Once In A Lifetime

Chapter 34: The Letter

"Every day is a new beginning
Stay away from what might have been
And look at what can be."

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Denise woke up from a long night sleep refreshed, healed and ready to face the coming days. The memory of such a horrible accident left a shadow that would vanish soon. She was determined to leave all those things behind her and focus to a new life waiting for her in the university. She could meet Caroline there, live in the same dormitory, regain their lost moments together and start all over again until she could be where she is destined to be. As for the company, it could wait when she's ready to take it over.

From the bedside, she saw the sun was full grown on the horizon,  beaming with it's silver rays, giving her hope for a better day. Now, she's ready to face what lies ahead and resolve things in her life that would give her inner peace.

If there was one thing the accident taught her, it was the uncertainty of life. What if she died with all the bitterness in her heart?  Could her unforgiving soul be received in the highest?

For a moment, she remembered her grandparents with their pleading eyes that day when she run away.  Oh God I  miss them. 

Then from the corner of her memory, she could vividly recall her father.  She bit her lips  remembering him.  You're dead in my heart. But how come you have this power to hurt me over and over again.  Why until now, you don't care to look after me?
The pain he caused her was coming back, when she thought, she had bury them long time ago.

Life had never been so easy since her father left. It was filled with pain and miseries. She tasted them all at a young age. But she is resolved to change the course of her life and shape her future. No one would ever hurt her again... not even her father. She promised this to herself.

For the first time in few days, since the accident, she felt a strong need for a fresh air. She's been locked in the room for days and never saw the surroundings outside, except for a limited view that she could see through the window.

She's​ about to go out from the room, when all of a sudden, the room flung open and Karla emerged with a tray of food on her hands with Manang Pacing following her.

"Hi Ate! I just knew you're up." Karla beamed with so much enthusiasm as she placed the food on the table and hugged Denise tightly.

"Oh...hello Karla, nice to see you here." She lowered herself and kissed the little girl on both cheeks. Then, took the old woman's hand to bless and said, "Good morning, Manang."

"You look great, Denise." 

"Thank you, Manang."

"It's time for your breakfast. Karla gave me a hand for this."

"Oh! Really, Karla?"  The girl nodded with those proud eyes.

"Denise, if you  need anything, Karla is here to assist you. Your bath is all set in the tub with warm water. There is also enough clothes in the closet. When you are ready,  Arturo wants to see you."

"Thanks a lot, Manang."

"Karla, I want you to behave here, clear?" The girl nodded. Then, the old woman went downstairs leaving the two girls by themselves.

"Hey, Karla, who is Arturo? It's the second time, I heard his name." Denise asked while approaching the food on the table​ and Karla was climbing on the bed.

"I don't know. But I heard them say, he's the one who brought you here from the river when you were found unconscious." Playfully, she kept jumping on the bed.

"Can you please come over here and stop jumping on  the bed."

"I like here. You have a soft bed. I wish I have one like this."

"Why? Are the beds in the other rooms not like that?" The girl stopped jumping and sadly, with face down, shook her head.

Denise walked towards the bed and sat beside the gloomy child. "I thought, you live here?" She hold her chin up.

"No. You know where we live, right? The whole summer, you stayed with us in that small nipa hut.  Have you forgotten it already?"

"I can't forget that of course. Those days were the most important days in my life."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"But it's just a shanty. We are poor and grandma said, you are rich."

"Is that the reason why you are here for me?"

"Of course not! I will love you the same even if you are poor like us."

"Sure?"

"Yeah. Cross my heart. Swear to die." The girl gestured the sign of the cross on her left chest and raised her palm for an oath.

"But I wonder, whose house is this? Why all of you are here?"

"I don't know either. Better ask grandma."

"Yeah, I'll do that later."

"Oh by the way,  I have something for you. But you need to promise to keep it a secret between us, okay?"

"What's that?"

"Promise first." Karla insisted.

"Okay, okay, cross my heart, swear to die," imitating Karla's gestures when she pronounced the same promise.

Karla gave her a letter. Slowly, Denise unfolded it and read silently.

"Where did you get this?"

"From the taho man. Luigi and I  bought a glass of taho from him this morning. Then, he handed me secretly that letter. He said, I need to give it to you because it's important. And he made me swear to keep it top secret. In exchange, he would give us two glassful of taho for free for a couple of days. Imagine Ate, it's free!"

"Do you know who's the man?"

"Not much. But since we arrived here, I can see him every morning selling taho here in the village."

"Did the man mentioned about Wilfred Aragon or Caroline Aragon?"

"No. Why? Who are they?"

"Never mind."

"Is there anything wrong in that letter, Ate?"

"Oh... nothing." Denise kept the letter and walked towards the window. Looking out, she could see from a distance, right after the plantation, the cliff, hanging in the woods like  a barren wall.

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My heartfelt thanks to all of you. Our highest rank  was at #2. I can't make it without you. Now, we are down at rank #4 (4.28.17). Thank you for keeping our story in. God bless you all.