Once In A Lifetime

Chapter 8: Watching Eyes

"Best friends are people who make your problems their problems, just so you don't have to go through them alone."
-------

"Where are we going?" Caroline asked her friend.

"You will know when we get there," said Denise as she clutched her friend away from the Woods Park.

From the school gate,  they took a cab going to a bus terminal. Upon arriving  at the terminal, they boarded a bus bound North. Few minutes later,  the bus started its way, passing through the crowded streets, all the way to the city outskirts,  then speeding to the Super Highway.

Caroline was sitting by the window, still confused of this sudden trip and wondering where they would go.

"Are we going to the province?" Caroline looked sideway to her friend and noticed she was already half dozing at her side.

"Denise, wake up." She tapped her gently and asked, "I don't know what is exactly in your mind but one thing is sure, it's gonna be a long ride. Where are we going, Denise?"

"Shhhhh...quiet, pretty face, you will draw attention to us. They will think we are runaway kids, cutting on our classes or meeting some guys somewhere else. Just relax and enjoy the view, okay?"

"Dad will be furious. I have never gone too far on a trip without him and the worst, on our school uniform." She hated the idea travelling with obvious school identity. 

She remembered how the passengers looked at them with suspicious eyes, as they boarded the vehicle. One passenger even examined their IDs hanging still on their necks, seemingly memorizing their names. This led them to keep their IDs inside their bags. But still, their uniforms would never conceal their school affiliation. How she wished, she had brought some extra shirts and jeans as she did months ago.

"You are over reacting, pretty face. Don't worry, you got me. So, please zip that admirable lips of yours,  or else..." she paused, looking for the right words that could halt her chattering, "...or else,  I will kiss them," she smiled lovingly then leaned back and closed her eyes imagining how to kiss a woman passionately.

"What?!" Caroline blushed. She was aware the old man sitting on their left side at the other end, was observing them dubiously.  Slightly uncomfortable and embarrassed, she gave him a sheepish smile, then, looked away towards the passing scenes outside her window.

Few minutes later, they disembarked from the bus.  Somewhere in the highway were a couple of flower shops near the entrance of St. Vincent Memorial Garden. They entered the shop and Denise was approached by a middle aged woman, saying,

"Hello Denise, it's so unusual to see you in the afternoon, on a weekday and with a new pretty face," she's referring to Caroline.

"Oh yes, this is Caroline, a classmate and my best buddy." Caroline gave her a shy smile. "Pretty face, this is Manang Flor, the flower shop owner."  The woman smiled back, then Denise said, "Nang Flor, can I have the usual?"

"Yeah, sure. Just wait for a while." The woman left them and from the displayed flowers, she carefully picked the usual ones Denise would love to offer  to her mother. After few minutes, the woman handed a beautifully arranged bouquet to Denise who in return, gave her some peso bills and off they went inside the cemetery.

Denise was treading the newly manicured lawn along the path as Caroline followed her without still saying a word. The smell of the newly cut grasses sent a refreshing feeling to both girls evident in the way they inhaled its natural fragrance.  After passing to, and sometimes, stepping on some  headstones, they finally stopped in front of a granite gravestone with golden inscription. Caroline read the inscription to herself.

In loving memory of
Linda S. Romano
Birth: February 27, 1941
Death: December 11, 1967
Who died giving birth to
Luisa Denise S. Romano
A living legacy of a love so true

On top of the stone was a bouquet of flowers neatly placed beside a melted candle. Denise was surprised to see them as she placed the one she bought from the flower shop near the garden entrance and lighted the candle along with it. It's been almost a month since she visited this grave. But the flowers looked fresh. Somebody visited Mom but who? Denise thought. Caroline, finally broke the silence.

"It's your mom's grave, right?" Denise just nodded while uttering a silent prayer. When Caroline realized, that she was done praying, she asked her, "Why did you bring me here, Denise?"

"I just want you to know her, even in this unusual way. We've been friends for a long time now. But I haven't told you about her. Except the past few days. When we both  saw her in the lab, with that fire. I feel guilty for keeping so many things from you, pretty face," she traced the outline of Caroline's face for a while. Looking at her friend,  she repeated in her thought I have been keeping so many things from you, Caroline.  She stared long enough into her puzzled eyes. Their friendship is enough reason to prevent her from telling Caroline the truth. Someday Caroline... Yes, someday, my pretty face.

Denise turned away  from her friend's searching eyes and sat on the grass. Caroline sat beside her, anticipating for what more to come. Then, Denise continued,

"Papa left me when I was young. He promised to come back for me  but he did not until this moment. It's been ten years. And I hate him for not coming back." There was an edge of anger on her voice, wanting to break free. But Denise was resolute not to waste a single tear for the man she hated all her life.

"All my life, I waited for him. I have so many questions  as I grew up. Even until now, I have so many unanswered questions. I was lost. I feel I am not complete. All I know, Mama is dead. She died giving birth to me. And the rest, about her or about her family, I know nothing. She's a complete stranger to me," she shook her head, unmindful that Caroline was already in tears.

"I know I have to start here, in quest for my lost identity...if only he came back, just like he promised, I would not feel empty as I am now."

Caroline was blind that Denise is living in miseries all these years. She felt guilty for letting her missed the final exam, just because she was insecure and selfish, and tried to avoid her,  when her friend, her Denise, was willing to pursue her, then, give up their graduation for her sake. Oh, Denise, I'm sorry...I didn't know you're hurting. Caroline concealed the pain she felt for the sufferings of her friend and managed to ask her,

"Where is he now?"

"I don't know."

"Your grandparents must be aware where your father is."

"They don't know also."

"Is he still alive?"

"I don't have any idea, but in my heart I  wished him dead. So that he has reason for not coming back. And I  have reason not to hate him anymore, too."

"Why you did not try looking for him?"

"We tried, but eventually, I felt a growing fear inside me. I was so afraid to discover he is still alive and has broken his promise to me, for some reasons that I cannot accept. So, I  stopped waiting and looking for him. Until, I let him die in my heart."

"What about if one day he comes back?"

"I wish he won't, because if he does, I can never forgive him until I die."

"Oh, Denise, I'm sorry. It must be so hard for you carrying all these burdens alone. But I promise, I'll be by your side as you go through these." Then, they held each other in the comfort of their embrace. They were not aware, that a man standing not too far from them, about seven gravestones away, was watching them.

Caroline thought, while embracing Denise, she saw a man standing on the opposite side, watching them. When he noticed that she saw him, he walked away and disappeared.

-------
Thank you again for reading my story. Please feel free to give some comments.
Up next will be Father and daughter encounter.
42016