Perfect Chemistry

Prologue

"At last, I'm back" I said to myself noong nakarating na ako sa Maynila.

So many memories...

I've been gone for 10 long years. I went to the states to pursue my career but I had a hard time because I was forced to be independent, I did everything on my own starting from finding an apartment, enrolling to New York Medical College, graduating and fending for myself. All alone, no help from anyone. But now, many things changed since I left. I became a successful doctor and now I'm going to take literature in the Philippines. I want to be a writer.

"Lola! Andito na po ako" bungad ko sa kay Lola pagdating sa ancestral house namin kung saan siya nakatira.

Wala na si Mama at Papa. Sineryoso nila ang kanilang "till death do us part". Binenta namin ang bahay namin sa Cagayan De Oro at dito na lang kami nakatira sa aming ancestral house sa Baguio City.

"Iho, andito ka na pala! Kelan kalang bumalik? tanong ni lola.

"Noong isang araw lang po, pagkarating ko sa Maynila kumain muna ako at naglibang bago ako umuwi dito" sagot ko.

Kasama namin dito sa bahay ang aming tatlong kasambahay. Si aling Mary, aling Edna at aling Mara. Sila ang tumutulong kay lola dito sa bahay at nag-aalaga na din sa kanya dahil matanda na si Lola.

Our house is located at a top of a hill overlooking the city lights. The rising and setting of the sun can be witnessed here including the moon when it rises up every night.

Nasa labas ako ngayon tumatanaw sa langit, baka sakaling nagtitinginan kami ni mama at papa. There is a crescent moon tonight and the moon never fails to amaze me by its beauty.

"Kain na daw po kayo ser sabi ni Lola"

"Sige, susunod ako"

Si Lola Aemilia Maria Santiago na lang ang aking natitirang pamilya, iniwan na siya ni Lolo, nasa langit na din siya kasama ni mama at papa. Si Lolo ko ay si Ginoong Henry Walter Santiago, kilala at respetadong tao noon dito sa amin sa Baguio. Naging Heneral sya noon at nung buhay pa siya, strikto siya at pinakagusto nya sa lahat ay yung disiplinado. He even taught me how to fight and how to discipline myself. He died at the age of 75 noong 2008 .

"Kamusta ka iho?" tanong ni Lola.

"Okay naman po la, medyo mahirap sa states pero nakaahon naman, I had to do everything by myself dahil sa sitwasyon natin noon" sagot ko.

"Naiintindihan kita apo at salamat sa Diyos dahil nakaya mo lahat na problema at nalagpasan mo" sabi ni Lola.

"Wala akong choice lola eh, Life was cruel to me from the very start. I lost my parents, we lost our home, I lost my love and I almost lost everything from the beginning. It's like life has no mercy on me, sometimes I become cruel and like a beast because of what life taught me, life almost made me hate the world"

"Hindi yan tama iho, life may be cruel to you and you have every right to be angry at life but please, don't be angry at anyone, don't be angry at the world" saad ni Lola na nagpatanto sa akin ng maraming bagay.

Tumahimik ako at may naalala pero isinantabi ko na lang yon.

"Matulog na kayo la, gabi na. Aling Mara dalhin niyo na si lola sa kwarto niya".

"Teka lang apo, kamusta na pala kayo ni EVE na yon?

"Wala na yun la, siya ang isa sa mga dahilan bakit ako umalis"

Malungkot na tumango si Lola at umakyat na.

Maraming alaala ang bumalik na pilit kong kinakalimutan.

Cordelia Genevieve Rodriguez...

My love, yet you're my poison. Too many memories keep flashing in my mind. Lumabas na lang ako ng bahay at pumunta sa balcony para tingnan ang magandang tanawin.

Dahil hindi ako makatulog, pumunta ako sa dating bahay nila noon dito sa Baguio, malapit lang sa amin.

Their house made of wood, yet it was once beautiful and now it is abandoned.

" Siguro lumipat na sila, matagal na yun eh" I whispered to myself.

Until may narinig ako na...

"Hello?"

I stood still. I faced her even though her face cannot be clearly seen dahil gabi na, alam ko na siya yan and she's still as beautiful as the day I left and I never thought I'd lose her again. She's probably in love or engaged with someone else, yet in the deepest and darkest parts of my heart, I'm hoping to have her back.

I want her back... and this time, it'll end differently.