my father smile more often. He tolerated her presence and at times encouraged it. But alas she was just eight years old and my father thought of her as just his little sister. Her infatuation with Amor grew through the years though. She was thirteen when she mustered enough courage to tell him that she liked him as a man. My father laughed and dismissed her confession. He patted her shoulder while she cried her first heartbreak. In a fit of anger, she told Amor that a Rodriguez would make her daughter cry too. My father laughed even more.

"Can you take that back, Aunt Helen?" I said, interrupting her narration.

"What about?" She asked confused.

"About that spell that a Rodriquez would make my father's daughter cry some day. I am that daughter now" I seriously said.

"Are you serious, Nina?" Aunt Helen laughed incredulously

"Yes, I'm serious, Aunt. Please take it back!" I said.

Aunt Helen was in tears because of laughing so hard. Her body convulsed as she laughed. "It was just a silly line Nina. You shouldn't take it to heart. I got over your father in no time. I realized had he taken my confession seriously, I would have broken his heart. I'm too free-spirit to be in a relationship. I only want to be with me." She laughed some more pleased about what she said.

Aunt Helen continued with her story. She was heartbroken when Amor didn't take her confession seriously. She still nursed some hope that he'd feel the same way. Then his brother's kidnapping happened and their tranquil lives turned to turmoil. For two years they threaded on insecurity and doubts. It took a toll on Mrs. Stella Rodriquez's (Aunt Helen's mother) health. Grandpa Anton decided to relocate the whole family in New York. Grandpa divided his time between his farm company and his family in New York. This arrangement seemed to have worked. Uncle Tony (Antonio Rodriquez, Jr) and Aunt Helen settled there nicely. Eventually, Uncle Tony married and later had Antonio III (Justine) and Alexis. Aunt Helen soon got over Amor and went backpacking all over the Americas, Europe and Asia. She discovered other boys more exciting than the farm boy Amor. She kept in touch with my father though. And they developed a deep bond of friendship. She considered my father one of her very few friends.

"So you're the ones sending those balikbayan* boxes? Thank you Aunt. It is usually the highlight of my year." I said. I was pleasantly surprised to find some interesting details in my father's boring life.

"Of course! But some of the goods were from my brother. Your Uncle Tony was very close to your father too. I think it was also the reason why your father never saw me as a woman because of his closeness to my brother.They were best friends. I know he was also devastated when Tony died. He cried to me over the phone. That was the second time I heard your father cry. The first one was when your mother died." Aunt Helen said. It was the first time I understood how deep the bond was between my family and the Rodriquezes. There was one thing that bothered me.

"Aunt Helen, do you think Uncle Tony would have approved of me?" I asked shyly. I felt sad that I would never get to meet my father's best friend.

"Hmnnn, what do you think? Do you want his approval?" Aunt Helen asked, amused.

"I don't know. But I was raised to always respect my elders, so yeah. I would have wanted his approval." I said.

"Silly girl, it was Tony and Amor's ultimate dream. They think you and Justine as a couple is a match made in heaven. But they were also careful not to impose this dream on you and Justine. Also it is still a long way to go before their dream is realized. What you and Justine have might just be as long or as short as the summer."

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"It might just be summer love. You're both too young. Wait till you see the world and if you still love each other, I'll organize your wedding. Deal?" Aunt Helen suggested.

"I don't ever want this to end, Aunt Helen." I said, my voice full of desperation.

"Oh, the beauty and innocence of young love! Don't ever let it end then, okay? Forget what I said. Enjoy every moment of this." Aunt Helen hugged me.

I realized we were walking on a familiar path. Aunt Helen said that we were going on her favorite hideout. 'Could this be our Secret Garden?' We walked on and it became clearer that we were going to the Secret Garden. Aunt Helen ran to the hut when she saw it.

"OMG, I can't believe they maintained it this good. It's as good as I remember it 13 years ago." Aunt Helen exclaimed.

"I thought I found it first." I said, a bit sad that my fantasy was ruined.

Aunt Helen laughed. "This is my childhood's hangout. We'd go here to escape the adults. But of course your Grandpa found out. So he built us this hut because he wouldn't be able to prevent us from going here anyway."

"But I rarely see farm people coming here now." I said.

"Because we've grown and you kids are more interested in your gadgets than exploring the forest. Well, except maybe for you." Aunt Helen speculated. "Ah, I remember. Your father told me that for a while some residents come here to while away time but there were those who would drink and would leave trash everyone. There was also an incident of forest fire. Thankfully it was put out on time. So the farm management decided to set up CCTV cameras here. That discouraged people from coming up here."

What???? There are CCTV's here? I asked, a blush creeping up my face.

"I think so. Let's wave to them. Hello!!! Do you remember me? It's nice to be back!" Aunt Helen started waving all around. I stood frozen. My face red with embarrassment. Aunt Helen noticed my crimson face and laughed teasingly.

"O my dear! I think I knew what you did here. And I'm positive it involved my nephew too!!!" Her laugh was full of mischief and harmless malice.

I wanted to die at this moment. I prayed for the earth to just swallow me now.

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*balikbayan box - it is a box where Filipinos put assorted goods to be sent as a token of their love to their family and friends in the Philippines