Change of Hearts

Chapter 23

Ilo-Ilo, 1PM

Life, what are you trying to tell me?

I watched as manong is silently packing his things, disappointment all over his face. Hard to imagine how hopeful he was this morning before we went down at the lobby, almost sure we will finally see Bea. Just to find out that she's not here anymore.

I sighed as I fix my things, too. Just to make things worst, we tried immediately to book a flight to CDO but airlines are already fully booked (which is weird because it's lean season) for today. Turns out there's a local music festival to be held tomorrow so the elites of Ilo-Ilo are going there. I went to the veranda to catch some fresh air and clear my mind, seeing Ilo-Ilo's skyline.

She was here...

I felt a lump in my throat, and a sting in my chest. It is only now that the exhaustion, the disappointment, and desperation coming in. I wanted to know where we went wrong? I almost made it. I almost reached her. How many hours did it took for me to miss her? Or minutes?

I stared at the horizon, the buildings, the crowd, and the little people on the ground. Where did she go here? What were the lucky places that saw her? Who were the lucky people that she met? How did she look like?

Was she happy?

Because I hope she was. I hope she temporarily forgot how fucked up our story is. I hope this place brought back her smiles, the same ones I took away from her.

I turned around, wiping my tears. I went inside, and saw manong already finished packing.

"I'm going out," I said.

"Ha? Saan ka pupunta?"

"Since we can't fly today, I might as well just go around here. Sayang naman pamasahe natin." I gave him a tight smile, trying my best to sound as normal as I can.

"Sure ka? Samahan na kita.."

"No, no. I can manage manong. I want to do this alone."

He stared at me, and he understood why I'm doing this. He nodded.

"Basta i-text mo agad ako kapag kailangan mo ha. Dito nalang muna ako, pahinga. Kailangan natin ng energy bukas. Hahanapin pa natin future mo." he smiled at me.

I went out the hotel with one goal in my mind: I'm going to trace her steps here.

———————

Cagayan De Oro, 3PM

"Ma'am, maraming salamat po sa pag-avail ng tour namin. Sana ho nag-enjoy ho kayo." I smiled at the tour guide as I am going down the coaster. We just finished touring the city and I had really fun. The people I went with were so funny and the tour guide is energetic. Plus the city is really, really, lovely to start with.

For 4 hours, we travelled through Plaza Divisoria. We went to the Gaston Park and the St. Augustine Cathedral. I suddenly missed my bestfriend Jhoana when I saw the old gothic inspired cathedral. We also went to the city museum which amused me because it resembles the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Inside, I found out how rich the history of the city is. We tried Sikwate and I almost ate all the "Puso" the tour provided for us.

"Salamat din kuya. I had fun. I will definitely go back here soon with my friends and try the tour again." I said. I bid goodbye to my co-tourists.

"Ma'am, ma'am, sandali lang po," I was already few feets away when I heard the tour guide. I turned around, wondering why.

"Ma'am, nakalimutan po namin ibigay. Ito ho e galing sa cathedral. Binibigay ho namin sa lahat ng mga nagpupunta, parang souvenir na rin po. Teka, isa lang pala nadala ko, marami ho ito eh, p'wede ho kayo mamili. Sandali ma'am, babalik ho ako," he explained.