Short Stories of the Heart – Part 1

Prolog I


VICKI


It’s 1979.

Or was it? I was just sworn in as Assistant Electrical Engineer after passing the board examination given that fall. Passing the board examinations was what I was looking forward to when I was in college. When I got my license, I knew I have to work but work can wait. I had a few months to spare before I have to go back to Guam. I was after all still a kid then.

Our town was in full swing of preparation for the town fiesta. As with any trip back home I spent most of my time playing basketball in the town plaza.

Sometimes I wonder how I find the time to visit some old friends in high school. I seldom see them after I went to college and never did I hang out with any of them in Manila. I had new set of friends in college. One of them, who eventually became my Best Man when I got married, was with me on that trip.

One late afternoon, we decided to walk down east to visit a friend, whom my classmates and teachers have been pairing with me in high school. My college friend knew she was my girlfriend as they have met before and have heard “the stories”. Such stories were always stretched; limited only by anyone’s imagination. 1

In their house that day is Vicki, her cousin. She was in town for the town fiesta. She must not have heard those stories about her cousin and me as we struck a friendly conversation upon introduction. Friendly enough to go to a group date to the town fair. A date that was no longer considered a group as we spent most of the time together. We laughed as we play, and lost, playing “kirit-kirit” and “pula’t puti”. And scared her by swinging the Ferris wheel, for the only purpose of getting an accidental hug!

I could feel the closeness between the two of us; much like we have known each other for a long time. I must have been given an unusually warm welcome as I am a “foreigner”. Or was I falling in love to feel such way. But then again I knew I was good looking and most of all … charming.

Vicki invited me to visit her at work in Manila so she can test for my blood type. She was so excited and shaking while drawing blood. One of the other nurses, who peek-in, had to draw my blood.

Quite a few of the nurses came in just to say hello. I still remember those muted talks among them. And not so silent giggles that followed. As soon as I heard those giggles, I lost interest. The challenge of pursuit is gone. Completely gone!

The following day and several days thereafter, my friend ribbed me whenever he gets a chance that Vicki and I ignored him all night on that visit. 2

He didn’t know, and I have not told him to today, that I lost interest that night.

It was the last time I saw Vicki. I never called her again. Not even to say good bye as I had to go back to Guam. I never answered her letters when I was sin Guam.

I will always remember her for telling me that I have a Royal Blood.


PBB/11-18-08


Footnotes

1 I still hear stories of me and her always alone in the “bahay kubo” in the school grounds; me and her in a “kariton”; and a few more stories that always get interesting after the first glass of Chardonnay. Not a single story I can remember. I was pre-occupied with mathematics in high school as I occasionally was a substitute teacher and I grade all test papers in plane geometry, advanced algebra, and trigonometry. I have no time for a girl friend.


2 Ignoring him was not the reason he was annoyed. He didn’t like Vicki. He thought she is short and ugly. I can’t blame him. He was right. He was returning a favor I did for him a few years before. He dumped his girlfriend after I made a similar comment. At least I waited until they were together.