The Longest Weekend of My Life - Part I


Last weekend, it was yet the longest days of my life.

A few weeks before that I haven't had a good night sleep. My eyes maybe close, but my mind was wondering like a nomad in a desert. I ate less too. I laughed less. I couldn't even concentrate on my work. I felt like sh*t.

The day before the weekends, the body was like a jackhammer. My hands were sweating. My heart pounded at a rate of 250 beats per minute. The moment I step into the vessel bound for my hometown, and at the instant the engines were jumpstarted, I was in twilight zone. My life just pass right before my eyes. Memories of things I didn't even want to remember were like a cineplex, showing them in a panoramic view. I couldn't sleep, I felt I slept but my heart was still pounding like an 18 wheeler crashing on a brick wall over and over again. I woke up, the sun was bright, I even took pictures of the sunrise, and the happy dolphins showing some fancy dives and moves, but my heart was still heavy and I could still feel the 18-wheeler pounding.

Time to get off the "Our Lady of Rule". As my feet touched the ground, it was like my feet wouldn't want to move. Each step was heavy. I thought I was wearing an ankle weight but way heavier. I wanted to stall but the feeling just got worser and worser. Together with my cousins, we rode a yellow taxi. Me and my babe got off at a crossing, rode a public utility vehicle, and got off at a big tree. For the many times that I have walked pass that tree, on that day, I had a special thought about it. As old as it looks, it never lost its integrity, its pride and its glory. Because right at that moment, I really wanted to just turn around and run. But that tree made me realize that if I'm going to just turn and run, ill be leaving behind my pride, my integrity and my glory right on that spot. Thats why, I moved on. Hiking up the hill, dodging branches of trees, and watching every step. That was the longest hike up that small hill that I have ever had.

In a far away glance, I could already glimpsed the green roof of my baby's house. Nearer and nearer, my heart pounded heavier and heavier. I forced myself to walk, literally dragging myself. At a glimpse was the roof, as i made a few steps, the gates of the house drew itself in my eye. The whole structure seemed to just appear into thin air. I could already picture myself being thrown out through the window, or worst, busting through the door with my head as the battling ram. Pretty horrific scene.

She got in first, nobody was around except her nephew. She poked DJ which in turn screamed, "Tita Mai!!!!!!" which drawn everybody out from the bedrooms, her mother and little brother. Her mother was amazed why we were home for no reason at all. There wasn't any birthdays or anniversaries. She hugged and kissed her mother. I was waving, and greeted a good morning to show gestures of respect. And then, out of nowhere, she burted, "Ma, we're getting married..."