La Douleur Exquise: Imee Marcos

Chapter 108

It's now Wednesday afternoon, Imee is currently on her flight back to Manila after she spent three days in Ilocos Norte, accomplishing all the things she needed to do before they leave for Switzerland.

"Good morning ma'am, your boarding pass please.." said the lady at the check-in counter.

"Here.." Imee uttered and handed a piece of paper.

"Ma'am, resibo po to sa Mercury Drug," the lady at the counter uttered.

"Ay! Ag bagtit ka, Ime." Imee thought to herself.

She was fazed and concerned since Eloise was supposed to have her doctor's appointment earlier, and yet she was not able to receive any updates, nor did she exchange calls with Eloise the entirety of the day, neither did any of her sons.

She was also taken aback by the decision she made just earlier.

"I'm so sorry, may pinag-aabalahan lang, he he.." Imee shyly said as she handed her boarding pass.

"Okay, lang po yun ma'am, please head to the boarding gate.." the lady said after confirming the validity of Imee's boarding pass.

The flight took only about an hour and thirty minutes.

She contacted her driver before proceeding to go out of the airport, but he was dropping all her calls.

"Mahirap ba 'kong sagutin?" she murmured and rolled her eyes.

Imee Marcos - Duterte

"Mahirap ba 'kong sagutin?" I said to myself while ringing my driver.

I tried ringing all my sons, even Bonget, and yet, ni-isa, no one's picking up. I then decided to take the taxi, I don't think it's that hard naman - dangerous, yes: hard, no.

I went out of the airport and tried hailing a cab, until someone grabbed my arm.

"Tara." said Rodrigo and quickly lowered his mask.

He was wearing joggers and a hoodie - both black, along with a black cloth mask. Thus, the chances of people seeing and identifying him are low.

"Gamitin mo 'rin to.. Medyo malayo yung parking lot, mahirap nang makilala tayo ng mga tao." he added as he gave me a shawl and a pair of sunglasses.

He also took my luggage and exchanged places with me, this way I won't be walking on the dangerous side of the sidewalk.

"Seriously? Mag-isa ka na naman?" I said as we arrived in front of his SUV. This man.

"I had to keep a low profile kasi sinamahan ko si Eloise sa ospital kanina, nag-Landers pa kami." he replied and opened the door for me.

"Ah, kayo pala magkasama kanina, kaya pala di na 'ko sinasagot, may bagong paborito na pala." I replied and sarcastically rolled my eyes.

"Hindi, naiwan niya daw kasi yung phone niya sa bahay.." Rodrigo attests.

"Hmm.."

"Rod." I call, he just turned to me quickly before diverting his eyes back to the road.

"You're old, you shouldn't be driving anymore, that's how people get killed." I straightforwardly said.

"Ako? Matanda?" he replied and scrunched his nose.

"It just hit me that I'm turning 61 this year, you're 70 something, gosh, tanda mo na!" I chuckled.

"I'm 66 pa noh," he responded.

"The point is, we're old, we have a daughter who's getting sick and weaker everyday, our marriage, whether we like it or not, is on shambles. I'm tired, retreat na 'ko."
I wholeheartedly uttered.