Goodbye, Carol

Untitled Part 1

     Carol cannot understand why  she suddenly felt uneasy as the bus rolled past the gates of the Risen Christ Seminary where she and their class are going to have their annual college retreat. Carol could not understand why her stomach suddenly tightened  and why her heart suddenly started to beat at a fast rate. Her seatmate Delia took notice of what was happening and ask Carol, " Hey. You Ok?" Carol forced a smile and told Delia, "I'm ok.  I just cannot understand why my tummy tightened." Delia smiled back. "Aww, you're probably just excited about this retreat." "I guess so," Carol replied.

     As the bus rolled through the winding path leading to the main building of the seminary, Carol noticed that the entire plot of the seminary was dotted with white buildings styled after the seminars you can find in Europe. But what Carol appreciated most was the sight of beautiful flowers that lined up the borders of the seminary. She could identify some of the flowers like roses, petunias, chrysantemums, gumamelas, and violets.  The bus Carol and her classmates were on also passed by several rows of trees. Carol could not help gushing, "Gosh, it's so peaceful here!" "Yeah," Dell chimed in. "Listen to those birds chirping."

       Finally, the bus stopped in front of the main building of the seminary. "We're here, ladies" announced the adviser of Carol's class. The girls grabbed hold of their belongings and started to make their way down the aisle of the bus. 

     As Carol stepped down from the bus, her jaw suddenly dropped open and her eyes widened in amazement st the sight of the man standing on the doorsteps  of the main building where they are going to have their retreat. Carol felt her heart beat fast again and something joyful welled deep within her as she beheld the sight of the man dressed in a white cassock and beaming happily at those who passed by him. "Am I dreaming?" Carol asked herself. She pinched her arm to make sure she wasn't dreaming at all.

     Carol felt her legs shake and weaken as she walked up the steps of the main building. She can't understand why she was being suddenly teary eyed as she slowly approached the man in white.  The priest warmly shook the hands of each participant and as Carol approached him, the priest broke into a wide grin as he reached out his  hand. "Hello, Carol," he said. The more Carol felt weak deep inside as she remembered that familiar grin which she had always like in Jake.  Jake was not that handsome compared to the other guys in the university, but he had this kind of smile which cause many a girl to tremble at the knees. Jake's smile came out naturally and gave one the feeling that he is sincere and really friendly. It was the smile Carol fell in lover with.

     Carol's voice quivered as she said, "Hello..." and at the same time grasping the hand of the young priest. Carol waited for the rest of her classmates and adviser to enter the building before she asked, "Jake? Is it really you?". At the same time, she examined the white garment of the priest.  Who would have thought that somebody like Jake would enter the priesthood? Back in the university, Jake never had the reputation of being a serious student. He was always absent in most of his classes and barely pass each course he took. He would rather hang out with his friends in the small canteen outside the gates of the school and flirt with the girls who passed by.  God calling Jake to the priesthood? This must be some kind of a joke, Carol thought deep inside.

    she could not believe that it was Jake  who is now dressed in a priestly garment. Totally unreal! Btu her heart was suddenly filled with joy and she felt like wanting to shout!  She wanted to hug the man standing before her but prudence dictated restraint on her part.

      "Yep! It's me, Carol," the priest said still with that familiar grin. Carol smiled back and walked toward the entrance to join her classmates already inside the building. As Carol, approached the entrance, she looked back every now and then with a shy smile on her face. Jake or rather Father Jake just waved his hand. "I'll see you guys later." "Yeah,"Carol said. As she was about to enter the door, carol stopped and turned around. She watched as Father Jake walked away from the building and towards another one adjacent to the building where they were going to have their retreat. Carol continued to look until Father Jake disappeared from her sight.  Carol never felt so happy in her life. Whatever she was worrying about on the way to the seminary was blown away into oblivion by the feeling of seeing Jake again.