12 – The Face-Off
The day concluded with Tammy coming up with a plan together with the four young men. They couldn’t say for sure if it would prove effective. However, they felt that there’s nothing to lose by trying it, and so their mentality shifted to the possibility of easing up everything and chasing away those Spanish students who mocked them.
All of them went to sleep, forcing themselves not to worry about the matters of tomorrow.
…
Another day came. Manuel, Juan, Dario and Emilio attended school like usual. Tammy was left in the dormitory, tending to the household chores as expected of a maid.
I wonder how things will turn out.
Tammy looked calm on the surface but in reality, her insides were in turmoil. She couldn’t say for sure if she had involved herself into a proper matter. However, her desire to help got over her reason so she decided to offer them assistance.
“Is something on your mind?” Tetay couldn’t help but ask her when she noticed Tammy’s expression. At that time, they were busying themselves with the unwashed dishes.
“None,” she weakly replied. “By the way, when is Aling Simang returning?” If she remembered correctly the middle-aged woman headed to Laguna to witness her niece’s wedding.
“Probably she’ll be back by tomorrow.” Tetay brought down the glass she was holding on the sink. “I’ll go take my bath. You may rest today since there’s nothing much to do.”
“Thank you.”
She gave Tetay a smile and watched the other maiden descend to their quarters.
Tammy then rinsed her hands and walked into the living room. She sat on the solihiya chair, her thoughts wandering.
I must leave without anyone noticing. I should change clothes now.
She stood up, walked down the stairs and scuttled into her room. Last night, Juan lent her a set of man’s clothing and now she was wearing it. She had to dress up like a boy if she wanted to help the young men fight those Spanish students.
Tammy tied her hair up and then wore a salacot (TL: a traditional wide-brimmed hat) to hide her facial features from those who loved to pry. She inspected herself in the mirror, her laugh hard to suppress.
Juan’s uniform made me look like a little boy! But fine, this will do.
When Tammy marched out of the room, she sighed in relief. Tetay bathing at this time made her grateful to the heavens. There’s no need to leave her any notice. Tammy sneaked out of the dormitory.
This was Tammy’s second time outside the dormitory’s premise. She finally got herself a chance to tour Intramuros and she was looking forward to it, knowing it would be an experience she would never forget. She would be stepping into the ancient Intramuros that she previously only managed to see on black and white photos.
The place was not lacking of houses belonging to the middle-class people. There was also a church and many other walls made out of big hollow blocks.
It is so pretty here. Unfortunately, based from what I know, only rich people could settle inside. I wonder how Aling Simang afforded to run a dormitory inside this walled city.
Tammy decided to have snacks as she walked around. There was a vendor selling kakanin beside the church so she thought to buy one. There was a flight of stairs leading into the church and she sat on one of the steps as she began to ate her food while watching all sorts of people walking around.
The manang who were attending the mass. The manong peddling fruits inside two baskets tied on the opposite pole of a long wood. The young maiden assisting her mother to a walk. It was as if it was no different to the modern world. The same kinds of problem were faced. However, it was currently the era of Spanish regime. Tammy was aware that due to the discrimination and uneven opportunities, being a Filipino was very difficult in this time frame.
Once Tammy concluded her thoughts, she decided to go out of Intramuros. Manuel and the Spanish students agreed to meet up there. As she didn’t want to be late, she sped up her pace.
Outside Intramuros. There’s a huge boulder. That’s the agreed place of duel.
Tammy arrived near the meeting spot and hid herself next to the wall. Manuel and his enemies have not yet arrived and so she sat down first and waited for them. She didn’t notice when she had dozed off and only regained her consciousness when she heard voices in conflict.
“Muy bien, amigos. I’m pleased to see you showing up in the agreed place. And even earlier than expected.”
The voice was not familiar to Tammy. She peaked out and noticed Manuel with his back turned to her. She saw the opposing side and was rendered speechless. All of them looked handsome. A pity their faces had traces of tainted personalities.
“We are only fulfilling the agreement, Senyor Sarrael,” Dario calmly replied. “Indios, indeed we are. But we know how to follow time.”
“I’m glad you have all accepted your inferiority!” The Spanish young man in front smirked, his companions followed up with a burst of laughter.
“Even if you are all treating us with low regards due to our skin color and status, it’s an undeniable fact that all of you have personalities a lot worse than ours.”
Emilio was the one who spoke out those words. Tammy watched him walk in front, starting a staring contest with Sarrael.
“Are you the one using the hem of his mother’s long skirt as shoe laces?” mocked Senyor Sarrael to him as he asked with malice.
“It’s indeed I,” Emilio answered back with calmness. He looked full of composure.
“You are famous in Letran for not letting your hair be cut!”
Sarrael’s entourage laughed.
“You would have been a beauty if you were a girl!” Aron stepped out and stared at Emilio in the eyes.
“True. And this must be the reason why you are approaching me! Are you getting confused?” Emilio couldn’t stop his grin from surfacing. (TN: In Filipino, it’s nababacla, which means getting confused. In the context here, it means getting confused of his sexuality. XD)
Sarrael became furious upon hearing that. He charged and tried to strangle Emilio by his collar but the young man dodged. Losing his balance, he stumbled and fell with his face first planted to the ground. Emilio couldn’t stop his laugh when he witnessed the scene.
“We know the answer to your question now, Emilio!” Dario laughed.
“Mierda! Man, this is —“
Sarrael was about to charge at him again but he was hindered by Dario.
Dario spat air on Sarrael’s face as he said, “Amigo, wait a minute. We can’t fight you all with just the four of us! There are six men on your side! This is unfair!”
This was the signal for Tammy to come out of her hiding.
“Are you all looking for me?” she asked loudly.
The two groups of young men quietened down. Tammy courageously marched out in front to face Sarrael.
“Are you the Spanish Milkfish being mentioned by my friends to me?”
One of the mestizo young men at the back stepped forwards and asked, “Who are you and why are you interfering?”
“How about you, why do you mess with them? How have they ever wronged you?” Tammy pointed her finger towards Dario and the rest.
She felt a hand grabbing her collar. Eventually, she was raised into the air. “Stupid Indio,” shouted Sarrael at her.
“Hey, let go of him!”
Tammy turned her head back and saw Manuel charging at them. Sarrael indeed let go of her to punch Manuel.
That signaled the beginning of chaos. The two camps rained fists to each other. Tammy got her chance to take revenge against Sarrael. The man was bigger than her, but so what? She twisted his arm and kicked at his calves. The young man curled up in pain and forced a counterattack but Manuel take over in beating him up. When the fist landed on Sarrael’s nose, he was easily felled.
Tammy dragged her feet closer to Manuel and greet, “Muy bien!” Manuel let out a smile and was about to leave Sarrael but another opponent popped out from the side, forcing them to give that one their attention.
On the side, Emilio was exchanging blows with another mestizo named Mateo.
“Tu madre es una estupida,” Mateo loudly spoke up while trying to plant another punch to Emilio. The latter managed to block his fist though, and instead landed his to the opponent.
“Callate el osico gordota,” replied Emilio to him after giving out that blow and rendering the other party unconscious. “Shut up Fatty!” That was what he meant to him. Indeed, it was true that guy named Mateo had a fat built.
“Tu madre es muy gorda y fea!” as he says that, Aron Sarrael was running towards Emilio. However, everyone was stunned when a mestiza woman with a pretty large built entered the fray. The woman joined the conflict of the young men and made everyone else shut up when she she threw her fist at Sarrael.
“Baboso! Estupido! What are you doing here when you are supposed to study!?”
“Mama! Why are you here and how did you find me?” Sarrael shouted.
The madam pinched and twisted the ear of the young man. His hair messy, and was bruised all over. “Luckily, someone informed me that you are here accompanied by your ‘good’ friends! Instead of burning eyebrows to study, you are here fighting with your fellow students! Go home before I hit you! Now! Tonto! Right now! All of you, go home!”
The madam’s facial expression and voice scared the hell out of Aron Sarrael’s friends. They all scrambled running, leaving the mother and son pair. They were the one to leave last as the mother was dragging Sarrael away.
“Tu madre es muy gorda y fea… I think you were pertaining to me!”
“Mama! Por favour, we’re embarrassing to look at!”
The madam hit Sarrael on the head. That was the last scene that they witnessed.
Tammy and the four young men exchanged glances with each other. That was only when they got to breathe in relief. After that they all laughed and shared a group hug.
….
Notes: (TL: Feel free to comment down if there’s any correction. Thanks.)
- Nabacla – got confused (original context). In the modern era, the root word, ‘bacla’ or ‘bakla’ means gay.
- Tu madre es una estupida – Your mother is stupid.
- Callate el osico gordota – Shut your snout, fatty.
- Tu madre es muy gorda y fea – Your mother is fat and ugly.
- Baboso – Retard
- Mierda – sh*t
- Por favor – please or by favor
- Baboso/Estupido/Tonto – stupid
TL: WS25
ED: Corensi
SHARRAMYCATS TRANSLATIONS 