14Annavierra Consolacion Nepumoceno de Siapuatco or Avie was the only daughter of the most powerful family in Cavite*. She was a mestiza* , a cross between a Spaniard and a Filipino. Her father, Don Jubilo was a Spaniard assigned by the Spanish crown to govern the province, Cavite. Her mother, Doña Vierra Nepumoceno de Siapuatco, was the daughter of the wealthiest Filipino banker. The union between the two made the Siapuatco family an influential and powerful family in the province.
Avie was the belle of the town and would always turn heads for her beautiful long brown that hair cascaded down her shoulders to her breasts; her creamy complexion that looked like milk poured over her; her perfectly arched eyebrows and long eyelashes that framed her soft brown eyes; and her cheeks that blushed rose-red whenever she giggled. Many men fell head over heels in love with her. She would be serenaded by countless men during the evening, sent love letters that outnumbered her clothes in her closet, received enough flowers to fill up her backyard and proposed for marriage by men from every stature in society. However none of them moved her and none of them possessed what she was looking for in a man.
Then came along Chien Yeung, the son and heir to the fortune of a wealthy Chinese banker who came to do business with her father. Chien was seven years her senior and looked more Filipino than Chinese with his tan complexion, mahogany brown eyes and lanky figure. He was not as gorgeous, handsome or bold as the other men, but he was everything she wanted in a man. He was witty, charming, and intelligent and he saw her differently from all the other men in town. He did not see her as some damsel in distress, an ignorant little girl or some beauty that could be shattered easily. Instead saw her as his equal in intelligence, charm and wit, and he treated her with respect and dignity.
Despite the objections of Doña Vierra for fear of slander on their friendship with the Chinese, Don Jubilo would invite the Yeung family to dinners and parties. Don Jubilo knew that the Chinese were considered inferior to the Filipinos and Spaniards for their different beliefs and religion, but he was afraid of displeasing the Yeung family. He owed them a huge sum of money for all the money he lost in gambling and excessive spending. He couldn't afford to stop gambling or spending for it was a difficult habit to break, and his family was accustomed to living a luxurious life. Also, it would lessen his power in politics for most politicians gambled and lived a luxurious life. He didn't was to lose all these. The friendship between the Chinese family and his would last until he found someone with a much better status in society he could loan from.
During these occasions, Chien and Avie would get acquainted with each other. Eventually, their acquaintance blossomed into friendship. In due time, Chien and Avie fell deeply in love with each other. One evening Chien decided to visit Avie. She led him to the garden, and there he professed his love for her.
"Avie, I have something important to tell you," he said gathering her slender hands into his. "I'm in love with you…I don't know if you feel the same way too, but I pray that you do too," he said looking into her eyes.
She swallowed hard and trembled when he said those words. She feared the future. She feared discrimination from her fellow Filipinos and Spaniards and she feared being proclaimed a heretic by the church for loving a Chinese. So many negative thoughts swam in her mind, but she realized that he was the one. There would be no other man like him. She feared losing him more than losing her pride and religion. She loved him, and no one could put an end to that. Not even God himself.
She looked into his eyes with love and said, "I love you too." He smiled as she paused for a minute to think of what to say. She confessed, "but I'm afraid of the future, of what would happen to us if people were to find out-" He placed a finger over her lip to silence her.
"No one needs to know about us. I'm aware of what society's reaction may be toward our love for each other. We can love each other in secret until the time is right, until we can persuade society to accept us."
"But that may never happen!" she exclaimed turning away from him as tears streamed down her cheeks. "We're so different from each other! I'm afraid-I'm afraid of what people may say, I'm afraid of what the church may do to me, and I'm afraid of losing myself when I can't handle all of this."
He reached for her shoulder and turned her to face him, "I know that." He smiled warmly at her, "If we are to love each other, then there are certain consequences to deal with. Don't be afraid of them. If you're afraid of what people may say, I can change my last name to Buenaventura so that people will not look down on us. As for the church, I can always convert to Christianity for you. I love you Avie, and I'll do anything in my power to keep us together. We'll keep our love a secret until I'm able to do all these things, and after I inherit my father's fortune."
Avie thought for a while, "but that will take forever!" She said with exasperation.
"Not forever, but some time." He said lovingly, "at least during that long span of time, we may grow deeper in love with each other. Patience is a virtue, and we must possess it until the obstacles in our path are eliminated."
"I understand," she said looking down. She brought herself up and smiled at him, "I promise that I will be patient and faithful to you until everything is cleared out."
He smiled and caressed her cheek, "Then I promise that I will pave a wonderful future of love for both of us." He kissed her on the forehead and bid her a farewell for that evening.
Don Jubilo stood on the balcony, and massaged his temples in frustration over the two lovers below. He should have seen it coming. He should have placed an end to his relations with the Chinese family before his daughter fell in love with their son. Oh, but how could he have seen it coming? The lad charmed his way through him, and his parents had control over him for that period of time. He knew what would happen to the two if people found out about their love for each other. He was afraid of the damage their love may inflict on his position. He couldn't let this happen. He decided that their love for each other was going to end now. Don Jubilo began to devise a plan to destroy their relation with each other for his and their sakes as well. He looked up into the star-studded sky and whispered a prayer to God, "please forgive me for my trespasses…." He heaved a sigh and walked into his room and began to write a letter.
Chien had not replied to Avie's letters and had not visited her for more than a month. Avie was beginning to worry about him. During the Santa Cruzan*, Avie searched through the crowd for Chien. To her disappointment, he was nowhere and she walked glumly to her house where a huge banquet was held. She saw her close cousin, Isabella and her father talking to one of his guests when she beckoned him to come over to her. She sighed, and plastered a smile on her face as she walked to her father.
"Annavierra, this is Emilio Balmaceda and his son Graciano." She looked at him blankly until her god sister pinched her arm. She gave her god sister a look of dismay and forced herself to smile at the handsome young mestizo in front of her. He looked like the others. His wavy black hair was parted from the side, and his eyes were hazel green. He smiled back and bowed in front of her.
"I'm honored to meet such a beauty from this country. It's been a nine years since I've been here. I vaguely remember encountering someone as beautiful as you." He said with a twinkle in his eyes. Avie hid her face in her fan to hide her vexed expression with the flirt, and then looked up from her fan to meet his dashing smile.
"Thank you for your kind words. When did you arrive here?"
"A week ago. Your father asked for help from my father in dealing with a case. He says that a Chinese businessman was murdered and that he was one of the probable suspects in the case. My father jumped at the case immediately. My father is a close friend of your father's and is one of the best and well-known lawyers in Spain. He graduated from the Oxford University in England." He said brimming with pride. "I came with him as an intern to learn how to be a great lawyer."
Avie turned pale. What was this man talking about? Surely he wasn't referring to the Yeungs. She was sure of that. No, maybe it was some other Chinese family. Yes, that may be it. After all, her father dealt with so many people. She looked up to meet his eyes filled with pride. She smiled weakly at him and excused herself.
"I'm really sorry, but I'm not feeling well right now. Will you please excuse me?" Isabella looked at her with a puzzled expression on her face. He nodded his head and offered to escort her to her room. She turned him down with a smile and walked slowly into her room. Isabella excused herself and followed her into her room.
"What is the matter with you? The man likes you! Don't tell me that you're going to tear up his heart like you did with the rest?!" Isabella exclaimed in frustration and annoyance. "Many women out there would kill to be in your position, and you throw it all away! What is wrong with you Annavierra Consolacion Nepumoceno de Siapuatco?!" She said shrieking out at her younger cousin.
Avie confronted her, "do you think that I enjoy having men chase me day and night? There are times when I wish that I were born as ugly as a hag so that I'd be rid of these fastidious men!"
Isabella made the sign of the cross and retorted, "don't wish for things that you may regret in the future! The Lord may just grant your wish you ingrate."
Avie grinned, "my beauty is more of a curse dear cousin. My status, my possessions and my whole life are a curse! Don't you understand?" Tears streamed down her cheek.
"What I understand is that you need to go to confession to confess your ingratitude." Isabella snapped, "and your tears will do you no good! I expect you to go out there and act polite and courteous towards the young man out there."
"Wait," Avie said biting her lip. Isabella stopped in her tracks to face her. "I-I have something to tell you." She said as her lips trembled.
"What is it?" Isabella asked impatiently.
"Promise me that you'll keep it a secret and that you won't tell?" Avie asked as she tried to wipe the tears away from her eyes. Isabella felt sympathy toward her and nodded her head.
"Yes, what is it you want to tell me?" Avie looked around the room and then sat on her bed. She gestured her cousin to take the chair in front of her.
"Remember the Yeungs?"
"Yes, I do. What does it have to do with them?"
"Do you remember Chien?" She asked nervously.
"Yes, I remember him. He was the man you were with in most of the parties…wait, don't tell me that he's more than an acquaintance, Avie?" She asked imploringly. Avie gave her a weak smile and nodded her head. Isabella covered her mouth in shock.
"How? Why him among all the many men out there? Why did you choose him? He's Chinese! Why are you so naïve?!" Isabella exclaimed. She wanted to strangle her cousin for her stupidity.
Avie squeezed her cousin's hand and looked into her eyes filled with sorrow, "I knew that the minute I told him I loved him." She paused, "but people do crazy things when they're in love. He was different from the rest. He treated me with dignity and respect. He treated me like his equal and he never belittled me like the others. I love him, and that's all I know right now." Isabella felt sorry for her cousin. She didn't know about what happened to Chien. She looked down at the ground and thought about how she was going to break the news to her. She looked up and saw her lovesick cousin. She had to end Avie's infatuation with the man.
"Avie," She said squeezing her cousin's hand tightly. "Chien's in Fort Santiago*. He was suspected of murdering his father in order to inherit his father's fortune as soon as possible. Your father is suspected of murdering Chien's father as well, that's why Graciano's father is here. He's here to defend your father's innocence." Isabella said looking sadly at her cousin.
"You're lying!" She cried out as she stood up. "He wouldn't do such a thing! He wouldn't! I'm sure of it. How could you be as cruel as everyone else? I thought that if I told you the truth, you'd understand!" She said shaking in anger. Isabella shook her head.
"If you don't believe me, then check the newspaper. The case is in the front page."
Avie rushed out of the room and called for the maids to fetch for her the morning news. When she opened the newspaper, she saw the article. It was in the front page, in bold black letters: GREEDY CHINESE SON MURDERS FATHER. She read it in disbelief. The article claimed that he had murdered his own father for the fortune he was going to inherit. Her father was said to be one of the probable suspects since he was included in receiving the will. Avie felt heat rush into her face, her nose ran, her tears welled up in her eyes and she began to tremble before her knees gave out and fainted in grief. Graciano caught her and brought her to her room where the worried Isabella waited. Isabella panicked when she saw her unconscious cousin in the arms of Graciano. He laid her down on her bed as Avie slowly gained consciousness. Avie opened her eyes slowly to see relief in both Graciano and Isabella's eyes.
"Are you alright? Both of us were worried about you." Graciano said gently.
"You scared the living daylight out of me Avie! If Graciano didn't catch you, you would've hit your head on the floor!" Isabella said. "You owe Graciano a 'thank you' Avie." Both Avie and Graciano blushed.
"Thank you," Avie said in a half-whisper. "I feel really tired now," she said smiling weakly at both of them. "I think I'll sleep now," she said feeling the weight of sorrow and guilt on her chest. She closed her eyes and slept.
Graciano visited Avie whenever both their fathers would discuss the case. The trial was set three weeks later, and it gave both of them enough time to get to know each other. Avie realized that she misjudged Graciano. She realized that he was like Chien in so many ways. He was witty, charming and intelligent. Although he was all of these, he didn't treat her as an equal. He treated her like an ignorant little child who had no idea about the world. She didn't like it, but nonetheless she grew fond of him.
Isabella wanted Avie and Graciano to end up together. She knew that they were perfect for each other and that he would help her forget about that good-for-nothing Chinese man, Chien. Don Jubilo and Don Emilio noticed their budding relationship. Both fathers decided to set the marriage between the two after the trial and Don Jubilo's innocence is cleared. Don Jubilo was pleased to see that his plan was working out, and smiled as he walked to his daughter's room to tell her the great news.
"Annavierra," he said knocking on her door. "I have great news for you." Avie stopped doing her needlework, stood up from her chair and opened the door. She greeted her father with a smile.
"What news do you have for me father?" she asked. He grinned and said, "Emilio and I arranged a marriage for both you and Graciano after the trial!" Avie's heart sank along with her smile. Don Jubilo saw the disappointment in her face and asked,
"Why do you look so sad?" She answered him grimly, "Nothing father…I just remembered a sad thought. That's all." She said looking around the room for her needlework. Don Jubilo nodded and left her to do her needlework.
Avie began to cry after her father left. She liked Graciano, but didn't love him. She promised Chien that she'd wait for him, but he was a murderer and he was going to die. She knew that she had to give up on him and learn how to love Graciano, but she couldn't. She loved Chien so much that it hurt her. She was torn between two lovers.
After the trial, Chien was declared guilty and sentenced to death a week after, and Don Jubilo was proclaimed innocent. The following day was the marriage between Avie and Graciano. Avie tried to learn how to love Graciano within three weeks of the trial, but he would always be away to assist his father during the trial.
During their marriage, Avie was not as happy as the rest of her family. Graciano was smiling all day while Avie forced herself to smile at everyone. She felt guilty and sad for pushing through with the marriage. The day after their marriage, Graciano left for Spain to finish his studies. He promised Avie that he would return and bring her to Europe for their honeymoon. Three months later, Avie's family notices her growing belly. Everyone was overjoyed with the new addition to the family, except for Avie. She forces herself to smile every now and then, but her heart is heavy with grief.
Six months later, Graciano returns on time to witness his wife give birth to his firstborn child. It was a beautiful baby girl. After giving birth to the baby girl, Avie died. Graciano names the baby girl Agueda Gracia Marie Siapuatco de Balmaceda after her patron saint and the blessed Mother. The whole family mourns over Avie. Graciano vows that he will love Agueda more than he loved Avie. He knew that Agueda would fill the hole in his heart, the hole that Avie's death had created.
*Cavite – a Philippine province located in Southern Luzon
*mestiza – a Spanish term for a woman who is a cross between two races
*Santa Cruzan – a Philippine festival celebrated during the month of May wherein a young woman and a boy play the parts of Reyna Elenna and her brother. They enact their success in locating the cross of Christ.
*Fort Santiago – a huge jailhouse located in Luneta