A Childhood Sweetheart Story
The following is a true story.
When she was a young lass growing up in Bohol, my aunt had a childhood crush, a guy named Pat. She soon found out that he had the same feelings for her. But before romance could fully blossom between them, my aunt was sent to Cebu to study music. Pat got tired of waiting for her and migrated to Canada. There he found a Filipina who loved him in return and was there for him. They married and had three kids.
Years passed.
After years of working, my aunt retired early and went back to Bohol to take care of our ailing grandmother. Meanwhile after years of battling a lingering illness, Pat’s wife died. He was alone in the house; their kids were all grown up and had families of their own.
So Pat decided to come back to Bohol to look for his childhood sweetheart. There he found her, still single and quite available. He proposed marriage; she asked her siblings’ help to convince their mother to allow her to marry. Grandma gave her blessings.
After more than 50 years of being separated by time, distance and circumstance, the childhood sweethearts finally consummated what was started way back when they were kids. Fate brought them back into each other’s arms.
They were married in record speed in Manila. Then he took her back to Canada to live happily ever after.
Normally this is where love stories end.
After almost six months abroad, my aunt quietly slipped back into the country. She was alone. I only found out about it two months after she returned to Bohol. She and Pat had separated. Irreconcilable differences, my mom just tells me, then immediately changes the subject.
Once in a while Pat slips back quietly into the country to visit his relatives. His house is just two lots away from ours. But whenever he’s there he refuses to visit my aunt. My aunt meanwhile never bothers to ask if Pat’s in the country. In fact she never utters his name at all.
And here is where their story ends.
When she was a young lass growing up in Bohol, my aunt had a childhood crush, a guy named Pat. She soon found out that he had the same feelings for her. But before romance could fully blossom between them, my aunt was sent to Cebu to study music. Pat got tired of waiting for her and migrated to Canada. There he found a Filipina who loved him in return and was there for him. They married and had three kids.
Years passed.
After years of working, my aunt retired early and went back to Bohol to take care of our ailing grandmother. Meanwhile after years of battling a lingering illness, Pat’s wife died. He was alone in the house; their kids were all grown up and had families of their own.
So Pat decided to come back to Bohol to look for his childhood sweetheart. There he found her, still single and quite available. He proposed marriage; she asked her siblings’ help to convince their mother to allow her to marry. Grandma gave her blessings.
After more than 50 years of being separated by time, distance and circumstance, the childhood sweethearts finally consummated what was started way back when they were kids. Fate brought them back into each other’s arms.
They were married in record speed in Manila. Then he took her back to Canada to live happily ever after.
Normally this is where love stories end.
After almost six months abroad, my aunt quietly slipped back into the country. She was alone. I only found out about it two months after she returned to Bohol. She and Pat had separated. Irreconcilable differences, my mom just tells me, then immediately changes the subject.
Once in a while Pat slips back quietly into the country to visit his relatives. His house is just two lots away from ours. But whenever he’s there he refuses to visit my aunt. My aunt meanwhile never bothers to ask if Pat’s in the country. In fact she never utters his name at all.
And here is where their story ends.
posted by joelmcvie at 9:13 PM
7 Comments:
waaaaaaaaah!!!naiyak ako... :((
Yah, di ba?
Times change. People change.
...seasons change.
Parang kanta sa 80s yun ha.
Reality always gets in the way, and sometimes it's for our own good.
I hope your aunt is well, despite all this.
:-)
I like your style of writing. :)
The same thing happened to my sister and her former husband. They both live in the States now though and have their own lives. But the whole experience left us all devastated.
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