The Ruins of Winter

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

We arrived on the night of December 29. Uuwi kami sa January 2. Kaya naman sa paggising namin sa umaga ay mabilis kaming nag-ayos upang makapasyal sa mga unang nakalista sa bucket list ko. Juan Luis told me to list the places I want to go to. He even said sorry na hindi ganoon karami ang pwede dahil mabilis lang naman ang stay namin. He's so stupid for apologizing. I am already so grateful that I was able to step in France. I never saw myself being here. Palagi niya na lang ginagawang posible ang mga imposible sa buhay ko.

"I have some shopping to do so please enjoy your day with Kuya, Ate Erys." She smiled, "What signature brand is your favorite? Chanel? Gucci? So I can check and see if something suits you."

Kaming dalawa lang ni Luisa ang nasa lounge ng hotel. Nakabihis na para sa pag-alis at hinihintay namin ang kuya niya. She's wearing a jumpsuit over a velvet jacket. Malamig sa labas, sana ay hindi masyadong manipis ang damit niya. I'm wearing a much simpler outfit. A white turtle neck longsleeves, a thick jacket, maong pants and combat boots.

Umiling ako kay Luisa. Wala akong alam sa mga sinasabi niyang brand at sigurado akong mahal ang mga iyon.

"Hindi ako mahilig sa ganoon..." Sabi ko sa kanya, "Wala akong pambili."

"Oh! Then I'll buy you anything as a gift! It's holidays!" She sweetly smiled at me, "Bibili rin naman ako ng gift for my friends in the country. Don't worry, Ate. I'll make sure that you'll love it."

"Luisa-"

"Ayan na ang pa-special!" She uttered, finally standing up once she saw her brother approaching us. Umirap si Luisa. I stood up too. Juan Luis is wearing comfy clothes too. Patong patong ang jacket niya pero all black pa rin ang suot.

"Ano yan?" He scoffed at Luisa, "Don't call me in the middle of the night asking for help because you're freezing in the streets. I'll block your number."

"It keeps me warm! Pakielamero!" She said, she looked at me afterwards, "Ate Erys, call me if he did something stupid or if he's already a threat. Sure ka na ba na mas gusto mong kasama 'to kaysa sa akin?"

Umakbay si JL sa akin bago sumagot sa kapatid niya, "You are more of a threat than I am, Hera. Umalis ka na nga. You know what you should do! Go to Il Carpaccio for dinner!"

"Ofcourse! Please shut up now." She said, "Ingat kayo, Ate."

I nodded at her, "Ikaw rin."

When she left, JL and I looked at each other. He sighed and shook his head at her little sister. Natawa ako sa reaction niya kaya natawa rin siya sa akin bago nagtanong, "Where do you want to go?"

"Arc de Triomphe..." I answered him.

"Arc de Triomphe it is..." He smiled at me.

Para akong nilulutang. Pakiramdam ko, hanggang sa makauwi ako, hindi ako makakapaniwala na nakapunta ako dito. Hindi ko dream destination ang Paris dahil para sa akin, masyado itong imposible at malayo mula sa kinatatayuan ko sa mundo. I looked at Juan Luis who's taking my pictures as I pose infront of the Arc.

He really changed my life. In ways that I can never imagine.

"Do you know Les Miserables?" I asked him while we are scanning the pictures on his camera. Ang dami niyang dalang camera, tapos kanina pa siya nagsstory sa instagram.

“It is nothing to die. It is frightful not to live.” He recited, "Ofcourse... Victor Hugo. Who doesn't know Les Miserables? Who will forget Anne Hathaway's iconic performance of I dreamed a dream in the motion picture? That shit haunted me."