Bored Billionaire Love Story #StaryWritingAcademyIII

Chapter 6: The Runaway

The clock was ticking, my mind kept on wondering why I had to finish this way. Why I had to say goodbye, and why I had to marry Danielle. It was the money that motivated me? The money in which, I wanted so much for a long time?

The sun rises slowly on the horizon when I arrived in a small barrio of Tuyom, part of Cauayan in Negros Occidental. The freshness of the fields molded with my troubled mind, across the vastness of the hilly mountains, remained destitute on my vision. Amazing was the way the sunlight spread its rays to the sinful human habitat called earth.

I arrived at six-thirty in the morning, walked some meters away, and stopped at the front of Ayah's house. I gathered strength through deep breathing, knocked on the door and Ayah opened the door amazed.

The house was an ancestral abode with a shiny wooden floor, a guest section, and a dining area. Windows were placed intricately for easy access of air to the interior and the whole house as a whole. It's surrounded with light-peachy colored curtains, delicately positioned on each window; Spanish type of decorative paintings was hanging side by side on the wall; terrific to view such kind of home interior designs. Lovely!

Ayah greeted me with disbelief at the door while looking back at the dining section. She welcomed me, brought me to a sofa, and seated me. She called her mother in the kitchen. Mrs. Maria Elena Gonzales appeared from us, smiling and happy. She's about sixty-five years, white hair but full, with a healthy body posture, and her face slightly resembled Ayah Isabel.

"Hello, Marco Fernando! We had met at the graduation ceremony, right?"

"Yes madam, how are you?"

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

"Yes my favorite Mrs. Gonzales!" I said smiling. Mrs. Gonzales told Ayah Isabel to prepare breakfast for me and for them too.

"Marco, excuse me, I have to cook our breakfast. Stay here and find some magazines to read."

I was reading the food corner section of the magazine when a man suddenly grabbed me, pushed me to the wall and I received a final blow that I lost my consciousness.

When I regained my senses, I'm on the bed with Ayah Isabel by my side. She looked at me and said, "Are you alright now?" I nodded politely, asked her about that man. She answered and started to cry, "He's my eldest brother Bryan…He's really angry...He told me everything about... that we're living together in the city. Bryan was with his friend all day yesterday... drank liqueur, and he got this...knowledge about us. His friend was working in Bacolod City...." Ayah left suddenly; brought me some food and we ate together in bed.

Darkness falls upon the surface of the earth and silence made me regret my action. All family members of the Gonzales clan were present at the dining table; Bryan, the eldest, Arthur, the next, Ayah Isabel, the youngest, Mrs. Gonzales, and at the head, Mr. Gonzales. I seated myself near Ayah's place, looked at their serious faces. I felt the anguish inside of me when looking at people like this one, tonight. I thought that what happened in the past hours was the reason. I felt them, every one of them.

I edged a little to clear the monotonous tone of the atmosphere glanced at Ayah Isabel, started to taste my coffee, put a little sugar, and tasted it. I looked around again, seated comfortably ready for any issue that befalls me. I saw Mr. Gonzales scrutinize me by the way he looked into my eyes. He started the conversation, "Marco, I have been able to raise my children the proper way of conduct with themselves ever since they're young, three of them. We loved them...truly, that we gave the best of everything to them. Now, I must tell this personally, what Bryan said to us. That you and Ayah are living in without the sanctity of marriage...do you truly love my daughter?" His question made me squirm and uncomfortable.

Again, I glanced at Ayah Isabel but she's not looking at me. I can see tears falling down her cheeks. "Yes, yes I do Mr. Gonzales," I said quickly without hesitation.

"Since you loved each other, I decided that your marriage be consummated at once. We will organize this according to our customs and traditions. Don't have to worry at all; we will finance this on our own. In three days' time, we can do the preparation. Is it okay with you son?"

I didn't say anything at this moment, looked at Ayah, and hugged her as tears still fell down her cheeks.

"Ayah, it is okay with me, is it okay with you?" I whispered to her holding her hands while the whole family looked at us.

Ayah Isabel didn't want this to happen; she wanted me to complete my dream, to fulfill my long journey into a successful one. She knew my priorities and also knew my ambitions in life. She must save me from this kind of situation, and said, "Father, Marco has to find a stable job first before anything else, before getting married."

"There's no problem for that Ayah. We'll give the sum of money for both of you to start." His father answered back. Mrs. Gonzales excused herself and left the table, went into her room, and brought a clutch bag. He gave it to Mr. Gonzales.

"Here's the money that we kept for you, Ayah. All of my children have their own sum of money before they get married. Take it."

Ayah Isabel took the money and put it in my hand. It means that she was in favor of our marriage. I accepted my decision, my fate, and my failure in my life. Marrying Ayah Isabel means the end of my desire to be wealthy someday. Everybody left the dining table. Ayah and I went to the garden and seated on the bench. I held her hands, kissed her lips, and savor the beauty of the night.

"So, Ayah Isabel, we're getting married. Your heart's only mine, mine alone."

"Yes, Marco I am all yours, for you alone my love. Are you sure with this Marc?"

We embraced to the tune of the night, kissed with our love so tenderly, and hoped for the beautiful days ahead. I patted her face as we kissed. The size of my weapon worked to my glory. Ayah unzipped my pants. The struggling snake that was 10 inches long was in Ayah's hand and the tip hardened even more. I undressed her instantly and in the flower garden, I caressed her body. Even with the touch of my hand, I could feel her flower flowing continuously, which was ever-ready for me to enter. I slowly inserted my 10 inches weapon and it was immediately accepted by her wet flower. The sound was like music to the two of us which gave an extra craving.

We embraced the sound of the night, the sound of lovemaking and kissed our love with tenderness, and looked forward to beautiful days in the future.

She smiled at me and whispered, "You're the best Marco; you are always with me, wherever you go, I'm fully satisfied tonight."

"You too my love; you gave total satisfaction for me, I love you."

"I love you too Marco, until death..."

We were doing these wonderful gifts every night in different positions that gave us both the chain to tied-up our emotions and unification. The negative thoughts of my life were erased by my constant s****l encounter with Ayah Isabel.

The family Gonzales was very prepared for the marriage of their one and only female member; from the food, utensils, equipment, invitation cards, bridal gown, and groom's suit; every detail was hurriedly planned and executed with haste. Every resident knew this wedding ceremony of Ayah Isabel; a prominent wedding of the decade!

The festive mood in the Gonzales resident was really showing through the house decorations; the apple green colored curtains, the silky white bed covers, and people were busy doing their part to this occasion. The covered-makeshift-bamboo-tents for wedding reception were constructed for this purpose. Every facet of the wedding ceremony was all set; the guests, the servants, the Gonzales family, the bride, and me.

The small Catholic Chapel was decorated with apple green and white motif; the fresh flowers were scattered all over the chapel floor, bunches of these were planted on the tall bases made of wood. The chapel pews were bounded by apple green and silky white ribbons with a large amount of free-flowing cloth were strapped to cover the aisle. Even the altar was delicately decorated according to the colors of the ceremony.

I was with Ayah's parents waiting at the chapel near the altar for the wedding ceremony. I stand in front of the altar with them before the ceremony. I saw the bridal's car stop in front of the chapel's door. My excitement heightened; music was played while Ayah was marching along the aisle. She marched slowly towards us. She was beautiful with her wedding dress that compliments the decors. Her parents gave Ayah's hands to mine smiling at me. I smiled back at her with pride. When I finally held her hands, I slightly squeezed it, just a signal that I am happy to be with her, In sickness and in health, 'till death do us part...This is it, I thought to myself.

Since I was facing the chapel's front door while holding Ayah's hands, I saw a man, wearing a bull cap holding an Armalite M-16 weapon aiming at us. I embraced Ayah Isabel tightly, dived together at the floor, while the man started to spray bullets like a crazy wild boar. Panic was everywhere; our bodies were covered with blood completely; the blood of Ayah's parents. I spotted a small door at the back of the altar, holding tightly Ayah's left arm, we crawled hastily and ran as fast as we could, heading to the open field straight to the coconut plantation near the beach. I looked around, checked the situation, and we both hid under the bushes at the base of the coconut tree catching our breaths. Panic engulfed us embracing each other. I saw Ayah's frightened and crying.

"Are you alright?" I asked Ayah in a low voice while embracing her.

"Yes, yes," she responded while nodding her head, crying, with panic in her eyes.

I hugged her tightly, comforting her miserably to calm down. For a few minutes, we moved on to another place to hide. After an hour, we resumed walking far away from Ayah Isabel's place. I comforted her throughout our ordeal.

"Ayah, we have to face this nightmare without any hesitation on our part. Our marriage is not yet solemnized properly, but it's alright for me. The thing is, we are one in our hearts and minds... We don't know who's responsible for this killing. I know what you feel about your parents...sorry...."

Ayah started to cry again. Sorrow covered me with fear that wrecked my inner sanctum to cry too. My weakness started to evolve and fear began to spread all over me. We stayed for a while in one place, then, to another place. I decided to be realistic...to accept our fate...to go on whatever lies ahead. My other side as a brave person began to show because of our situation right now. I had to deal with it. I had to mold my manliness to the next level because of Ayah Isabel on my side.

My meeting with the governor was not in my mind anymore, maybe as of now; marrying Danielle Gustilo, the large sum of money, and other dreams that I had in life. I had to face the world now together with Ayah, she's my responsibility now, and I had an obligation to my wife.

"Ayah, we don't know what happened to your family, but we saw your parents were hit by the bullets, slumped on our sides...I'm sorry...and we don't know the situation there. I promise I'll do my best to know what news therein. But in the meantime, we have to leave them...we have to go on...with our lives...as husband and wife. We have to move on to Bacolod City to get help from Edward Ramirez. Besides, we don't know who's behind, all of these messes. Maybe, we're the target or your brother Bryan? Or...Ayah, do you know this place?"

"No Marc, I think we're heading north going to the next barrio named Isio, a place quite big in inhabitants compared to Tuyom. This place is a remote area. We have to go on the main road for any vehicle we can ask for a ride going to Barrio Isio. That's the way life here in our barrio."

"Okay then, remove all this stuff...I mean our bloody outfit." I started to take off my suit, hid under the bushes. Ayah too took off her wedding gown, fingered the splattered blood, and hid the same.

"Marco, we have to wash our bodies in the sea..." Ayah said to me with hope in her eyes.

"Okay, stay there for a while; I'll check the surroundings first." I headed to move slowly at first, inspecting the nearby place if it was safe for us. The scorching sun bit my flesh like a scorpion's sting. I went back to where Ayah's waiting told her to move fast and held her left hand towards the rocky side of the beach. We took off our clothes totally, our naked bodies shone in the light of the sun like gems. We washed our clothes and underwear, tightly squeezed it, and spread open in the boulder. We remained in the water for a few minutes, waited for our clothes to dry, and dressed up. Ayah and I looked for any resident along the shore or anybody who can help us. But, nothing...no one...it's a remote area. I looked at Ayah Isabel and said sarcastically, "Ayah, you're wearing heels? We're going to walk for a few kilometers away...look at you?"

"Yes, my feet hurt while running in the fields....," while grimacing her face.

"Give it to me." She handed her heels, I looked for a stone and broke the heels making them comfortable for her. "See! It's flat now...fit for you to walk comfortably!"

We walked in the dense coconut plantation along the beach, looking for the main road, continued walking with the hope that somebody could help us, could point the right way. Thirst visited us, hungry too, hungrier while aiming for positive results.

I thanked God that my wallet was with me, in the back pocket of my pants.

We reached the main road, slumped on the rock beside the dusty bushes, clasping our hands together. An hour later, a truck loaded with sugar cane appeared on our view approaching us. I made a sign that we want a ride. I extend my hand with joy, at the same time gave signs to the driver to stop.

"Good afternoon Mister, we need your help....we're going to...?" I looked at Ayah because I forgot the name of the place.

"Barrio Isio...but where are you heading for...Dacongcogon Sugar Central?" Ayah asked the driver.

"Yes, in Dacongcogon...I can drop you in the town of Kabankalan if you have money for the diesel," said the driver.

"Yes, yes my friend I'll give you the money," I said to the driver. "Here are the three hundred pesos, take it."

We traveled around three kilometers without saying any word to each other. Even the driver said nothing or asked anything about us. My mind kept on assessing our situation right now, about Ayah's family, about the gunman, and about our future. Now that I decided to be with Ayah; I have an obligation and responsibility for her well-being. Tomorrow's the day I have to meet Governor Gustilo. Should I be in a hurry for that meeting? And, get the money and run?

"Boss, we're here at the junction of Kabankalan road...I'll stop it here for diesel refilling at the gas station nearby," the driver said to me."Okay, we'll find a restaurant to eat at. Come with us?" I said to the driver.

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

"Okay then, take this hundred pesos for your food instead. Come on...." The driver took the money and drove away without saying a word.

We walked a few meters and found a restaurant at the corner of the street, got inside, and seated. I looked around to get acquainted with the place. I saw a telephone at the counter, while the lady was busy writing. There were a jukebox music counter, pale blue curtains, and table covers. The restaurant was not fully maintained in terms of cleanliness. I called the male server and order two plates of "pancit canton noodles, a family-size soft drink, and white sliced bread.

"Ayah, is this the town of Kabankalan?" I asked without thinking right.

"Yes, part of...this is the Kabankalan crossing. The town proper is thirty meters away," I stood up and said to Ayah, "I'll call Edward for a moment; just finish your food here, okay?"

"Okay, Marco."

I telephoned Edward Ramirez in Bacolod City, told them about what happened in Barrio Tuyom and my decision to start a new life in Manila together with Ayah Isabel. I asked him to purchase two tickets going to Manila through passenger shipping lines. Edward told me, that two men asked about my whereabouts and asked some personal questions too, They said, they are relatives of Ayah Isabel.

"Who are they? Are you sure they're relatives of Ayah? Did you check their identification...through ID cards, driving licenses, or social security cards? You fool Edward! Can you describe them to me?"

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

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

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

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

"Yes, Boss...you're the Boss...your Highness..."

"You foolish bull...I'm not joking! This is not the time to joke! We'll meet there, okay? Bye for now...bye, take care always my friend."

"Yes, Marco my friend... take care too, and Ayah Isabel."

"Bye!" I went back to my seat, Ayah's crying again, "Ayah, stop it, I can't bear to see you like this. Are you coming with me to Manila, or you'll stay here?" Ayah continued crying and said, "I'm with you, Marc."

I asked for some information about the bus terminal from the waiter, and we went ahead to the bus terminal station. It's past seven in the evening but the people on the streets were scarce. Ayah told me some news about this town while going to the bus terminal; business establishments too, some closed early as their usual trading hours because of rampant violence and robberies. The leaders of the town were trying to propose curfew hours for non-residents, and that some political groups opposed this decree. Political leaders have their own private army to support their leadership, followers, businesses, and other personal interests.

"That's our way of life here in the south of the island. Only rich families have the power, money, and fame. They controlled the lives of ordinary, poor, and illiterate people. Isn't it we learned this from high school?" Ayah asked me.

"Yes my dear, but I'm absent at that time when those topics were being discussed."

"Ahhhhhh, I see," Ayah said and punched me in the arm.

"Come on, let's get our tickets and rest inside the bus.

XXX