"I love you, that's all."
~*~
I went back here in Paris a month ago. I decided to settle down here. I don't want to go back to Cebu because I might see Lucio. Natatakot ako na baka makita ko siyang kasama ang asawa't mga anak niya. I have no idea if he is actually married or not. I'm just assuming but he's 33 years old now, I bet he has his own family already.
Mahigit limang taon na kaming hindi nagpapalitan ng mga sulat ni Lucio. Ako ang unang tumigil dahil ayaw ko ng maghintay pa siya. Nangako ako sa kanya na babalik paglipas ng limang taon pero hindi ko natupad ang pangakong iyon dahil hindi ako kaagad nakahanap ng trabaho sa Italy. Limang taon ang kinailangan kong isakripisyo para maka-ipon ng pang-aaral ko ng Culinary Arts, tatlong taon din ang kinailangan kong igugol para makatapos ng pag-aaral, at dalawang taon para matupad ang pangarap kong magkaroon ng sariling restaurant.
I spent ten years of my life, and probably the whole of it, without Lucio... I always wonder what my life would be if I stayed with him. I know I'd be happy for sure but I guess my dreams were more important for me.
There are times when I wanted to feel regret but whenever I look back to what I've been through just so I could reach all of these, I couldn't be any less happier.
Papunta ako ngayon sa pwesto kung saan itatayo ang restaurant ko. Sabi nila kailangan daw e demolish ang dating shop na nakatayo roon. I was curious about the shop. I was wondering if pwede ko 'tong e renovate na lang para less gasto na rin.
Nang makarating ako sa lugar ay naramdaman ko kaagad ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ko.
Arevalo's Touch of Memories
Jewelry shop 'to ng mama ni Lucio... Hindi pala talaga na-recover ni Lucio ang companies ng mga magulang niya?
"Bonjour." Nilapitan ko ang isang demolition constructor.
"Bonjour, madame."
Sinabi ko sa kanya na ako yung magpapatayo ng restaurant sa pwestong ito at tinanong ko siya kung ano'ng nangyari at bakit idedemolish ang shop.
May grupo raw ng mga trabahante mismo sa shop na ninakaw halos lahat ng pinakamamahaling alahas. Hindi na raw muling sinubukan pa ni Lucio na buksan ang jewelry shop.
Tinanong ko rin ang constructor kung may alam ba siya tungkol sa car company ng mga Arevalo. It turns out that he knew something and he said that Lucio sold their company.
Umiling ang demolition constructor, "The Arevalo's were one of the richest families here in our city and they've helped a lot of poor people, but ever since their son took over their companies, all just went crumbling down in an instant. It's really sad to think about it." Pagkatapos ng inimungkahi niya ay bumalik agad ito sa pagpaplano.
I completely understand why Lucio let this happen. This is not what he wanted to do. He even warned his parents about how he doesn't know anything about managing businesses.
Wait... Is he here? Is he here in Paris?
"Excusez-moi," I called the constructor again. Pinansin niya rin naman ako kaagad. "Do you happen to know where Lucio Arevalo is?"
Please, don't tell me he's here in Paris.
"Oui, madame. I heard that he is in Senlis right now. He has an art studio there. I don't know its name but his art studio is the only art studio in Senlis. You may ask the townspeople."
Yes, he may not be in Paris but he's just one hour drive away from here!
"M-Merci," ani ko.
Nagtawag ako ng taxi at mayroon naman agad huminto. Pumasok na ako nang may nakalimutan pa pala akong sabihin sa demolition constructor. "Un moment! Un moment!" Sabi ko sa taxi driver.
