21 Free Bird

May 3, 2013

10:46 am

Christine Romulo

The sky shines brightly as a spring day. Pollens are flying everywhere from the plants that want to propagate all around. Such beauty of yellow dust that could bring new life, but such deadly dust that could kill man – that in the form of allergy. Good thing I only have an allergy to seafood. If I was also allergic to pollen, I don't think I would have lived up to my current age right now. From my balcony, I see the gardeners cultivating mother's Garden of Eden. Winter is long gone, and weeds are starting to sprout like crazy. As I take in the scent of the garden from my balcony, I can feel the scents flooding my mind like drugs for it is that lovely.

What a beautiful day. It is a good day to see that man again. I promised that we would see each other again for a date, and I shall fulfill it.

He did say that we should go out today and he will pick me up before noon. As I choose my dress to wear, I cannot help but feel a strange feeling within. For some reason, I can let out a smile as I choose what to wear and prepare myself.

Is this feeling what we call excitement? Am I actually excited to see him and actually go on a date with him?

Alas, I just shake my head at the thought of this. I can't be excited for him, can I? I just picked a fitted dress of yellow, for spring. Yes, spring. Flowers are blooming everywhere, and I should join them in the beauty of this season.

On my way out of my room, I see Margaret walking out of her room too dressed regal as she is every time. I guess she's fine now. It does not seem that she is dressed for work. I mean, she's not in her scrubs and coats, rather she's wearing her "date" clothes. So, this is her back to reality – going out with Edward.

"Not going to work?" I ask her simply.

She gives me a weary smile. "Yes. I'm off to see Edward. I'll just make up for the lost days by working on the weekends." She then looks at me up and down as if she is judging where I'm going. "Taking down corrupt minds again?"

"Nope. Not today. Just a genuine date with someone."

She knows what I'm up to. She just smiles at this. "Just be careful with him. He's still a Macedo."

With that, she walks off to the grand staircase. I see her hold her golden purse on her hand – the same hand in which she cut her wrist. Her bleeding wrist is covered with a bandage to let it heal. Right, she's a doctor. She can cure herself. There's something about that smile that gets to me though. I just hope she's alright and she's not forcing herself to make things just the way they are.

*

As I head down the grand staircase, I see the staff scrambling once more. Mister Bautista, who appears to be annoyed by this accord, keeps his voice at a steady tone as he keeps his authority.

"Look, I don't know what to do with that thing outside. I just want you to deal with it. I don't want it making a mess."

The gardener he is speaking to nods and hastily walks out of the mansion. The other staff are also running here and there as if a disaster is going on. Still, what does he mean by "it?" I join him in his annoyance as he shakes his head amidst this.

"Louis, what's going on?" I ask him.

"Oh, Christine, finally," he says. "We have a situation. Two horses are wreaking havoc in the gardens. They are eating the freshly cut grass. Dear, god! If your mother gets here and sees this, she will be furious. What – "

"Wait," I interrupt him. "How did two horses get to the gardens? I thought we have a ranch for that."

Horses? In the gardens? Man, I'd love to see mother's reaction when she sees that her gardens are being harassed by two innocent horses. Anyway, I love me some crazy in this household of serious people. I try to hold my amusement in this as I do not want to show Louis that I'm glad about this.

His eyebrows meet as he tries to explain himself. "Just come with me."

*

He takes me to the gardens. As I look around, I see no havoc going on. It's just the same scenario. Gardeners are keeping the fields beautiful just as it should be. Some are cutting the hedges. Some are plucking the fruits of the seasonal trees. Some are taking new plants here and there. Some are uprooting the whole plant to be sold to the market. It's just a normal day. What havoc can this possibly cause?

And then, suddenly, there are indeed two horses, but they are not moving around. They are just eating some weeds. From a far-off distance, I see that the equestrian holding the horses wave his hand to me. I look closer to this young equestrian. As I clearly see his olive skin and curly hair, I could only let out a laugh for what's going on. Louis calls this havoc, but Mateo would think that this does not even come close

We join Mateo in this craziness that he has come up with. Two feeding troughs are provided for these horses. Our gardeners happily dump all the weeds they had gathered to the troughs. Everybody is actually happy and not bothered, but Louis just shakes his head at this nonsense.

"Young man, I beg of you," Louis says with patient conviction. "Feed your horses elsewhere. This is a garden, not a ranch. I don't want these things excreting feces all over this garden."

Mateo chuckles at what Louis had said. "Ah, fret not, sir. Poops make great fertilizers, don't they? Besides, now that Christine is ready to go, I believe we'll be heading off with my horses."

Louis just shakes his head with the easy youth right before him. He walks away with grimaces on his face. Oh, Louis. You need to lighten up. The stress of the mansion is finally getting to you. When Mister Bautista had gotten back to the mansion, Mateo just laughs at this seriousness.

"I can see why you are so formal, Christine," Mateo says as he pets one of the horses. "It seems like every person here is either very serious or very angry. There's no fun." – he then turns his attention back to the horse eating weeds. "Isn't that right, girl?"

He cares for the horses as if they were his children. He pets it so gently that the horse is happy to eat the weeds. His smile is so beautiful that it radiates with this spring sun. As minutes go by, I catch myself staring at him.

No, I shouldn't be this focused towards him. I shake the thought away and turn my attention to him again. "Do these horses have names?" I ask awkwardly enough.

He laughs at my question. "No," he says with laughter in his tone. "These aren't even my horses."

*

I help him pull one of the horses to the main entrance of this estate. Now, I see the true owner of these horses. A resting carriage is waiting with its coachman taking a smoke. Immediately, when the coachman sees us, he puts out his cigar and takes the horses off our hands.

"So, this is how you plan to get around town?" I ask him as I look at the carriage before us.

"Yes," he replies. "Life could use a bit more variety. It's boring to live the same cycle again and again. If I can, I shall turn back spring into winter just for the heck of it."

He is such a free bird that I cannot fathom. I cannot believe that he can just throw an easy laugh at every nonsense that he can come up with. Even his hair flows with the spring air and pollens flying everywhere. Somehow, he just makes me smile.

"Shall we?" he says as lets out his hand.

Without any hesitation, I take his hand. "Yes."

Right there, he helps me into the carriage and joins me. He urges the coachman to drive on, and here we enjoy the simple joys of the past with no worry about the stresses of life.