MIDSUMMER'S DREAM (Completed)

03

August 1950

Philippine Expeditionary Forces went to Korea. There were 7240 Filipino soldiers sent by the Philippine government. Among those seven thousand was Yllisa's brother, Captain Ellie Mercado was one of who joined the forces.

Philippines has been at the first Asian country to respond to the call of the UN to help South Korea.

There were no nights and days that the families of Filipino soldiers prayed to keep their soldiers safe and alive. One of these were the Mercados.

For Yllisa, it was a double-dagger that pains her thinking that her brother and her lover were in the battlefield sacrificing their lives.

Months have passed, but there is no news coming from the sent soldiers.

Everyday, she wrote a telegram for her brother and for Captain Yoon.

Everyday, Yllisa waited for a telephone call or a short written letter.

Everyday, she stood in their entry way hoping they would come anytime.

If there is one thing she held on, it is hope.

For everything that is done perfectly and imperfectly in this world, it is done by hope. But the hope that Yllisa has hadn't helped her physically.

Another summer has passed. 1951. She graduated with flying colors. 1951, she discovered she had pneumonia.

Months passed, no Captain Ellie nor Captain Yoon arrived.

As time passed, Yllisa went weaker and sick. She lost weight, her skin went dry, her beauty faded. But the hope she had never withered. She still hoped and waited as what her Captain Yoon asked.


December 1952

Yllisa was in her bed. For almost a year, she stayed there lying. She can't able to stand on her own. She's getting weaker and weaker as days passed. Don Eliseo and Doña Victorina begged Yllisa thousand times to go to America for better treatment but Yllisa politely declined.

"If my life will about to end, I want it to be here in Majico City. In this place where we had sowed bountiful memories. I don't want to die in other land, mom, dad. Please let me stay here. Let me stay here and hope and wait. Please." She said weakly as her tears poured down.



September 19, 1953

Yllisa's 23rd birthday. Still on her bed, she had always the printed pictures of her and Captain Yoon.

She asked her parents to put her in wheel chair and sit for awhile in their mansion's entry way.

July 27, 1953 when the Korean Civil War ceased. There were 2.5 million who died and there were 112 Filipinos lost their lives.

Her parents broke down in tears when they had learned the news. Her father desperately sent people to look for his son, but it was blocked due to immense security of passing the Philippine border to Korea.

Her parents had lost hope. They had given up. But Yllisa hadn't shed any tears, she's confident that they are alive.

"He promised that he will stay alive. He's alive."

"Captain Yoon will never disappoint me." she weakly said.

Sitting in her wheel chair, staring at the photos taken in the most beautiful midsummer of her life, 1950.

They were so happy and in love. She smiled as she touched the beautiful face of the Captain who stole her heart.

She remembered how he made her feel the strangest feeling in the world. She remembered him getting out of her brother's black Volkswagen in red and black striped long sleeves, curled in fourths. She remembered how his chinky brown eyes darted on her. She remembered how he smiled a lot. She remembered his voice calling her Señorita.

"Captain Yoon...when are you going to be back? I missed you so much..." She said hoping Captain Yoon could hear her out.

In the far distance of dusty and rough road of Majico city, she saw two unclear people walking.

She squinted and wiped her tears to see them clearly. Her heart went pounding. She could hear her own heart beats. She's frozen in her seat as she clearly saw who were coming.

Two soldiers in their camouflage uniform darting their ways to her. Yllisa can't breathe properly. She held her chest for it felt like it was about to explode.

"Yllisa! My little sister!" Captain Ellie shouted with tears in his eyes.

It seems like the man walking towards her were showered by diamond dust for he always shine when the sun hits his skin. Nothing has changed...to him and to the same strange feeling he made her feel way back 1950.

"It has been a very long time since we last met...

If your world and time are different from what is mine, I will go there and find you...

I will always look for you no matter what for love recognizes no barriers.

I've missed you too, Señora Yllisa.

Now, I'm asking for the third favor..." he knelt to the ground and held her left hand and said,

"Love me forever and marry me, Yllisa Clemence Mercado." Yllisa cried not because of sadness or of pain, she cried out of happiness.


"Yes. I will, my Captain."

-The End-