Chapter Sixteen

Unexpected

With Aletheia, I realized that it was a nice feeling when you're in love...

I didn't thought of this thing back then. I didn't also put that much interest in a thing that people called love. And I guess I can say that I only learned about it with Aletheia...

She came to me unexpectedly. And made me feel all the unexpected feelings I have for her and made me happy.

But I also realized that our relationship wasn't just all about happiness... And our relationship can be tested just like the others...

And just like how unexpected love came to me, unexpected things can also happen in a relationship.

I was little when my parents worked in another country, in Germany. And they left me in the care of my grandmother who raised me until I was in high school.

When my grandmother passed away, that was when my parents took me with them to Germany. And although they were already separated, they both agreed to support me together.

I didn't really hate my parents while I was growing up only in the care of my good grandmother. I think my grandma had already given me enough care and love...

And I didn't hate my parents' plan for my future. It's just that, siguro ay hindi ko pa lang talaga alam noon kung ano ba talaga ang gusto kong gawin sa buhay ko since I came to Germany.

The place was all new to me. I grew up in Cebu City in the Philippines with my grandmother when she was still living. And that was the only place I ever knew. Until my parents brought me here.

But then I didn't really felt welcomed, as both of them already have families of their own. May kinakasama na si Mama at may ibang asawa at anak na rin si Papa. I felt out of place...

That's when I decided to just find a job and try to live my life on my own. At sana pala ay hindi na lang din ako umalis ng Cebu. May bahay pa naman kami roon ni lola. I can go back there. But I was young and I only finished high school.

That's when I met my cousin, Gerald. And his Dad offered to send me to the same university as his son. Gerald was kind of a rebel child. At pinag-aral ako ng Daddy niya para mabantayan ko na rin siya dahil nasa iisang university lang kami.

And I accepted it thinking that it's okay instead of na umasa lang ako sa mga magulang ko na may kani-kaniya na ring mga buhay dito...

And since I entered the university, it was where I also met Aletheia...

To be honest, it wasn't hard to like a woman like her. Despite her just putting up a wall around her, but once it's down, you will realize that she's actually nothing but just a gentle girl.

And it was not hard as to love her as well... Madali ko lang nagustuhan si Aletheia. At hindi rin siya mahirap na mahalin...

I can remember my grandmother who already passed, in her. She was gentle and caring. And once she cared, she truly does. She's a really genuine person.

And as I was wrapped in her kindness, I somehow felt healed—and that's when I only realized that I was actually still mourning from the passing of my kind grandmother...

Everything was so fast since my parents just brought me here in Germany. And I was still learning their culture here and language. Pero hindi rin naman ako nahirapan because Gerald had taught me to speak their language, too. And I guess I just learned fast as well. Or because I had to so that I could continue living here.

My parents were aware that I was living with Gerald's family's help since I left my father's house. And they thought that I was only rebelling against them...

Until I realized that I had to do something especially with Aletheia in my life now. At least I could fix the thing between me and my parents first. As I know that I have to plan for my future now as well. And not only for myself but also for Aletheia...

I went to talk to my parents. Iniisip ko na rin na sunod ko nang ipapakilala sa kanila si Aletheia since we're getting serious with our relationship.

And to be honest I can already see a future with her... and only her...

I talked to my dad. And I thought that maybe I could also be a doctor just like him. Since wala rin naman akong ibang naiisip na gusto ko rin maging career. And we're already graduating from college. And he promised to support me when I enter medical school here in Germany.

Kung dati ay naiisip ko pa ang bumalik sa Pilipinas, but since Aletheia was living here, I decided to stay here as well. Because she's here.

I decided that I'd be a doctor. And although I know that it might not be enough for her and for her family, I still want to try and be a better man for her. And with the hopes that I would be accepted by her family when the time comes...

And when I thought that everything was going just fine... that's when a tragedy happened to my family...

"Your Tita Mildred passed away, Alexander." Malungkot na sinabi ito sa akin ni Mama.

My parents told me to go back home with them to the Philippines for the time being. Isang malapit sa amin ang nawala, and I remember that Tita Mildred was also my godmother and a dear friend to both of my parents.

Ngayon lang din kami halos nagkaayos ng mga magulang ko. And our relationship was going better. And one of these days I was already aiming to have them meet my girlfriend, Aletheia.

And when they both asked me to accompany them back to the Philippines ay pumayag na rin naman ako. Hindi rin naman kami magtatagal doon. At sa pagbalik namin ng pamilya ko rito sa Germany ay pwede ko nang ipakilala sa kanila si Aletheia.

But then Aletheia doesn't really want to be apart from me at this moment. And I also understand her. Ako man ay ayaw ko rin sana na malayo sa kaniya. Pero sandali lang naman kaming mawawalay sa isa't isa. At babalik din ako agad, that's what I promised her...

And later on she agreed to let me go...

But like what I said, unexpected things was bound to happen...

While we were in the Philippines, after the funeral of Tita Mildred and before we go back to Germany, my parents had invited me to spend time together. And just the three of us. At natuwa naman ako sa ideya nina Mama at Papa na mag-bonding din kami. Malaki na ako, but I think I still longed for this when I was young...

Gusto ko rin na makasama nang ganito ang parents ko kahit sandali lang.

And I was so happy on our little family outing out of the city. We went to Baguio and I got to spend some time and my most precious moments with my parents...

I just didn't know that it was the last time...

Pabalik na kami noon sa hotel galing sa isang lugar na pinuntahan namin ng pamilya ko sa Baguio. My Dad was driving. At nakapag-usap na rin kami noon na pagkabalik namin ng Manila sa susunod na araw ay maghahanda na rin kami sa pagpunta ng airport at pagbalik ng Germany.

I was already excited to go back. I'd be happy to see my girlfriend again. At ipapakilala ko na rin siya agad sa parents ko when we're back. Especially now that I have a better relationship with my parents than before. Kahit pa medyo may pinagtalunan lang din kami ni Aletheia last time and she didn't want to talk to me yet even when I tried to reach out, pero hinayaan ko na lang muna siya. And I decided to give her some space and time. Anyway, when we're back to Germany ay alam kong mas makakapag-usap din naman kami nang maayos.

What happened that caused our little misunderstanding was just a small misunderstanding as well. And I was confident na madali ko lang itong mapapaliwanag sa kaniya kapag nagkita na kaming muli.

But then as we were making our way back to the hotel by the rented car that my father was driving, biglang umulan. At umulan nang malakas. And it made the road slippery...

My parents both passed away in the car accident that happened to us. And I was the only one who miraculously survived that accident...

I wasn't able to tell this to Aletheia because I was in the hospital and I was still in shock of what happened to my parents.

Their death was so sudden.

One time I was with them and we were just having fun... And the next thing it was gone...

It happened like in just a blink of an eye.

And I had my regrets, too...

I feel like I wasn't a good son to them as well...

I went back to Germany only after I have recovered from the hospital and the trauma brought to me by the accident. At ang unang-una kong hinanap ay si Aletheia. But I couldn't reach her anymore. Hindi ko na siya matawagan. She doesn't reply to my messages.

I already asked my cousin and our friends, too. But they have no idea where she was...

Until I became desperate in finding her. I even tried to go to their house—it's not just a house but a huge mansion...

Parang nalula pa ako sa laki ng bahay nila. And I realized, na ganito talaga sila kayaman ng pamilya niya... They're the Rozovsky after all.

I didn't even know their address, but it was Emma who told me because she once went here before when Aletheia invited her.

No wonder she never introduced me to her parents or any of her family members...

Hindi ako pinapasok sa bahay nila. I already expected that, dahil sino ba naman ako? But I just tried because I really wanted to see her. Pinaalis lang din ako agad ng security. And telling me that I have no business with the Rozovskys.

The Rozovskys didn't even know who I am.

And I doubt if I matter to them even a bit.

And I'm sure Aletheia hadn't told them about me yet being her boyfriend...

Umatras na lang ako at tatalikod na sana pero iyong dati nang bodyguard ni Aletheia na nakakasama niya palagi ang lumapit sa akin at kumausap.

And that's how he told me that Aletheia wasn't home and that she actually went on a vacation in another country with her ex...

Parang gumuho ang mundo ko nang malaman ko iyon. May naaawa ring mga mata na nakatingin sa akin ang personal bodyguard ni Aletheia. At sinabi niya sa akin na iyon lang din daw ang alam niya dahil umuwi rin siya ng Pilipinas, and when he came back here Aletheia wasn't in Germany anymore...