Chapter 9: The Hasty Decision

We left the disco house on our way home, heading to Emily's boarding house. I lay down on a sofa to sleep when we arrived groggy-groggy. Emily took me to the bathroom, took off my clothes, undressed, and turned on the shower. The cold water began to react on my wet flesh and soul, I felt the crispness of the morning regaining the normality of my being. My body dried up on the sofa while staring at the wall without thinking. It means blank, empty, void, etc. Emily appeared in my sight coming from the kitchen, holding a bowl of hot water, a towel, and a pair of panties, "Veronica Villamor, here, put on your panties ... who are you, bold star in the movie Naked the Beach Virgins?"

I looked at Emily and quietly dipped the tip of my left hand into the bowl, squeezed it, and rubbed it all over my body; starting from my face to my toes, toes. I feel better. Emily gave me something to eat as she sat in front of me."Are you all right now bes? What's wrong with you? Tell me. If you're like this, I know you have it. What is it? Tell me ... so I can give you ... solutions. Come on tell me to me ?"

"You know what? Yesterday morning, Governor Montenegro met me at the Sugarlandia Hotel, offered me a bag of money to marry his son Daniel... and I couldn't decide who, what, or why! In my dire situation now. .. I think ... I must accept the money ... but ... "

"You didn't accept the money, Why?" Emily spun around from where she was sitting and grabbed me by both shoulders. "Veron, that's a blessing from heaven! I mean, that's your chance...grab it, Veronica Villamor! Oh...friend...my bes...my best friend!!! Emily exclaimed hugging me so tight that I couldn't breathe.

"So, when will it be? Next week?"

I just nodded and looked at her with no expression. With a huge amount of money, I can help my friend and family, but how? That same amount of money is the payment of my freedom, the payment of my soul, a marriage to Daniel. Does marrying him mean a comfortable life? where is he now?

XXX

The next day, it was raining heavily outside, I was alone in the room that Emily had given me. She asked me to move into her boarding house, to save on rent, food, and daily necessities. And, a temporary refuge for me, while I wait for my next meeting with the Governor. On that day, Emily was on duty. The more I stayed inside the boarding house, the more I wanted to release my energy. Without much ado, I took off all my clothes, brought the dumbbell, and began the basic method of exercising the muscles. The hard work drained the energies that had been residing within me for the past two days. However, in my mind Daniel and Raymond still remained.

I remembered the time with Daniel; the lovely and muscular body, which made him get my craziness. She is handsome, smart, kind with a strong character. The world stops when his sex appeal knows no bounds, a man who has the power to capture a woman's imagination in a world of bliss. I miss that first night with him!

Transferring my mind to Raymond gave me another dimension of my soul. He was inside me, I felt it. I had never felt so beautiful when I thought of her. The charisma in his gentlemanly nature softens my entire being. A kind Raymond, gentle, and our souls have power together. An amazing beauty folded in my wings and slowly gave way to my heart and gradually burst into my imagination. He had magic and everything in my heart!

Lying alone thinking about these two men banned me from whatever I had in my life. Other than that, my thoughts are leaning toward Daniel's dad's offer. It's really sad to think about this offer but I have to accept it no matter how hard it is for me. I thought of saying goodbye to Raymond, in their town in Cauayan, 80 to 100 kilometers south of Bacolod City. I gathered a few essentials that I used to carry when traveling alone; a backpack with panties, a bottle of perfume, a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, hand towels, sunglasses, ID cards, and other essential items. I have to hurry. I went to the south bus station, hurriedly bought a ticket, and sat in the back of an air-conditioned vehicle named Ceres Bus. I bought some caramel candies and juicy fruit gum for my trip. It is a long journey from Bacolod City to the town of Cauayan. I really need to act fast before my meeting with the Governor. This is the only way to stop the dizziness in my life; to say goodbye to Raymond Montelibano. It hurts but I have to do it.

The clock was ticking, my mind kept wondering why I had to end this way. Why do I have to say goodbye, and why do I have to marry Daniel? Is it money that motivates me? The money where the amount I wanted for a long time?

The sun was slowly rising over the horizon when I arrived at a small village of Tuyom, part of Cauayan in Negros Occidental. The freshness of the fields molded by my chaotic thoughts, despite the vastness of the mountain fields, remained difficult for my eyes in this situation. The way the sunlight spreads its rays on the sinful human habitation called earth is amazing. I arrived at half past nine in the morning, walked a few meters away, and stopped in front of Raymond's house. I gathered strength by taking a deep breath, knocked on the door and Raymond opened the door to his amazement he was amazed why I had come.

The house is an old-fashioned residence with polished wooden floors, a section of the house is for guests, and a dining area. The windows are positioned correctly for easy access to air to the interior and throughout the house as a whole. It is surrounded by light-peachy colored curtains, positioned at each window. Spanish-style decorative paintings hang side by side on the wall; decoration is good to look at such kind of home interior designs. Lovely!

Raymond greeted me in disbelief at the door while glancing behind. He accepted me, led me to a sofa, and sat me down. He called his mother into the kitchen. Mrs. Maria Elena Montelibano appeared from us, smiling and happy. She was about sixty-five years old, white-haired but quite muscular, with a healthy build, and her face slightly resembled Raymond's.

"Hello Veronica! We met at the graduation ceremony, right?"

"Yes ma'am, how are you?"

"I am fine. Ohh ... Manuel, my husband is still sleeping. He is tired from yesterday's business transactions. By the way, I will cook chicken today, porridge."

"Yes my favorite dish Mrs. Montelibano!" I said. Mrs. Montelibano told Raymond to prepare breakfast for me and for them as well.

"Veron, excuse me, I have to cook our breakfast. Stay here and find some magazines to read." Raymond left me alone in the living room. I was reading the Cooking Section of the magazine when a man suddenly grabbed me, pushed me against the wall and I received a final blow and I lost consciousness.

XXX