Ligaya's Cabaret and Casino Presents… Artemio and the Fireflies (Part I)
It's real, real strange how they say life begins at 40 and yet here I am at 48, drinking alone in my own little corner of the cabaret, my mind wandering to that summer of '65 where I was pretty sure I tasted life in full. I first saw you at this very spot where Alingawngaw would meet the lake, long before this town started to dance to jazz music, and even long before they learned how to gamble.
I heard from Apolonio there was a new girl in town, a rich kolehiyala from Manila, "And a real trouble too!" he said. Looking back, I can say beyond any doubt, you were the greatest trouble to set foot on this land, and a trouble I'm willing to bet on, over and over again.
"Is the water always this quiet?"
Your question caught me off guard. I never noticed the water or even heard it speak, but you, of all people, stood there as if in perfect harmony with the lake, revering her beauty, not minding the silence from the water or from me.
"Ligaya!"
Apolonio yelled from behind the trees, running towards us. I was evidently surprised that you knew each other. That son of a gun.
He introduced you to me and proudly so. I knew I had seen that smug look before. At fourth grade, we were both competing in the local spelling bee and for some unfortunate reason, I could not get the word 'asphyxiation' right.
Like many good things in a young man's life, my few minutes of ligaya came to an abrupt end but at 18 with absolutely nothing to lose and a happiness of a lifetime to gain, I thought to myself, "Tomorrow shall be the day."