Of Love, Signs and Logic (Completed)

34 - Of Signs

"In reality, serendipity accounts for one percent of the blessings we receive in life, work and love. The other 99 percent is due to our effort." - Peter McWillaims

A/N: In life, there are Red, Yellow and Green lights. We see signs that tell us if the answer to our prayers is either Stop, Proceed or Wait. Wala lang, I made that up.

"Ano Menggay, may kailangan bang panagutan yung Amerikanong hilaw na yon? Ilalabas ko na ba ang shotgun ko?"

"Tay, wala kang shotgun." Meng's thoughts were interrupted as she absent-mindedly gazed at the passing scenery.

"Eh kasi iyak ka nang iyak kanina, tapos ngayon naman para kang namatayan sa lungkot. Dalawang oras na tayong nasa biyahe, ayaw mo pa ring magkuwento. Pinayagan ko kayo sa kalokohan n'yo tapos ganyan ang makikita ko? Paolo, ano ba nangyayari diyan sa pinsan mo? "

"Wala po tito, pagod lang po siya siguro, halos 8 hrs po kasi yung hike namin pababa ng bundok. Ano ba Meng, umayos ka na kasi! Magkakasakit ka niyan. Ni hindi mo halos ginalaw yung food mo kanina. Kami lang nila kuya Wally ang kumain."

"Tingnan mo? Naku, pasalamat yang bisugo na yan at di siya ang naghatid sa inyo kung hindi makikita niya! Menggay, natandaan mo ba yung sinabi ko sa 'yo noong nag-aaral ka? Square root muna bago humarot!"

"Tay, matagal na po akong tapos sa square root at hanggang ngayon hindi pa po ako humaharot. Namiss ko lang po kayo ni nanay!"

"Hindi ako naniwala! Hindi para sa amin yung iyak mo kanina. Sa presinto ka magpaliwanag. TIngnan natin kung hindi ka magkuwento sa nanay mo."

The truth is she's not really feeling well physically and emotionally and these questions from her father are not helping.

Although she's grateful that her father was already waiting for them at the Ranger Station as it saved them time, she's not prepared to answer his questions or from anybody for that matter, especially if it's about Richard.

She recalled what transpired at the Ranger Station.

After a brief introductions with Kuya Wally and Ligawon, Kuya Wally told them to go ahead and he'll take care of things at the HQ and DENR for them. She hugged him to say goodbye, not knowing if they will see each other again. This is it! This is really goodbye from anybody or anything related to him.

They were then ushered to a waiting van. All that time, her father was just curiously observing her. She learned that her parents arrived at San Jose, Mindoro that morning and are now checked-in at a resort. They just took their chance that she will be returning today as she promised. They will be taking the Sunday morning flight back to Manila.

And now, after two hours on the road, she's really moving farther and farther away from him. Will I see him again?

After a few more minutes of bumpy ride, they arrived at a resort in San Jose, to the waiting arms of her mother.

"Menggay ko!!!", she was engulfed in a very tight embrace by her mother.

"Nay! Na-miss kita Nay!" I'm going to cry again. Bakit pag sa studio, ang hirap kong paiyakin? Ano'ng ginawa mo sa akin Ricardo?

"Papatayin mo ako sa niyerbiyos, bata ka! Alam mo bang halos isang linggo akong di nakatulog? Kung ako ang nakausap mo noon, hinding-hindi ako papayag sa plano mo! Pinigilan lang ako ng tatay mo. Kung hindi, dapat Thursday pa lang andito na kami. Patingin nga ng bunso ko! Hindi ka ba pumayat? Hindi ka nagkasakit doon? Nakakain ka ba nang maayos? Ano ang tinulugan mo? Wala bang masakit sa katawan mo?"