Somewhere Someday

Chapter 16

Somewhere Someday

(Chapter 16 –Secrets and Revelations)

 

 

Hearing Mila’s long story, Alfred suddenly collects his thoughts and makes an unexpected absence from the laboratory to visit Grande Carnival. He just wants to know what happened to the place he previously lives at… the place where he was raised after his parent’s death… the place where he first saw Helena.

Together with a driver, the young man uses the map downloaded and printed by Hanna as a reference. His driver also programmed the address and directions on the car’s built-in GPS. Since it is his first time to go outside of Manila after 65 years, he gets amazed by the speedy expressways built on smooth asphalt and modern toll gates, also noticing the faster travel time compared to the all-nighter trips years ago.

“Welcome to San Pascual, Batangas! Travel time from Makati was 1 hour… and… 15 minutes!” says the robotic voice of the GPS. 

“We’re here, Sir!” The driver unlocks his seatbelt and opens the car door.

Upon going out of the car, Alfred seems to be surprised to see the area. For him, the place changed a lot. He cannot recognize the part.

“Are you sure this is the place?” The young man asks in disbelief.

“Yes, Sir. The coordinates are correct. And according to research, this is really the place where the carnival used to stand.” The driver says as he reviews the GPS and online map.

Months after the death of Mang Fernando and Mila’s departure to Manila, the Grande Carnival experienced a major disaster in which fire turned the dreamland into a land of ashes. One major casualty is the circus magnate Don Rogelio, who was badly burned when he was trapped inside the administrative tent. Other workers and patrons managed to escape.

In 1951, a year after the fire incident, a multinational oil company bought the place. Six decades have passed, the carnival is nothing but a legend, and is now an abandoned oil refinery. The place is guarded with gates, and inside the vicinity, one can find offices, gigantic oil tanks, lush greeneries with sprinklers and other buildings related to the business.

In the outskirts of the closed area lies a humble residential area composed of small homes and a working class community, including mini-stores and other food shops. Seeing the new facade, Alfred feels depressed due to nostalgia. Not happy with his visit, he chooses to stay inside the car and instructs the driver to just cruise around the place.  

The ride starts, and the young man opens a vintage, brittle brown envelope given by Mila. It contains three letters of Mang Fernando which were addressed to him before the old man died. They were supposed to be sent to Manila but with the address unknown, the elder chose to write and wait for the young man to read it when he comes home. As they go around and explore the whole oil refinery by transport, Alfred begins to read the letters, one page at a time.

April 18, 1948 – Hello, Alfred. It’s been 1 year since you’ve left. How are you, son? You said that you would come back after a year. I am very excited. You don’t know how much I have cleaned the tent and prepared your small bed. How was your 22nd birthday? Did you feel sad celebrating it alone without me? Do not worry because when you come back, we will celebrate it again. I have saved enough money for your birthday cake. Take care, young man. I love you. P.S. When you come home, I will introduce you to a wonderful child. She will be your new little sister. – Mang Fernando