When the Fireworks Begin

Chapter XXI

It’s a beautiful morning.  It was still early but the city is alive and busy.  A lot of people are trying to finish their last minute shopping. Others were looking for round fruits to be used as center pieces for the occasion tonight.  Occasional bursts of firecrackers could be heard.   Tonight is New Year’s eve.

Devon inhaled the faint sweet scent of the air in the small terrace in front of their apartment. The faint smell of smoke made everything more earthy, more real. She smiled a little, while watching their neighbors’ kids play with their horns and rattles, making sure that they will be making enough noise for tonight. 

On Devon’s lap was a brown leather planner inscribed with the numbers 2011.  This was her planner for the present year.  She slowly opened it, allowing her thin fingers to run through the soft pages, rereading the entries she had made earlier that year.

During the months of January to March, the scribbles were written so close together that she could barely read them.  Deadlines, evaluations, schedule for her students’ thesis defense, seminars, organizational activities, mentoring activities.  Everything was written in the planner.  Eventually the scribbles became less frequent. Until the succeeding months became empty.

Devon traced the empty dates. She sighed. But a smile came to her face when she finally turned the page where boldly written were the words: MY TO DO LIST.  Under it were the things she promised to accomplish and places she promised to visit. 

Today, she decided to revisit her list.  She made a check mark on the number stating: visit Boracay.  Another check landed on revisit Baguio.  She also checked the one saying to zipline, and even putting a heart beside it.  She loved the thrill when she ziplined in Davao.  In fact, she did it twice. 

She saw the words Mt. Mayon, and checked it also.  A few months ago, she flew to Bicol and was able to see the volcano’s perfect cone.  The advertising agency decided to send James to a seminar in Bicol. Some adjustments were made so that Devon would be able to travel with him.  

Since James will be preoccupied, Shey and Ivan decided to ditch their work to accompany Devon.  Devon was both overwhelmed by their concern and also livid since they filed absences from their work. Shey and Ivan shrugged off her protests.

“The least that you can do is pretend that you would like to do this with us,” Shey waved a finger at her.  Ivan stood beside his girlfriend and nodded.  

Shey acted like a mother hen during the entire Bicol trip.  She won’t let Devon out since the sun was too hot, the wind too strong, the skies too cloudy. She insisted on bringing a small collapsible chair everywhere to make sure that Devon can sit down anytime. Shey made Ivan carry a big canvas bag which has everything including a first aid kit, a map showing the nearest medical facilities, bottles of water, juices, crackers.  It made Devon so frustrated that she finally threatened to throw Shey and Ivan out of the hotel if they would not stop acting like overbearing grandparents.

Shey and Ivan decided to ease a little. But it took several hours of convincing before they allowed Devon to take part in a cave exploration activity.  But they won’t budge when Devon suggested going to nearby Donsol to swim with the whale sharks.  Shey took out her best debating skills and made a barricade at Devon and James’s hotel door.