บททั้งหมดของ It Started When It Ended: บทที่ 21 - บทที่ 30

I missed the beauty of the City. Tiana just looks exactly like Ariel. From the buildings, commerce, infrastractures, and way of living. It has a lot more technological advancements than Belle. Even though the sun’s straight up, all the people are busy. If there are commercial buildings, there are also street vendors. People that are in and outside of the malls, workaholic people who do not take lunch breaks and people from the government who do not have lunch breaks but are off their offices. There are parts of the City that smell like coffee and pastries – sweet, inviting, and calming. As you go further, there will be a mixed smell of gasoline, smoke coming from different vehicles and industries, the smell of escaped air from the air conditioned open malls. We had lunch inside the mall and chose to go to a buffet restaurant that Chris suggested. He said they offer the best unlimited steaks which are his favorite. So he already went here and there? Kung saan saan na siguro napadp

“Why is there limited information about the wonders?” I asked. We are almost at the border of Pocahontas and Tiana. “Let’s just say that the seven wonders are just a myth. People talk about it but they have never encountered a person who finished all the seven places, so they aren’t really sure if it’s true or not.” I keep on nodding. “Few records are found about it and also the people who know the seven wonders, sila lang ang nagdeklara ng mga iyon. Basically, the people who know about the wonders are relatives or close friends of the seven people that shared their experiences and marked these places as the seven wonders.” So seven people, seven places, resulting in seven wonders – as what they called it. It was refreshing to talk to people without thinking about the stress, what has to come, and the burden you keep on carrying. I really miss my father, the features of Adam is what made me think of him and not the conversation like this. Because we never had a chance to talk this

The fall hurt. Chris cannot move, his feet were sprained while my back was hurt due to the sudden fall. At this point I want to be ashamed of myself and shout at Chris at the same time. If he did not intervene once again, this would never happen. I want to be ashamed of myself because I got carried away by his words. I want to shout at Chris because he stopped me – again – making him hurt himself. The water is getting close to us. Adam immediately put down his bag and went to rescue us. I told him to get Chris first and just let me stay here but Chris was adamant. Adam figured this drama won’t be over not until he secured me first so that Chris would shut up and we would all be safe. He carried me like a bride. He’s unbelievably strong for his age, I weigh around 50 kilograms but he carried me effortlessly. Selene asked if my back hurts. I was tempted to say, “obviously not,” but I said, “yes.” If she’s really thinking, that question is clearly stupid. Of course my back hurts! I

Adam’s first love was of course – a hiker just like him. They met in a clean and green project by their organization. Elvira was from the Belle chapter of Acto Group while Adam was from the Tiana chapter of the same organization. A joint activity was then held, making it a reason for them to cross paths. “It was the most magical moment of my life, kapag naalala ko ay kinikilig pa din ako.” I smiled. My parents did not have a chance to meet that way. Their marriage is arranged, when their parents announced it they obediently followed. For the first time they met was through a family dinner where both of their families talked about the wedding that is about to happen. Hindi nga sila ang nag-asikaso ng lahat, basta ikinasal na lamang. “My heart was calmed the first time we met, hindi ko pinalagpas ‘yung pagkakataon na kausapin siya pagkatapos namin magtanim ng mga puno ng mahogany.” She was the kindest, softest, and the most beautiful girl he had met in his entire life. Well, that’s w

Selene showed me their pictures. They look really in love in those images. Selfies, family pictures with Selene and Maure’s relatives, portraits, and pictures in the house owned and bought by them. Ang dami niyang kinuwento sa akin na halos hindi ko na naunawaan lahat. I just stood there and let her talk and talk. All I know is that from what she told me and the pictures that she showed, they really have a romantic relationship. We do not know what Maure and Chris talked about. When they went inside the camper van after their conversation, Selene and Maure left right away. Maure thanked us for everything that we did from helping her at the Island of Regain to keeping her safe by accompanying her and letting her join us even for a short period of time. Selene gave us her contact number and address so that if there would be a time that we needed help and we wanted to see Maure, we could visit them any time. It was a moment where I felt like I lost another significant person in my