Chapter 4

“That fat Mayor of Santiago finally left, along with his slob of a son.” Nilon Samson said bitterly as he entered the bedroom. His magnificent and exotic wife, Vivien, was sprawled on the sheets reading a book and dressed in her nightgown. Nilon couldn’t help but appreciate the view, despite the view being the object of his irritation. He cocked his head and leaned against the bureau near the door.

            “You bought a mall in Santiago. Met the Mayor. And somehow, you’ve aggravated him. How have you managed to do all this in one day, Vee?”

            Vivien looked up, eyes wide. “I’ve aggravated him?”

            “You lied to him even. Told him of being a congresswoman in Mindanao, when you were actually a Senator.” Her husband narrowed his eyes at her and gave a small smile. A wrinkle appeared near his almond eyes. Vivien laughed and then rose up from the bed, the long trail of soft fabric following her unbound black hair.

            “I think I am also aggravating you.” She slurred, smiling furtively.

            “Don’t think you can weasel your way out of this one.”

            “What are you talking about?” Vivien asked quietly albeit already walking away into the adjoining bathroom. Nilon watched the door shut and realized he wouldn’t get further with her tonight. He undressed and crawled into the bed. Vivien appeared half an hour later, finding her husband asleep. She smiled, dressed into a black suit, slacks, and a dark blue polo shirt. Vivien pulled her messy hair back into a ponytail, shut the lights, then left the bedroom.

             Outside, a tall guard, dressed in plainclothes, awaited. She nodded her head at him and he followed her outside into the driveway. It was probably just before midnight, as the moon hung almost overhead and the air was considerably cold. Crickets, surrounding them in the forests, were deafening.

The guard helped Vivien into the back of the parked Pajero, then hopped into the driver’s seat.

            “Where are we going, Madame?” The guard asked as they exited the gate and faced the open high-way.

            “We’re off to see an old friend. Go to Santiago.”

            “We’ll arrive at half past 1AM, ma’am. Is that alright?”

            “It’s perfect.” Vivien said and there was no further conversation. She watched the passing dark patches of trees lining the road. The blue-gray color of the rice fields under the moon. Here and there, little houses peppered the country side. The Pajero hummed mechanically as it sped off towards Santiago.

They arrived at a particular small barangay on the outskirts of the town, quite near the seashore. There were no streetlights, and there were no signs of electricity. The candles had long been blown out and the doors had all been shut. The houses that lined the tight, unpaved roads were made of driftwood and bamboo, both abundant in the surroundings. Chickens stirred as the SUV passed, squeezing through.

Vivien motioned for the guard to stop at the last house, closest to the shore. She got out and shut the door, motioning for the guard to cut the engine. It turned off quietly.

There was no other sound now, in the night. Vivien stood in the sandy road and closed her eyes. All she could hear were the tossing of the waves and the blowing of the wind. It was cold.

They approached the house.

Vivien drew herself up to the door, it was a few inches smaller than her. She knocked. Twice. Firmly. The sounds echoed inside the house and she could hear someone stir. Someone opening a door. Someone’s footsteps.

The door creaked open and Vivien looked down at the thin figure of a woman, about thirty, with rings under her eyes.

“Katrina.”

The thin woman, Katrina, suddenly awoke. The blanket of sleep slipped off of her shoulders and instantly she was aware of Vivien, of the man behind her, and of the dark car she had arrived in.

“N…no…”

Vivien smiled. “It’s been a long time.”

Katrina stepped back, her bare feet caught on the doorjamb and she staggered back into the house. Vivien stepped inside, carefully, purposefully.

Inside, it was bare. There were no pictures on the walls and there were no lights to show the way. Only moonlight, streaming in from the small windows, shone on Vivien’s face and, for once, there was darkness in her eyes.

“What… are you doing… here…?!” Katrina gasped, falling backwards finally on the wooden chair that she clawed around for. Vivien, followed closely by the guard, walked closer until she stood before Katrina. The guard closed the door.

“Did you expect me to never return?”

Katrina shook her head. Her eyes were glistening. Shaking, she brought up her hands held palms together and bowed her head. “I’m sorry.”

“That was quick.” Vivien smiled.

“I’m sorry I know I deserve nothing from you. What happened all those years ago… I couldn’t help… I did not help… I did nothing. I know,” Katrina’s voice started to quaver and Vivien saw glistening drops fall to the bare floorboards. “I’ve been living in guilt ever since. My life… is miserable… please…”

“Do you remember? Tell me what happened back then.”

“Please.”

“No? Then I shall do it for you.” Vivien walked forward slowly and put a hand on her bowed head. “A young woman, about to be married, celebrating her final night of freedom. Accompanied by the best of her friends.”

“Please!” Katrina sobbed, gasping as Vivien’s grip dug into her hair.

“Later, found abandoned on the side of the road before the lighthouse. Unconscious. Signs of sexual abuse everywhere upon her. None of her friends to be found.”

Katrina answered merely in whimpering mewls. Vivien pulled her slowly, up to a stand, by the hair.

“Her friends, witnesses report, were seen handing her off to a man who drove off into the night with her. They claimed, and I quote,”

Katrina slowly opened her eyes and met Vivien’s which were glistening as well.

“That she probably wanted it anyway.”

Vivien let go. The thin woman fell onto the floor with barely any sound, her body was too light to make any.

“I’m sorry, Vivien. For what I’ve done. I’m so sorry.”

Vivien turned to the guard behind her deliberately and he rushed forward. A swift kick popped Katrina’s head backward, her limpid hair flying. A tooth ricocheted off of Vivien’s heels and clattered under a chair. Katrina dropped her head, her hand going to her mouth and drawing back with blood.

“For what I didn’t do. I’m sorry…”

“You think you living in poverty will appease my anger with you?”

“I thought… I thought it would help…”

“This is your atonement?” Vivien’s voice started to rise and she sucked in a large breath. Sighing through her teeth, she turned away from the other woman’s body on the floor and looked at the guard. Tears were flowing down silently on her face, which was indignant with anger.

“But,” Katrina’s voice arose from behind of the one who stood. “Vivien. You didn’t understand us. You didn’t know our point of view… To hear of something so awful to have happened to someone we knew… It was… too much.”

Vivien closed her eyes and said nothing as the guard moved forward and proceeded to kick Katrina, again and again, in the mouth.

When she opened her eyes, he had not finished, and she could hear the plinking of her teeth as it flew all over the bare walls of her driftwood house. The waves tossed behind them. The night went on.