"Soulmate"

Soulmate (Chapter 1)

Di rin malayo ang Bulacan ah,hehe.”

“Alam mo Mokong, just drive.”

“Ouch! Mokong talaga? Tsk, tsk…sana pala di na kita sinamahan dito? Teka, ano bang

plano mo?”

When he asked me the question, I don’t know how to answer back. Besides, when I read the

letter, I did not expect that I will even have this journey. Seemingly, the search for my

Soulmate begins at the very heart of my existence….my home.

“Hey, I’m asking you pretty, ano na?”

I looked at him and while Elmo serves as my one and only confidant in this journey, telling

him the truth, my past…will never be easy.

I heaved a deep sigh, reached for my bag, and took out the letter. I never really expected that

Elmo was watching me intently…I opened the letter again…read through the lines and that

painful reality sets in.

“What’s with the letter, pretty? Care to share?” He insisted…

“It’s from him…my first…first love.”

“Your Soulmate?” Elmo quipped. I merely shrugged and answered,

“Used to be.”

“What happened? Bakit bigla naman ata, you’ve decided to come home…it’s been what?

Seven years?”

Elmo was right. My seven-year reprieve was no joke. I abandoned my family…lived on my

own.

“It’s none of your business, Moe.”

I don’t know what caused me to say it. Elmo and I were used to this type of discussion. We

can be brutally frank if necessary but my reaction was something that I regretted doing.

“Sorry…it’s just that…”

I suddenly felt his hand over mine. As if reassuring me that no offense was taken…

I simply mouthed, “Thanks.”

—————————————————————-

“Dito na ba yun? Sure?”

We descended from the car and before us is the haven of my childhood. Seven years…yeah, it

was like retracing those steps again…remembering us…the terrace was all gone, in line with

the rows of Santan flowers and shrubs. The house was no longer painted in white and the brick

walls are inexistent…so much have changed…many have altered.

I simply nodded and I felt how Elmo walked beside me. The first few steps were difficult; it’s

like treading in muddy waters. The next few steps proved lighter…especially when a group of

young girls greeted me.

“Hi. Andiyan ba si Lolo?” the look in their innocent faces only proved how time has seemingly

erased my memory…they never know me.

“Ate Nica, pakitawag naman si Mama oh. Ate, sino po sila?”

I froze. For some strange reason, saying my name proved the hardest. That feeling, when no