11 – The Plan
Tammy decided to stop thinking about what happened between her and Manuel. Another day went by and she returned to her house-helper life with Tetay. She sighed in relief since Tetay turned out to be a fine helper. There were just some instances when the latter couldn’t not think of Emilio.
“Ilyong is too much. He’s so cold!” Tetay was frowning while folding up the newly washed blankets. That afternoon, a majority of the young men were in their classes. As for the two of them, they were at the living room.
“It’s your fault. You are too blatant when expressing your feelings. He probably doesn’t like women like that,” Tammy commented as a reminder.
“He should be thankful there’s still a girl willing to notice him! Hmph!” Tetay snorted and folded another blanket. “ Because of my irritation, I actually finished my task earlier than expected!” The fussy girl smiled and admired the product of her nicely done work.
Tammy laughed. “At least your frustrations had done you something good.”
“How about you? Let me ask, is there somebody among our men here that you like?”
Because of Tetay’s prying, she remembered the scene where Manuel was holding her hand. Do I tell her? No thanks, it’s embarrassing to say.
“You started to space out.”
Tammy was surprised when Tetay flashed her hand in front of her face.
“Ah… It’s…”
“It looks like somebody crossed your mind.”
“None!”
“Tell me!” Tetay smiled playfully.
“No. I’ll have to leave you now. I have to buy snacks!”
Tammy looked pissed. She picked up the folded blankets and left the puzzled Tetay in the living room.
…
Tammy was headed to the backyard to wait for the kakanin peddler. Once she arrived to her usual spot, she heard some voices conversing. It seemed the voices were coming from behind the mango tree next to the dormitory.
Tammy inched closer to the place to check what was going on there.
“One of Alfonso’s friends sent me a letter. It says to face them off outside the Intramuros tomorrow, the time is 5 pm.”
Tammy immediately recognized Juan’s voice.
“What now? Still acting like cowards? Let’s give them what they want and have a brawl!” It was Dario this time.
“Ilyong, we know you can also fight. If I were you, I’ll face them now and give them their desired beating! Don’t forget everyone of us had already been dragged into this mess that they had started!” said Dario in an impassioned manner.
“What if it makes things more complicated?” Manuel stated in worry.
My God, they are planning to stage a rumble! Tammy grew excited upon this possibility, but she could feel what Emilio was thinking.
“We aren’t fighting, lest it complicates the matter. If we fight, things will become more chaotic. Pardon me, take me out of this. Compare to brawn and mess, I prefer to study,” Emilio declared coldly.
“Ilyong, I thought you’re one of us?!” Dario exclaimed with accusing tone. “We are perfectly aware that even you hadn’t escaped their grasp and that you also want this to stop!”
“I could only wish you all the best.”
Tammy heard Emilio standing up. She was about to run away when she suddenly stepped onto the hem of her very long skirt and tripped down.
“Ay, wanderlust cat!” (TL: she’s swearing)
She almost fell down with her face planted on the ground. Good thing that Emilio appeared before her and had managed to get a grip of her, thus preventing the tragic fall.
Tammy awkwardly raised her head to meet his eyes. “Hi… Ah… Good day, Emilio.” She plastered a sweet smile on her face.
“Miss, it is bad to eavesdrop on others’ conversation,” Emilio reminded her with stressed words. It looked like Tammy’s smile didn’t bring her good result.
“I sincerely apologize… I was just passing by…” Tammy postured herself properly and straightened her back.
“She was listening a while ago?”
Tammy swung her head back and noticed Dario, Manuel and Juan striding towards them.
“Yes. To atone for it, she must treat us to snacks.”
A playful smile blossomed from Ilyong’s face.
…
I got caught up in a mess with them!
Tammy was together with the four young men, sitting under the shade of the mango tree. A handwoven mat was spread underneath them. They were all immersed in the joy of eating the kakanin bought by Tammy as treats to them.
“Free delicacies are truly more delicious!” Juan said in joy while taking bites on his sapin-sapin.
“It was good that you were caught red-handed by Ilyong. Come, repeat what we have been discussing earlier!” Dario followed up with a laugh.
Tammy made a wronged expression. “So annoying!”
“Have mercy on miss!” Manuel said.
“You are just happy you are sitting beside her! Later, I won’t be surprised to see you stealing a kiss from her!” Dario nudged Manuel’s shoulder towards to Tammy.
“You are too much! A kiss already? Can’t he first woo?” asked Tammy.
“That’s right, Señorita!” Juan seconded her while Dario and Ilyong teased them with an ‘Uy!’. Tammy’s eyes wandered to Manuel and found his neck starting to have a tinge of red. She moved away a little.
“Oh my, miss is feeling bashful!” Emilio smiled. His stares went to Tammy and they were not without playfulness.
“You are also too much! As if you don’t have Tetay!” Tammy tried to get back on him. Emilio, however, rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Not there! Not there!” He really didn’t spare efforts to emphasize ‘Not there’.
“Disliking Tetay so much. What if a second later we hear you ending up with her!” Dario said to tease him.
“By the way, Tammy has yet to tell us what she heard earlier,” reminded Juan. “Don’t sing this to Aling Simang, alright?”
The young girl couldn’t help but ask. “What did those men do to all of you?”
And then the next minutes passed by with the boys venting out their indignation. That Alfonso Sarrael was actually their schoolmate and he, together with his entourage, was always messing with these young men whenever there was any opportunity to do that. It all began from dagger-like words and progressed to shooting little crumpled pieces of paper on their backs.
“The worst was when they challenged us to a fight. Just like what happened yesterday.” Manuel’s hand went up to his temple as if it was still aching.
“In your opinion, do you think we should confront them in a head-on clash?” asked Juan to Tammy.
“Hmm… it is not bad to do that,” she answered. In her mind, the memories of her fighting inside the school flashed back, especially those cases when she found a few pitiful bullied victims with no one to protect them.
“That’s my point, Ilyong. We have the ability to confront them!” Dario said, in his eyes there was bravery.
“But the situation could also become worse,” Emilio replied in worry.
“If everyone here has been dragged onto it, then it is must to end it!” urged Tammy.
“She’s right!” seconded Dario.
“Do you need help?” suddenly asked by the young maiden.
Dario asked back. “And how can you possibly help?”
Tammy spoke up to share the plan she had come up in her mind.
Notes:
Ilyong – Emilio’s nickname
kakanin – prepared rice in literal meaning, refers to rice cakes and other delicacies made with sweets and glutinous rice. The sapin-sapin below is one example of it.
TL: WS25
ED: Corensi
SHARRAMYCATS TRANSLATIONS 