Chapter 11: The Runaway Bride And Groom

I saw a small door behind the altar, I held Raymond's left arm tightly and pulled him down to the floor, we quickly crawled and ran as fast as we could, towards the field straight to the orchard of coconuts near the beach. I looked around, assessed the situation, and we both hid under the coconut tree bushes panting. We hugged each other in shock. I saw the fear in Raymond and me.

"Are you alright?" Raymond asked me, in a low voice as he hugged her.

"Yes, yes," I replied while nodding my head, crying, with panic in my eyes. I hugged him tightly, he consoled me sadly to calm down. Within minutes, we moved to another place to hide. An hour later, we continued walking away from Raymond's place. I comforted him as we walked, that this was just a test.

"Raymond, we have to face this nightmare without hesitation in our lives. Our marriage has not ended well, but it is right for me. The thing is that we are one in our hearts and minds... No we know who is responsible for this murder. I know how you feel about your parents ... sorry .... " Raymond's face began to change again.

I masked the sadness of the fear that damaged our inner character to cry with Raymond as well. My weakness began to change and fear began to spread throughout my body. We stayed for a while in one place, then, in another place, moving around. I decided to make our marriage realistic, to accept our fate, to move forward with any future. My resolve as a brave person has started to show because of our current situation. I have to deal with it. I have to mold my personality to the next level because of Raymond by my side. My meeting with the governor was out of my mind, perhaps until now; marrying Daniel Montenegro, the huge amount of money, and other dreams I have in life. I have to face the world now with Raymond, he is my responsibility now, and I have an obligation to my husband. He also has a responsibility to me that must be fulfilled.

"Raymond, we don't know what happened to your family, but we saw that your parents were hit by bullets, fell on our sides... I'm sorry... and we don't know the situation there. I , I promise I'll do my best to find out what news is out there. But for now, we have to leave them ... we have to move on ... with our lives ... as husband and wife. We have to continue to Bacolod City to get help from Emily Villar. Besides, we don't know who is behind all these troubles. Maybe, I'm the target or your brother Bryan? Or... Raymond, do you know the this place?"

"No Veronica, I think it's going north to the next village named Isio, a place that's quite large in population compared to Tuyom. This place is a remote area. We have to go to the main road for any car we can ask for a trip going to Barrio Isio. That's the way of life here in our barrio."

"Oh come on, take all this stuff off... I mean our bloody clothes."

I started taking off my wedding outfit, hiding it under the bushes. Raymond also took off his wedding suit.

"Raymond, we have to wash our bodies in the sea ...and wash our clothes," I told Raymond with hope in his eyes.

"Alright, you stay there for a while; I'll check the surroundings first." Raymond headed off to move slowly at first, inspecting the immediate area to see if it was safe for us. The sun bites and burns my flesh like the pain of a scorpion.Raymond returned to where I was waiting for him. We moved quickly and I held his left hand towards the rocky part of the beach. We removed our clothes completely, our naked bodies shining in the sunlight like jewels. We washed the clothes and the underwear, squeezed them tightly, and spread them out on the big rock to dry. We stayed in the water for a few minutes, stripped, waited for our clothes to dry, and got dressed.

Raymond and I looked for shore residents or anyone who could help us. But, no ... no ... it's a far place. Raymond looked at me and said sarcastically, "Veronica, you're wearing heels? We're going to walk a few kilometers away ... look?"

"Yes, my foot hurts while running in the field ....," as my face grimaced.

"Give it to me."

I handed the heel to him, he looked for a stone and broke the heel which made it comfortable for me. "Look! It's flat now ... just right for you to walk comfortably!"

We walked through the dense coconut plantations by the sea, looking for the main road, and continued walking with the hope that someone would help us, and could point the right way. We are very thirsty, hungry too, hungry while aiming for positive results. I thanked God that Raymond's wallet was in the back pocket of his pants. The money came from Raymond's parents. We reached the main road, leaning against the boulder next to the dusty bushes, our hands together. An hour later, a truck full of sugarcane appeared in our sight coming towards us. I made a sign that we wanted to ride. Raymond did the same, signaling the driver to stop. I held out my hand in joy, at the same time giving signs to the driver to stop.

"Good afternoon Mister, we need your help .... we are going ...?" I looked at Raymond because I forgot the name of the place.

"Barrio Isio ... but where are you going ... Dacongcogon Sugar Central?" Raymond asked the driver.

"Yes, in Dacongcogon ... I will drop you at Krosing ng Kabankalan, if possible, if you have money for diesel," said the driver.

"Yes, yes my friend I will give you money," said Raymond to the driver.

"Here are three hundred pesos, take it."

We traveled about three kilometers without speaking to each other. Even the driver didn't say anything or ask about us. My mind kept thinking about our situation now, about Raymond's family, about the gunman, and about our future. Now that I decided to be with Raymond; I have an obligation and responsibility for his future. He is the same to me. Tomorrow is the day I have to see Governor Montenegro for our talk. Should I rush for that meeting? And, take the money and run?

"Boss, we are here at the corner of Kabankalan road ... I will stop here for a diesel refill at a nearby gas station," the driver told us.

"Alright, we'll find a restaurant to eat at. Come with us?" Raymond said to the driver.

"Thank you, Boss, it's getting dark, driving at night is dangerous going to Dacongcogon Sugar Mill."

"Oh go ahead, just take this hundred pesos for your meal. Come on..."

The driver took the money and drove away without saying a word. We walked a few meters and found a restaurant on the corner, went inside, and sat down. I looked around to familiarize myself with the place. I saw a phone on the counter, while the lady was busy writing. There is a jukebox music counter, pale blue curtains, and tablecloths. The restaurant is not fully maintained in terms of cleanliness. I called the male server and ordered two plates of "pancit canton noodles, two bottles of coca-cola drinks, and white sliced bread.

"Raymond, is this the town of Kabankalan?" I asked without thinking straight.

"Yes, part of ... this is the Kabankalan crossing. The town is thirty meters away,"

I stood up and said to Raymond, "I'll call Emily in a moment; just finish your meal here, okay?"

"Okay, Veron."

I called Emily Villar in Bacolod City and told her about what happened in Barrio Tuyom and my decision to start a new life in Manila with Raymond. I asked him to buy two tickets going to Manila through the passenger shipping lines. Emily also told me that there were two men she didn't know who was asking about my whereabouts and also asked some personal questions, They said, they were related to Raymond. "Who are they? Are you sure they are related to Raymond? Have you verified their identity . . . through ID cards, driver's licenses, or social security cards? Can you describe them to me ?"

"They're quite professional, clean cut ... well, wearing T-shirts ... jeans ... and rubber shoes. Hmmmm ....."

"Okay! Okay, just do what I told you and we'll meet there ... at our favorite disco house. Did you get a friend?"

"Okay, got it. Veronica, how about your meeting with ... you know ... tomorrow?"

"Leave it to me, and don't ask me about it again, okay?"

“Yes, Queen Veronica… you are the Boss… your Highness…”

"You fool Emiliana! .... I'm not joking! This is not the time to joke! Let's meet there, okay? Bye for now ... bye, take care my friend always."

"Yes, Veron my friend ... take care of Raymond too."

"Goodbye!"

I went back to my seat, Raymond was crying again maybe because of his parents, "Raymond, stop crying, I can't bear to see you like this. Are you coming with me to Manila, or are you staying here?"

Raymond continued to cry and said, "I'm with you, Veronica."

I asked some information about the bus terminal from the waiter, and we went to the bus terminal station. It's past seven o'clock in the evening but the people on the streets are still standing. Raymond told me that according to the news about this town, as we were going to the bus terminal; business establishments also, closed early as their usual trading hours due to widespread violence and robberies. Town leaders tried to propose curfew hours for non-residents, and some political groups opposed this order. Political leaders have their own private armies to support their leadership, followers, businesses, and other personal interests. "That's the way we live here in the south of the island. Only the rich family has power, money, and fame. They control the life of the common man, poor and illiterate. Didn't we learn this in high school?" Raymond asked me.

"Yes my dear, but I was not at the time discussing those subjects."

"Ahhhhhh, I see," said Raymond and punched me in the arm."Come on, let's get our tickets and rest inside the bus."

XXX