Once In A Lifetime

Chapter 18: Broken

"I am not upset that you lied to me, I am upset that from now on, I can't believe you."

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Denise was packing for a weekend getaway with the Aragon kids in Baguio City. It was Mr. Aragon's treat for the newly graduates and at the same time, he wanted to avoid any possibility of suspicion as he meets the old couple for a clandestine dinner. Thus, he made it sure that Denise and Caroline would be away for the meantime, under the protective eyes of his two sons, Conrad and Christian. Cyrill, his youngest son was not interested to be with them.

Denise was so excited to be with them, except with Conrad who was very annoying and arrogant. The two could not get along together. Conrad had his way of getting into her nerves, that they would end up arguing even over little things. She hated him, everytime he would tease her. Good that she could fireback against his tirades with ease  and Caroline was always her constant defense. Oh, Caroline. She missed her already.

Her thoughts broke when she saw her closet became almost empty.  She had removed everything absentmindedly while thinking about  pretty face and their would be tight-guarded Baguio escapade. Denise, it's only a three day vacation. Don't bring your entire wardrobe, she told herself smiling.

Coming to her senses, she returned the unnecessary clothes in the closet and checked one by one the items she would be needing. Satisfied with her pick, she arranged them in a travelling bag. She was disappointed when the bag was not big enough to contain her things. She did not want to bring an extra baggage aside from the backpack for a carry on which was already full. She considered leaving some clothes to give more room for the important items. And so she unpacked them, selecting the unlucky ones, but to her disappointment, none was the least important. She would be needing all the picked ones.

So,  she started packing again, returning every item and thrust them hard to fit inside the bag. Slowly, she  closed the zipper, but she's having a hard time doing it,  considering the bulk was more than the bag's capacity.   Oh, come on...  She pressed it hard while pulling the zipper with all the energy she could muster. It did not work. So she sat on the bag, her weight compressing the bulk while squeezing the sides with her legs and pulled the zipper again towards her. Then suddenly, the zipper gave way, leaving the slider in a broken state and  she, flew on the floor. Oops...Damn.  She gathered herself with an aching back.  Ouch!...  Looking at the bag, she thought, I'm not done with you yet. 

Downstairs, she looked for her grandparents but saw only Yaya Inday doing the laundry outside. She came closer, surprising her,

"Yaya, where's every body?"

She stood, drying her hands with her skirt and said,

"Morning jog, I guess. Your breakfast is ready.  I'll set the table now."

"Oh, never mind, Yaya.  I'm not hungry yet. A coffee will do. " Yaya Inday went to the counter and prepared a mug of  hot coffee for her.  When done, she handed it to Denise, who took it gratefully.

"I  just need a travelling bag. Mine was useless.  I think, Lola has a decent one and a little bigger than what I have. It's somewhat  dark blue or black, I can't remember really. Have you seen that?" She asked between sips.

"Yeah. I've seen it somewhere in their room, under the bed, I guess. Just wait. I'll get it for you."

"It's okay, Yaya. I will just get it myself. Just continue with your laundry," she said finishing her coffee. "Thanks Yaya."  She hummed climbing the stairs towards her grandparents' room.

Denise found the black travelling bag under the bed, exactly as what Yaya said where it was. It was partly covered by a wooden chest. Denise pulled the chest first, clearing the area, then, grabbed the bag .  Gotcha. You're just the right one for Baguio.

She was about to return the chest but curiosity drove her to open it. Her attention was caught by the telegram on top of the pilings. Her eyes widened as she read every words...

Inang and Amang...arrived in the Philippines. Coming home any time. Denis .

Oh, my God. It's Papa. Further search revealed piled letters neatly tucked by a rubber bond... her heart was racing as she read one, then another and another...there were many of them. She read some lines from a few letters, discovering the real  reasons why her father had to leave, learning the circumstances why he did not come back for her. She felt an aching guilt for hating him many years now. But, she had all the reason to get mad, too.  She was deceived since she was a little girl, not only by her father but also by her grandparents whom she thought, the only family left to trust and cherish. Now, she had no one to trust. 

This reality broke her into pieces. Her thoughts were shouting,  Why?  But even if there would be answers, she knew,  she won't believe them anymore. Her tears gave way silently at first, until she was sobbing, flooding her cheeks, drowning  her heart.  Then she saw some pictures of a man who looked familiar to him. She recognized him. He was the man...the Pastor in her graduation. At the back of the pictures where some notes scribbled neatly bearing the name "Denis" as the sender.

Her anger was building into uncontrollable outrage. You all lied to me! She was bursting in fury... anytime she would explode.  Anytime, the excruciating pain would overcome her until she felt like dying. She placed her hand on her chest, crimping everything in her hold, throwing them in resentment. Her whole body was shaking as she bitterly cried and shouted in great fury.

"Whyyyyy!!!!" Then, she fell on the floor, hands on face, hopeless.

Suddenly, the door swung open. Yaya Inday got in, surprised on what she saw. The room was a complete mess. She saw Denise, embracing herself, sitting on the floor against the wall, crying.  She came closer and held the child.

"Denise, what's wrong?"

Then, Lola and Lolo appeared on the doorway,  astounded and speechless on what they saw. The chest was laid open with all it contents scattered on the floor, pictures torn, letters ripped in pieces and a despondent child in one corner of the room, crying and being comforted by Yaya Inday.

Soledad knelt and hugged her, saying,

"Denise, Apo, let me explain everything." Soledad begged while Gaspar stood beside them unmoved.

She stood up and faced them.

"You all lied to me! How could you do these to me?!" The pain of betrayal was unbearable.  The love and respect she had for them suddenly disappeared. Then, she crossed the room into her bedroom and locked it.

The old couple followed her, banging the door to her room.

"Apo, please open the door. Let's talk about it please." Lola was pleading. There was no answer.

Few minutes later, Denise opened the door,  ran downstairs to the driveway, took a cab and went away, carrying  not only a  bag with broken zipper, but all the pain in her broken heart.
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