DE:SCENT

Shall we begin?

                It is my first summer break as a college student. My mom decided to send me to my uncle's hacienda to help him out. It is said that for a few months now, my uncle had been feeling ill. He never had a child nor was he married, which simply means that he doesn't have anyone to look after him. As a thoughtful and caring niece, I should be the one to come to his aid. At least that's what mom told me. I've always questioned at the back of my mind Mom's reason in sending me to help uncle. I can't help myself from thinking that she just wants to have a good impression on Uncle, well, because he is rich. But, I sure do hope that what I'm thinking is not true...

-DON'T 4GET 2 GIV D FRUITS 2 UR UNCLE D MOMENT U SEE HIM-, Mom sent me a text message when I was about to board the boat.

-DON'T WORRY MOM. I WON'T 4GETD FRUITS-, I replied to her with a thought why she'd send him gifts. The guy has a whole hacienda; he owns tons of fruit trees. But, I guess it's the thought that my mom wants to send to uncle.

-UNCLE, I'M ALMOST AT UR PLACE- I send a text message to uncle to inform him of my arrival. I waited for about five minutes before I receive a text message.

-WER R U NOW? - It was a text message from mom.

-I'M AT D BOAT MOM. DON'T WORRY, I WON'T 4GET D GIFTS- I replied, wishing that she won't nag me anymore about what I'm doing and will do.

                Not even a second after I hit the send button, I received a reply message.

                What now? Mom really "loves" me to keep this kind of contact.

-HU IS DIS? - It was a reply from uncle.

-UNCLE BOB. DIS IS LEIA, UR NIECE. I'M SUPPOSED 2 B STAYING @ UR PLACE, REMEMBER? - I replied. I wonder what kind of mind my uncle has. I'm his only niece yet he still forgets me. Maybe he doesn't like me. But, I still remember playing with him when I was still a little bean sprout. I just can't believe that he'd forget me like that!

-NIECE? I'M NOT EVN HALFWAY THRU COLLEGE YET. & BSYDS, MY NAME IS LIAN,.. NOT BOB...- I'm shocked by the message that I just received.

-WAT?! BUT DIS IS MY UNCLE'S #...- I replied while trying to sort out in my mind what really is happening.

-W8. WEN U SAID BOB, DID U MEAN SIR BOB? D MAN HU OWNS D HACIENDA IN DAT PRIV8 ISLAND? - Well, uncle does own the island where his hacienda is.

-UHM... YES, I THINK DAT'S HIM. HOW DID U KNOW? – I asked, the moment my curiosity kicked in.

-I USED TO WORK PART TIME IN HIS HACIENDA. JUZ LAST YEAR... OH! I REMEMBER! DIS PHONE WAS GIVEN BY HIM. HE SAID THAT TECHNOLOGY IS 2 COMPLEX 4 HIM...- Well, that cleared the situation. Uncle does despise technology up to a certain extent.

-TNX ^-^ DAT CLEARS A LOT. SO, DAT'S Y NO 1 ANSWERS OUR CALLS =_= ...-

-CALLS? o_O .. I DIDN'T RECV ANY CALLS...-

                That's weird, I'm sure mom called uncle's phone. Maybe, she dialed the wrong number. That also clears the reason why uncle only replied to us when we sent him a telegram about me staying at his place.

                Not long, I finally reached uncle's island. He looked so pale and thin. I won't be shocked if any moment now he'll be blown away by a mere breeze. He looked worst than what I've imagined.

I greeted uncle with a hug and a kiss on a cheek. I asked him how he is as if the answer is not obvious already. He just answered me with a sober smile. I didn't ask any questions afterward. Instead, I sent a text message to mom saying that I've given the fruits to uncle. Looking back at the short text message that I've sent her, I'm quite amazed by the length of the replied message sent to me, which only contains the do's and don't's in my stay at uncle's place.