Chapter 29

Summer Picnic

It was exactly a week after Aunt Helen's surprised arrival when her childhood friends in the farm organized a despidida* party in her honor. They decided to do a picnic by the river. My father Amor and Uncle Tino, Karlo's father were the prime organizers. A makeshift tent was built on the riverbank. Plastic tables and chairs were hauled from the multi-purpose hall and were strategically placed all over. Rows of barbecue pits hot with burning charcoal briquettes were laden with marinated meats, fresh fish and seafoods. The smell of grilling foods filled the air. A buffet table was at the center of tent. It was filled with fresh vegetable salads, different dressings, dips, fruits, and different kinds of desserts. Aunt Helen hugged Auntie Anita when she saw the spread of food. They were her favorite Filipino foods. She went to every table and told the guests to help themselves to the food. There was no structured program to the party. People came, greeted Aunt Helen and pay their respect to Grandpa Anton who was happily playing cards with some elder officers of the farm. A handful of children came with their parents. They were happily swimming in the river under their parents' watchful eyes.

Our coven secured a shaded area with some distance from the main party area. Alexis smuggled some bottles of red wine from Grandpa Anton's. He experimented on making sangria. He said he found a highly-rated recipe on You Tube. It was delicious! I was on my second glass when Aunt Helen came to our spot. She asked me to put sunscreen on her face and back. She was wearing a bathing suit and a flowing white skirt. She was also wearing a pair of outrageous sunglasses. The ensemble flattered her figure. She was a sight to behold. I again told myself that I want to grow old like her. She sipped my sangria while I put sunscreen on her.

"Aha!" she blurted out looking at each one of us. Her gaze stopped at Alexis. "Did Grandpa know you got his favorite wine? No??? I thought so."

"Why are you so sure, it's me?" Alexis asked defensively.

"Because Justine wouldn't go behind your Grandpa's back." Aunt Helen said as a matter of fact. Alexis gasped.

The coven was quiet for an awkward moment. We didn't know what to take of this conversation between aunt and nephew. Alexis let out a hearty laugh and went to Aunt Helen to hug her.

"You knew me too well, my dear Aunt! What's the fun in asking permission? I want Grandpa to guess who stole his wine. Maybe he'd suspect Auntie Anita." He laughed at his own joke. Aunt Helen laughed with him.

"You wish! Auntie Anita is the last person he'd suspect. He'd know that you'd be the only person who'd have the audacity to do that." Justine said with authority.

"Com'on, where's your sense of adventure?" Alexis asked, still laughing at his mischief.

"I have a handful of adventure here." Justine hugged me from behind. The rest of the gang rolled their eyes and muttered, "Yeah, yeah!"

Aunt Helen pulled Justine in front of her and proceeded to put sunscreen on his face. Annoyed, he told Aunt Helen to let me do it. Aunt Helen said that PDA (public display of affection) would be regulated because some old folks frown on it. Justine's face was full of disbelief. Alexis made face at his brother telling him that served him right. The rest of the coven and I however got what Aunt Helen was saying. People in the farm tend to be on the conservative side. They frown on young couple's public display of affection. I made a mental note to be conscious of this. Alexis enjoyed being slathered with sunscreen. He liked to be doted on by Aunt Helen. He was openly sweet and clung to her. Justine on the other hand was a bit reserved with his feelings. But you couldn't also miss the powerful bond between the two. I was sometimes puzzled on how Aunt Helen look at Justine. I saw hints of longing on her face. Or maybe it was just my own longing of having a mother and I was just projecting this feeling on her. Aunt Helen must have sensed what I was thinking because she pulled me to her too and proceeded to put sunscreen on my face and every exposed skin in my body. I let her. I wanted to savor this moment. When she was done she hugged me from behind. I got teary-eyed with this show of tenderness. I wished she wasn't leaving the next day.

"Stop monopolizing my girlfriend," Justine playfully teased Aunt Helen. She hugged me some more before she released me.

"Stop being so jealous, Justine." Aunt Helen retorted. Justine frowned at her. I touched his forehead to smooth his face. He took my hand and kissed it. I hastily withdrew my hand thinking of the anti-PDA unspoken rule. Justine wouldn't have it. He took my hand and wouldn't let go of it. I smiled despite myself. I told myself to not worry about what other people would say. 'I would enjoy this picnic and will do PDA if I want to.' I blushed with this thought. Justine smiled at me knowingly. We were connected like that even in mischief. Alexis offered another round of sangria to everyone in our group including Aunt Helen. Karlo tapped his glass with a spoon to catch our attention. He raised his glass.

"I'd like to offer a toast." Karlo stood up and raised his glass. We followed his lead. "To our beautiful Aunt Helen, who is forever young at heart, may you have a safe journey back to New York. Please think of us poor farm people once in while especially when you're shopping. May you continue to send us balikbayan boxes* filled with branded sneakers and delectable goods!"

"Cheers!!!" everyone chorused loudly. The boys patted Karlo's back congratulating him for that self-serving toast. This confirmed what I knew all along that it wasn't just my father and I who had received balikbayan boxes. All of Aunt Helen's childhood friends and their families received those much awaited boxes too. Kindness definitely ran in the Rodriquez family. Karlo and Aunt Helen embraced tightly. I was sure I wasn't the only one sad that Aunt Helen was leaving.