30 Days with Fina by JellOfAllTrades

Chapter 15

I went upstairs to the attic and turned the flatscreen TV on. After looking through the channels, I decided to look for our copy of the old Disney movie, Sleeping Beauty.

"Ate Jell, anong hinahanap mo?" I heard a voice from behind me so I turned to face my cousin, Mary.

"Alam mo ba kung asan yung kopya natin ng Sleeping Beauty?"

"Bakit?"

"Panunuorin ko."

"Andun ata yun nakasama sa animated movies," Mary pointed to one section of the bookshelf that we turned into a systematic display of movie collections. Because if there's one thing that we really enjoy doing together, it's watching movies.

I approached the part of the bookshelf that Mary pointed out and started looking for the familiar title of Sleeping Beauty. I initially looked for it in the children's movie but forgot that it could have been moved to the animated section.

"Ba't naisipan mong panuorin yan?" Mary inquired, sitting down on the sofa and watching me browse through the collection.

"Wala, natripan ko lang."

"Sure ka?"

I turned to face Mary. "Bakit parang nagdududa yang boses mo?"

"Ang weird lang kasi ng kinikilos mo ngayon. Ayaw mo kaya ng ganyang movie. Gusto mo palaging action, horror, mystery at thriller."

"Ano namang masama kung matripan kong manuod ng ganito ngayon?"

"Wala naman."

I faced the collection again and immediately saw what I was looking for. I took it out of the shelf and blew the dust off of it.

"Disney's Sleeping Beauty." I read the title.

"Ayos lang ba kung samahan kitang manuod?" Mary asked.

"Oo."

"Popcorn gusto mo?" She offered.

"Sige."

Mary went down to the kitchen while I got the player ready. When she got back, the Disney castle opening is already running so she immediately put the popcorn bag in the microwave and set it on.

I exhaled sharply, wondering why am I going to watch this damned movie.

"Lalim nun ah?" Mary noted.

"Manahimik ka na lang," I retorted. But she's right, I never liked this kind of movies, I always went for the more lively ones. What kind of sorcery does Fina Romulo put on me to make me do these kinds of things that I'm not accustomed to?

The popping noise of the popcorn began so I shifted to a more comfortable position on the sofa. The buttery smell filled the air and despite just having finished breakfast, my mouth began to water.

As I watched the beginning of the movie, I remember again the secretive smile Fina gave me when she told me that this movie, Sleeping Beauty is her favorite Disney animation. There was something oddly different about that smile, not just because she's hiding the reason from me but because there was some sort of spark in her eyes.

Mary handed me the bowl where she transferred the popcorn and then sat comfortably beside me, her eyes focused on the television screen.

I tried my best to focus on the movie and stop thinking about Fina but somehow failed since the question of why this is Fina's favorite movie kept on nagging me. I did focus on the movie but every little detail, from the moment that the baby was cursed to the moment that the prince kissed her, I watched everything with the same intensity I give my economics book whenever I'm reviewing for our Finals.

As the credits started to roll, Mary spoke up. "Seryoso mo ah?"

"Di ako seryoso."

"Hindi eh. Normally inaantok ka sa ganitong movies, pero ni hindi ka humikab sa kabuuan ng palabas. Seryoso ka sa panunuod."

"Ano bang gusto mo malaman, Mary? Kanina mo pa pinipilit na may rason yung panunuod ko nito eh." I retorted.

"Ang weird ng kinikilos mo." She pointed out.

"Psh." I shook my head, annoyed. "Ewan ko sayo,"

I left the attic soon after that, thinking about calling Fina about the damned Disney movie but remembered that she doesn't want me to call her unless its an emergency.

"Pano ko tatawagan yun?" I whispered to myself. "Baka magalit siya..."

But after a moment's hesitation, I finally dialed her number. There was no answer for the first few rings, making me think that she won't pick it up, but just when I was about to give up, the call went through.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Fina!" I exhaled with obvious relief.

"Hello? Sino po sila?" She asked on the other end. I realized that the voice was different. I checked the screen to make sure I didn't dial the wrong number but it's right.

"Fina, si Jell 'to."

"Uhh Jell, pasensya ka na ha? Wala kasi si Fina ngayon. Nanay niya 'to."

My breath hitched upon hearing that.

"Err, na saan po ba si Fina? May itatanong po kasi ako sa kanya." I excused, trying my best to calm my heart down.

"Nasa ampunan."

"Ampunan po?"

"Oo, malapit yun sa munisipyo kung gusto mo sya puntahan." Her mother said. "Pero kung makakapaghintay naman yang tanong mo, mamayang hapon pa ang uwi nya. Siguro mga alas quatro andito na sya."

"Oh. Ah, sige po. Puntahan ko nalang po sya mamaya. Salamat po!"

"Walang anuman."

I ended the call and stared at the cellphone screen. "Anong ginagawa ni Fina sa ampunan?"

I went downstairs and looked for someone to tell them that I'm leaving only to find Mamita in the living room, reading a book.

I took a deep breath before calling her attention. "Mamita?"

"Oh, Jellane?" She looked up from her thick book that I realized is the Bible.

"Aalis lang po muna ako."

"San naman ang punta mo?"

"Sa bayan lang po." I said. We use the term 'bayan' for the central part of Calauag where the church, municipal hall, plaza, wet market, and the commercial centers are concentrated.

"Oh, sige. Magiingat ka." She nodded and went back to reading her book.

I left the house and rode a tricycle to the municipal hall since I didn't find the distance worth my time walking. When I got there, I looked upon the red-bricked facade of the old municipal hall, remembering that just days before, I went here to get myself sexually harassed by a perverted politician.

I pushed the memory away and looked around for the orphanage that Fina supposedly went to. I saw it just two buildings on the left of the municipal hall, beside the DSWD daycare facility.

It was three stories high, of whitewashed paint and dark green roofing. If not for the small convent on it's left, I would have mistaken it to be part of the St. Peter's School Calauag campus which was just nearby. Its school buildings have the same whitewash painted walls and dark green roofing.

The red gates are open and I can see the people inside the orphanage's open door and windows.

I silently slipped through the gates and stopped by the open door, unsure if I should just go in or knock when a woman wearing a DSWD polo shirt almost bumped into me.

"Ay jusko po!" She said in surprise, placing a hand on her chest. "Yano yaan, ay! Anong ginagawa mo jan?!"

"Oh, sorry." I apologized for scaring her, trying my best not to laugh at the use of 'Yano yaan, ay!' because I always found that phrase kinda funny.

The woman took a deep breath before asking me. "Ano po bang kailangan nila?"

"Anjan po ba si Fina?" I asked. "Sabi po kasi ng nanay niya andito po siya eh."

"Ay, si Fina ba kamo? Andun sya sa itaas. Samahan na kita." She presented, letting me in.

The place is crammed with paper filled desks and file cabinets. Five other women wearing the same DSWD polo shirts are busy with their work. They only looked at us before returning their attention to their paper. At the back of the building, past the makeshift office, I noticed that the floor is covered with colorful placemats and there are boxes of toys lining the walls.

"Mga laruan ng bata." The woman said, following my gaze. "May trentang bata kaming inaalagaan dito. Mga iniwan nalang ng mga magulang nila kaya imbes na hayaan naming magpalaboy laboy sila sa kalsada'y dinala na namin dito."

We started climbing the stairs.

"Si Fina po?" I inquired.

"Madalas yung batang iyon dito. Noon pa lamang nagaaral pa sya ng high school ay pumupunta na siya dito." The woman explained. "Mabait na bata. Kaklase mo ba sya?"

"Hindi ho. Nagbabakasyon lang po ako dito. Kaibigan ko lang ho siya." I smiled, slightly amused at her probinsyana accent.

"Kaya pala mukha kang dayo. Anong pangalan mo, hija?"

"Jell po."

"Jell, ako si Ate Sally."

As we reached the second-floor landing, I heard Fina's calming voice echo loudly. I followed Ate Sally who gestured to me to stay silent.

There on the placemat covered space sat Fina, reading a storybook and surrounded by thirty children who are all focused on her. She has her back towards us so she didn't see us come up. And as I watch her read with enthusiasm to the kids, I couldn't help myself from smiling.

"At dahil sa masamang ugali ni Ampalaya, pinarusahan sya ng diwata!" She said, acting like she has a wand and pointed it at one kid. "Naging kulukulubot ang balat nya at nang siya'y kainin ay napaka-pait ng lasa niya!"

The children burst out laughing at the kid she pointed at but they immediately focused back to Fina, waiting for her to continue. Gods, this girl would make a perfect teacher.

"Kaya tandaan nating lahat na hindi dapat tayo maging masama't mapanghusga sa kapwa natin kung ayaw nating matulad kay Ampalaya na pinarusahan ng diwata." Fina said in conclusion to the story.

The children started clapping and cheering. Some even started asking questions.

"Ate ate, kumakain ka ba ng ampalaya?"

"Ate, anong nangyari kay labanos?"

"Ate Fina, pwede na ba akong manligaw?"

I burst out laughing at the last question so Fina turned to see who's there and her eyes widened when she saw me. I just gave her a smile.

"Hindi, Karlo." Fina patiently answered the kid. "Masyado ka pang bata para manligaw. Kiko, oo, kumakain ako ng ampalaya. Favorite ko nga siya kasi masustansya siya. Gelay, pinatawad niya si Ampalaya sa panghuhusga nito sa kanya."

While she was entertaining their questions, a little girl holding a battered teddy bear approached me and tugged on my shorts. I kneeled down to her level and smiled at her.

"Chino ka?" She asked.

"Ako si Jell. Ikaw, anong pangalan mo?" I answered, pinching her chubby cheeks.

"Arianne," She muttered, reaching out to touch my nose. "Ang laki ng nosh mo."

"Arianne," Ate Sally said. "Wag mong hawakan yung ilong ni ate Jell."

I laughed at Arianne. "Di naman malaki nose ko eh. Matangos lang."

"Malaki pa rin." Arianne insisted, pinching my nose once again. She giggled and then hugged her teddy bear tightly, swaying on her position she smiled teasingly at me. "Laki ilong ni ate Jell."

"Di naman eh." I pouted, acting childish for once.

"Di bagay sayo, Jell."

I looked up and saw Fina who's already finished answering the children's questions. Her hands are on her hips as if to scold me for going here but she's smirking, amused that I'm talking to little Arianne.

"Ate Fina, diba malaki nosh ni ate Jell?" Arianne asked, pointing at me.

I pouted at Fina as if asking her to side with me but she only laughed at my action. "Arianne, matangos lang ang ilong ni ate Jell. Pero oo, medyo malaki siya noh?"

"Aww.."

Arianne giggled once more. "Chabi ko chayo eh! Laki ng nosh mo!"

"ARIANNE!" Another girl shouted from across the room, waving and calling on Arianne to go there.

"Sige na, Arianne, punta ka na dun. Tawag ka ni Dandan oh." Fina said.

Arianne ran to her friend without any backward glance at us. Ate Sally, meanwhile, left our side to help the smaller children play with the Lego blocks on one side of the room.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito, Jell?" Fina asked over the children's giggles, laughs, and shouting.

"Binibisita ka, ano pa ba?" I stood up, towering over her.

"Weh? Di nga?" She smirked. "Di mo nga ata alam na may ampunan dito eh. Pano mo ako nahanap?"

"Tinawagan ko yung cellphone mo. Nanay mo sumagot." I said. "Sabi niya andito ka and since wala akong magawa sa bahay, pinuntahan na kita."

Fina glared at me. "Sabi ko sayo wag kang tatawag unless emergency eh."

"Eh wala akong magawa sa bahay eh!"

"So, pangpalipas oras mo ako, ganun?"

"Hoy, hindi ah!"

"Anong hindi? Hinahanap mo ako kasi wala kang magawa, hindi ba nagpapalipas oras tawag dun?"

I frowned. "Hanep na yan, oo! Hindi ba pwedeng gusto lang kita makita kaya kita hinanap? Ba't kinukwestyon mo naman ang halaga mo sakin ngayon?"

Fina laughed. "Ang cute mo talaga pag napipikon ka."

"You have a twisted sense of cuteness then."

She reached out to pinch my nose. "At least this, I think isn't twisted."

"Well, for your information, this," I pointed to my nose, "got broken twice already so it is twisted."

Fina frowned. "Seryoso ka?"

I made a poker face. "I told you I'm bad. I did a lot of bad things in Manila."

Fina paused for a moment as if letting my words sink in.

"Hey, ayos lang ako, ano ka ba. I deserved every punch I got."

She frowned, closing her eyes as if in pain.

"Hey, hey. You okay?" I held her arm.

"Basagulero ka sa Manila?" She murmured.

"Not really, no. Sinusuntok lang nila ako pag napikon sila or nadawit ko yung girlfriend nila." I answered truthfully. "Alam mo, andaming best friends narin pala ang sumampal sakin." And then I laughed, remembering those times. Jaime always got my back there.

Fina glared at me so I stopped mid-laugh.

"What?" I complained. "I find it funny."

"Hindi nakakatawa, Jell." She seriously said.

"Ano bang ikinaba-badtrip mo jan?"

"Ayokong may napapa-away ka."

I rolled my eyes. "Fina, trouble follows me like a shadow. I can't get rid of it as long as I'm in the light."

"Then go to the dark side."

I laughed. "Really? Go to the dark side? What are you going to say next? 'Join the dark side, we have pie'?" I couldn't stop laughing. She said that so seriously she really looks like a villain inviting me to be one of them.

I stopped only when I realized that she's mad at me now. "Hey, nagbibiro lang ako dito."

"Seryoso kasi ako, Jell."

"Okay, napapa-away ako sa Manila. Pero kaya ko naman sarili ko eh. And if matters get out of hand, palagi ko namang kasama si Jaime."

"Can you promise me something, Jell?"

"Depends."

"Wag ka ng makikipagaway."

I stared at her.

"Please, Jell. Kung maiiwasan mo, iwasan mo na. Ayokong isipin na nabubugbog ka. Ayoko ng idea na nasasaktan ka."

She looks so serious and after a few moments, a smile formed on my lips. I leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll try and keep my distance with trouble. Pero pag sila unang sumuntok, gaganti na ako ha?"

"Wag ka ng gumanti." She pleaded, looking up at me.

"Eh baka lalo akong mabugbog pag di ako gumanti."

Fina let out a deep sigh. "Bahala ka na. Basta promise mo yan ha? Iiwas ka na sa gulo."

"Oo na." I smiled, somewhat glad that she cares for me to make me promise.

"Ate Fina!" A little kid called our attention. "Ate Fina oh! Si Jepoy nangangagat!"

The little kid got chased by the so-called Jepoy who's teeth are bared, threatening to bite. Fina got in and swooped little Jepoy off the floor.

"Jepoy!" Fina said. "Anong sabi ko sayo dati?"

Jepoy smiled at me, ignoring Fina. "Hi!"

"Hi!" I waved back, stopping myself from laughing.

Fina put Jepoy down and whispered something in his ear, next thing I know, I'm the one running away from him, laughing.

I was never any good with children because I intimidate them with my looks, but here in the orphanage with Fina? I just discovered a new side of me I've never known before.