La Carlota 1: Reaching the Sun

28 ~ DREAM

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

IT felt like she just lost a part of her when Fauna Almendarez's died. Nakuha nitong punan kung anoman ang alam niyang kulang sa kanya, ngunit ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit may puwang ulit sa dibdib niya.

Her death was sudden that everybody was shocked. Naghinagpis ang mga taga La Carlota sa hindi inaasahang pagkawala ng isa sa pinaka mabuting tao sa lugar. Isa sa pinaka maraming ambag patungkol sa pagtulong sa kapwa. Isa sa pinaka hinahangaan at nirerespetong babae sa buong lalawigan.

Grego and his father were mourning silently. She can't explain the pain they have been through. Dahil kung para sa kanya na hindi naman kadugo ng namayapa ay nakakasugat na ang sakit, paano pa kaya sa naiwang anak at asawa nito?

Charlotta became popular in social media and showbiz tabloids after the tragedy. Kaakibat ng pagiging sikat niya ay ang pangalan ni Fauna Almendarez. People dug deeper to get more information about her. They became very interested that she got a lot of attention from public especially the fans and critics of beauty pageants in the Philippines.

She can't waste time because Binibining Pilipinas is about to happen a few months after she crowned as Miss Negros Occidental. Even though they are still mourning, her team and the Hermosa continued their works.

"Para ito kay Madame Fauna, okay? Ang lahat ng ito," si Eagan na naluluha na naman.

They are in the middle of the meeting for her journey to Binibining Pilipinas.

This is her dream. This is Fauna Almendarez's dreams for her. Ito na iyon. Unti-unti niya nang naaabot ang dulo. Masaya siya dahil nangyayari na, pero sa mga oras na iyon ay nangingibabaw ang lungkot dahil wala sa tabi niya ang taong gumabay sa kanya at nagbigay ng inspirasyon para suungin ang landas na iyon.

"Kahit ang sakit sakit pa rin, magtatrabaho ako. Para kay Madame," ani Netta na umiiyak habang yakap ang mga dokumento.

Charlotta's tears rolled down her cheek. Pinahid niya ang mga 'yon at pinigil ang pag hikbi para makapagsalita ng maayos.

"She taught me to have more patience. She always reminded me that all my hard works will be paid off one day... and this is the day. I was expecting to spend that special night with her. I was looking forward to see her watching me on Binibining Pilipinas stage. Pero, kung minsan, madaya talaga ang tadhana. Na palaging may kapalit na kalungkutan ang kasiyahan. Na hindi mo pwedeng maabot ang tagumpay nang hindi ka nasasaktan at nahihirapan."

She became more eager to win a spot in national pageant. She was blinded with the pain that all that she think about is to get a crown so she could dedicate it to Fauna Almendarez. Everything that she does is not only for her, but for the woman who gave her a mother figure, too.

Until one day, a week before the pageant, she realized how she was able to do all those things alone and away from Grego. It came to her mind that she was not the only one who was mourning. She just left the man who were with her from the very start with a broken heart because of his lost. Hindi niya naisip na kailangan din siya ni Grego. Lalo na sa mga panahon na nasa karimlan ang buhay nito.

Bumibisita ito sa kanya sa Maynila kapag may sapat na oras siya para sa kanilang dalawa. Akala niya sapat na 'yon para maibsan ang pangungulila nito sa kanya at sa namayapang ina. Umasa siya na naiintindihan ng kasintahan ang sitwasyon niya kung bakit kailangan niyang lumayo. But the last time they saw each other, Grego seemed different.

Pinakahihintay niya ang araw na iyon nang pagkikita nilang dalawa. It's weekend and he will spend a two nights with her.

Yinakap niya agad si Grego nang makarating sa condo na tinutuluyan niya. It's funded by Hermosa. Lahat ng kailangan niya ay sagot ng agency. Wala siyang binabayaran. Bukod pa doon, binibigyan din siya ng pera ni Grego para raw hindi niya magastos ang mga naipon niya.