Chapter 19

Kai's parents successfully managed to separate him from the young girl, and they relocated to America. Each day, Kai longed to return to the Philippines, but he found himself trapped in his circumstances. Determined to bridge the gap between him and Blessie, he dedicated himself to learning the Filipino language, ensuring that when they reunited, language wouldn't hinder their communication.

Two years went by, and on every birthday, Kai made a pilgrimage to the park, where he spent the entire day. It became a ritual for him to sit inside the barrel, where he would reflect on the promise he and Blessie had exchanged.

"Just wait for me, Blessie. Just keep holding on," he murmured softly to himself, the words carrying a weight of determination and longing. In those solitary moments, amidst the echoes of memories and unspoken hopes, Kai found solace in the belief that one day, he would fulfill his promise to Blessie and be reunited with her.

Kai tightly squeezed his hands and hugged himself, pressing his face against his knees, overwhelmed by longing.

"I miss her badly," he murmured softly to himself, his voice filled with sadness.

A heavy sigh escaped him, and suddenly, a familiar voice pierced the silence.

"Why do I always find you in such a mess?"

Time seemed to stand still for a moment as Kai turned to locate the source of the familiar voice. He was taken aback when he saw Blessie standing there, her presence both surprising and comforting.

"Blessie..." he stuttered, his heart racing with a mixture of disbelief and joy.

A warm smile lit up Blessie's face as she looked at Kai, her eyes sparkling with affection.

"What? Are you just going to stare at me? Don't you have a 'Hi' for me?" Blessie teased playfully.

Kai struggled to compose himself, his mind reeling with questions and emotions.

"How did you get here? I thought you were in the Philippines," Kai asked, his confusion evident.

"I followed you. Isn't that nice?" Blessie replied confidently, a mischievous glint in her eyes, pleased with her spontaneous decision.

"No, it's just... I'm surprised! And you speak English so well!" Kai exclaimed, genuinely impressed.

"Oy! Nag-aral ako para sa ‘yo nang hindi tayo nahihirapan magkaintindihan! Pasalamat ka nag-effort ako dapat lang na pakasalan mo ko! (Hey! I studied hard so we wouldn't have trouble understanding each other! You should be grateful I made the effort. You should marry me!)" Blessie teased, her laughter ringing out, filling the air with joy. Kai couldn't help but smile at her playful insistence, feeling a rush of happiness at her unexpected presence.

"Oo, hindi ako nakalimot. Papakasalan kita (Yeah, I haven't forgotten. I'll marry you)," Kai replied, his tone carrying a hint of slang, causing Blessie's eyes to widen in surprise.

"Hey! When did you learn to understand and speak Filipino?" Blessie exclaimed in response, her disbelief evident.

The two of them shared a moment of laughter, their conversation flowing effortlessly as if they had never been apart.

"You never fail to make my birthday less miserable. Thank you, Blessie," Kai said with a warm smile, holding her tightly in his arms.

"You're always welcome, Kai," Blessie replied happily and warmly, returning his embrace with equal affection.

***

Kai woke up with a smile on his face, finding the woman he had spent the previous night with still beside him. He kept his arms wrapped around her, drawing her closer as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. His gaze then fell upon the red birthmark adorning her shoulder. There was something about it that felt familiar, stirring a memory within him akin to the mark he was observing.

"Where have I seen this butterfly birthmark before? It feels so familiar," Kai pondered aloud, his mind drifting as he tried to recall the origin of the image.

The young man paused for a moment, his gaze lingering on the girl as if he were studying her, but he was momentarily distracted when a sudden gust of wind swept through, causing him to shiver. Rising from the sandy ground, he gathered their scattered clothes strewn along the shore. Despite his efforts, he couldn't find the dress the girl had been wearing earlier, so he offered her his long sleeves instead. Donning his wet slacks, he carefully lifted the girl and carried her back to his room.

Once inside, he tenderly laid her down on his bed, ensuring she was comfortable before covering her with a blanket. Despite the late hour, the young man found himself unable to shake off his restlessness, his thoughts consumed by the sight of the girl's exposed skin. He reached for his cellphone and scrolled through his contacts, eventually dialing a number.

"Shin, can you do me a favor?" he asked when his contact answered. "Kindly do a background check on Sittie Vedra," he requested, his voice laced with urgency and curiosity.

"Vedra? Wait, does she have any connection to that girl?" the voice on the other end inquired, a hint of curiosity evident.

"I think... I'm not entirely sure yet until you find out," he replied, his tone reflecting uncertainty. "I just hope it's really her," he added softly, his gaze briefly drifting to the girl lying on his bed.

"Aren't you tired of this?" Shin questioned, a note of concern coloring his voice.

"I will never tire of it, not when it's about her," he thought to himself, his resolve unwavering.

Kai took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Just do it for me, Shin," he requested, hearing Shin's sigh on the other end of the line.

"Are you sure about this?" Shin asked, seeking reassurance.

"It's just a hunch, but I want to be absolutely certain," he replied, determination lacing his words, as another sigh escaped from Shin.

"Okay."

"Thanks, Shin. I owe you a lot," Kai expressed his gratitude sincerely, knowing Shin understood him better than most.

"Do I have any choice? I know you too well, Kai. For the past fifteen years, since we met, there hasn't been a time when you haven't mentioned her name or thought of her, has there? I know how deeply you care about this girl, but you shouldn't allow yourself to be imprisoned by her memory. Kai, stop-" Shin's voice trailed off, his concern palpable even through the phone line.

"Do we really need to argue about this, Shin? It might sound ridiculous or crazy, but I can't just let her go that easily. I owe half my life to her. She saved me, yet I caused her pain. I refuse to make the same mistake again," Kai asserted firmly, his voice tinged with determination.

"Yeah, I've heard it many times, Kai. What I'm saying is, what if after all these years, she doesn't care anymore about your childish promise? What if you're the only one still holding onto it?" Shin retorted, his tone laced with skepticism.

"I don't care. Those are just your 'what ifs.' If I see her again, and she's happy in her current life, then I won't bother her anymore. But I need to know, Shin. I need closure," Kai insisted, his resolve unwavering.

Shin sighed once again. "Okay, if that's what you want. At least you know when to stop. I'll get back to you as soon as I gather the information," Shin said, resigning to Kai's determination.

"Thanks, Shin." Kai ended the call, feeling a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

Approaching the sleeping girl, Kai observed her closely, feeling a rush of emotions flooding back.

"Blessie, is this really you? The Blessie I used to know? The one I made a promise of marriage to when I was still a kid?"

"Please tell me... I miss you badly, Blessie."

Kai lay down beside her and hugged her tightly, a sense of longing enveloping him.

"Blessie, I'm here," he whispered softly, his words hanging in the air as he drifted off into a restless sleep, thoughts consumed by memories of the past and hopes for the future.