Once In A Lifetime

Chapter 19: The Revelation

"Strength of character is not always about how much you can handle before you break, it's also how much you can handle after you've been broken.

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Caroline was busy packing her belongings. Just like Denise, she was excited for a weekend trip that would mark the beginning of a long summer before they would finally delve and face the challenges of a college life.

Both girls made plans of going in the same university, if they could pass the admission examination administered to the graduating students prior to their graduation. They both applied to at least four colleges and universities giving preference to Maines View University, a boarding school in the famous suburb of the Cordillera Region.

College life scared them and before it would get into their nerves, they'll gonna enjoy first the fun and promising adventure brought by summer. After Baguio, she would accompany Denise in search for her mysterious maternal ancestry to a place unknown and yet to be discovered.

"Hello, Caroline..." There was an inevitable edge of sadness in Denise's voice as she talked over the phone to her friend who was in the middle of packing things for their vacation treat.

"Hey, genius. Excited for Baguio? We will pick you up after lunch, okay? I'm still busy sorting things for this vacation..." Caroline said as she gazed on the scattered items on her bed.

"You need not to," she said and heard her say, What? "I-I'm so sorry, pretty face, I just can't go with you. S-something came up and besides, I'm not ready for this thing now ..." She was trying to explain while holding her tears. She did not want Caroline to worry about her state, but then, there was a touch of betrayal on the tone of her voice, enough to reveal the intensity of pain hidden in her heart.

Caroline was surprised hearing a somber expression from Denise's voice.

"Hey, you are crying, Denise. I know, you're terribly upset. What happened?" She knew her friend too well, and definitely, Denise was in some kind of predicament. There's something wrong. Something very alarming.

"I just called to say...," she paused searching for words. "Oh, I will miss you, pretty face. I have to go now," she was trying to contain all her emotions. She was desperately longing for her presence, to touch her, hug her and cry endlessly on her comforting shoulder. Only Caroline could ease the unbearable pain she carried all by herself at that moment.

"Where are you now? I'm coming for you. Tell me, where are you, Denise?" She became tense and worried. It was obvious, Denise was saying goodbye. Those were parting words. But why? Caroline could not understand what was happening?

"Please take care of yourself always. I want you to know that..." Denise was confused. Her mind was making war with her heart. Do I need to tell how much I love her? That I am not the kind of Denise she knew all her life? That what I feel for our friendship is more than we could both imagine. Oh, Caroline, if you only know how much I love you.

"Hello? Denise, are you there? Tell me what's bothering you. Can I see you now?" Caroline was waiting.

"Pretty face, I really have to go now."

"Damn you Denise! You can't get away with this without telling me your reasons. You're my best friend. Let me help you... please... where are you now? Please, tell me where are you now?" Caroline begged as she was becoming impatient but lovingly offered any help for her.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. Remember that ...that... " she paused remembering Caroline's words: You're my best friend. These words cut her heart in two. Adding more pain to her brokenness. She was tempted to silence her shouting heart, afraid to lose Caroline's friendship if she would reveal her true feelings to the girl who meant everything to her. But this was the only chance left for her to say what's in her heart. After this, she would go away, leaving Caroline simply but a memory and with a future they would separately pursue. She needed to tell now the truth. All her life, she lived being surrounded with lies and deceptions from the people she loved. If there's one thing she hated the most at the moment was a lying heart. It caused all the brokenness she could not contain inside her.

Then she realized, her own heart was a reflection of the deceit she was keeping from Caroline for so long now just to keep her... She felt the guilt and she understood why her grandparents shield their relationships with lies in between. She needed to tell her the truth.

"I want you to know that... that I love you, pretty face. I love you so much, Caroline and I won't ever forget you. Bye." As she was about to place the receiver down, she could still hear Caroline's utterances. Denise please, don't talk that way. Where are you? Let's talk...Oh my God, Denise, don't hang the phone... please Denise, please... hello... hello... Then the line went dead.

I love you so much , Caroline....I love you, pretty face. Caroline paced to and fro in her room, lost in deep thought while contemplating on the meaning of those endearing words which came to her as a shocking revelation.  They were used of saying 'I love you' to each other. But the way she said those words over the phone was different. 

Denise loves you so much as a friend. That's it. No malice. Come on Caroline, don't put meaning on something that is so plain. Don't doubt it. Wait... what about that supposed kiss on my lips? Oh no! No! No! It was her way just to silence me, okay? Friends sometimes kissed each other on their lips. That's it! Don't doubt her Caroline. Never!

Caroline came to her senses now, shifting her petty suspicions to that crucial moment where Denise's welfare was her paramount interest more than anything else. Where are you Denise? She was thinking of something that would terribly affect Denise in order to leave. Why? Where? Caroline felt the heaviness in Denise's heart. How she wanted to run to her side and be with her for whatever trials that weighing her down. With tense hands, she dialed the familiar numbers she had memorized since the day they became friends.

"Hello." Soledad answered the phone.

"Hi, La." Caroline said. Soledad recognized at once the girl's voice and was eager to know whether Denise is with her at that moment.

"Oh, Caroline dear. Are you with Denise?" the old woman asked worriedly.

"She's not with me, La. But she called a while ago. It seems she's leaving. I don't understand why she is so upset. Do you have any idea what happened, La?" The old woman started to cry. When she gained her composure, she narrated everything that had happened earlier.

Moments later, Caroline grabbed the car keys and without any hesitation drove the car heading to a place where she could possibly see Denise pouring her heart out to someone she trusts all her life - at Linda's grave.

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Thank you for a thousand reads. Comments are welcome. Sorry for the late update.

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