Chapter Three

Towards the dark road, two souls wander. I do not know what time is it, we both remain silent as we pass through the sturdy trees in each side, the ticking of our steps and the night insects made a rhythm that so lonely i could cry. With all that is happening today, i was kicked out by the demon himself, by the person i wanted to marry. How heartless he is. I never imagined i could marry such asshole. The exhaustion gets heavier in my shoulders i hardly lift my feet to another walk. The stranger beside me acting concern. I stop walking, i cannot find the exact word to describe how tired i am. And he stops too. Looking at me, "i know you are very tired. We can take a rest for a while." I, still with a mouth closed, sit in the cold hard ground, my stuffs in my hand, i just want to sleep. He sit with me, "I cannot understand why you work there." This made me turn to him with puffy eyes almost falling. "What ever my reasons, are not yours to understand." And i hear him whistle. "Hmm naughty pussy. I mean, why would you suffer such treatment when you can be treated as a princess..." he pauses mid sentence and continue, "you are so beautiful, Azucena." I can feel the intense of his stare on me. And it sends peculiar chills in every end of my body. It tingles first time this way. I shake my head replying, "and your mouth is a garden of flowery words." I said with eyes rolling. I almost caught off guard when i cannot hide the smile creeping in my lips. "Hey! I mean that. So, where do you live?" I ain't sure if I'll answer that question but i will anyway. "I lived in davao." His made an o sound in his mouth and said, "That's quite far. But i guess i want to travel there too. If you are wondering, i am a traveler i just arrived here in tarlac. I am not staying in one place for a long time. I get bored so I travel. Greg is a friend of mine. We met in Indonesia years ago and he invited me to visit Philippines. Guess i have more reason to stroll here." I narrowed my eyes and calculating his emotions. Why are they so genuine? Hold yourself Azucena. "Well, good for you. You have all the luxury to travel. Unfair world indeed. I never even got a chance to finish high school. And now I'll be back in my hometown. Both happy and sad." For now, I will not hold back.

Now i am crying telling him the story of my life. How unfortunate i was. From my mother that got pregnant twice from different man, aside from my strong will to marry a rich man, i do not want to witness my mom make another wrong decision again with this another maniac fella. So i leave, telling my sister to take care of herself and study hard because i will support her. But how could i do that when i am now jobless. As to my father, i saw him once, can't even feel his fatherly love. They are all simple human who just want to produce another human without making themselves accountable for the well-being of their offspring. They maybe exaggerated the 'go to the world and multiply' thingy. And so they multiply without thinking of the responsibilities that awaits. I feel so wrecked right now. But i feel secure too. His arms wrap around me is the safest place I've been in spite of all the cruelty i need to digest and overcome.

I stay there for the most wonderful feeling i have in my whole life. Sniffing my wet nose with his scent lingering. I closed my eyes feeling at home. Before i could stop my self, i find myself wandering to the dream land.

I woke from slow tap in my shoulder. Ah. My whole body aches. Where am i? I worriedly look around. I am in a bus terminal. Then my sight stilled in the man in front of me. "Hey. We're here. Though i just want you to bring home. That's unethical so i will just send you off and i will see soon in davao." It's him. Wait. I don't even know his name. "And you are?" I ask as if he gets what I'm asking. With a crooked smiled he said, "Dioscoro." Im hearing it right, right? I gave him a crinkled forehead. Then he burst into laughters. The sweetest i ever hear. "I'm Dexter Lee." As he extended his hands to me. I smiled back. Perhaps the most real smile from me for years now. I am about to accept those masculine arms when he pulled me into a hug. Shocked but when i realized that this might be the last time i can hug a person whom i once called home, i hug back tighter, feeling every part of him. Closing my eyes. Don't care about the busy people around. The honking of the bus. The persuasion of seller to random passengers. The smell of his natural scent mixed to the pollution. Suddenly i do not want to leave. I am about to pull myself when he said, "I will find you, Azucena. In time the world is no longer cruel, but if it's still that way, i will join your world. Wait for me, love." I think i am floating in the air as i enter and sat in a bus. Intently looking at those pair of brown eyes. I wave good bye to him. But he just wink at me. Giving me a good feeling throughout the way.