Pendulum

It is the 23rd of October 2020. A Saturday. 7:05 in the evening. I am here at the arrival area of NAIA Terminal 1. Only four flights during my shift. I brought my laptop with me.

I was looking at my inbox, looking for Montessori materials and Charlotte Mason websites, and practicing my script for a presentation that Ms. Ida taught us (ECA presentation). And then all of a sudden I thought of checking out my blog from a million years ago... 

And so that's why I'm here again. 😊💜

Hello. 😊😊😊

Oh so many things have happened since I was last here!!! 2012? That was eight years ago!!! 

"What has happened?" 34-year old Ria asked.

"Are you prepared for what I am about to tell you?" 42-year old Ria asked back.

34 wasn't sure. 42 kept staring back. Her eyes did not reveal anything, but that always came easy for her. She had dead eyes. Sometimes she came off as indifferent, sometimes cold, sometimes scary. 

"What do you want to hear? The good first or the bad? Because the pendulum really swings from super bad to super good."

"I'm scared."

"Yes." 

42's eyes were sad. Very very sad. Like a piece of her heart was ripped out from her. A longing. 

"No..."

"Yes."

And that was all 42 said. She stood up to wipe the tears that welled up easily from her eyes. They fell on the InLife face mask that covered her mouth. She wasn't alone in the room. Some officers were taking their break. But she was thankful for the dividers that gave her some privacy. She had to take a break herself. Grief is a bitch. It comes unexpectedly, kicking you in the gut, leaving you on the floor gasping for air. 

"Si Ma, congested heart. Si Daddy, lung cancer. Sukob. 11 months apart lang."

42 saw the fear that gripped 34. She looked away. It was too much to take, to see your younger self take in the loss of their parents. 

"But don't worry. Daddy accepted the Lord in his last days. We're going to see them again." She had to tell 34 to move on, there was so much more to say.

"Your marriage will be tested by a DOJ case that will drag on for years. Your friendship with Dianne, too. But don't worry. Both of you will learn from it, and recover. 

"Drix will go through a lot of challenges at work. He will go through many stages of frustration and anger. He will see a lot of injustices done to him. The unfairness of it all. In spite of that, he will rise above it, learn to trust God more, and become the better person. Proverbs 3:5-6 will become a very important verse for both of you. Oh, and he will go to law school.

"You will suffer a miscarriage, but after that have five children. Five beautiful children.

"FIVE?!?!?" 34 was incredulous. 😆

"Oo, lima!" 

"Tumodo!"

"Hindi na yan ang expression mo ngayon. 'Kaloka!' na!" The mood suddenly changed from somber to delight. Talk of babies do that her.

"Rachel is still the pure-hearted, selfless, helpful younger sister you love. You don't always see each other even though she's just in Moonwalk and you're in Merville but that doesn't change anything."

"We will move back to Merville? What's wrong with Mon-el?"

"Niluuban kayo. It will happen in the month of August of 2012. But the burglars timed it when you and Drix were at work. I think they were after the keys of your car. Buti naling talaga Drix always brings it with him. Anyways, the move turned out to be a blessing in disguise because those were your last moments with Ma."

Silence again. 42 spoke the truth: the pendulum swings.

"Aling Nita is going to be a God-send. She will save your from many many things. She loves you and you will take care of her."

"That's nice." 34 said wistfully.

"Now would you like me to tell you about the super good?" 

"My children?" 

"Yes!" But 42 knew she had to wait another time. She had to show pictures! And she was excited to see 34's expression when she sees herself --- her body --- change in the last eight years. Hah! 😂

Til the next entry! It's time to go home.