VII. Good At Fixing

Essi had never been this busy, at least in the speculating eyes of those who were around her. They thought that she was up for no other purpose but to pursue Oneil. The news spread fast enough, surprising them that Essi has a job. Why, indeed, is it a good thing when most of the young people in the town had often preceded their life to marriage settlements and others get unemployed and underemployed? Inevitably, Essi has little by little become the very child that the families in Bayanihan somehow wanted, someone that is helpful and diligent for every little passion they have in their pocket. In any case, if Essi is one of their family members, they might be ready to stop her from the foolishness of looking for Oneil in the person of Riley. But she was just a neighbor that they can only talk about and at least acknowledge her efforts to live her own life. Yet, still, they would never excuse Essi from their conversation.

“She’s quite fancy to have a job post at Gautarza,” one of the women in front of a sari-sari store commented. “Maybe she’s an office worker.”

“We’ll never be sure. Last night, my son saw her in simple clothes, running to find a motorcycle rider. I bet she’s just a janitor at Gautarza. After all, they are still hiring for more workers.”

“It is the most simple person that tends to work on bigger grounds. What if she is a lady boss of Gautarza?” another contended.

Such a question startled the listening Victor to a faint degree. He was standing on the side of the store, sipping the coffee from a paper cup provided by the store owner. He didn’t join Gwyneth upon entering Essi’s house just to avoid any discomfort. Yet, it seems like Victor chose the worse one. The people next to him are talking about Essi.

“Has she always been this tolerant of their gossip?” Victor asked the same question himself. There were workers in the office who blabbered wrong things about Essi and he was able to discipline them by the authority vested by Essi’s grandfather to him. But now, he has far more power to direct these people from speaking ill things about his boss. Trying to place himself in Essi’s shoes, perhaps Essi decided to let these little issues pass.

The gossiping people noticed Victor and called him.

“Hey, are you Essi’s boss?” one of them asked.

Victor shook his head while trying to read the situation. What if Essi intended to hide her role in the Gautarza Company from the constituents of Bayanihan? What must he say then? Before he was able to add his answer, the neighbors already formulated their presupposition.

“I see. Perhaps that young lady is her real boss,” the store owner added.

“Of all things they could think,” he uttered while shaking his head in disbelief. He looked back at Essi’s amakan house where Gwyneth called him through the bamboo gates.

“Victor, my sister is requiring you to get her files in the office.”

Fair enough, Victor treated Gwyneth’s words as if they are from a person deeply close to Essi beyond a consanguineal basis.

But Gwyneth’s words flamed the people’s shock anew, deeming them to never recover from knowing more unlikely things about Essi. Other than it could be proof that Essi has a legitimate background on being wealthy, instead of a connection with the elite chain, it only leads to the realization that Gwyneth’s presence means a duplicated Essi that will trouble the Bayanihan town again.

Victor nodded as he finished his coffee. “Well then, tell Madame Essi that I will return after two hours,” he said. It was late to realize that he called Essi the way he used to, paving more surprising things for the neighbors to absorb. He didn’t waste his time clarifying his response and entered his car. He drove past the streets that uphold the peace in Bayanihan and wondered what files must he find.

“He went out already,” Gwyneth said as she returned inside. She cannot believe that Essi was able to find a simple amakan house and turn it fancy enough to bring a Bohemian vibe. “Wow Essi, all these spaces in your house that you posted a picture for, really look great. Did Oneil help you in designing this one? Or Victor?”

“I just did it myself,” Essi answered, hoping deep inside that Gwyneth will be kept distracted about anything in her house. She didn’t spend the night decorating her house with lousy stuff. She made sure that it would impress Gwyneth. Knowing that the young lady is almost incessantly talkative, Essi intended that Gwyneth will just talk about these things.

“I never knew that you were this great. So when Monsieur Mateo said that you were the one who designed the interiors of the chateaux, he was not joking?”

“He never jokes successfully and was never able to create jokes that are funny,” Essi added, reminiscing dad jokes that were somehow helpful in easing the tension Essi had with the chairman of Gautarza.

Gwyneth only smiled, bearing the knowledge about what brought Essi and Oneil to this province. Before she was able to mention Oneil again, Essi stood up to rescue the rice cooker from spilling more liquid into the wires. The rice is already boiling and the homely scent wafts through the air. It is pleasant for Gwyneth.

“You know what? I’m amazed by your talents Essi,” Gwyneth commented with deep genuineness. “You’re not only good at equestrian skills. You’re also good at designing and even cooking. Now, you are showcasing to me your knowledge of Southeast Asian cuisines.”

“I learned for survival though,” Essi replied.

“And that’s even better. You are already proving to me that you are wonderful in a crisis,” Gwyneth said. “Truth be told. At first, I wondered if you deserve Oneil. No offense. But now? I’m starting to wonder if Oneil deserves you. That bureaucratic kill joy man has no better taste in life but to keep up with his office work.”

“Oneil has his talents, too. After all, he is still lovely for me,” Essi said, and it came out natural. She noticed how good he is at sewing and crocheting. It was a quality that was surprising but good. Before their flight to the Philippines, Oneil even gave her a crocheted scarf to warm herself. He is also good at painting and has better chances of improvement. Moreover, the best talent that moved Essi surprised was his genius for playing instruments and composing songs. “You cannot deny that.”

Gwyneth couldn’t help herself but pull a sheepish awkward smile. It is proven. Dating couples would turn cheesy as time passes by. “It is a successful arrangement between the two of you, then. Both of you liked each other enough, it’s a comfortable relationship. I can’t wait to find someone that will truly and romantically deal with me.”

Essi poked Gwyneth’s nose just like how she does it with other students in Willoughby. “Focus on your career first. No dating before the championship season,” she reminded and never had the idea that Gwyneth was already dating someone and had broken up with him via phone call.

Gwyneth suddenly tightened her grip on Essi’s sleeve while her eyes glistened together with the waxed floor. “Essi, I’m sorry for breaking my promise.”

“What do you mean?” Essi is bothered as well. What if this will drive her to roll up her sleeve to reveal Oneil’s case? Without further reckoning in herself, Gwyneth revealed her secret relationship to a polo player named Caleb and her reason why she wanted to talk with Oneil.

“I’m so ashamed that we broke up via phone call. It was the silliest thing that happened to me and I cannot hide it anymore from you given that you are one of the coaches at Willoughby.”

What kind of sanction can Essi even impose on her given that she keeps something from Gwyneth as well?

“I thought of sharing this with you since you will become my family and that busy man seems to never spare his time just to listen to his cousin.”

Now, Gwyneth was even speaking with grievances about Oneil. The burden of revealing secrets and the toil of hearing Gwyneth regarding Oneil in that manner compelled Essi to a heaving and humbling disclosure. She held Gwyneth’s hand and brought her inside the room where all the clues and indices of Oneil’s whereabouts are attached. His identification files are on her table.

“Oneil was missing and I cannot find ways to reveal this kind of situation to the people in Bordeaux. I tried finding him Gwyn, and he is here in Bayanihan as well. But he has amnesia and thought to himself that he is Riley Ramirez.”

“After all this time that I tried to contact him?” Gwyneth asked, suspending herself from getting irate. “You should have told us that we might find him.”

“I told you I found him already,” Essi defended. “But he would not believe me and almost everything here is constraining me from getting him back. I cannot violently take him back, Gwyn.”

“That should have not been the case, Essi. He is Oneil Mercator.”

“No one knows about us or who we are here, Gwyneth. Try parading yourself outside and they would just think that you are my sister. They will never know that you are a future Olympian from Willoughby.”

Gwyneth shook her head in disappointment and in the realization that one thing about Essi was true. “You’re good at fixing but not healing. Somehow, that is the thing I don’t like about you, Essi.”

Essi tried giving her reasons why some things are not feasible in their present state. But Gwyneth stormed out of the house and inquired someone to lead her to Riley Ramirez’s place.

There, in the unlikely nipa hut, that might get blown away by strong winds any time sooner, Gwyneth found the familiar sight that she wanted to confront. There were banana and coconut trees around the area. One distinct path averted by grasses leads her to that nipa. But before she could even proceed, a woman, in a fine tropical dress, stood midway.

“Excuse me? What do you want from here?” the woman asked.

“I’m looking for my cousin that is stranded in this cheap place. In case you know Riley Ramirez, bring me to him,” she added.

“What do you need from my boyfriend?”

Gwyneth’s mouth was left agape to the sudden realization of all of Essi’s situation in Bayanihan. “You are Oneil’s girlfriend?”

“Yet another person comes around, claiming that Riley Ramirez is Oneil. Are you sent by Essi to get him?” Marika raged on. “No. You cannot proceed to Riley. He has no cousin. He has no family and the only reliable person he has is me. So go away, and don’t try calling him again as Oneil,” the woman uttered which berated Gwyneth.

In utter annoyance, she shouted, “Oneil, you irking bureaucratic man. You should have confirmed it yourself if this is the real life that you used to have. Don’t even try talking to me, your cousin, if it gets too late for you to return to our family, and don’t even regret it if you will lose Essi for staying as a dumb mutt in this cheap place!”

“Get away from here! You keep on saying this is a cheap place. Well then, you and Essi have no place here. Don’t ever come back!” Marika retaliated and pushed her away from the hill.

Gwyneth retained her balance while glaring fiercely at Marika and Riley, whom she is convinced is indeed Oneil. She left the place without any idea that her words plunged a deep cut through Riley’s soul to question who he is.

“Don’t mind someone like her. Essi and that lady must never be trusted.”

Gwyneth gets all the more challenged by that woman. She cannot explain the impulse in herself to run back towards Essi’s house, with an apology and a declaration.

“Let me stay with you here in Bayanihan until I could whoop Oneil back to your fingers.”