Mrs. Araneta

CHAPTER XII: Hawaii 🏝

February 26, 1986: 24 hrs after departure.

The headline from the Philippine Daily Inquirer reads: MARCOS FLEES AND IS TAKEN TO GUAM: U.S. RECOGNIZES AQUINO AS PRESIDENT

Greggy knows that it's not true. But will the people have the means to know that it's not? They didn't flee. They were tricked into thinking that there's an opportunity presented to them to be home in Ilocos Norte for the time being.

They didn't flee. They were exiled blindly. All of them, including Irene.

Irene. His Irene.

He has been beating himself up with any possible ways to reach them, to reach her. He tried contacting his relatives to try calling the Air force base to which they are staying temporarily, but they all went down the drain. Not only that the US government has banned them from using any means for communication back to the Philippines, they've also been held accountable for multiple counts of cases including illegal possession of firearms.

Why would they not bring any for their protection? Their knowledge is that they will only be flown to Ilocos Norte!

GREGGY's POV:

I am pacing back and forth inside our home here in Forbes. I am inwardly seething by the sight of my father. I regretted not joining them as soon as I saw the plane take off. So I turned to the parking to get in any of the cars available to make my way to Ilocos Norte. I know I can't lose Irene. That's when he came into the picture. My father.

'Greggy! Get in here. We're going home.'
"Pa? What are you doing here? How.. No. Pupunta pa ako sa Ilocos. Umuwi ka kung gusto mo, susunod ako sa asawa ko."

'They're not going to be in Ilocos. They are en route to US. Guam first hand then Hawaii.'

HAWAII?? WHAT THE FUCK?

"Hawaii? What the hell are you talking about?"
'It's a done deal. Cory gets the presidency, US gets to keep Ferdinand and the family.'
"No! No! How do you even know that?"
'Cory called me. You will be implicated by the cases they are to throw to Ferdinand. Plunder, fraud.. or whatever they can get their hands on.'

"Si Irene?"
'What about her?'
"The fuck! What about her? She's my wife, Pa! Anong mangyayari sa asawa ko!"
'Wife? You didn't even choose her, tapos wife? Are you out of your mind?'
"I'm going. Pupunta ako sa Guam. Susundan ko sila. Not even you can stop me."
'They already issued hold departure order for you. Paano ka pupunta sa America? Not only you, all of the other cronies as well. So get your ass inside the car Gregorio. Uuwi na tayo.'
"You are a monster, Papa. You knew all of this? Hinayaan mo lang?"
'We'll look at you hating on me. I am as monstrous as you, Greggy. You hate me because we are alike in most ways. It was your ambition and ego that led you to leaving Irene, bakit ako sinisisi mo? Now don't make me repeat myself again. Get inside the car, we're going home.'

There's no home now. I've lost my home twenty minutes ago. Hindi ko dapat iniwan si Irene.
I should have chose her. Fuck Greggy, fuck!

'Anak, kumain ka muna. Kanina ka pa naka tayo. Eat something Greggy, sige na.'

I do not understand how my mother can cope with my father. Maybe it is the same way Irene sticks with me?

"Ma, ayoko. Sige na, kumain ka na. Hindi ko nga alam kung naka kain na ba sila, si Irene Ma. I-, I was so wrong Ma. Hindi ko dapat pinabayaan ng ganun lang yung asawa ko. I can't even talk to her. Any news?"
'Greggy... hindi mo naman alam na ganito yung mangyayari. Later raw, 6pm news. May coverage sa kanila sa Guam.'

I feel like I am holding my breath as I turned on the television from our kitchen. It is to my greatest relief that my father go back to his studies. I can't deal with him right now. It's 5:54 now. Six minutes.