Ten Days in Paradise

Day Ten

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"Goodbye, Miss Amber," Yna told me as she hugged me. "We're really going to miss you here..."

"Take care, Miss Amber," Eric added. "I hope you'll come back soon."

"Good luck to your career, Miss Amber," Dale said, holding a box of pastries that he's giving me as a parting gift. "And if ever you decide to come back, I'll cook and serve you your favorites, for free."

Their goodbyes were warm, heartfelt, and touching that I couldn't help but smile. In fact, I was so touched that tears were beginning to form in my eyes.

Actually, I was surprised that they were gathered there at the lobby when I got down from my room. I did want to say goodbye to them, but I didn't expect them to take the initiative.

"Thank you," I told them. "I enjoyed my stay here with you and I'll really miss you all. I really hope I can come back."

"We'll wait for you, Ma'am," Yna added.

It was finally the tenth day of my stay there at Casa Del Rey. It was the day that I had to leave. Boarding time for my return flight to the States was at two in the afternoon. And since the trip from Botolan to Manila would take almost five hours, I had to leave before nine if I wanted to make it.

To be honest, I didn't want to go. I had fallen in love with the Philippines, especially its people, that I really wanted to stay.

But my job and career demanded that I return to the States. My life was there, and also my family.

"Stay safe," I told the staff after I hugged them all. "I love you all."

Then I finally stepped out of the door and walked towards the parking space where Mike and his CRV were waiting.

Mike told me the night before that he would drive me to the bus terminal in Olongapo, where I would take the bus that would bring me to Manila. I remembered that terminal well, since it was in Olongapo where I got off the bus after I arrived from Manila. It was where I heard about Botolan, and everything about my stay in that beautiful side of the Philippines started there.

As we drove from Botolan on the way to Olongapo, I noticed that Mike was really quiet and barely looking at me. Of course, I felt bad because of this. I was actually expecting him to keep up with our conversation. I was expecting him to make me feel a little bit better by at least making me feel that he didn't want me to go.

But he did not.

So I tried to draw his attention. "Mike?"

"Yes?" he asked, without looking at me.

"Can you please talk to me?"

He paused, followed by, "I don't know what to say."

"You know I feel bad, don't you? I'm about to leave and you're not even talking to me."

He frowned. "You're not the only one who feels bad, you know."

"Then tell me about it, Mike. Don't make me feel that I'm alone."

He sighed, gave me a short glance, and apologized. "I'm sorry."

A long period of silence followed that. We both became quiet. I was lost for words and, like him, I suddenly didn't know what to say. I wanted to tell him how I feel, how I loved him, how painful it was for me to leave him behind. But that would make the situation worse. It would only hurt us more. Keeping up with the pain was never a good idea.

Of course, I completely understood what he was trying to do. He was trying to dull his emotions, trying to cover up the sadness that he was feeling by being tough.