La Douleur Exquise: Imee Marcos

Chapter 24

December 31, 1997

Imee Marcos' POV

It's now New Year's eve, we're celebrating at my house dito sa Batac, kaya everyone is here.

Natutulog lang sila buong umaga, kasi napag-isipan nilang mag-convoy galing Manila. Eh alas tres ng madaling araw kumakatok na sila sa bahay.

Buti nalang talaga nag-eroplano kami ni Eloise, kasama sila dad and mom.
Tingnan mo anong nahagap ng mga kapatid ko, ang titigas kasi ng mga ulo. Edi sabog na.

"Ma'am, may humatid po ng sulat galing post office.." sabi nung isang kasambahay namin.

"Saan daw galing?" tanong ko naman.

"Wala pong sinabi eh.. tingnan mo na lang po.." binigay niya ang sulat at umalis.

•

Imee Marcos
Batac, Ilocos Norte
Philippines

R. Duterte
Milan, Lombardy
Italy

December 25, 1997

Josefa,

First of all, I want to say sorry for what happened the last time we bid farewell - it was a bittersweet moment I'd cherish and may have changed my life.. Also I'm much more sorry for chickening out and not contacting you for more than a month..

I hope you all are well, and I HOPE that Eloise doesn't throw random tantrums at you.. But nevertheless, you are still a great mother, one of a kind that your children admire and look up to every step they take.

I know this is very cowardly of me not to tell you this face to face but, I would like to tell you that you are beautiful, smart, caring, and the bravest woman I've ever met, from the day I first saw you in the company, until now. Know that, I'd never pass up an opportunity to take you out for coffee. If there we're better terms, I'd be there with you now.

I like how you make me feel even though you're not around, hell, writing this letter itself gave me butterflies. But I can't go home and I'm sorry, I really need this offer for whatever future brings me, and I just can't let you wait for a long time, you need to go and live your life, Josefa.. You deserve it :)

Also, I wanna greet you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Milan.. Nothing could defeat a great Filipino Christmas season, so I hope that you are having the best.

Always in all ways,
Rodrigo

•

I don't know what to feel, it's bittersweet just like he said. :')

Para mawala na sa isip ko ay ginising ko naman sila para maglunch, at para makapag-sindi kami ng mga kandila sa simbahan bago mag New Year.

"Huy gising!!" sigaw ko kay Bonget.

"Bakit ba!?!" sagot niya naman at napataas ang kaniyang boses.

"Ay aba aba aba.."

"Gosh, gusto ko pa matulog.." dagdag pa niya.

"Ay mahiya ka sa mga anak mo, nasa labas na naglalaro.." pilosopo kong sagot.

"Ay sila ba nagdrive ng walong oras?!?!" sagot niya naman at natulog ulit.

Next ko sanang mapagtripan ay si Irene.. kaso gising na pala siya pagpasok ko sa kwarto.