FRANCIS and CHESCA - ETERNAL LOVE

CHAPTER 4

Maagang umalis sina Francis at Chesca, plano nilang dumaan sa resthouse nila sa Batangas before finally leaving for Cebu. Matagal na kase nila itong hindi nadadalaw at plano nilang iparenovate yun. Madami ng pagbabago sa lugar, yung dating tahimik, ngayon ay magulo at maingay na, yung dating “isolated” na beach, ngayon dinadayo na din ng mga bakasyunista.

C: I think marami ang kelangan irenovate ditto, What do you think? (tanong niya habang papasok sa bahay)

F: uhmmm, sa taas ng mga talahib sa labas, at sa pagkaluma ng bahay from its exterior, tingin ko tama ka.

C: I know, pero I maintain naten yung ayos, papalitan lang naten yung ibang part ng bahay… saka yung furnitures I think okay pa naman, dba?

F: yup… ok naman yun, ang yung ginamit naman dito matitibay na kahoy, repainting lang siguro sa iba… then maybe we can add another room for the kids. (tumango lang ito)

Malinis naman ang bahay nila, may caretaker naman kase sila doon, yun nga lang naluluma na talaga. Simula nung lumipat ang pamilya ni Uncle Manuel sa Manila, napabayaan na din at hindi na napapapinturahan yung bahay.

Nasa terrace sila ng resthouse, kakatapos lang nila magdinner and now they are having tea while chesca is talking to Karl on the phone.

C: tingin mo ba ok lang na iwanan naten si karl?

F: oo naman, bakit hindi?

C: worried lang ako, he’s young. 

F: andun si Kathryn and Albie, for sure di nila papabayaan yun. Your kids are responsible enough to take care of each other. And we’re lucky enough to say that the twins married nice and responsible individuals too.

C: bagay, Albie treats Karl as his own brother na din, and even look after Toff and Cha.

F: yah, Charisse too.

C: ngayon, I can tell myself na we raised the kids well.

F: I only wish that their relationships will last, like us, and like our parents dba?

C: I hope so too. (she rested her head on Francis’ shoulders) alam mo, I don’t know if I have bad oor good memories in this place.

F: haha, ako din. It was our 2nd year anniversary as couple. Tell me, what happened to you after the accident? 

C: don’t tell me you really don’t know?

F: I don’t. How should I know eh everytime I tried to open up that topic, hindi ka sumasagot.

C: well, what happened ba? (thinking) that time I hated everyone, sina mom, sina kevin, si gianne… akala ko kase they’re not doing anything para hanapin ka. Akala ko tinatago ka nila saken. I hated myself, feeling ko kasalanan ko why that accident happened. I’m thankful that Gianne never left my side, even Kevin, Ivo and the rest. They were my shock absorber. When I received the letter, and the portrait, I went to your unit, but I was late, you already left. Then they promised me, na hahanapin ka nila, but they failed. Galit sila sayo, kung nakita mo lang sila that time, they were so mad, and Im happy that they were there for me. Then I decided to go to the US, at first ayaw ni mom, but I insisted, I told myself that if by any chance, you’ll be there, at the airport, and you asked me to stay, I will but then, not even a shadow of ou showed up. Yun pala you’re already more that thousand miles away from me. Even when im in the US, I still had those sleepless nights…Ang babaw ko lang no, ikaw lang iniyakan ko. 

F: bakit parang nagsisisi ka pa! 

C: hindi naman, ngayon natatawa na lang ako, imagine si Francisco Aquino, iniyakan ko… (naramdaman niya kinurot siya nito ng madiin sa side niya) aray! Ikaw, tell me, what happened in Canada?