Hey there! I just wrote this short story for you to know how courtship is in the Philippines before modernization. Enjoy! (I hope XD)
Year 1800
"Nadia," Imelda, my older sister, called from the terrace one starry evening. "Baldo is here to serenade you."
"Baldo?" I repeated, unsure of how to act. I just turned eighteen years old, so Nanay and Tatay, my parents, are expecting me to entertain my so-called suitors. So far, Baldo is my first suitor. I don't like him, but I couldn't say so. Since the society is teasing me and Baldo, they are expecting me to marry him.
"Come, Nadia," Imelda whispered and clutched my wrist. I walked towards the large window, opened it, looked below, and saw Baldo smiling at me. I smiled - but a fake one. He signaled his companions to start, then he began singing while his friends accompanied him with the guitar and the banduria. I giggled behind my large folding fan, not because I liked him, but because he sounded funny. I looked behind my shoulder and spotted Nanay glaring at me. I looked down.
That was the moment I saw Antonio. He was one of Baldo's friends, and he was playing the guitar. He was tall, dark and handsome. And when he sang along to the chorus of the song, I could hear his wonderful voice. Could he be the man for me? My true love? Antonio looked up and saw me staring at him. I blushed as he threw a smile as big as a mango slice. I hid my face behind my fan while combing strands of my dark, black hair behind my ear.
The song was over.
"Come inside, Baldo," I heard my nanay call from the other window.
"Nanay," I complained to her, careful that no one would hear me. "I don't want you to invite him in."
"None sense, child," she said sweetly before she went to door to escort Baldo inside.
Nervously, I arranged my hair in a bun, raised my long skirt so I won't trip on it, and went to the sala, the living room.
Baldo was already sitting on our wooden bench when I came. He was smiling shyly, blushing so hard. I grimaced, but nobody saw it because I was practically hiding my face with my folding fan.
The night ended quickly, after I told them I had a headache. Nanay wanted Baldo to stay and told him my headache was nothing, but Baldo said that my health was more important. And then, he left.
The next day, I went to the stream alone with a whole basket of laundry. I wasn't even finished washing the first batch of clothes when I heard someone play the guitar behind me.
"Good morning, sunshine," he said. It was Antonio.
I was so shocked; I forgot to cover my open mouth with my folding fan.
"I was supposed to serenade you last night," Antonio started,” but Baldo beat me to it."
I bowed my head and continued washing the clothes.
"Do you mind if I serenade you in the broad daylight with no companions to sing along with?" he continued.
Not knowing what to say, I nodded my head with my heart beating wildly inside me.
He started singing - softly at first. I thought I was going to sleep, but the fact that he's merely inches away from me kept me alive inside.
He strummed his guitar one last time, then stopped.
"Mahal kita, Nadia," he whispered. "I love you."
I let him stroke my hair. That was the most I could offer him. It seemed like I was in a trance.
Suddenly, not even bothering to answer him, I stood up, got the basket of washed clothes, and told him that I had to go.
"Nadia," Nanay exclaimed. "What took you so long?"
"I - uh - the soap fell in the water," I lied, "and I had to wade into the water to get it."
Fortunately, Nanay didn't pursue after that, and just told me that I had to cook lunch and bring Tatay's lunch to the rice farm where he works.
Days passed, and Baldo's visits became as frequent as my secret meetings with Antonio. I never told anyone about my love for Antonio, and I think no one had noticed it. Antonio and I met at the stream where I washed clothes. If Baldo brought delicious food for me, Antonio picked wild flowers for me, which I find much more romantic. Then, Antonio and I would always lie on the grass, eating the coconut meat he'd sometimes bring. Those were the things I'd live for - my meetings with Antonio.
But one day, almost everything changed.
I came home to a full house with a full dining table. There were sumans, bikos, kutchinta, rice cakes, coconut juice, and more mouth watering food that I couldn’t help drooling. My whole family was there: Nanay, Tatay, Imelda, Dodong, my younger brother, and even my grandparents and uncles and aunts were there. Baldo and his parents were there too.
"Nadia, come," Tatay said, motioning me to come nearer. "Baldo is here for his pamanhikan."
"What?" I exclaimed, quite forgetting the other people around. "For his marriage proposal? Why, we aren't even lovers, yet!"
"Excuse my daughter," Nanay said, feeling ashamed. "Do go on. She just can’t hold her extreme happiness.”
Baldo came forward and knelt in front of me.
“N-Nadia,” he said, “will you m-marry me?”
I looked at Imelda for help, but she didn’t seem to notice and just smiled. I looked at Nanay and Tatay, but they just glared at me.
I let five, long seconds pass by before I said “Y-yes.”
After the semi-party, I went to my room and cried my heart out. How could I tell Antonio about this? I don’t love Baldo, but I’d be marrying him. How could my parents be so insensitive? They didn’t marry because they were forced to. They married because they loved each other. Didn’t they want me to experience that too? I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing down my cheeks. I didn’t want to cry, but if I didn’t, I’m afraid my chest would burst from the pain.
The next thing I knew, I was awoken by someone who was throwing pebbles from outside the house.
“Antonio? “ I called out, opening my window. “Is that you?”
“I heard you accepted his proposal,” Antonio whispered sadly as soon as he got in my room through the window. “Juan told me.”
“I’m sorry, Antonio. I – I just didn’t know what to do.”
“You could’ve said no.”
“But you know that I couldn’t say that.”
He nodded – a nod full of sorrow. He knew exactly what I meant. Society played a large part in Filipino lives. Who you marry should be subject to the parents’ approval. And sometimes, you won’t have the chance to choose your spouse, because they would choose one for you, even though you oppose to it.
“Let’s run away – together,” he said with a glint of hope in his gorgeous eyes.
“Antonio, I – “
“Don’t worry,” he continued, trying not to notice the doubt in my voice. “I’ll pamper you. I won’t let our family get poor. I’ll work hard for you. Let’s raise a dozen children if you want to.”
I didn’t answer. I felt tears prick my eyes. Seeing Antonio’s hopeful eyes were such a pain to me. I couldn’t promise anything to him. I couldn’t betray my family. It was a taboo.
I gave Antonio a slight smile, as if he was a silly child. This time, Antonio’s tears rolled down his red cheeks. He already knew my answer. I felt sorry for him, and I blamed myself for I couldn’t fight for our love. I felt so useless.
He kissed me, gently. This was our first, and probably our last.
The next morning, everybody in our neighborhood congratulated me. I smiled and thanked them, but inside, I was hurting. I was hurting for Antonio. I was hurting for myself. I was hurting for our love.
I approached Nanay after everybody had left.
“Nanay,” I started, “why did you choose Baldo for me?”
That was a dangerous question, for me. Nanay gave me a fierce look, but she answered anyway.
“He is all you can ask for, Nadia,” she replied. “His family owns several rice farms. He’s educated. His family has good relations with the Spaniards. He is a sweet man, and he will cherish you as long as you live.”
By that, Nanay turned her back on me. That simply meant that the topic is never to be mentioned again.
For days, women from our village came to help in the wedding preparations. And almost every day, I went to the stream in case Antonio was still waiting for me. I had planned to run away with him if he’d still ask me, but every time I went, Antonio was nowhere to be found. I was almost losing hope.
Days passed and finally, the day of our wedding arrived. I cried under my veil as I walked down the aisle. And at the moment I said ‘I do’, I couldn’t help bursting into tears. People thought those were tears of joy, and I was grateful for that.
At the reception that night, I told Baldo I’d be going for a walk around the house. There, I cried.
Just then, a bush nearby rustled.
“Antonio!” I exclaimed, careful to not let anyone hear me. “Antonio!”
Antonio smiled, waved and then turned away.
I couldn’t believe it. Maybe it was an illusion, but I was sure it was him. I kept on crying until I no longer saw his back.
I went back to the party, hoping that no one would notice my eyes, bloodshot from crying. I wanted to cry some more, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t feel anything anymore. Everything around me, the ladies, the men, and Baldo, were blurred. I just felt numb. Hoping that someday, what I decided to do was the best decision, although I thought otherwise at the moment.
Gender:
Points: 3741
Reviews: 52