Chapter IV: Runaway
Years quietly pass, and Rico and Mercy's love only grows louder. From young glances in corridors to secret notes under desks, they bloom like two stubborn flowers in a garden of nuns and math exams.
Back at Brgy. Banggai, Melo reads the newspaper, and gets caught with the news.
"Susmaryoseph! Tory! Kitam daytoy! (Look at this!)", he shows Tory the newspaper.
It's a news about armed men who set fire to two barrios in their town, which were Ora West, and Ora East.
"Ayy Apo! (Oh God!) It's the Saka-Sakas again. Alert the kids to go inside, Melo. The province is getting out of hand.", says Tory to him.
A year later, one Sunday, Rico is at the terrace of their home at Calle Crisostomo. Then suddenly, a lot of people come running going south of Calle Crisostomo which came from the cathedral. When he goes downstairs, he asks a man what happened. The man replies,
"Haanmo pay nadamag? (Haven't you heard of the news?) Congressman Crisostomo was shot dead at the cathedral by unknown gunmen!"
Still, a lot of people exit the cathedral, scattering into the streets, especially at Calle Crisostomo. People are running from different directions due to the panic. The city is in shocked of what happened. However, with the case seems unsolved, but tyranny is getting resolved, Mercy and Rico continues their journey.
They walk together side by side in the cobbled pathways of Divine Word College of Hermosa, hands clasped during lunch breaks, heads bowed during prayers, and hearts loud during quiet hours.
Now, as seniors, they walk the aisle—not of a church, not yet—but the stage for graduation, donning their crisp white uniforms and silky sashes, diplomas in hand, proud smiles stretching from one ear to the other. Rico stands with his arm over Mercy's shoulder, whispering, "We did it, Mercy."
Mercy smiles back, radiant as ever. "Yes. We did it. So... what now?"
And just like that, life replies.
It is one of those warm Saturdays when Rico drops the bomb. At Plaza de Salcedo,
"I'm heading to Maynilaan," he says while gazing at the obelisk in the center, and into the busy Quezon Blvd, in front of the Provincial Capitol Building.
Mercy squints at him from the floor. She's crocheting a small purse, the kind she will never finish.
"You what?"
"Maynilaan. For college. Nautical Engineering. Marine Science, maybe. I'll sail the world!"
Mercy throws the half-made purse at him. It lands on his face like a jellyfish.
"You didn't tell me!"
"I'm telling you now!"
"Rico! That's two weeks from now!"
"I was trying to find the right moment!"
"Oh! So right now, when I am holding a crochet needle, is the perfect moment?!"
He chuckles awkwardly, holding her hand. "Hey, it's for my future. For our future. As long as we got each other, right?"
Mercy sighs, tapping her foot. "Fine. But if you marry a manananggal from Sampaloc, don't come running back to me."
So off to Maynilaan Rico goes, with nothing but a backpack, a heart full of dreams, and two friends who act like they're tourists on an episode of Magandang Gabi, Bayan. Marcos, the overly serious one, carries all their documents. Jose, the jester, carries two Jollibee bags and a guitar. Rico? He carries heartbreak.
España Boulevard welcomes them with horns and heatwaves.
"Muy bien," Rico mutters to himself, seeing the movie theatre flashing a poster of an action film with exploding jeeps and a sweaty leading man.
"What are you saying?" Marcos asks.
"Go ahead," Rico suddenly says. "You two go. I need to... enroll."
Jose squints. "You sure? Or are you gonna watch that cheesy film alone?"
Rico winks, walking away. But ten minutes later, there he is, munching popcorn, laughing at a car chase with exploding fishballs. He forgot about the priority and progress. Well, what can we say, temptation over necessity, it's challenge but sometimes we need some slack.
A few days later, he's back in Hermosa, walking sheepishly into the family house. Regina Uy, his stepmother—or Tinang, as people call her—stands in the doorway like a general. Arms crossed. Eyebrows sharp enough to slice bread.
"Anya man daytoyen, Rico? (What is this again, Rico?)"
Rico gulps. "Nang (Mum), I... uh... movie watch I think? It was a good movie and—"
She smacks his head with a rolled-up Bannawag magazine. "You came home from Maynilaan... just to watch a film?!"
Rico scratches his head. "It had a carabao chase, Nang! It's classic"
She breathes in, long and dramatic. "Ok then, just enroll here at DWCH. One-year course. Secretarial. Just finish it!"
He has no choice. Rico trades ship dreams for shorthand.
Meanwhile, Mercy travels with one of her older brothers to Marinduque, since it's the wedding for his brother Al.
But after three days, Mercy is gone.
No one knows what happened. Melo and Tory panic. Her siblings check every boat, every island, every remote hut. Days crawl like snails.
Then, on the 14th day, she returns.
She walks barefoot into their home, her eyes glazed, her long black hair now decorated with wildflowers. Her brother faints on the spot.
"Mercy! Where did you go?!" Melo shouts, rushing to hold her.
Tory grabs a basin. "Water! Water!"
Mercy finally speaks. "The elves took me."
The room freezes.
"They brought me to a cave in Marinduque," she continues. "They said they liked my hair. I didn't want to stay. They said if I leave, one of my daughters will die young."
Nobody laughs. Melo and Tory believe her.
A few weeks later, college begins at the prestigious DWCH in Hermosa. Well, let's just say back to DWCH again. Mercy walks into her first class, clutching her new notebook, when she sees him.
Rico. Sitting at the back. Eating cookies and biscuits like nothing happened.
"You?!" she blurts.
He turns, freezes, and waves. "Uh... surprise?"
They talk under the old acacia tree, where he explains everything. From España Boulevard, to popcorn, to Tinang's legendary slap.
Mercy laughs until she cries. "You are the most unpredictable man I know."
Rico grins. "But I always end up with you, don't I?"
Two years go by. They ace shorthand. They write essays and type 60 words per minute. They drink coffee from recycled Yakult bottles.
Graduation comes, again. Another aisle, another stage. Almost a year of which have passed.
But one day, Mercy throws up.
And again.
And again.
Rico, panic-stricken, buys a pregnancy test and an orange juice. He holds her hand as they wait.
Positive.
She stares at it like it's a curse. "What do we do?"
"We survive," Rico says. "Come to my house."
The house is a relic. A two-storey brick monument standing proud at Calle Crisostomo corner Calle Gen. Antonio. The second level juts out, wooden balcony rails curling like calligraphy. Capiz shell windows catch the sunlight like crystal honey. The ground floor is arched like the doorways of old cathedrals.
Tinang opens the door. "You got her pregnant, didn't you?"
Rico nods. Mercy hides behind him like a ghost.
Tinang sighs, long and loud. "Well. Put her things upstairs. The girl eats fish in the morning, right?"
Mercy peeks out. "Yes, Tita."
"Good. We're having Tinapa (Tuyo/Dried Fish) tomorrow."
That night, Rico and Mercy sit on the terrace, watching the town lights blink below.
"We have to talk about the wedding," Rico says.
Mercy shudders. "Before that, Dumanon (Pamanhikan). Your family visits mine. Then mine visits yours. Then we plan. That's tradition."
Rico gulps. "Ughh, do we have to do that?"
"Do you want my parents to throw vinegar at you?"
He throws his hands in the air. "Okay! Okay! Dumanon it is."
But Mercy bites her lip. "I'm scared. What if they find out... before we even arrive?"
He holds her hand tightly.
"Then we walk proud. Like the capiz windows here—we let the light in, no matter how fragile."
Mercy smiles. The wind carries the scent of dried fish, old wood, and brand-new promises.