Chapter 10

It has been a month since Isabella moved to her dorm. For that one month, she only managed to come home once and wasn't even able to visit Carlo because she was too tired and still has a lot of homework and projects to do. University life has been a shock for her. Unlike high school, they were given a lot of assignments every day that she felt like twenty four hours is not even enough to finish everything. Her allowance is spent mostly on her projects, which sometimes she has to use her lunch money for it. Also, since her stepfather lost his job again, money is almost scarce for her and their family. For the next three months, she stayed at the dorm and was never able to come home.

Carlo became worried sick about her. He has never heard from her for the last quarter and he always wonder what is going on with her. Every weekend, he would stand by near their house waiting for her, but there's no sign of her at all. He tried to contact their friends if they have seen her, or has her cellphone number or any way to communicate with her, but no one has. Carlo became desperate he could hardly eat or sleep. He always sits in the balcony, staring at the stars, at the clouds that pass through the moon, making love with it momentarily and leave again. Tears fell from his eyes and for the first time in his life, he felt hopeless.

Carlo never knew that Isabella has been struggling in Manila. Almost every day, she would drop by the church and pray, crying her heart out for what has happened to her life. Her life that was filled with potential and a bright future has entered a black hole that she doesn't know how to get out. The money her mother is sending her is not even enough for her to buy food. During those times, inside the church, with her heart bleeding with pain and hopelessness, she would get her wallet and stare at Carlo's picture, their graduation picture that their adviser took and gave to them. Carlo's left arm is on her shoulders and her both arms are wrapped around his waist. They were both smiling, as if they have reached their happy ending. Then she realized it must have been their happy ending, with no continuation, no sequel, just a sign that says "The End."

"I'm sorry," she murmurs while her tears fall on the picture.

One Saturday morning, Isabella sat in the middle of their school's park, feeling the breeze, touching the skin of her pale cheeks, trying to imitate Carlo's touch. She stared at the trees and sometimes she feels that they are talking to her. Being far from her family, from Carlo, lack of money and food, she can feel the depression that eats up the remaining sanity that she has. But during those times that she just wants to give up and end everything, she would remember Carlo, whom she sure is waiting for her. He was right; she wouldn't be able to come home every week. How could she not see it coming? Her mother was sending her to another city, to a university while her stepdad has no job to support her? Then she felt the anger, she became angry with her mother, angry for putting her in this hell, for making her go through all these pain, for abandoning her, for keeping her away from Carlo. She went back to her dorm and cried, but after a few minutes, she fell into a deep sleep.

Isabella was riding a horse, a very white horse. It was running through a green pasture where there are lots of trees around and flowers of different colors, and butterflies flying around. All of a sudden, the horse halted with fear and Isabella fell from the horse. The beast fled and ran towards the other side of the field. Isabella woke up from the dream that seemed so real that she can still feel the pain on her back.

While Carlo was doing a school project, he remembered that Isabella was giving him the address of her dorm on the day that he was fixing their broken chair. He no longer remembers if she left it or not because he is sure he didn't get it from her. Oh, she was talking to grandma when I entered, she must have given it to her. I hope she has it. After school, Carlo immediately went home and looked for Lucy. He found her on the couch sewing his torn shirt.

"Grandma," he called.

"Oh, Carlo, I didn't notice you arrive. There's food in the fridge, let me heat them for you," she said, as she stand up, putting down her sewing materials and his shirt.

"Grandma, did Isabella give you the address of her dormitory? I haven't heard from her for three months now."

"Well, she didn't," she said as she takes out the dishes from the refrigerator and put them in the microwave. Carlo sighed in disappointment and is about to go to his room when Lucy said, "but…"

"But what?" he stopped walking and looked at his Lucy again.

"She left it on the table and I kept it."

"Oh, thank you so much, Grandma!" he hugged her tightly in excitement.

"I know you will need it."

"You're a life saver, Grandma! I love you so much!" Lucy took the paper from her wallet and gave it to Carlo. The very next day, Carlo travelled to her dorm. Although it is a Saturday, he is sure that Isabella will be staying at the dormitory. When he arrived around noon time, he asked the woman at the store if that is the address listed on the piece of paper. The woman, who is the landlady said yes and asked who he is looking for. His heart raced and told her that he is looking for Isabella Reyes.

"Yes, she lives here. Are you her brother, or friend?"

"No, I am her boyfriend."

The woman was surprised, "Interesting! I didn't know she has one. She's very studious and I have never seen her with anyone. Let me call her upstairs."

Carlo was relieved to hear that she has never been with anyone else. He smiled and felt more excited to see her again.

Isabella stepped outside and met Carlo in front of the store.

"Oh my God! Carlo, you came!" She can't contain the excitement that she is feeling upon seeing the love of her life. She jumped towards him and hugged him tightly.

After eating lunch at McDonald's, she led him to a park nearby so they can have a moment together. There were tears in her eyes as they sat on the bench in the middle of the trees.

"I thought you've forgotten me," she said."

"How can I do that? You're my life, Isabella," he replied. She leaned on his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't able to fulfill my promise."

"It's okay. I understand, but how are you? I've been worried sick for the past three months that I didn't hear from you."

"Well, things are a little tough, no things were really tough. You were right. My parents are not capable of supporting me here. I wish I just stayed in Cavite and listened to you."

Carlo kissed the top of her head, he can feel her agony, her hardships and her pain, but he can't do anything. How he wished that he could support her financially but he can't. He is also still studying and doesn't have the money of his own.

"I'll apply for student assistance next semester. I��ll work in the library for four hours a day and I won't pay anything at all, no miscellaneous fees and they'll give me free books and allowance every month. It's not much but that will do. I just need to maintain my grades."

"I wish I can do something for you."

"You are doing something, you are supporting me emotionally and you love me."

"But that is not enough to get you through all these trouble. Why don't you just quit and study in our state university? I'm sure that it will be easier for you. For the food, we'll share again, just like what we used to do in high school."

"I have thought of that, too, but I am already here. I know I can still do it."

"I'm just here for you if you need me, okay? I'll try to visit as often as I can."

"Thank you, Carlo," she said and sealed it with a kiss.

Days passed, months, Carlo managed to visit her once or twice a month. Every time, they would stay at the park for the whole day, talking about their future, about themselves. Everything was full of romance, love and excitement for each other.

"Once we graduate, I will work as an engineer, and I will be very good at it, I will be famous and we will be rich. We will have our own house, a two-storey house, two cars, one for you and one for me, and we will have three children who all look like you, beautiful."

"Wow! You really plan a lot. Well I will be graduating earlier than you. Electrical engineering is a five-year course."

"It's okay. You can wait." They both laughed.

"Of course, I can. As for me, I will be an accountant, maybe for a few years, but I really just want to stay at home, look after our children and take care of our family."

"You can do anything you want, Isabella. Or maybe, you can stop studying now since you really just want to be a housewife and wait for me to become and engineer."

"What?" she exclaimed and they both laughed.

"Silly boy, and what am I going to do while waiting?"

"Nothing. Just stay with me and help me with my homework."

"Ha-ha. Lazy boy!" They laughed out loud.

The second school year came and Isabella got her student assistance scholarship and worked in the library for four hours, five days a week. She became busier than she was before. Carlo continued to visit her every month but they don't stay together for the whole day anymore. She has to cut it short because of her projects and assignments that she has to finish. Carlo tried to understand her, despite his desire to stay with her longer, he needs to leave and just wait for another month for them to meet again. As the days went by, the busier she gets, the colder she becomes towards Carlo. She is no longer excited to see him, and she considers him now as a distraction rather than an inspiration. She thought about him less and less each day, and for some reason she can't explain, when Carlo visited her in August, she felt nothing.