Chapter 19: Goodbye

Ricardo was saddened to see his younger sister looking depressed and starving herself as a protest against their mother. He tried to talk to Divina and tried to convince her that he will help them the best way he could but Divina refused. She doesn't want him to be involved because their mother would end up hurting him too, not only physically but also emotionally. She's worried that their mother would throw hurtful words against Ricardo again just like what she did last time. Most of the time, Divina would also refuse to speak with Ricardo to spare him of their mother's anger because every time she would catch them talking, she would throw hurtful words against him again. Divina doesn't want anything of it because Ricardo is a good son of the family, he is not ill-mannered, never rebellious, unlike her… she couldn't obey her mother's order not to meet Marco. 'I thought I could really depend on him, that he was the responsible one against his siblings… but look! He ends up being gay, a liar, and now tolerating his sister with her evil deeds! I don't know what wrong have I done for me to be punished this much in my life! I had become a widow at an early age and all my children had become my burden, especially my gay child, Ricardo!", their mother badmouthed Ricardo loudly in front of their neighbors as she gossips with them. Divina was hurt every time their mother does this. Their mother looks down on her elder brother just because he is gay. He is being ridiculed by his own mother. Ricardo is not a bad person, being gay is not even his fault, he is not trampling anyone but for her mother and another older brother, Menandro, they treat him as if he had become a criminal. Ricardo is a kind person and Divina felt guilty about how she kept on being a burden to him because of her love for Marco. Their family couldn't accept him and even the society at that time doesn't fully accept people like her older brother, Ricardo… and now he had become a liar and tolerant of evil deeds just because of helping her. She is ashamed of what she had brought on to her kind brother. Days went by like the usual but Divina is getting thinner and weaker each passing day. Her mother has no mercy on her because she doesn't even care even when Divina is starving herself for more than a week already. Instead, she said she was thankful as it is a lesser mouth to feed. Marco, on the other hand, continuously to wait for an opportunity to see Divina. He waited and waited for her or Ricardo to come out of the house so he could tell his plans to them. He has been waiting for almost three days already but he couldn't see any traces of Divina or Ricardo at all. This is his last day before his deployment to the border. He won't be able to see Divina for three years, he must see and tell this to Divina… if he won't be able to do that, then he doesn't know what to do anymore. 'Mrs. Aljuego! Mrs. Aljuego!!!", an old and fat neighbor had come running to the Aljuego's residence, looking terrified. Marco saw Divina's mother open the door for the neighbor but he could hear them clearly as they all talk so loudly as well. 'Why are you rushing here, Mrs. Del Carmern? What's wrong?", Divina's mother asked. 'Your son!!! Your son, Ricardo! He died! He hanged himself!", the neighbor, looking horrified relayed the news. Marco was shocked to hear the news, he couldn't believe it. 'W-what?", Divina's mother couldn't believe it. 'Nicandro saw him, you know Carmeling's son! He went to their secret meeting place because he is about to break up with him because Nicandro is greedy of money!", the neighbor continued. 'W-what did you say?!!", Divina's mother still couldn't comprehend what their neighbor is saying. 'I said that your gay son… he was actually having a sexual relationship with Carmeling's son! But your gay son couldn't give money anymore and Nicandro and he wanted to break ties with him. Now Nicandro tried to ask money for one last time in exchange for a lustful night---', the neighbor was interrupted when Divina's mother slapped her across the face. 'You foul-mouthed witch! You are spreading false gossips about my son! You liar!", Divina's mother angrily ranted. The neighbor pushes Divina's mother in retaliation. Divina's mother fell on the floor. 'Hey! For your information, I am not a liar! I heard everything, firsthand from Nicandro's mouth! Aren't you the one who told me that Ricardo was gay?! You even looked down on him just because he was gay! You are so pretentious! You dare preach me about being foul-mouthed and gossips, well in fact you're the number one gossiper here in our town!", the neighbor angrily slaps Divina's mother of the reality before leaving the place. Divina's mother fell silent as she sat still on the floor… then she cried her heart out. Marco wanted to go near Divina's mother and to comfort her but he is also worried that he might end up making her even angrier. Just after few moments, he saw Divina so thin and weak, forcing herself to walk as she puts her hands on the walls for support. She used the back door to go out when she heard the discussion bet her mother and their neighbor. 'Older brother… older brother…", Divina cried as she walks slowly. Her mother didn't even notice her as she was grieving and couldn't think of anything anymore. She didn't bat an eye on her mother, what's more, important for Divina is to see her older brother right now. When she heard what the neighbor had told her mother earlier, she couldn't believe it. Her heart was beating so fast, hoping that the news wasn't true. She didn't know that her elder brother is currently having a big problem on his own and now they are all adding burden to his problem… she avoided him to spare him of their mother's anger. Now, she realized that her older brother needed someone to talk to. She couldn't stop blaming herself… her older brother's happy smiles with no traces of any problems or sadness… is now gone forever. The last time he talked to her was three days ago already, it was when he gave her necklace back to her, the reason why they were caught by their mother… and then he said sorry to her. I hope everything will be okay with you and Marco. Divina… I'm sorry., Ricardo smiled at Divina in her memory. It was the last time she saw him. Divina wanted to run to the secret place because it was her and Marco's secret place too. Ricardo had entrusted that place for them. She wants to hurry but she is too weak to run and she is using all her strength now, ignoring the fact that her mother might catch her. The important thing for her is to be there and see her older brother. 'Older brother…", Divina sobbed as she continues to walk, seeking support from the walls she passed by. 'Divina…", a familiar voice whispered behind her. This is the voice of the man she loves. 'Marco…", Divina cried when she saw Marco, suddenly her knees gave in and she fell to the ground. Marco hurriedly ran to assist her. 'Marco… my older brother! My older brother… he's gone!", Divina cried and Marco couldn't stop his tears too. 'I want to see him, Marco…", Divina begged as she cried. Marco nodded and slowly assisted Divina to walk. They walk towards their secret meeting place… where her older brother died. When they arrived there, Ricardo is no longer hanging by the tree but the rope is still there, a trace of what he had done. Ricardo now lies on the ground, his entire body is now covered by a white linen cloth. Divina slowly moved the cloth on the corpse's face and as she wasn't able to see the entire face yet, Divina had recognized her older brother. Divina cried in grief, seeing her older brother's body now lifeless. It really is her older brother, he looks like an angel, looking peacefully at rest. 'Older brother! Older brother!!! My older brother!!!", Divina weeps and grieves. After a few moments, men in uniform had removed the body away from him. Divina almost collapses as her knees lose its strength. Marco hurriedly caught her and moved her to a safe place to calm her down. She couldn't stop crying, she blames herself and hated herself for what happened to Ricardo. 'Divina! Divina! IT'S ME, MARCO!", Marco tried to calm Divina and make her realize he is there. Divina seems disoriented and in shock. 'Marco!!!", Divina recognized Marco again. 'Marco… my older brother, Ricardo… he's gone forever!", Divina cried again. 'I know my beloved… I know. And I am extremely saddened with what happened today.", Marco cried too. Then, he let Divina cry her heart out as they both hugged each other. Divina needs to let it out, she needs to mourn so she won't be keeping regrets in her heart because of what happened to her older brother. 'It's my fault---', Divina said, a few hours after she had calmed down. She leaned on Marco's shoulder. 'Hush, no… no. It's not your fault, Divina.", Marco assured Divina as he touched her hair. 'Marco… why? Why is this happening to me?", Divina sadly asked after a few minutes of silence. Marco looks at Divina straight to her eyes. This is the time Divina needs him… she needs someone to console and comfort her, she badly needs him during this moment. Marco became confused. He doesn't know what to do anymore. 'Is there something that bothers you, beloved?", Divina curiously asked when she notices he had been intently staring at her. Marco hesitates to tell her his situation at school because of what Divina is experiencing right now but… he needs to be honest. 'Divina, Mr. Smith had talked to me.", Marco started. He heard Divina sigh deeply. 'I am sorry, Marco… my mother had ruined you.", Divina sadly said. 'No. No, my beloved… Mr. Smith didn't fire me. My reputation wasn't even tainted a bit.", Marco assured Divina once again. 'Is that so? Really?", Divina's tone was in disbelief. Marco nodded. 'But…", Marco abruptly said. 'But.", Divina repeated and sighed again, as her tone becomes gloomy again too. 'Divina, I am under disciplinary action… that would last for three years.", Marco said. 'Three years…", Divina repeated. 'Yes, my beloved. We'll be waiting for each other for three years. We are not allowed to see or communicate with each other… in any way possible. Are you willing to wait for me? Because if you would ask me, I could. Because I am sure that you will be the only woman I love and will love forever.", Marco emotionally said. Divina's tears fell and she hugged her lover. 'I love you so much, Marco. Not until you push me away, my love for you will never fade.", Divina emotionally said. 'Thank you, my love. I will never ever push you away and I promise you that I will come back. I will be forever faithful to you.", Marco assured Divina. 'I will stay faithful to you as well, Marco… only to you, beloved.", Divina promised too. Marco slowly put his lips on Divina. 'When are you going?", Divina asked after sharing a sweet kiss with Marco. 'This is my last day here. This is the last day I have asked Mr. Smith and despite of the bad news that happened to your family, especially to Ricardo… please do forgive me, my love, that I feel happy deep within to see and talk with you once again.", Marco honestly said. 'Me too, Marco. My heart feels happy to be with you… and sad at the same time because you need to leave me so soon. I would be facing my family again without my older brother who helps and defends me.", Divina said as she felt her chest tightens once again as she remembers her older brother. 'Marco…", Divina said and went to get her necklace. She put it around Marco's neck. 'Come back to me with that necklace… because I'll be waiting for you, my love.", Divina to Marco. Marco showed a bittersweet smile as he kissed Divina once again, knowing this will be the last time they'll see each other in three years.