Chasing Hearts (Completed)

Twenty-third

Chasing a dream is difficult. One must work hard to make it happen. And I've learned that the process is harder than what we expect.

Endless sacrifices. Swallowed pride. Endured pains. Missed opportunities.

Sometimes, we even do crazy things for our dreams. Things we never expect we'd do. Katulad ko. Hindi ko kailanman inisip na dadating ako sa puntong magiging hadlang ako sa kasiyahan ng iba para ako naman ang sumaya.

The wind violently blew my hair, making it scatter all over my face. Inipon ko ulit ang buhok at hinawakan para hindi tangayin. Kakababa lang namin sa chopper.

Asul na dagat, puting buhangin, berdeng puno at kahel na kalangitan. The view from the top of the building was perfect and my heart instantly fell for this place. I closed my eyes and inhaled the fresh minty air of the province.

An arm snaked around my waist and I opened my eyes to see Wesley beside me, also staring at the slow undulating of the seawater through his sunglasses.

Mali ako. Maganda ang lugar ngunit walang silbi ang tanawin kung wala sya. A place without him, no matter how pleasing the view is, would always feel incomplete.

"Come on, my Lola is waiting." He said.

We went down the hotel building which turned out to be owned by him, too. Nang makababa ay saglit kong iginala ang mata sa paligid. The elegantly carved stone in between two spread winged hawk sculpture, caught my eye. Under the hawks were fountains.

Casa Oeste

This is one of the proofs of how rich and powerful their family is. They can even buy an entire island. I only knew Oeste is a spanish term for West, his nickname. I haven't heard of the story how he acquired this island. Maybe I'll ask him one of these days.

Some of the hotel staffs passed by and greeted Wesley with a smile. Kapag magagawi sa akin ang tingin ay sisimangot, o di kaya ay tataasan ako ng kilay. Umiiwas na lang ako ng tingin.

Kahit nasa 21st century na, hindi pa rin bukas ang mga tao sa langit at lupang relasyon. The least I can do is to train myself not to mind them. 

Dumaan kami sa harap ng hotel at nakita ang iilang mga turistang lumalangoy. Papalubog na ang araw kaya siguro hindi na ganoon karami ang tao. Naglakad kami hanggang makarating sa kabilang dulo ng isla. Matataas na bato at bangin na ang matatanaw at walang mga turista ang pumupunta sa parteng ito.

Wesley held my hand as we walked towards what I seem was a forest of coconuts. Sobrang dami at sobrang tataas ng mga puno ng niyog sa parteng ito at hitik sa bunga. Kung wala lamang mga bakas ng daan ay matatakot siguro ako. Isa pa, alam naman ni Wesley ang tinatahak namin kaya walang dapat ikatakot.

Few more minutes and we were at the end of quite steeped slope of land. My jaw dropped for the other end of the slope was a massive black wrought iron gate and behind it was a Mediterranean architectured palace.

Para akong papunta sa mundo ng pantasya habang naglalakad. Coniferous trees were on either side of the pathway. Nightlights were already on, making our walk more magical.

"Ang ganda dito." I said. Wesley chuckled.

"I'm glad you liked the view."

May sasabihin pa sana ako nang sumagi sa isip ko si Alliah. Malamang ay nadala na rin nya dito si Alliah. Tatlong taon kaya sila. Pupuntahan din kaya namin yung mga pinuntahan nila?

We reached the gate and I read the letters carved in the gate: Palacio de Fajardo.

He opened it for me and I had a clearer view of the garden. Hindi ko alam pero sa isang bahay, garden talaga ang pinaka-una kong hinahanap.