“Is it really okay for you that I brought you here?”
I roamed my eyes around the cemetery. There doesn’t seem to be any people around so no one will see me other than the person who was sweeping the scattered dried leaves.
He pulled some dried leaves from the Narra tree and I sat first before he did.
“Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” I answered him as I smiled and looked up to him.
He kneeled one of his knees for us to have the same height and gave me the food he brought.
“I’ll just buy candles and flowers. I’ll be right back not for long.” I nodded.
While waiting for him, I decided to entertain myself. I blew away the leaves covering the gravestone.
“Rucio Presigo A. Paez,” I read aloud the name carved on it. I found his name familiar
.
I continued to try remembering where I heard his name.
“Darling,” Cade sat beside me. He melted the bottom of the candle and placed it on the gravestone beside the flower he bought.
“You weren’t bored, right?” His gaze lowered and stopped on the thing I was holding.
“Why didn’t you eat that? You might get hungry.” I handed it to him for him to open it.
I first tried the palamig that was put in the same bottle the milk teas use. My eyes widened the moment I tasted its flavour, it was a mango flavour!
“Wow! This is so delicious!” Cade gave me a thumbs up while eating a fish ball. He took another fish ball and fed it to me.
“Even the sauce is tasty.” Joy was visible on his face because of my reaction. He’ll surely not be doubtful anymore that he can make me happy just with this.
“Oh, right! Father, she is Piper. She was the Perouzé that I mentioned to you before. Do you still remember? She was the rich brat that I like.” His eyes were filled with both sadness and happiness.
“Good afternoon. I was really that girl. I really hope you’ll forgive me!” I said with a laugh as if the person I’m talking to would respond.
“Is your father’s name Igo?” He nodded.
Based on what I can remember, he resembles his father and they both have the same personalities. I once had a conversation with his father before but it was only for a little time. His father was also funny.
Cade slowly held my hands. Although it was sticky because of the sauce, I didn’t mind.
“Piper, whatever happens when we get together, don’t ever let go.”
I stared at his eyes. It was like he was hiding something from me but I couldn’t think of anything possible of what it was. But I also think that maybe I was just being paranoid.
“Father, please give us blessings for our relationship in the near future.” He kissed the back of my hand. He seems like a prince from the fairy tales that I have watched.
I felt his sincerity courting me. I think I found the one who’s fated for me. But I don’t want this to be this fast. I might as well make it slow a little to make it look like I was being hard to get.
“I promised that he is the only man I will love for the rest of my life. It may be cliché but it’s the truth. I can follow him in our next life and there, we will still choose to love each other.” My eyes were teary as I smiled and looked at the name of Cade’s father.
I felt his warm arms wrapping around my waist. He then kissed my forehead. I suddenly felt a shiver through my spine.
He pulled away from our hug. Our eyes met.
“Why do I feel like you’re already saying yes to me?” I heaved a sigh.
Why did I say that in the first place?
I gently knocked my head. He giggled while watching me.
“Why does it seem like you regret saying those words?” His smile was playful.
Can someone please tell me why emotions are powerful? I’m way too excited.
“You know what? It’s better for us to hurry up. The sun is almost setting.”
Within half an hour, we finished eating. It took a long time because we kept on talking. He confirmed my suspicion about what Letty said about Abel. I felt relieved when I found out it wasn’t Mara whom he had dated.
“You’ll soon find out. So don’t be naughty.”
I kept on asking about the mysterious woman that Abel dated. He won’t tell me because he said it’s not the right time yet. I don’t know if he’s joking about his reason or if there's really something behind it that’s why he can’t tell me.
“Who were they?”
Cade was stiff as he held my hand and placed a candle with light on each.
“Erman Rana Verticio. Kule Florantilla.”
Their names sound familiar, especially the family name Florantilla. I kept on closing my eyes tightly, trying to remember it.
“Is it okay for you to leave me alone for a while?”
I followed what he said, but I didn’t walk far away. Just by thinking that I might get lost because I don’t know the turns on this place gives me goosebumps. Plus, this is a cemetery and I easily get scared.
I came back from my own reverie when I noticed that Cade was wiping his cheeks, he seemed to be crying, while talking.
“Child.” I couldn’t help but to jolt up because of the sudden appearance of the old man beside me.
He was the person I saw sweeping a while ago.
His one hand was at his back and he can’t stand properly anymore.
He gave me a scrutinising gaze. I was once again startled when he held my hand. I immediately retracted my hand, afraid of what he was thinking.
“The love you two has for each other is powerful.”
Because of happiness, I took a couple of money from my shoulder bag.
“Here, Grandpa. I’ll be glad to help you.” I looked like I was happily dancing on my feet while waiting for him to accept the money I was holding.
“But there’s one thing the two of you can’t avoid.” He turned around, making his back face at me. He didn’t even accept my money.
I made sure that Cade was still not done on what he was doing before I followed the old man. He was still not far from me and so I was able to catch up with him.
I was catching my breath while my hands were on my knees.
“What is it that we can’t avoid, Grandpa?”
It took a few seconds before he gave me a reply. He stepped forward towards me and whispered.
“The grief caused by love.”
I smiled and put my one hand on the old man’s shoulder.
“It’s natural for us to feel sadness because of love, Grandpa.”
He only nodded after hearing what I had said. I happily went back to my previous spot.
Old people really were mysterious and fathomable.
“Where did you go?”
I tried to find the old man again but I couldn’t find him. He probably continued what he was supposed to do.
“Hmm. I just followed an old man. It’s because he said something to me.” Cade followed my gaze.
“You won’t see him anymore. Earlier when I walked back here, he was already leaving.”
“What did he say?” Why does it seem like he’s more interested than me?
“He said that our love is powerful, but there’s something we can’t possibly avoid, and it’s the grief caused by love.”
Cade suddenly pulled me after I said those words. I can’t understand what kind of expression his face has. He’s annoyed because of what the old man said or he’s annoyed because I talked with a stranger.
“You weren’t supposed to converse with anyone, with strangers.”
I freed my wrist from his grasp and looked at it. It was red because of how his big fingers were tightly gripping my wrist.
I walked ahead of him and even when we were going home, we didn’t speak. Letty was confused as she greeted the two of us. She was sitting outside their house as she separated the malunggay leaves from its stems.
“Why are you looking so grumpy?”
I crossed my arms in front of my chest. I started telling her about the old man.
“To be honest, Piper, the old man you mentioned, he’s known as a fortune teller in this place. It’s because most of what he said came out to be true.”