When in France

2

One-way ticket

A beautiful sunny morning came and I waked up with a mild headache. I bet Nancy will gonna have a terrible hangover this morning.

I think a cup of coffee will do for me. I much prefer a coffe than a tea. I don't get it. Bakit ba gustong-gusto ng mga british ang tea? Wala kayang lasa iyon. I guess my tastebuds is really different since i'm just a half-british and a half-french.

Pagkatapos kong mag-prepare ng breakfast ko may biglang kumatok sa pinto ko.

"Letter for Mrs. Louise Lacey Lamoureaux!" Sigaw ng isang lalaki mula sa labas and I think it's a mailman. It's been awhile since I last received a letter.

I wonder kung kanino galing iyon?

Pinagbuksan ko ito ng pinto at iniabot niya sa akin yung isang scented envelope at agad din itong nagpaalam at umalis.

The scented enevelope smells like a rose! This is new to me...

Bumalik na ako sa kusina at sumandal sa dining table at dahan-dahan na binuksan yung envelope and it really suprise me when I saw where it came from.

Muntikan na akong ma-out of balance nung nabasa ko iyon. Is this for real?! Bloody hell!

Museé d'orsay

It's from the Museé d'orsay!! It is one of the most popular art museum in France! And I got invited to showcase my works! It was said na naging interesado sila sa theme ng mga paintings ko.

But....France.

Parang biglang nawala ang pagiging excited ko nang maisip ko iyon. It really brings back a lot of memories everytime i think of that country.

Pero hindi parin nawalala ang pakiramdam kong iyon kapag naiisio ko ang bansang iyon. That feeling of nostalgia. That country I call a home.

Anyway, that said showcase will be held in.... december?

Bakit ang tagal pa? Ang advance naman nitong invitation. Anim na buwan pa para doon but this is really a good news! Magiging parte ako ng isa sa pinakamalaking art showcase event sa buong mundo! I think I'll keep this as a secret for now. This will be a good surprise to everyone.

Naka-ngiti ang ako buong umaga dahil doon. Hindi ko na alam kung paano ko mapipigilan itong pagngiti ko feeling ko mapupunit na 'yung pisnge ko.

I just can't help it--

Nagulat ako dahil may bigla na namang kumakatok sa pinto at nagtaka ako. Sino na naman kaya ito?

Nagda-dalawang isip pa ako kung pagbubuksan ko ito but in the end, I opened the door but I regretted it....

"What are you doing here?" Cold kong tanong at nginitian niya lang ako ng nakakaloko. Isasara ko na sana yung pinto pero pinigilan niya ako.

Sinira na niya ang umaga ko! And my whole day too! Just because I saw the face of this bastard!

"Louise, come on..."

"Shut it, Wade! Tigilan mo na ako! I already told you! May asawa ako and I'm not planning to be an ufaithful wife!" Sigaw ko sa kaniya at pilit kong sinasara yung pinto ko but this guy is so bloody strong and I hate it!

"It's not like he will even know!" Bloody hell! This guy is so obsessed!

His name is Wade Hughes. He WAS my friend. Pinsan siya ni Nancy kaya nagkakilala kami 3 months ago but hell! I didn't know this guy is a freak! I shouldn't have trusted this guy!

Last week, he confessed his love to me but I rejected it. Bloody f*ck! I have a husband and  I'm not going to cheat! And besides, I only see him as a good friend pero nagbago iyon nang muntikan niya na akong saktan dahil sa pag-ayaw ko sa kaniya.

Simula noong last week, lagi niya na akong mine-message so I blocked his number. Nalaman din iyon ni Nancy kaya inaway niya ito at sinabihan niya na wag niya na ulit akong guguluhin pero eto siya ngayon...

"Get out of here, you asshole! Or else I'll call the police!!" Sigaw ko ulit at ibinigay ko na ang buong lakas ko na itulak yung pinto hanggang sa naisara ko ito at dali-dali kong ini-lock lahat ng locks mula sa loob at hinarangan ko rin ng table yung pinto pero patuloy parin siyang kumakatok.

This guy is really getting on my nerves!

Mabilis akong naligo at nagpalit at nag-empake ng damit sa isang bag. I'm going to my mother's place dahik mas safe ako doon.

Mabuti nalang mukang wala na siya dahil tumigil na yung pagkatok pero para mas safe ay dumaan ako sa fire exit ng apartment ko.

---

"Mommy, I'm home!!" Sigaw ko pagkapasok ko sa bahay ni Mummy. She's home alone here. Nasa France kasi si dad.

They are not separate, they're just living separately. There's a diffrence.

"Oh Louise! My lovely daughter!" Bati sa akin ni mommy pagkapasok ko sa living room. Lumapit ako sa kaniya para halikan siya sa pisngi at hinalikan niya din ako sa noo. I really missed my mom. Ilang months na din akong hindi naka-bisita sa kaniya dito sa Cornwall.

She lives here in Cornwall, England although she really came from Scotland and that explains her traits that I inherited from her. Mayroon din siyang ginger hair and gray eyes and of course, freckles. Kahit may edad na siya ay litaw parin ang kagandahan niya, it's like she's barely aging at all!

"What's wrong dear? Do you have any problem?" Tanong niya at tinabihan siya sa sofa at sumandal ako sa kaniya.

"Remeber that freaky guy I told you about last night? I don't know what to do with him anymore! Lagi niya nalang akong kinukulit!" Naiinis kong sabi at tumawa siya.

"Why don't you juts kick his ass? I'm sure it'll do."

"Mommy, you're not helping." Sabi ko sabay pout at kinurot niya lang yung pisngi ko.

"How about...escape from here?"

"What?what do you mean by that?" Nagtataang tanong ko at tumayo siya.

"Wait here, may kukunin lang ako." Sabi niya at umalis. I'm curious. Ano kaya iyon?

After ilang minutes ay bumalik na siya at may parang itinatago sa likod niya. I hope it's not a prank. Knowing my mom, she is one hell of a good prankster.

"I'm sure this will help. Matagal ko nang gustong ibigay ito sa iyo pero humahanap lang ako ng magandang timing but I think this is the right time and trust me, you need this." Sabay abot sa akin ng isang pahabang papel. "This will be your...escape."

No, it's not just a paper...

"A plane ticket?...to...France?" Tinignan ko siya at nginitian niya lang ako. Hindi ako makapaniwla I mean sobrang nakakagulat ito.

"Why would you..." napatigil ako sa pagsalita nang itapat niya yung index finger niya sa bibig ko.

"Shhhh, I saw how much you struggle this last few years in work and in...life so this will be my gift to you."

"Mommy..." hindi ko na napigilan ang mga luha ko na kanina pa gustong kumawala at hinayaan ko nalang iyon na dumaloy sa mga pisngi ko kasabay ng 'yon ay ang pagyakap ko kay mommy ng sobrang higpit at ganon din ang ginawa niya pabalik.

"For your happiness, my lovely daughter... Find it again and feel it over and over again."

"Home... This is my one-way ticket home."

***

Err boring ba? Hahaha ^_^ v