"I DON'T really know what I want!" Callea wailed. She and Pipay were browsing designs for the gown that she wanted to wear for her engagement party. It was less than a month before the event and there was no final design for the gown yet.
"How about you diss the engagement party and marry the guy right away?"
"Do you think that is okay?" Callea asked her friend with a grin.
She could imagine herself wearing the wedding gown with Deive waiting for her at the altar. The idea of wearing his diamond right in front of the high society who didn't care much about them had no appeal to her. It was their grandfathers' idea.
"If it is me, I will go on the honeymoon right away so it will feel like heaven." Pipay hugged herself and closed her eyes. "Oh, Deive. I like that. Harder. Love me harder. Go for the gold."
She tapped Pipay's forehead. "Hey! That's my boyfriend you are having carnal thoughts about and he is straight, mamsh."
"Don't selfish." She grinned. "Share your blessings."
Callea gave her a threatening glare. "Behave or I will ask let sexy women tie you and have their way with you. Like a curse to turn you into a real man..."
"That's really mean, Callea. I can't imagine. It gives me creeps," Pipay said with a grimace and decided to suggest another design. She was torn between what society likes and what she wants.
Aling Poling walked towards them with a bouquet of flowers. "Señorita, there's a delivery for you."
Their caretaker gave her a bouquet of Malaysian mums and an envelope. Pipay took the flowers from her and inhaled the scent. "Ahhhh! Deive really loves me."
She just laughed at her friend's illusion and opened the envelope. Her boyfriend really loves surprising her. He was in Manila to attend business but he calls her every hour just to check on her. He keeps on sending her stuff that she didn't need and he even asks Mang Lito to buy things for her. She didn't even need those. He just gave them because he wanted to spoil her.
There were photos inside the envelope. It was taken a few days ago while she was at the mall with Deive. The focus of the photos was on her. Even if she was with Deive, his image was blurred.
And what's with those photos? As if someone was following her. Who sent it?
She noticed a note in between those photos.
Do not fret, my love. I will come to you soon. Wait for me.
She felt dread and lifted her gaze. "Aling Poling, did you sign anything when this was delivered?"
"I don't think so, Ma'am. He didn't look like a courier either."
Callea's heartbeat became erratic. She had a hunch that Deive didn't send the flowers or the note. He won't ask someone to take their photos. And if it was Deive, he would call first to tell her he sent something for her. And he would ask her if she liked something else.
A few moments passed and Deive still didn't call.
She gazed at the Malaysian mums that Pipay kept on inhaling. Her eyes strayed to the flower then to the envelope that has her photos. It was nostalgic. There was only one person who kept on sending her Malaysian mums and loved taking her photos.
It was Walter Naval.
Dread crept in every fiber of her being. It was like her nightmares were coming back to life in front of her. She thought she could bury his memories but it was now haunting her.
She took the flowers from Pipay. "Let me have it."
"Hey! Why the violence?" she said and faked a shocked expression. "As if I would consume the flowers if I inhale it."
She closed the clear book of Pipay's sketches and the sketch pad. "You have to go home, Pipay."
"Why? Are you jealous that I will take Deive away from you? So, I have the hots for him but I won't take him away from you. Gals before boys."
"J-Just go home please." She took the flowers and the envelope. She was teary-eyed then stomped towards the dirty kitchen. She passed by Marina who was preparing lunch. She took the bottle of gasoline and a box of matchstick then went to the backyard.
She threw the flowers and the envelope of photos to the pit with the rest of the trash. It was Walter. She had a hunch that he was free once more. Nobody would do this aside from him. But how did it happen? He was inside the mental institution. Once cured, he would serve his time in jail.
If not him, then who would do this? It happened twice that someone sent her photos and the Malaysian mums. Someone was bothering her, following her every move.
She watched the thing burn. She didn't know how long she stood there until everything turned to ash. She didn't feel cleansed. She returned to the house and Pipay was not there anymore. She would explain to her friend and apologize but there was a more pressing issue she must address first.
She called up her cousin, Torque, who was in Bangkok for a conference for agri innovation. "Kuya, can you check on Walter?" She tightened her hold on her cellphone. Her lips trembled while she was fighting the swelling fear that threatened to engulf her. "J-Just check on him, please. If you have to go Phnom Penh just to make sure he is still in the asylum, just do it."
"Callea, tell me what's wrong."
She breathed deeply. "Just call me with the updates. This is really important." Then she said her goodbyes.
She didn't want to be paranoid and she didn't want the people around her to panic either. But this was no joke. Until her cousin hasn't seen Walter inside the mental institution himself, she won't have peace of mind.