The Wooden Key

Last day of my stay here in the province. I woke up too early just to prepare our breakfast because Lola was sick for days, so I took over the cooking. After I prepared her food and herbal remedies for her fever, I went outside the house to breathe fresh air. The weather was so fine. A stunning sunrise in the east met me as I sat on the balcony having some puto and sikwate. I heard the rustle of the leaves as swayed by the wind in the backyard and birds chirping flew free in the flawless blue skies.

The phone alarm rang, and flashed a note on the screen "Get ready for Lolo's Visit.". I immediately took the bath since I needed to visit Lolo Pontancio's grave first before going home to the City. It's so painful to think that my 30 days of vacation here would end. I captured some moments here that made me happy, but some things were not satisfying at all.

After an hour of getting ready, finally done with my stuff. I headed into the dining area to prepare my food, but Lola hadn't eaten yet. I was about to call her name but I saw her busy hiding something in the bed. The room was wide open, and I saw her keeping a key. A wooden key. She tried to keep it under her bed, then suddenly got it and put it back in the cabinet. After a few seconds, she took it back again and put it in her thin belt with a tiny wallet attached.

"Lola, are you starving? Dali kay mangaon ta. " I said while standing at the door of her room.

I saw her face shocked but I acted like I did not see anything and behaved as if nothing happened.

"Okay, apo. Una na ngadto, musunod rako para tilawan imong niluto nga lugaw. Basin maoy makahatag nako'g balik ug kabaskog. " She uttered and smiled fakely.

"Dili, magdungan tag kaon La. " I insisted.

"Kini jud akong apo. Sige, let's eat na. " She painted a smile and followed me.

While we ate, there was silence between us. Perhaps, because Tiyo Ricky wasn't here to join us for breakfast. Bad timing since Tiyo was ordered by the Municipal Mayor to attend a meeting for the Department of Agriculture. He was chosen to speak for a discussion on livelihood programs. Just to break the silence, I turned on a topic.

"La, I have something to ask lang. " I opened a topic while enjoying breakfast.

"Okay, what's that all about apo?" She responded and started eating the porridge.

"La, what's the reason why my Dad and Lolo died? " I questioned. Lola was about to choke on what she heard from me.

"Hmmm, didn't your Mom Kirby tell you about that? " She replied and glanced at me.

I just answered her with a simple NO.

My Mom had shared with me about the passing of my Dad, but I knew she was hiding something until she spit out a few details about the death of Lolo Pontacio but she stopped instantly. I wasn't convinced of what she shared with me because she declined to talk about it anymore when I wanted to know more about Lolo. I knew that there was a connection between my Dad and Lolo Pontancio's loss.

"Your Lolo died because of a cardiac arrest. " She simply retorted.

"And also your Dad Kionel, too. You were just so little when your dad passed away. Same with your Mom Kirby, she wasn't lucky to meet her dad Pontacio. " Lola sighed.

I heaved a sigh too at what I heard, it was so heavy to reminisce about their death. And of course, my Mom and I didn't have the chance to see each other's father. Until now, I envied my friends for having their daddies all the time they needed a father. But fate wasn't in my favor when it came to that thing, I'm still longing for a father's love and yearning for a father's care too. I had everything in life, but I didn't have my Dad ever since I was little.

"Apo, you're a good cook huh? I love the meal you cooked, better than your Tiyo Ricky. " She almost whispered and giggled.

Lola changed the topic when she noticed the heaviness in my heart. I almost cried in front of her, but she ceased it by teasing me.

"Thank you, Lola. Tiyo Ricky just instructed me to do it. All appreciation to Tiyo Ricky for teaching me so well. " I replied and painted a bit smile.

"Oh, if that's it apo then okay. Anyway, I am now blessing you to have a partner in life na. Pwede naka mag minyo, apo. I wanna see beautiful Apo's from you, Lola's old na. " She stood up and hugged me.

We finished our food normally with a small chitchat. I was glad that Lola enjoyed the food I cooked and even complimented me. Lola volunteered to wash the dishes, and I just agreed or else we ended up arguing. So, I did some retouching instead while waiting for Lola to get ready too.

"Wear the blanket if you want to get outside okay? I'll just take a bath." She said.

My eyes widened as I heard it from Lola. These past days, she was exceedingly strict and I imprisoned myself in her room or just allowed to stay only in the balcony. I wasn't able to visit the neighbors as I used to because of her instructions.

"Never forget to wear it. Sayang ang kahamis ug kaputi nimo. Inampingan raba nas mama nimo sauna. " matud ni Lola ug nipadong nas kaliguanan.

Lola had a point. My mom Kirby said that I have to take care of my skin and maintain everything according to its naturality. I remember when Mom and I talked 14 years ago, I asked her about my skin complexion since I have a porcelain skin tone which is very rare for a pure-blooded Filipina. For this reason, I was always pestered by my classmates and the people around me for being different from them.

"Ma, asa daw ko nimo gilihi pag buntis nimo kay puti daw kaayo ko. Pati si Teacher Anne, always nag ask nako why my skin is puti daw kaayo." I asked her and cried.

"Bani sa saging. " She replied without a pause and continued chewing the food.

I was about to choke the food I was eating because I wanted to laugh. The whole time I was crying out, ranting her all the insults and criticisms about my skin tone and it changed to a doubtful look quickly. I managed not to crack up for she answered it seriously. At that age, I believed it and I believed her. I had no choice because it was their belief, I just respected it even though there was no scientific basis and I stopped annoying her again about that issue.

"Baby, your skin is unique. Okay? Don't get offended when they say it to you. Keep in mind that everyone has their uniqueness. " Mama Kirby said in a gentle tone and sat beside me for an embrace.

From that day on, their words won't affect me anymore. I always recall what my Mom told me. Instead of getting pissed and shamed, I used it as a sword and it didn't fail me. Who would have thought that from being bullied, I was chosen as the school's Band Majorette when I was in fourth grade until I graduated my junior high school. Our school frequently received awards and good feedback from any competition we joined. Even those neighboring schools offered me full scholarships just to study in their school but I rejected them since I was loyal to my alma mater. It was a beast at first, but it became the best later on. 

I gleamed a bit when I remembered those days. Even up to this day, a lot of people admire my skin complexion. They often wished to have the same as mine particularly it started when I met the puberty phase. Never did I experience getting tanned, I just got pinkish when the sun hit me for so long. 

10 minutes passed, but Lola hadn't finished her bath yet. She was sick and I expected her to get out in less than five minutes but she didn't. It was already 9 in the morning. We set the time to be at Lolo's grave before 10 a.m., so I could relax for two hours before the trip to Cebu. I wondered what took her so long in the bathroom.

Instead of checking her out, I directed myself towards her bed to check the room was clean before we went to the cemetery. While checking the whole room, I saw the wooden key lying on the floor. She had forgotten to keep it or maybe it slipped from her small pocket when she changed clothes for a bath. I didn't hesitate to pick it up and examine it. It's very cute but simple even if it looks aged, and it is the same size as my index finger. So I kept it and waited in the Sala.

A whistle tone awakened me from a deep slumber and I found myself asleep for minutes. It's a whistle that seemed like music that was almost whispered along the wind. I went to the balcony to find out where it came from. I scanned my sight in surroundings but there was no one to be found. At first, I thought it was Tiyo Ricky who just wanted to fool me. But, I remembered he was in a meeting in the town. The whistle stopped as I didn't see someone whistling, so I was about to get inside the house when a fragrance of ripe mangoes played with me again. It felt like it was calling me to get near where it occurred. I was hesitant at first because Lola reminded me not to get near when I felt something weird around the area especially when I was alone. As long as I didn't want to fail Lola, thoughts in my mind screamed a lot of things that began to wonder. My inner self told me to obey what my mind speaks. As I checked my phone, the time was exactly 10 a.m., I was extremely frightened. My heart beat fast, and a sweat started to set on my face. However, I lay my fear away as my mind was wandering for answers because it was constantly timed.

"I wanna keep everything vivid. " I mumbled.

There was no second thought, and I was eager to know everything that haunted me these past weeks, about all the weird occurrences.

I got on outside the house with Lola's blanket around me. The strong wind struck as I stepped down the stairs on the balcony. I could barely walk straight because of the strong gusts but I couldn't figure out why it led the way to reach the mango tree. I forcefully hugged the blanket around me for my skin's safety as the heat of the sun blazed over me.

For a one-month stay here, this time I faced the mango tree closer for the first time. There was a part of me that I couldn't explain. I was so amazed while looking at its lovely branches and leaves, the strong trunk, and those oozy fruits hanging. I couldn't resist touching it and looking at it. My body got electrified and goosebumps all over my body as sweat started to flow down. I didn't have the chance to touch it because Lola wouldn't let me and now I couldn't believe it! This tree is almost 16 years old. Tears ran down my cheeks because of happiness.

I thanked Lola for taking good care of this mango tree and all the trees here in the place.

I caressed the tree so gently and even talked to it surprisingly. Now I knew how pleasant it was and how it brought a nice feeling to talk and get near the tree. I even almost suspected a bad thing about Lola before when I first saw her talking about the tree as I found it weird. But, now I understand, it's a voluntary action.

I ended the moment before Lola would see me, I threw a a flying kiss in the tree and tried to walk away when I saw a hole in the lower part of the trunk that was the same size as my index finger. It filled me an awe inside my head. I was about to touch the hole when suddenly Tiyo Ricky called me.

"Kiray, nag unsa man ka diha? Diba gibawalan kang Lola nimo moduol anang mangga?" Tiyo Ricky shouted from the highway and headed to me.

I looked at him alarmed. Sweats poured in every inch of me as my body trembled. I was completely panicked. The blanket stripped off my body and I put it back around me as fast as I could so I could walk away from that tree before Tiyo Ricky would reach me. Suddenly, the wooden key fell to the ground from my pocket. Shock painted on my face while scrutinizing the wooden key and it was the same size as the hole in the tree. I picked up the key and got it in my hand. Tiyo Ricky was two meters away from me, and before he reached me I finally placed the key into the hole in the trunk when something happened. 

"KIRAAAAAAAAY!"