Love and Resilience

The Whispers of the Past

Day 1

SERENA’S POV

Inaayos ko na ang mga gamit na dadalhin ko dahil ngayong araw ay pupunta kami ni Jo sa abandunadong lugar kagaya ng plinano namin last week. Excited ako kasi makikita ko si Jo at makakasama ko sya sa paglalakbay sa abandunadong lugar.

"Ma, aalis na po ako" sabi ko sa nanay ko habang nagluluto sya "Anak mag iingat ka ha" tumango naman ako at humalik sa pisngi ng nanay ko at umalis na ng bahay at pumunta sa coffee shop kung saan ako susunduin ni Jo.

FF

The sun was starting to dip below the horizon as Jovana parked the car at the edge of the overgrown gravel path. In the distance, the silhouette of an old, abandoned mansion loomed against the fading light, its windows dark and empty, as though the secrets inside were waiting for someone to uncover them.

I stepped out of the car, my camera in my hand, excitement bubbling inside me. "Ang ganda ng lugar na 'to Jo!" I said, my eyes are scanning the crumbling structure ahead of them. I could already imagine the shots I would take—the way the golden light hit the worn stone, the eerie atmosphere of forgotten history.

Jovana joined Serena, hands stuffed in her pockets, a grin on her face. "Alam kong magugustuhan mo 'to. It’s got just the right amount of mystery." 

Me and Jo began walking toward the mansion, the crunch of gravel beneath our feet echoing in the still air. The place had been abandoned for decades, rumored to have once belonged to a wealthy family that mysteriously disappeared. Now, it stood as a relic of a forgotten era, with vines crawling up its crumbling walls and shattered windows letting in the elements.

"I can feel the history here" I said in murmured as I raised my camera, snapping a shot of the grand entrance.
"It’s like the place is telling a story."

Jovana looked around, her heart racing slightly not from fear, but from the thrill of adventure.
"It’s almost like you can hear whispers from the past, diba?"

We entered the mansion, the heavy wooden doors creaking as we pushed them open. Inside, dust covered every surface, and the air smelled of age and neglect. But in my artistic eye I saw beyond the decay. I captured the grandeur of the staircase, the way the light filtered through broken stained-glass windows, and the haunting beauty of a forgotten chandelier.

"This is incredible" I said, turning to Jovana with a wide smile. "Jo, thank you for bringing me here."

Jovana watched her with fondness.
"I knew you’d appreciate it. There’s something about place like this.... they’re full of untold stories."

Me and Jo explored deeper into the mansion, finding old furniture draped in tattered sheets and rooms filled with echoes of a life long gone. Every now and then, I would pause, captivated by a detail a faded painting, a dusty mirror, a door left slightly ajar.

"Jo, this place feels like it’s been waiting for us"  I said softly, snapping a picture of a room that seemed untouched by time.

Jovana glanced at her, a warmth blooming in her chest. "Maybe it has."

As the evening wore on, we found ourselves in what must have once been the ballroom. The floorboards creaked beneath our feet, and the faint sound of wind whistling through broken windows added to the eerie silence. I set my camera down for a moment, taking in the atmosphere.

"You know" I began, "Lagi kong iniisip na makakaramdam ako ng lungkot at pagiging mag isa pag nasa ganito akong lugar. Pero hindi e. It feels peaceful, tipong parang nagpapahinga ang nakaraan dito."