(unedited)

Chapter 6

"Love is a Dangerous Thing"

 Andres could not remember a moment wherein he was more proud of being a father than when he saw his  Kim walking down the stairs that following evening.   She was the prettiest girl he has ever laid eyes on and it wasn’t just parental bias talking.   She was every bit enthralling in that simple, but elegant white dress.

 Andy reckoned that his daughter could very well be a TV commercial model if she so chooses.  And even then, none of the young stars he sees on television nowadays could ever match her grace.

 Kim felt very beautiful that night.  She liked how the way his father’s jaw dropped when he saw her.  She smiled back at him, it pleased her that he approved of her look.

 A hint of a tear glistened Mang Andres’  eyes.    He can’t begin to fathom how blessed he was to have a daughter like her.

 “Judging by the number of flies that entered your wide open mouth, I guess you liked my get-up, huh dad?”   Kim said.  As she reached the bottom of the creaky, wooden staircase, she twirled gracefully, showing off her dress.

 “Who are you and what have you done to my timid and shy baby daughter?”  Andres said mockingly.

 Kim immediately felt his growing pain.  She immediately pulled him close.

 “She’s still here inside, you know.  Only now, she’s a little bit older,” Kim spoke with this longing quality to her voice.  “And she’s more mature, and more responsible...”

 Andy had to fight very hard to hold back his tears.  His voice, however, started to crack.

 “No, I want my baby back,”  Andres fondly protested.   “At least, my baby needs me.   Whereas you, young lady, it seems like you are about to leave me and marry the next boy you meet...”

 “Oh, someday I will leave you dad...”  Kim responded naughtily.  

 Andres’ face turned sour.   Seeing that, Kim smiled and gave him an earnest hug.  She then whispered “I love you, dad.”  to his ear.   She would often do that when she was younger, but lately, she hasn’t done that a lot.   Anytime Andres would receive an affectionate gesture from her, he cherishes it, knowing in his mind that soon enough, she wouldn’t do that anymore.   Like her mom before her, she will leave him too.  However, for today, that hug was enough to assuage his growing insecurities about losing her.

 Kim placed her hands on his cheeks and looked at him dreamily.  She has this penchant of mothering him like he was a little kid.

 “Someday soon, Itay...” Kim said with a deep sigh.   “I will meet a boy who loves me for all that I am and all that I can be.   He will be perfect.   Just like you...”

 Andres felt his heartstrings tugged by her bittersweet words.   She is so sweet and naive --- two dangerous qualities for a girl her age.   Andres knew that his shelter and protection had shielded her from the rough nature of her world.  But somehow, that very same nurturing environment he provided for her made her susceptible to the harsh and devious people waiting for her on the outside.   Her youthful idealism made her frail.  

 “Anak, I wish you wouldn’t speak of things like marriage...or boys for that matter.  You are much too young.”

 “Itay, I am already seventeen.  Rowena, my classmate who lives across the street, already has three children at seventeen.  And Jovie too, who is only sixteen is already living-in with her boyfriend.”

 Andres gave her a weak smile and said, “Yes, that may be true.  But Rosario and Jovie don’t have doting fathers who is going to be crushed if his only daughter of seventeen marries off right away.”

 Kim rolled her eyes at him.  

 “Kimmy... Baby, promise me this...before you go out looking...like that,” Andres mumbled through his words.   “Make a promise...because, I know after tonight, you will have a hundred boys lined up outside our house by morning, especially when they see how beautiful you really are and how you’ve grown to be such an exquisite young lady.  Promise me...that you won’t hurry.   Promise me...that before you agree to go on a relationship with a boy,  that you will think about it, not just once but at least ten times...”

 “Dad...”  Kim muttered uncomfortably. Somehow she sensed that her dad was no longer joking around.  He was dead serious.

 “Baby please...listen to me.” Andres begged. “Be careful of the guy you will choose to love.   The first one may not always be the ONE.  Some girls are lucky that they meet the guy of their dreams the first time, some are not.   I just don’t want you to suffer any kind of heartbreak because never in a million years will you ever deserve it.”

 “Dad, I’m not even remotely close to being steady with a guy, I think it’s rather too early to talk about heartbreaks.”

 Andres wished he could be more explicit just now but he couldn’t seem to find the right words.  “Just, don’t be in a hurry, okay?  Promise me that, baby?”     

 Kim hugged him once more.  “Don’t you worry dad, I PROMISE to be your little girl for a little while longer...”

 That brought Andres some degree of comfort.   He felt that somehow his message got through to her.

 Kim continued with her spiel, “You are still, and always will be, my number one man, dad.  Mom was so lucky to have you.  I am lucky to have you.”

 In his mind, Andres wished that was true.   He never was the perfect man to his wife.   He may be to his daughter, but he knew he didn’t treat Evangeline right.  He didn’t even love her like the way she had loved him.   When she died, all Andres felt was guilt, not heartbreak.

 Andres felt a rebellious tear streak down his face.  He had to brush it off before his daughter saw it.  “Okay...off you go, dear.  Your cousin Kitkat had been calling like crazy.   I’ll meet you at the plaza a little later, okay?  I’ll take a little nap first.”

 “Okay, but don’t take too long a nap.  You have to get dressed soon.  I’ll meet you there afterwards, okay?” Kim answered, once again in her mothering tone.   “By the way, have you seen my mask?”

 Andres immediately stood up from his rocking chair and pulled out an intricately beaded mask from the wooden cabinet near the kitchen.   “Be careful with it, it was your mom’s.”

 Kim smiled at him. “I will...” 

 She placed the mask over her face and flashed him a grin.  “Tell me, dad, why are we doing this again?  Why do we have to wear a mask to the sayawan (dance)?”

 “It’s one of the many oddities of our town, dear.”   Andres answered.

 “Who started this anyway?  Was it really the Capulongs of the olden days?”

 Andoy gave her this puzzled expression. “Have I not told you this story many times before?”

 “Yes, you have, but I want to hear it again.” Kim revealed.   “It just feels more magical every time you tell that story to me.”

 Andres was more than willing to indulge her.   “Well, it was your forefathers who started it.  During the Spanish colonial times, a nasty friar once ruled the town of Tondo.  During his term, he made a decree outlawing dances or balls like these.  He and his minions believed that such paganistic celebration was a form of devil-worship.  Anyone who engaged on it was persecuted.   So, as a form of rebellion, once a year, the young people of the time, of course headed by the brave Capulongs, they would meet in the town plaza at the dead of the night and danced.  To prevent the guardia civil (civil guards) from knowing their true identities, they wore masks.  Somehow, through the years this strange tradition sort of stuck on until it grew bigger and bigger. Nowadays, it has become a full-fledged tradition.”

 “Can you imagine living during those times?”  Kim said pensively.  “People would rather die than not be allowed to dance...to express their feelings.  I think it’s so romantic...”

 Andres shook his head in dismay.   Her naivete was both precious and ridiculous.  He then added, “Just remember that this tradition of ours...it’s not really about the fancy masks that you have on right now, but it is more about the freedom of the people to gather together and do what they want.  That is what we really celebrate...”

 Kim was only half listening at this time.   She was already giving herself another once-over on the mirror.  Seemingly not contented with how she looked with her mask on, she slowly took out the disguise and stashed it on her purse. 

 “You should see how Kitkat look, dad.  She’s so anxious and excited...she’s definitely putting out all the stops tonight.”  Kim grinned back at Andres.

 Andres caught that little shiver of excitement from her.   “Say what again?”

 Kim rolled her eyes at him once more.  “I said Kitkat will be dressed to kill at the ball.  She is hoping that Anton will finally notice her.  After all, she is turning 26 in July.”

 “So what if she’s 26?”

 “Itay, don’t you know that here in our town,  26 is like...OLD.   Kitkat thinks that if she can’t get married by the end of this year, she is cursed to be a spinster for life.”

 “Oh, you kids...” Andres groaned.  “All you think about is getting hitched.”

 “Dad, Kitkat is so serious about it. You should see what she will be wearing tonight.  It really screams desperate and scandalous.”

 “You better stay away from her then,” Andres bantered.

 Kim didn’t quite respond to him after that.  Instead, Andres saw her dance her way over to the window and looked out into the night sky.   Maybe he was imagining it, but he even thought he heard her hum a song.   His heart skipped a beat.  Could this really be a sign?

 “Anak, you better go now,”  he said to her. 

Kim hardly heard him.   “What time is it, Itay?”

“It’s almost eight,” he said, looking intently at her face.  It was quite uncommon for his daughter to be this...distracted. 

 She was still beaming from ear to ear when she turned to say goodbye him.   There was this uncanny spring to her step that made Andres somewhat uneasy.  The moment she gave him a peck on the cheek, Andres knew Kim was keeping something from him.  Call it father’s instinct.   It was the very same kind of instinct other species of animals develop especially when one of their young was about to be mauled by an enemy.

 “See you later,  dad...”  Kim said hastily.

 “Baby, don’t forget your promise...” Andres called out to her as she was stepping out of the door. 

 She did not hear him, of course.  She didn’t even look back as she disappeared into the night.

 That was when Andres knew she was about to lose Kim soon.  That very look on her face was enough of a giveaway. 

 He had seen that look many times before on other people, especially when he was about to commit a hideous crime.  Yes, he had seen that same look on his victims, not the one they gave him which was fear unhindered, but the one they give one another before they died.    He had only seen that look bestowed on him once.  That was when he held his wife for the first time at the altar during their phony marriage.

 It was the look of pure, unadulterated LOVE.

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 Unbeknownst to her father, Kim had a plan to put into gear.

 “You owe me big time for this, Kimmy dear!”  Kitkat protested as she stepped out of her dress.   “Are even you sure this is going to work?”

 “Cousin dear, don’t you trust me?”  Kim replied confidently.   “My plan is so brilliant...it’s almost fool-proof.”

 “ Almost? Tell me how this is going to work again...”  Kitkat said as she slowly lifted Kim’s white dress to her body.  

  “Simple, you will go over there as me and I will go over there as you.”

 “I wish it was as simple as that,” her cousin complained.  “What if uncle Andoy finds out? He will surely have my head on his plate.”

 Kim took her time putting on Kitkat’s dress.   The dress was obscenely short and skimpy, she had to make sure none of her knickers showed.  “He won’t find out because you won’t tell.  Besides, even if he did, what is wrong with us switching dresses?”

 “Well, there is nothing wrong with that.  But what’s wrong is our intent to deceive him...to deceive everybody.”

 Kim had to place an arm over her cousin’s shoulder to calm her down.   “Just think of it this way, cousin.  By the end of the night, you may have a go with that congressman’s son.   Who knows, you may just be able to snag a husband after all.”

 “You scheming little vixen you,” Kitkat said.  “Do you really think I have a chance with him?”

 Kim had to lie for her own benefit.  Little white lies never hurt anybody, do they? Her cousin needed the confident boost.  “Yes, you have as good a chance as anybody, Kit...I would even say, your chances are really good, most definitely!”

 “What if he finds out that I’m not you?”  

 “Like I told you, cuzz....Franco has not really seen me in person in quite a while.   I am fairly confident that he wouldn’t even recognize that you are not who you are.  Just play the part and he will have no problem falling for you. You’re very pretty Kitkat and in that dress, I don’t care whichever guy it was, HE will definitely fall in love with you.”

 “You think?”

 “Heck, you’re even prettier than I am!”

 “Now, I know you’re lying...”

 Kim gave her cousin a tight squeeze.  “Don’t sell yourself short, Kit.  One look at you and Franco will fall and crawl at your feet. In the end, it may not even matter that it’s really you under that dress and not me.”

 “I will be hoping against hope that he would do that.   That’s because I really find him cute and y,” Kitkat said dreamily.  “I wonder what Anton would think of me in this dress?”

 “Forget about Anton.   Franco Moreno is like fine wine compared to that sour tuba (coconut brew) Anton.”

 “I guess, you’re right. Like you always are...”  Kitkat immediately proceeded to re-apply her make-up.  From the vanity mirror she suddenly saw how Kim was transformed by the dress.  “My gosh, baby cousin...you look so HOT!”

 “By hot, you mean, hot like a tramp?”  Kim complained

 “I meant to say whorish...but tramp is fine!”  Kitkat giggled back.

 Kim began to put on her mask.  She looked at herself at her cousin’s dusty floor-length mirror.  She did look too stunning in that hot-pink, tight catsuit dress. She can only imagine Gerald’s reaction seeing her in that dress.  It had revealing cuts all over the bodice that Kim feared some of her body parts might make an unwelcome 'hello' during the dance. 

“Where did you get this dress by the way?”   Kim asked.

“From that gay hairdresser Jessie at the parlor...”

  “That figures,” Kim grumbled.  “Look, I may need to borrow a shawl, I don’t want to catch pneumonia on this dress.”

 Kitkat tossed back at her cousin a knitted black shawl.  Kim draped it over her shoulders and she somehow felt better with herself.  At least now, she looked a bit “decent.”

 “Are you excited, Kimmy dear?”    Kitkat said through pursed lips.  She was hell-bent of putting on as much lipstick on her pouter.

 “About what?”

 “Of the fact that you will meet him there again?”

Kim’s heart flipped.  Somehow, she felt her blood pressure surge to crazy heights.  She began to flush.  “Not really...I don’t really want to get my hopes up too much, he might not even come tonight.”

 “If you’re not excited then why are you blushing?  Your face now matches your dress,” Kitkat teased.

Kim placed her hands over her face.  Darn! Her cheeks were burning.   She was so transparent. “Well, I just wish he would show up, that’s all...”

 “Oh, he will, you’ll see...”   Kitkat was never usually sure of anything, except this.

  Somehow, she knew this Gerald will live up to his promise.  Based on what Kim told her happened the night before, she was sure that this boy was in love with her cousin.

 Likewise, she was sure that his cousin was in love with this Gerald Montanez fellow.   After all, why would she go through all of this trouble if she doesn’t?

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 Meanwhile, across the storied canals that divided the feuding clans, a group of young men gathered in secret.

 “Cousin, what do you wish to write on your tombstone?  Here lies the body of Gerald Montanez, a lovelorn ’n fool!?” 

 It was his cousin Marky, the potty mouth.  A rich, boisterous heckling from a dozen or so inebriated boys followed Marky’s statement.

 Gerald didn’t mind them.  Instead, he put on his mask.   “How do I look?”

 “Like a jerk!”  one of his other Ilonggo friends shouted. 

Gerald just shrugged his shoulders, his look would have to do.  From the little preparation time Kim had given him, at least he managed to look decent in his white long-sleeved shirt and black trousers.   The mask he was wearing looked somewhat detestable.  But considering how much he had to scour the whole of Divisoria looking for one, even if earlier he had serious doubts about going over there tonight, he thought he might as well just go.  Otherwise, he wouldn’t know when he will be able to see HER again, and that is even more tragic than the way he looked right now.

 Ah, Kim...his muse.  Why did she have to be this irresistible?  Why did he allow himself to be swallowed by her spell?

 Never in his life had he ever lost sleep over a girl until last night.   There is something about Kim that somehow draws him in.  Gerald couldn’t quite figure out what it was about her.  He couldn’t get his mind off her.   She was very...addicting.   

 “Well, I better go boys...”   Gerald said, looking down at his watch.

 Then suddenly, as if they were choreographed, all of his other friends took out similar dowdy-looking cardboard masks from their back pockets.  When they donned theirs on, they looked quite sinister.

 Gerald was astounded.

 “Do you think we will let you go into the belly of the beast by yourself?”  said Marky.

 “Marky, what do you guys think are you doing?”  exclaimed Gerald.  

 “Well, it looks like we’re going to the ball too...” 

The other boys laughed like a hyena.   Gerald grew nervous.  He immediately thought of Kim. 

 “But you guys can’t go...I need to do this by myself,” Gerald said.

“Yeah, we get it...you want to die alone...”   mocked Antony, his rather obtuse friend.  “You’re one crazy- dude, Gerald!”

“Look, there is a perfectly logical explanation to this, which I promise I will explain to you all tomorrow” Gerald said pleadingly.  “But tonight, I need you guys to stay here and be good.”

“Why EXACTLY are you doing this, Gerald?”  asked Marky.  He then followed it with a heavy, guttural bellow. “For what, cuzz?   For a girl?

Gerald was once again floored.  He instantly cursed at his friends.   He began to wonder who told them.  Then he knew the answer, he looked over to his youngest cousin Francis.  “You told them, didn’t you?”

Francis nodded awkwardly.  “They forced me to tell where you were last night.  Then, one thing led to another, next thing I knew I was already telling them about the masquerade.”

Gerald shook his head in disgust.  “I knew better not to tell you, Francis...”

“Sorry,  cuzzin Gerald.  You know how conniving and convincing they can all be...”

 Poor Francis.  Somehow, Gerald felt for him.   He knew what kind of mischief he had to go through under the hands of this boisterous gang.  They will stop at nothing to get what they want.  It was useless for Gerald to beg .  Once Marky and his fellow thugs have it set,  it was ultra difficult for them to change their minds.

  “Look Gerald, we promise to be in our best behaviour,”  Marky said naughtily.  “We won’t dare make a scene at your future father in law’s territory.  As much as we think you are making the stupidest decision of your pathetic life, we won’t do anything like that to you. We’re just going there for the free drinks, right guys?”

 The rowdy boys cheered Marky on, much to Gerald’s concern.

 Gerald had no choice now but to take them along.  

 “Does Tito Andy even know you are courting his enemy’s daughter?”  asked Marky.

 Gerald shook his head in displeasure.   As Francis walked past him, he gave him a sharp blow to the head.

 “What?”  The younger boy looked at him with the most puzzled expression.

 Gerald threatened him.  “If we'd ever make out of this alive, be ready to hide ‘cause I swear, I’ll cut off your tongue and your for telling on me!”

 Even if it was a joke, somehow Gerald’s remark made the young Francis shiver.   IT was as if a dark premonition came over him.   There was something about the way he said  "If we'd ever make out of this alive..."

 As the gang of Ilonggos made their way across the winding esteros (canals), Gerald was just hoping for the best.   

Envisioning Kim’s face on his mind was enough to parlay some of his fears, he even managed a smile, at least, for a little while...

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 IT was the best party they had ever in a while.  The excitement from last night’s basketball championship carried on the next day.   Andres Capulong was very proud of his own town mates.  They came out in droves.   The mood in the plaza was so festive.

 People danced like there was no tomorrow.  Trance-like music blasted from two tower like sound systems.  The largely Ilocano crowd undulated like they were hypnotized by an unknown spirit.

 Andres basked in the success of the party.  Being sort of the godfather of District I, Andres drew most of the attention of the politicians present.  One of them was Congressman Francis Moreno, who brought his tag-along son Franco.  

 Franco was a tall and imposing man like his father.  He was a bit heavy set, but his face was charismatic.  However, Andres noticed from his obvious body language, that he was not as cruel and scheming as his father was.   He was a “softie.”  At first, he had reservations about that.  He didn’t want a spineless man for his daughter.   But what the heck, who cares about that nowadays?  They were filthy rich.  Financially, he can very well take care of his daughter.

 “Good evening, Ninong (godfather) Andres!”  greeted Franco, who had a very fancy mask on.  “Is Kim around?”

 “Yes, she’s here somewhere...” Andres replied, looking around the nearby group of masqueraders.   She just saw her daughter enter the enclosed venue a few minutes ago. 

From one corner, he saw the distinct figures of Kim and Kitkat.  Immediately, he informed Franco of her location.  “There she is, son.  She’s that girl with the white dress on, next to the one wearing bright pink.”  

  “Oh, okay...excuse me, sir, I’ll go talk to your daughter now.”

 Andres could not decide if he was asking his permission or not.   He wanted to say something to him about it, but he was already gone.

 From where he was, Andoy could see that Franco had managed to charm his daughter immediately.  Soon enough, they were gaily laughing.  Andoy was confused.  He was pretty sure Kim would give him a hard time.  He almost expected it. 

Maybe despite her earlier protestations, Kim liked Franco after all.  Maybe. However, he knew his daughter all too well.   Judging at how his daughter looked so wistful earlier tonight and looking at how she was being a bit “friendly” with him,  Andoy just wasn’t about to be convinced right away.  He knew Kim often finds little ways around his puny self-imposed laws. Perhaps, his daughter was just leading Franco on for his sake, he just wasn’t sure.  

What Andoy knew though, was that his congressman friend looked happy at the romantic development between their children.   The elder Moreno readily gave him a thumbs up, which he responded by casting him an approving nod.

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The Montanez gang arrived without much fanfare.  Following what Gerald religiously instructed them, they immediately dispersed once they reached the Ilocano-dominated plaza.    Gerald was relieved that his friends followed his request.   For now, nobody knew they came there as a group.   Gerald was so proud of himself for thinking quickly of that scheme.  By dispersing through the crowd, none of the Capulongs will grow suspicious of their intrusion.

However, there was just too many people.

Gerald couldn’t believe what he was seeing.  There were almost a thousand young folks packed in that tiny bit of space.   To make matters worst, they were all wearing masks!   How the hell was he supposed to find Kim now?

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Meanwhile, Kim recognized Gerald the moment he entered the plaza.   Even if he was wearing this obnoxious-looking mask, she knew who he was.  His confident frame and stance was unmistakable. She reckoned even if she was blind, she can locate him. There was this unknown magnetic force that seems to draw her to him. She can almost sense his presence among the sea of people around her.   What she was feeling for him was very powerful.

Kim slowly approached him from behind.    She can see that he was very frustrated looking for her amongst the rowdy masses.   She saw him about to take his mask away. 

Kim placed a gentle hand over his trembling one.  She had to stop him from revealing his true identity.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you...” Kim whispered playfully behind his ear.

Gerald immediately recognized her voice.  Without turning, he said, “Why, what would happen if I would?”

“You will die a gruesome death,” Kim bantered, echoing the story he frightened her with the other night.

He let out a hearty laugh.  “I never thought I would be able to find you.”

“I told you I’d find you,” Kim replied.  

So, she did.  Gerald was so glad of that.  “May I know who I am speaking to?”

“Shhhh...I don’t have a name...”

 Gerald quickly turned around to finally get a glimpse of her.  As if on cue, his jaw dropped. 

Kim laughed at his expression.  His lips formed "WOW!"

What he saw was a vision of beauty beyond any other.  Seeing her masked off like that, added to her appeal.  She was like this mysterious character you would often picture in books, the ones that somehow lures great men into submission.  She was alluring as she was breathtaking.

"Who are you?"  he said.  He couldn't believe how incredibly y she was.

"Like I said, I am nameless.  Free to call me any name you want.   Just not Capulong..."  she moved languidly around him, her fingers tracing his stiff shoulders.

“Can I just call you...mine?” he mumbled.

She let out this heavy, hearty laugh.   She was amazed at how he never seems to fail to humour her with his candor.   “Names...who cares about them anyway.”

“With you, miss...any other name will sound just as sweet.   Be it beautiful, lovely, pretty...you are all that, and more...” 

Kim held her breath.   How easily can he make her laugh and almost cry at the same time.  He is the only person she knew that could elicit such a response from her.

“So...I’m here now...what do we do?”

“Hmm, let me see.  What do people do during dances?”  Kim clued him.

Gerald flashed her a toothy grin.  “I thought you’d never ask, miss...”

He slowly took her hand and pulled her gently towards the center of the crowd.   Together, hand in hand, they swayed languidly beneath their token disguise.  Song after song, their youthful bodies moulded each other perfectly; and yes, they moved so rhythmically together that one can never guess that they have only known each other for a couple nights.

From that moment on, time stopped for Kim and Gerald.  They even ceased to be who they were. They were random, yet destined.  Generic, yet constant.  Looking at each other's eyes, they were caught in this other dimension, a world so pure only the good exist.  As they danced on, everything around them began to blur.  They were instantly captured in this fragile glass bubble, completely insulated from all the anger that surrounds them. 

In that little sliver of borrowed time, they were completely happy.  If only, for a little while longer...

 LOVE.  Just how powerful it really IS, one can never quite fathom...

 Just imagine how from the ocean of meaningless faces that surrounds them, she had found him.   And how at the face of grave danger, he brazenly danced along with her...

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March 3, 2010.