A Holiday to Remember [18+] Chris & Valentine

CHAPTER-8

* * CONTINUED FLASHBACK * *

* * Valentine's POV * *

Saturday morning, 10 o’clock, I said goodbye to my family to return to Manila and find money to pay the hospital bills and buy Heart’s medicine. There was only enough medicine left until tomorrow, and I needed to find a way fast.

I tried to hold back the tears threatening to fall as I said my goodbyes. My heart ached, but I forced a smile and promised them, “By tomorrow, I’ll be back with money, and you can all leave the hospital and go home.”

After saying my goodbyes, I quickly walked out of the room without looking back. I couldn’t let them see me cry, but as soon as I stepped into the hospital corridor, the tears I was holding back came rushing down my face. Every step felt heavier than the last.

“This is for your family, Valentine. You can do this. They are more important than your virginity,” I whispered to myself, my voice trembling as I walked. My hands shook, and my chest felt like it would explode from the weight of my emotions.

Later tonight, I’d join Anne at her job—a job that went against everything I believed in. A job I never imagined myself doing.

But I had no choice. For Heart. For my family. My hands clenched into fists, and my chest felt like it would burst from the weight of my emotions. “This is for them,” I reminded myself, trying to summon the courage I so desperately needed. For Heart, for my family—I would do anything, even if it meant sacrificing a piece of myself.

As soon as I left the hospital, I hurriedly flagged down a taxi to take me to the bus terminal. I barely noticed the time as I sat there, staring blankly out the window. My mind was consumed with thoughts of what would happen tonight with Anne. The weight on my chest seemed to grow heavier with every passing minute.

"Ma'am, we're here at the bus terminal," the taxi driver said, and I realized he had already called out to me twice. Snapping out of my daze, I quickly reached into my bag for the fare.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," I said apologetically as I handed him the money. "Thank you," I added before stepping out.

The moment I got out of the taxi, I saw the bus bound for Manila about to leave. I quickly ran toward it, desperate to catch it. "Wait! Please wait!" I shouted, running as fast as I could. I knocked on the side of the bus with my palm to get their attention, and thankfully, the driver spotted me in the side mirror and stopped.

"Thank you so much, sir," I said, panting as I climbed aboard. The driver simply nodded and gestured toward the seats at the back.

"Take a seat, Miss Beautiful, so we can leave," the ticket collector joked from the rear of the bus. Ignoring his comment, I quickly looked for a vacant seat and sat down.

As I settled into my seat, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. The bus slowly pulled away from the terminal, and I felt the comforting familiarity of the province slipping further and further behind me. I gazed out the window, watching the lush greenery and quiet streets gradually give way to highways and the hum of passing vehicles. My mind was filled with a whirlwind of thoughts—fear, anxiety, and a flicker of determination.

I clutched my bag tightly, as if it were the only anchor I had to keep myself from breaking apart. The realization hit me harder now that I was alone in this moving vehicle, heading toward a decision that would inevitably change my life forever. I thought about my family—my parents, my brother Heart, lying in that hospital bed. His pale face flashed in my mind, and I felt a pang of guilt mixed with a strong resolve.

"For them," I whispered to myself, the words barely audible, but they carried the weight of my conviction. "This is all for them. No matter what happens, they come first."

Tears started to well up in my eyes, but I quickly wiped them away. There was no turning back now. I had to face the consequences of my choices, no matter how painful or terrifying they might be. As the bus sped toward Manila, I sat there, trying to steel myself for what lay ahead. The city lights in the distance seemed to mock my uncertainty, but I reminded myself once more: I’m doing this for the people I love.

The noise of the bus and the hum of the engine became a distant murmur as I stared blankly out the window, my thoughts a jumbled mess of hope, fear, and desperation. I clenched my fists, bracing myself for the night ahead. Whatever awaited me in Manila, I could only pray I’d have the strength to endure it.

A few moments later, while on the journey, I was shifted slightly in my seat when someone moved and sat next to me. While I stared out the window, repeatedly sighing deeply, I heard a familiar voice.

"That's quite a deep sigh you're letting out, my dear," the voice said, causing me to look at the person who had sat next to me.

"Lola Vilma?" I said with a smile when I recognized her. I couldn't believe that we were once again on the same trip.

"How are you, Valentine? I didn’t expect to run into you again," she said cheerfully, smiling at me.

"I'm doing fine, Lola. How about you? I can't believe we're meeting again on this bus," I replied, and I felt a little lighter. Having Lola Vilma's presence and someone to talk to was a small relief from everything weighing on me.

"I'm heading back to Manila. My employer requested that I return before they go back to America," she replied with a smile. "What about you? Why are you heading back to Manila so soon?"

"Ahh..." I froze, unable to continue. I wasn't used to lying, especially to someone older like Lola, but I knew there were some things that didn't need to be shared, especially if they were only going to hurt others. I just couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone, even my family, about the decision I was about to make.

"Is something wrong, Valentine?" Lola asked when she noticed my hesitation.

"Ahh, nothing, Lola," I answered, forcing a smile, though it felt shallow. "My employers just asked me to come back," I added, hoping that explanation would be enough.

She sighed and looked at me with concern. But instead of pressing further, she simply smiled and said, "Whatever you're going through, don't forget to pray. All problems have solutions in time."

I lowered my head, feeling the warmth of her words. Maybe she was right. Even though it felt like there was no turning back from the decision I had made, I hoped that there would still be a solution in the end.

While we were on our journey, Lola Vilma and I happily chatted and shared stories. She even offered me some food, and it was amusing because, in this situation, she was the one who had packed food for both of us. We ended up sharing what she had brought, and I couldn't help but wonder why she had packed so much. When I asked her, she told me she had a feeling that she would meet someone on the bus, so she packed extra. I was surprised by her answer, especially when she said it turned out to be true — I was the person she had a feeling she'd meet.

She shared more with me, saying that she felt this wouldn’t be the last time we'd meet, and in the days to come, we would see each other more often. I was a bit puzzled by her words, but I simply nodded along. In my mind, I thought that maybe if what she said were true, it could mean that we would become closer in the future, especially since we exchanged numbers as well.

Her words lingered in my mind, filling me with a mixture of curiosity and warmth. I hadn’t expected to find comfort in someone so unexpectedly, but Lola Vilma’s presence made me feel less alone, especially with all the heavy thoughts I had been carrying. The idea that she felt a connection between us gave me some hope, even though I wasn’t entirely sure what it meant.

I tried to shake off my doubts, reminding myself that maybe life had its own plans for us. Sometimes, the people we meet along the way turn out to play more important roles in our lives than we initially think. As the bus continued its journey, I found myself looking forward to what the future held — not just for me, but for the bond I might build with Lola Vilma, who had become a surprising source of comfort and guidance.