Whispers of Hope ✓

CHAPTER 32

JOSHUA'S POV

"Just rest; I'll wake you up when we reach home."

Ish nodded and completely dozed off as she rested her head on my shoulders. We're already here seated on the plane back to Baguio after all the trips we've had. It took us the whole week to visit all the places we wanted to. My original plan to have a trip around the world with Ish; I even booked to every possible romantic places we'd be going after the reception party but after what happened and Ishita bringing me to Sagada, there were a lot of changes on my plans. I talked to Ishita and suggested that we'd just continue on with my plan travelling overseas but she said that it'll be more tiring for both of us to travel overseas and that's when she suggested to why not just travel but only around the Philippines. I doubted that at first though it wasn't a bad idea, but I wanted to show Ishita a grander place and event coz I really think she deserves to see the grandest things and places of the world. That was my plan but then I just went along with Ish's plan to travel along the places here in the Philippines and it pretty was just as beautiful as what i expect it to be.

After our one-day stay in Sagada, we traveled all the way to Batanes by noon that day. Batanes is an archipelagic province of the Philippines and is famous for its scenic waters, terrains and clean environment. We sure did enjoy the scenic views out there and came next to Pagudgud and trust me when I say Pagudpud was one of places we enjoyed to stay most. It's just very clean and nature-wise place. We went to every places we could think of and those short times we spent in those places were just the happiest moments for the both of us. Especially that I'm with Ish, it never felt more special. And now that we've decided to go back home from our happy trips, we were both very much reluctant to do so. I even tried telling her we could extend another week for our travels but she talked to me that it's not a good idea leaving everything at home for long. Especially mom and that's when I realized she was right. I totally forgot everything; the disputes, my company, the issues I left from home and work, I just completely forgot everything and all that mattered then was Ishita. So we had to go back home now as I needed to secure things regarding mom's incident. I will make sure not to let this pass ever also with Ish's issue. Though she told me not to do anything anymore regarding her case, I just couldn't get myself at ease if couldn't just give one big punch to their faces at the very least; I won't settle for less like this even if Ishita disagrees.

.....

"Welcome back! How's your trip?"

Upon reaching home, Ate Rosa was the first to welcome us as she helped us put down all our luggage which literally were just full of pasalubongs (gifts/token) from all the places we've visited. I didn't mind when Ishita picked every what-nots that she thought would be nice if we take them home at least as remembrance.

"It was the greatest, I swear!"

Ishita says as I only chuckled watching her drag Ate Rosa and continued to tell stories of our trip.

"Where's mom? And Layad too?"

I asks as I couldn't see them anywhere in the house and that's when Ate Rosa heaved a deep sigh as though very much disheartened by a certain thing.

"Your mom is in her room. From the day you left for your trip, she didn't pretty much get out of her room and so I had to bring her all the things she needed. She refused to go out or even just eat one proper meal."

All my worries were then piled up upon hearing Ate Rosa's story and I was about to go see mom upstairs when Ate Rosa stopped me telling me mom just fell asleep for now. She also told me that mom never got to sleep very much worrying everything about me and I never felt so guilty about anything especially regarding mom.

"You okay? Just sit and rest first and we'll go check on mom a little later okay?"

Ishita says as she dragged me to the sofa patting me on the back. I smiled at her and nodded as I pulled my hair out of mixed emotions. I was too overwhelmed with joy of the past trip I had with Ishita and totally forgot everything here at home and the guilt is slowly seeping through me. I couldn't even talk to mom upright after finding out everything. She must've though I was angry at her though I was raged for quite a big matter but I wasn't angry at her at all. I could've just faced her a little more before going on a trip. But at that time when I heard of her being raped, I was just completely eaten with raged I never knew off completely disregarding what my mother would've felt all this time. she must've been fearing everything all this time. she must've been feeling all alone all this time and I never felt a strong pity on anyone ever.