City Lights & Country Hearts (SS #1)

Special 4

Dear Jijimons (Jijis),

I'd like to start this off by saying how grateful I am to have you guys. Thank you for taking interest in CLCH! Hindi ko alam kung sa papaanong paraan ko pa ba ipapahiwatig kung gaano ko kayo ka palangga o ka mahal.

Tyson and Lucian were my first babies. Thank you for loving them, understanding their sides, and holding on to their love story.

I didn't think that this book would get lots of your attention and love... but it did! Thank you so much, Jijis! Happy 200k reads also! Aaahh!

This is the last chapter of their story. I hope you find unconditional love like theirs. Find the peace in your heart... and find the one that would journey with you in your lifetime.

I love you, Jijis! Let's sail together sa book nila Soren.

Note: The beginning of this chapter is written in the POV of a seven-year-old Lucian. Natalia wasn't born yet.  Present POV of Lucian is after ***.

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Before I go to sleep, Mama always comes into my room. She'd lie beside me and tell me stories about life in the province. She would brag about the wonderful places in her birthplace—La Castellana.

Her visits became my most favorite time of the day. It feels like I have another adventure to listen to. My eyes and ears were always ready for her words.

With every story she shared, my admiration kept on growing, and I couldn't help but think how incredible she was!

She told me that she crosses rivers and treks mountains just to go to her school. Sinabi niya rin na ginagawa niyang lunch box ang dahon ng saging.

Although I think she's quite exaggerating her stories sometimes.

Besides that, she'd tell me how vast the katubohan is in their province. I don't know what tubo is, I haven't seen one in real life. But she told me that sugars come from that plant.

She said that the tubo is juicy and sweet!

I like sweets; that's why I want to taste them. Although she warned me that I might cut my tongue. I'm already a big boy; no wounds can make me cry. Heh.

Mama also told me that there's a tree in La Castellana that's over a thousand years old! I bragged this story to my classmates, but they did not believe me.

I guess they're too bobo for not believing. Perhaps they don't know even what a centennial tree is. Dumbasses.

Mama's stories became a lullaby for me. Her soft and calming voice while reliving her childhood always made me feel like I was right there with her, all the time.

As she spoke, I'd close my eyes and imagine La Castellana as she'd describe it. I wish to visit her hometown, walk through the tubohan, and stand under the ancient tree.

But I guess that won't be a mere wish anymore.

It was December.

Mama told me that we would be going to her hometown! I packed my things three days before we went. Mama wanted to help, but I refused. I'm a big boy now. I can do things on my own!

Dad didn't come with us, he had a scheduled trip to Hong Kong. He even asked me if I'd like to come with him, but I wanted to visit Mama's hometown rather than see Mickey Mouse.

In the end, it was Ate Delancy who went with him. I told her to buy me some pasalubong; I wanted a Donald Duck plushy.

"Oliver, are you sure that you can carry that?"