La Douleur Exquise: Imee Marcos

Chapter 115

December 31st, 2017

After three long days of strong winds, harsh rainfalls, no electricity, and zero reception - Rodrigo finally got a plane to fly from Cagayan to Manila.

His plane left Cagayan late in the afternoon, but he still made time to head to Dumaguete to get the pasalubong Eloise wanted, Sans Rival Silvanas!

He arrived in Manila a few minutes after eight, he first headed to the Bahay Pangarap to freshen up and charge his battery drained cellphone.

Rodrigo's POV

By eight thirty, umalis na ako pa-San Juan, habang papunta kami don ay binabasa ko ang mga mensahe at emails galing pa nung isang araw - wala kasing signal sa Cagayan.

One was from Eloise:

"Hi daddy! It's still so early for New Year's, so, I wanna greet you a Happy Rizal Day! Just like him, you are a hero to lots, including me - even if it sounds very cliché.

Dad, I'm not well and pretty like you complimented me on Christmas eve. All four types of stem cell transplants done in Switzerland were unsuccessful. A day after mom's birthday, we were to told that it had already metastasized in my blood cells, there's no stoping it from reaching my brain or my heart. Dad, even the Swiss could not do anything for me - so, I asked to stop. Stop and live the remaining time I have left with my family-"

Naluha ako habang binabasa ko ito, if only I knew, edi di na sana ako umalis pa and stayed with her for every single day she had left.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, and please don't blame mom for it, because I asked for her to keep it just ours. I often forget that you are also a part of us, and that I, am a big piece of you that you've tried so hard to find. By shutting you out, I took that away from you. I'm sorry for the worst decisions I made, those in some way affected you, dad, it's just, I like to believe that this disease has been wrecking my brain and is hindering the way I think.

I'd rather have that than knowing that it's reached my heart and is hindering the way I love, because there is nothing more that I want to do 'til the day I die, other than wanting to be loved and give love. That's why, I'd like to say that I love you to the moon and saturn, daddy."

And I'll love and have loved you just the same, anak. We all make wrong decisions, and of all people, you're the person I'll let you go away with it - even for a hundred times.

"All my life, I've always followed every order my brain gives out, and now, I want to give my heart the steering wheel. And it will always lead to you. Even when I'm mad, there's no changing the fact that I've longed for you since forever. Just like what I asked and prayed for, I hope you forgive me, and be with me and the family for New Year's eve. I wouldn't ask for anything more.

Brave the storms for me dad,
I love you, and I'm sorry still."

Na-traffic kami sa Magsaysay Boulevard at sa Lacson Avenue, pero dumating naman kami mga alas nuebe na.

Pumasok ako sa bahay sa San Juan, ngunit ang dilim, at tila wala namang tao. Di gaya nung mga nakaraan na selebrasyon.

"Sir? Bat po kayo nandito," Manang Flor, the mayor doma uttered as she met me at the entrance.

"Inimbitahan ako ni Eloise, para sa bagong taon, manang.." I reply and smiled.

"Sir, di ka po pala nasabihan? Hindi na ipagpapatuloy ang selebrasyon dito sa bahay, sinugod po kasi si Ma'am Eloise sa ospital kahapon,"
she informs.