Another year has passed since they saw each other the last time. Right or wrong timing, but
somewhere in Butuan their paths crossed again. They both knew that it won't be for long, she came to
attend the wedding of her brother. She presumed Eduard was anxious about her arrival.
"I called the local airline office if you took the flight yesterday", he related to her. She didn't.
She came along with her family by ship, had he inquired more intensively he should have known it.
Leaving it that way avoided risks, he may have thought so.
Carmen couldn't wait any longer to keep him from knowing she's home again. She had to find reason to
call him and let him know. An invitation for the wedding, yes, that was the purpose of her call. Now
he finally knew she's back home.
For him, a get-together party with classmates was a good reason to see each other again. A
classmate's birthday party the following day was the best chance to see each other much sooner.
"I'll fetch you tomorrow at 5 pm", he said.
She was tired of waiting for him to fetch her on the promised time. "This damned Filipino time!",
she thought. It made her sick, she was dressed spick and span at the appointed time. After two hours
of waiting she made herself comfortable with her house dress and dismissed the thought of his
fetching her and the party. She has learned to be unconditional for almost three years now. If he
comes, it would be okay, if not likewise.
He did come matter-of-factly, as if being late was as natural as drinking a cup of coffee! In her
mind she was upset but she didn't show it.
For once again he appears before her like a vision fleeting pure and clear. Carmen could feel her
heart throb in ecstasy. Old joys revive. Inspired and happy, it greets the fire, and tears, and
dream alive. Carmen couldn't betray her foolish heart. It came to see that it still cared.
A chance of being together alone, that was her secret wish, if she had to be honest with herself. It
turned out that Carmen brought her chaperone along with her for reasons that are to be left
unquestioned. They arrived at the party, greeted the celebrant, old acquaintances and new faces.
Something made her disheartened again, a scene which she wouldn't like to see -- proving his
sex-appeal to the chicks.
"Oh, please spare me from this! I'm sorry for entertaining this thought", she excused herself in her
mind.
Haay, Carmen, way mo lahotay saon nga daga. (Carmen, no woman would endure this being).
Lagi, kuno...(sure, they say...)
"But don't ever dare to ask me how I personally feel about him", Carmen continued her statement at
the back of her mind.
The following day Eduard came to help deliver the invitations for the wedding guests. It made her
feel good to see him too soon. Time was too short and she was anxious they won't have time for each
other. He was very patient and understanding about the situation. She admired him for that. She was
eager to see him again. "The feeling is mutual, hinaot pa kuntana (hopefully)...", she thought.
She has to make the first move to show him how she wished to see him. She arranged a meeting at
Pizza Hut, called him and expressed her need for his help. It was a very simple reason, if he ever
understood what she meant. He came and heeded her call for help in distributing the wedding
invitations of her brother. He jokingly told her chaperones of his new designation as a driver. How
amusing! They visited a friend, laughed a lot at his jokes and distributed invitations.
Just being together made her day.
He didn't come to her brother's wedding. That was disappointing, but she reconciled it may have been
humiliating for him, too. That celebration was likewise her wedding anniversary and her daughter's
birthday. If she were to spare him from intimidation, she had to accept his absence. No blame, no
elaboration, leave it at that.
Later he confessed he was ill and could not come. "Mihubag ang tonsils ko" (My tonsils got
inflamed), he explained.
A surprise get-together party with good friends was arranged before Carmen left. The venue was at
Masao beach. Carmen had other matters to attend to the whole morning. He was unexpectedly punctual
to fetching her, but he had to wait this time.
"Take your time", he said as he called through his cellphone, patiently. He waited for two hours.
She loved his enduring patience.
This trait of his is not known to anybody except her.
Once again the time has come for Carmen to leave. That day there was no ship leaving for Cebu
according to the local shipping office. Eduard made efforts to secure passenger reservations at an
airline office a day before. This would be another option but the flights were fully booked. She
seemed too helpless and she pinned her hopes on what he may do to help her out. Her family moved
heaven and earth to find ports in the neighboring towns where a ship en route to Cebu was possible..
Deep inside Carmen longed for his attention. Yes, she wanted to know if he was really there for her
anytime and he was! Her heart knew it.
Luck was with her. On that day, a ship was to leave for Cebu aside from the normal schedule.
Before leaving Butuan, Carmen felt she had to see his family. She expressed her desire to visit them
before she departs. She made it a point to see them even just once everytime she's home. She took
time to visit them before she left in the evening. She made it secretly and her doing so gave her
peace and comfort.
"Somebody up there gave me the green light and I made it!", she thought.
Eduard told her "I'll come to see you before you go." He came and wanted to be back after doing some
marketing for his family but failed to return for some reasons.
Before finally departing for abroad, Carmen called Eduard by phone. She told him of her church
visit, shopping spree and what she did the whole day. She would be leaving at dawn and she had
enough time to talk to him.
"Did you pray for me, too?", he asked.
"Yes, I did, as always", she replied. "Where are you now?" she asked.
"I'm here outside, looking at the moon", he answered. "Don't you see how bright it is?."
"I can't see it at the moment, hmm, wait, I'll try to look outside the window", she answered. "Oh,
yes, it looks like a full moon!" she added.
Yes, "I see the moon, the moon sees me. Down by the leaf of an old oak tree. Please let the light
that shine on me, shine on the one I love...", singing thoughtfully to herself a song she learned
during her childhood years.
"Take care of yourself", Eduard said.
"Take care, too!" responded Carmen.
Upon her arrival abroad, Carmen called Eduard and informed him of her safe flight. She suffered a
bad jet lag. She called him almost everyday during the first week abroad. His patience gave Carmen
comfort and joy.
"Next time you come home, I'll bring a pillow and blanket with me when I visit you", he told her
jokingly on the phone. Then they would have all the time in this world to see each other and be
together. This illusion exists. Will it turn into something real?
She knew all too well that he would let her go anytime. Letting go is perhaps his peculiar way of
showing how he'll always care for her.
She would dream, believe and love, anyway.
Faithfully, they remain partners-in-crime. They have built a bridge adjoining now and eternity, the
waters calmly flowing underneath and Carmen, perhaps Eduard, too, in smooth comfort and peace
strolling along Butuan Bridge, both enjoying their moments left to share.
