The Other Half of a Song

Chapter 10: Regina

April 23, 1954

As soon as I saw Paeng outside the airport terminal, my heart beat rapidly. He was holding up a teddy bear, a box of chocolates, a balloon, and a placard that said: "Welcome home, Ina!" 

Man, he looked so cute!

He was looking at his feet while humming a tune. He didn't notice me.

It wasn't until I was in front of him that he realized I was already there. "Ina! How long have you been here?" he asked, surprised.

"I just got here." I said while chuckling.

He handed me the teddy bear and balloon he was holding and took my luggage bag.

"Let's go home?"

I nodded and we headed towards his car.

He opened the door of the passenger's seat for me and I went in. Once I was settled in, he placed my luggage bag in the trunk of his car before sitting on the driver's seat.

"Hmmm... are you hungry?" he asked as he helped me strap on my seat belt.

"A little." I replied.

"Is it OK if we head on to a side trip before sending you home? Don't worry, I asked permission from Tito Manuel and Tita Luisa that we'll be coming home late. I even told them my itinerary and they agreed. 100%."

I wondered what he was up to but whatever it was, I'm in and so I nodded with a grin.

Paeng drove for thirty minutes until we reached a diner near the University in Manila where he was studying medicine.

One more year and then clerkship, he will finally be granted with the MD degree.

"This is our favorite hang-out spot, the one I kept telling you in my letters. My classmates and I often come here every Friday night after classes just to relax and unwind after a hectic week of studying." He told me as we entered.

"Aling Cora!" he waved to a middle-aged woman who was cleaning up a table near the CR as we take a spot by the window.

"Uy! It's our infamous scholar, Paeng! What are you doing here in the city in the middle of summer vacation?" she stopped cleaning and went towards us.

"Just touring my girlfriend around to the places I love to hang out in whenever I'm in the city." He answered.

"Oh! So you're the famous Ina!" I widened my eyes at Paeng and asked for an explanation but Aling Cora explained for me.

"Ay, this Paeng wouldn't shut up about you. Every time he comes here with his friends, he often tells us a tale about you. What you wrote in your letters, what you did when you were kids, and your beautiful voice. Ay, this lad here, is gaga over you."

"Aling Cora!" Paeng exclaimed.

"What? It's true."

Paeng went red all over and I laughed. I didn't know he shared stories about me. But it felt good to hear that I'm often in his stories just as he is in mine.

After eating lunch with Paeng, he toured me around Manila, giving me a glimpse of the Pearl of the Orient and his daily life as a student there. He took me to the places he loves to visit during his free time.

After watching the sunset in Manila Bay, Paeng and I went home to Marilag.

When Paeng's car entered our house's driveway, I saw Mom and Dad waiting for us in the front porch. As soon as I got off, I ran over to them and hugged them really tight. "Mom, Dad, I missed you." I said.

"We missed you too, honey." Mom replied.

"Thank you for picking up our unica hija, Paeng." Dad said to Paeng as he went over to us and placed my luggage bag beside me.

"It was a pleasure, Tito."

"Why don't you come inside and have dinner with us, hijo? We prepared a feast for Ina's homecoming."

Mom invited Paeng inside and we all went to the dining room where trays of various food were laid on the table.

Mom and Dad also invited Tito Alfonso and Tita Isabel.

Since they only live next door, it didn't take a while to wait for them.

After dinner, Paeng and his parents went home and I went to my room to finally rest after a long day.

I changed into a nightgown and prepared to go to sleep. But as I laid down in my bed, I found myself restless.

I know I was tired but the heat was too much that I kept on tossing and turning and trying to fall asleep but couldn't.

So, I went downstairs to fetch myself a glass of water.

As I was on the way to the kitchen, I heard my parents arguing in hushed tones at the living room.

I sneaked behind the door and watched them. It seemed pretty serious.

Mom was pacing back and forth; her hands were on her head. Exasperation evident in her face.

Dad was sitting on the couch, his head facing downward and his hands were closed-fist.

"I can't take this anymore, Manuel! It's not fair for Ina to be kept in the dark and this will truly break her heart if we keep this any longer." Mom told Dad, her hands now in akimbo.

"What do you want me to do, Luisa? Tell me! Because right now I am also having a hard time as you!" he looked up at my Mom and waited for her to answer.

"We have to tell Ina what you did." She finally said.

But Dad did not like her answer. He threw a throw pillow on the ground and told Mom, "You think it's just easy to tell her that?"

"Tell me what?" I asked as I entered the living room.

As soon as my parents turned to me, their faces drowned out of color.