Sophia was caught by surprise, and was shaken all the more when Jericho was the first one that came to mind. At this, she had to stop herself and realized she owed her mom a response. “Thank you, Mom,” she said, and clasped her mom for one last time.
Watching Sophia get into her car, Francheska felt some heaviness of heart. Her longing for her child was the hardest but she worked hard to convince herself that it would only be for a while, and that her daughter would be back with her, shortly.
*****
“Here she comes!” Alex announced as he saw Sophia’s car coming. The family was waiting for her at the front porch, all dressed up and ready to embark on a long trip.
Alex’s and Nadine’s light-headed treatment of Sophia never changed although they had known now her real identity. But for Elizabeth, anxiety began to emerge. She couldn’t help but feel that Francheska might eventually take her daughter away from her. She hated that feeling, and she always wanted the best for her younger sister, so such thoughts just made herself her own worst enemy.
Sophia drew near, waving and trying to give them a normal smile. She, too, felt awkward silently, especially with Elizabeth. It seemed Forest Green wasn’t the only thing causing her a burden. Her ex-mother’s sudden odd treatment made her tense, as she noticed that Elizabeth avoided her look and the latter had asked Alex and Nadine to get inside the car quickly.
“Your mom already volunteered to pack your clothes, honey,” Philippe informed Sophia. “She seems such an eager beaver wanting to leave for Forest Green.”
Sophia nodded and gazed at her mother’s direction. “Thanks, Mom.” She was laid-back but she suddenly shut off, when Elizabeth didn’t provide any response. It appeared Elizabeth was mad for something Sophia couldn’t figure out, herself.
In the face of it, Sophia quickly got her stuff upstairs. But she was bothered that she wasn’t able to, at least, buy a simple gift for her grandma’s birthday.
There were some troubles on the way to Forest Green. A heavy rain came upon them and made the roads wet and slippery. They stopped over at some Walmart, from one city to another, until the weather was finally in their favor.
Sophia hated the rain. The evening dew and cold gust sent a chill down her spine and reminded her of the forest, of Abanir, and the night they’d spent marvelously, at the falls.
As she sat in the rear and watched the droplets run down the car window and create a smog, she disregarded the fact she missed Jericho, too. She knew he was already in Forest Green today. Nadine had a slip of the tongue, mentioning it, when they had already exited Orlando a moment ago.
She rested her eyes and sensed that Elizabeth was watching her through the rear-view mirror. The car slowed as soon as Philippe had successfully overtaken the white sedan before them, and this made Sophia dwell on some things silently until she finally fell asleep in the midst of her siblings’ enthusiasm for Forest Green.
It was evening when they arrived at Forest Green, and to their surprise, the air there wasn’t humid at all. The land was dry, and it hadn’t rained.
Straight ahead to her room, Sophia greeted no one, not even her Auntie Bea. It was as if she had no face to show to everybody. She already assumed that the gossip about her and Jericho had already come to them, ahead of time.
“I’m not hungry.” Sophia was solid in her decision when Auntie Bea came to her room and reminded her of dinner. Irritation churned to the surface despite her efforts to contain it to herself.
“Sophia…” Bea begged, her expression looking fretful each time Sophia would isolate herself. Then and now.
“Please, Auntie Bea.” Sophia’s face creased even more and she began looking for a pair of pajamas from her luggage. “Tell them I’m going to sleep now.” Then she sighed heavily the moment she couldn’t find one, hating to admit her mother had forgotten to pack her nighties.
“Your other luggage is still downstairs,” Bea said. “Your mom asked me not to bring it to you. She wants you to carry it for yourself.”
Another sigh came out from Sophia. She didn’t know there was another one. “Right,” she said, thinking her mother intended it so she could go downstairs and be forced to join dinner. “I’ll get it later, after dinner time.”
“All right then. But are you sure you’re skipping dinner?” Bea, once again, attempted.
“Yes, Auntie. And thank you for tonight.” Sophia didn’t fail to bequeath her a simple smile.
“Good night then.”
Sophia lay down on the bed, with a spinning vision at the ceiling. The aching to see Jericho did not help her feel at-rest. And there was Abanir, too. And later on, another knock on the door jarred her.
Grandma Lucy entered her room, uninvited. “Hello, dear.” Her smile was mysterious, and to Grandma Lucy’s dismay, Sophia said nothing. Now that every secret had been leaked out, Sophia couldn’t look at her grandma the same way, anymore. Things were becoming cold and uneasy.
Grandma Lucy joined her in bed and blew her a kiss, then began asking about their long trip today.
Sophia appeared distant. She knew it was only her grandma’s introduction, and the main speech was to reprimand her and remind her of things that would only lead to misery. And she already knew of the conclusion—that was to remind her to avoid Jericho.
Yet Sophia was wrong. Her grandma was exposing other things. Shocking disclosures, in fact, that churned her emotions, further. “Jericho’s getting married, by the way,” Grandma Lucy, without any warning, said. Sophia’s heart felt like it was squeezed into bits. Her eyes almost oozed with tears of blood. She felt like she was being cut inside with a burning knife.
“He’s marrying Dr. Lee. She also works at the town’s hospital.” Stony-faced now, Grandma Lucy added the last words.
Sophia bled to the last drop. If only she could vanish like smoke at that moment. “Why do you keep on hurting me? Why?” she suddenly asked, as fast as sound waves and as cold as ice. “I’m tired of all of these! Can you not be gentle enough?” Then she paced away from her grandma and pulled herself together. But each time she tried, she could only burst out: “You’re so good at manipulating people…” She was shaking, as tears continuously welled up in her eyes. “You’re so good at playing with my emotions.”
Watching her, Grandma Lucy remained standing, unbending. For her, the news needed to arrive early, before Sophia would find it out from other sources. She wanted Sophia to know the truth already and deal with it. This was not the time for preludes. Then to her shock, Sophia rejected the news.
Sophia shuddered, swaying her head in disbelief and flashed back to her last kiss with Jericho. It was dangerously sweet but the sweetness had faded away the moment she felt the sting of some guilt.
Grandma Lucy’s fears grew worse. She couldn’t stand the sight of Sophia, and how she was reacting to it. “For goodness’ sake, Sophia! Have you forgotten?” Grandma Lucy hurled towards her, and almost said the words, “He’s your brother.”
Oh help, it was too much. Sophia almost felt she just took her last breath, and she rushed to leave the house, draining with tears. It was the first time she had ever felt such kind of jealousy, and it was an ordeal for her.
Dark and spooky, she didn’t know where the street would lead her. The moonshine was the only source of light, away from her grandma’s. Around her, there were the sounds of crickets and frogs coming out, from the side streets. She looked back and the manor was already undetected.
Rage won out and crushed fear! She kept on walking, regardless of the danger before her. Her own silhouette was her only companion that night. Life was cruel to her. She was fading. Lost and empty. She was back there again. Tonight, she prayed she wouldn’t die of pain and sorrow.
Soon, a car was rushing toward her. It was her father, after he learned of her escape from Grandma Lucy. “Sophia, honey, please get in the car,” he pleaded, slowing down in his driving so as to get into her weary pace.
Sophia zipped her mouth
. She needed nobody to talk to her tonight. No word could ever mollify the uproars inside of her, not even her father’s. If only she had known beforehand, she could have stayed with her mom, Francheska, in Orlando. She could have sobbed in her mother’s chest, and said that the only man she had ever truly loved was already in the arms of another woman. And with this, her body failed her. She could not walk on.
“Let’s talk about it at home. It’s too dangerous in here,” Philippe persisted.
Still, Sophia followed her own way.
“Sophia, it’s dangerous here!” Now, Philippe’s voice had increased.
“I don’t want to go back there, Dad. I’m leaving.” Sophia seemed a little girl again, refusing to go to bed early. For her, home felt more tormenting than any other place she could go.
“If you keep on walking, where do you think this road will lead you, huh?” Philippe then challenged her, unsuccessful because Sophia had resumed her walk.
“I don’t even care about it anymore…”
Her feedback disheartened Philippe more than her unwillingness to cooperate. He tried to understand her, and convinced himself that his adopted daughter was still in shock and he had some fault, too, for not telling her. But it was the type of fault that was made in good faith, with the best of intentions, like any good father would do, to protect his daughter from being hurt, swiftly. Too bad this had hurt her more. It wasn’t what he expected.
Now, Philippe got out of the car and stopped Sophia from her stride. “Honey, please get in the car,” he pleaded, and his approach was softer now. He worried too much. Sophia might be harmed, especially at this hour. A dark and empty road was never safe for a young woman like her.
“Dad, I don’t want to go back there! I hate that place. Please, you must understand,” Sophia asserted, now with a plea that softened her father’s heart.
“Fine.” Philippe eased himself with a sigh. “If you don’t want to get back there, just get in the car, then. I will take you downtown, to a diner. I’m sure you’re starving.”
Sophia doubted him. Neither of them moved for a second. Then, quickly realizing she was indeed hungry, she nodded and entered the car without a word. Philippe had never felt dread, before. That deal with Sophia was the hardest negotiation he had ever made, for a man who did business for most of his life.
“Why didn’t you tell me he’s getting married?” Sophia asked, right after a few moments of silence in the car. “I could have decided to skip grandma’s birthday.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to tell you…” There was no certainty in Philippe’s voice.
“You should have told me before we left. I’m old enough to deal with it.”
“I’m sorry…”
“And right now, Dad, I just wanna go back to Orlando tonight.”
Although Sophia was already lashing at Philippe, driving him to the edge, himself, Philippe tried to be more of a caring father. “I can’t just let you leave, Sophia. I feel better if you’re here with us.”
“Then, what do you want me to do, Dad? Stay here and snivel, or wait to die? I can’t take any more pain, Dad.”
To Philippe’s surprise, Sophia had never been too expressive of her feelings, like this, especially regarding Jericho. He didn’t know what to say anymore. This was not what he had asked for. When Grandma Lucy talked to him about Jericho’s sudden decision to marry, he was in shock too, but he knew it was the best for Jericho. And for Sophia, as well. For the two of them to finally set off and be emancipated from all the ploys of the past.
Still, no was his answer to Sophia’s plea.
CHAPTER 23
________________________________________________________ † ________________________________________________________
A night at forest grill
Downtown, Philippe tried to remember where Forest Grill was. The streets and street names had changed throughout the decade, and it took him a while to find it. Forest Grill was the town’s centerpiece for the best dining experience, and it was also Jericho’s spot when he wanted to forget.
When Philippe and Sophia reached the place, everyone remembered Sophia, and they went from one whisper to another as they saw Philippe, on her side. People of Forest Green knew the Vabuerettis very well. No single drop of information about the family had ever skipped their ears.
The diner appeared to be the gathering area where townspeople exchanged gossips, and it was a stop-over after a bad day. The rock music was too loud, and this was not how Philippe remembered the place.
A gasp escaped Sophia as he followed her father into the secluded dining room in the back. She hated how every eye was following them as though they were celebrities. She could no longer wait to ease herself with grilled hamburgers, potato fries, and a sip of Pepsi soda.
As for Philippe, since he left the town for many years now, only a few faces were familiar to him. He was asking Sophia to sit down when…
“Phil, is that you?” Someone from the corner yelled. “My man, what brings you back here?” he repeated as Philippe now crumpled his forehead in silent wonder. The guy was sitting in a rectangular table with two other middle-aged guys, with a bottle of beer in their hands. It seemed they were there after office work, with their white shirts and loose ties, and just like Philippe, they had aged very nicely.
A broad smile broke across Philippe’s face as he finally settled his eyes on the three. “Jake! Sam! Mark! Hey, you guys!” He motioned fast to meet them and slapped a hefty hand on each one’s shoulder. He couldn’t believe he was seeing his childhood peers again, after decades.
Standing still, Sophia simply stared at them, amazed at the magnificent mini-reunion right before her eyes. She loved watching them, yet she couldn’t help but wish she had the same circle of pals, but she had been deprived of this, in Forest Green. Then shortly, she tried to get acquainted with the new place and the new faces in the diner.
“Is that Sophia now?” One of the three took a look at Sophia and asked Philippe, who had just realized he needed to go back to her, for her meal.
“Yup.” Philippe felt some pride and excused himself temporarily, for Sophia.
“Don’t mind me, Dad,” Sophia already said before her father could make an excuse. She knew her father needed some time, like this; he’d always been eaten by work. “I can find a new friend here,” she added, and it just came to reality when a teenage guy, who happened to be working in the place, approached Sophia.
“Hey, Sophie! I’m glad you’re back in town.”
Sophia held up for silence. She was absolutely clueless at who he was. And Philippe was, too.
“Excuse me?” Philippe raised an eyebrow, feeling he needed to protect his daughter from this creep.
“I’m sorry. I believe I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Michael,” he said and offered a hand-shake to Philippe. “Sophia and I went to the same grammar-school,” he added but to his dismay, Sophia wasn’t giving him any response, as though she wasn’t thrilled to see him at all.
“I’m Phil. Sophia’s father.” Philippe granted the hand-shake and felt he needed to tell him of Sophia’s condition. “Well, my daughter here has lost her memory. You need to introduce yourself, I suppose.”
Michael wondered at the news, and made amends as soon as his mind finally understood the fact. “Nice to finally meet you, sir,” he said and looked back at Sophia, displaying a mixture of sympathy and wonder—wonder at how an overly-protected girl who had a mind of her own can lose something so precious: her memory. “I’m sorry,” he said in empathy.
“Well,” Philippe scratched on his arm. “I’ll leave you two, then, so you could talk,” he said, and was glad when Sophia’s eyes lighted up at the suggestion. “And as for me, I’ll get back to my buddies. But hey,” he looked at Michael, “I’m watching you, okay?” He concluded with a friendly smash on the latter’s shoulder, and left them.
“I’m sorry for that,” Sophia apologized, when Philippe had turned
his back at them.
“I understand,” Michael grinned. “I suppose you’re here for dinner. So why don’t you sit down, first? I’m working here, by the way. I was about to go home when I thought you looked familiar.”
She let him stare some more. And in spite of the alienation she felt, she indulged in a little staring, too.
“Are you still a big fan of cow?” He then asked, as they both took their seats.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“I mean, meat!”
Now Sophia almost laughed. “Why do you say that?”
“Oh, you don’t remember it, too?” He was trying to sound hilarious this time. “You were a big fan of beef.”
“Really?” Sophia finally let out a giggle. To her amazement, this Michael had known her better than herself.
“Wait here for a jiffy,” he asked. “I’ll get you something.” Then he hastened to the pantry so that Sophia had no time to say no.
In his absence, Sophia had only rolled her eyes around, wishing she had grabbed her cell phone with her. Already, she missed her mom, Francheska, and wished she was talking to her right now. She was badly in need of somebody to listen to her sentiments, about Jericho. Sophia’s heart pulled in and caved at the thought of his coming marriage.
At last, thank Heavens, Michael came back to her, with Korean beef stew and steamed fish laden in a tray. They were the diner’s top specialties. Beside these there was a garden salad, topped with numerous slices of tomatoes and black olives.
Although Sophia’s stomach was already programmed for the usual burgers and fries, just the whiff of these specialties made her snatch the silverware on the tray.
“Mind if I join you and help you finish all of these?” He asked. His smile was the warmest, and Sophia couldn’t help but return a gracious response.
“Of course,” she beamed, to boot. Not only was the food was invigorating, his presence was, as well. And she could admit she liked him already.
“So, what’s up with you now living in the city?” Michael asked as they began a mouthful.