Uncharted Hearts

CHAPTER 00 "GOOD MORNING, handsome," that's how Eloise greet her long-time boyfriend Bryce. "Are your things packed now? Huwag mo kakalimutan iyong mga padala ni Mama para sa 'kin at iyong mga documents mo. Make sure you have it you to avoid trouble in the immigration." Tuloy-tuloy niyang paalala sa binata. Video call, iyon ang routine nilang dalawa ni Bryce simula noong lumipat siya sa Paris, France at magtrabaho sa ilalim ng isang small scale advertising company bilang isang marketing specialist. Eloise is talented and passionate in live events such as product launches. Her face landed on the front page of a well-known lifestyle magazine in Paris. Eloise entertained interviews after another business expo across the country and nearby cities. Matatawag na nga siyang successful na lagay na iyon at nagawa niya ang lahat sa labas ng anino ng kanyang apelyido. Eloise is a De Luna. The De Luna are the sought-after people in the Philippines and abroad. But before she got the surname, Eloise once carried her birth father's name. She was Eloise Rose Marquez – a name Eloise already buried six feet underground. Hindi naman sa ayaw niya sa dating apelyido. Marami lang siyang masasamang alaala na kahit matagalng hindi nauungkat, kapag sumasagi sa isip niya'y naghahatid pa rin ng takot sa kanyang dibdib. "Hey, uhm, Eloise –" Bryce answered, raising her forehead slightly. "What's wrong, Bryce? If this is about the ball game's final, I can assure you we can watch it here on the replays." "Hindi ako sigurado kung ano ang naghihintay sa akin diyan, Eloise." Hindi alam ni Eloise kung tatawa ba siya o sisimangot matapos marinig ang sinabi ni Bryce. It's far different from the last conversation they had before. Bryce breathed deeply before speaking. "You will be working there and. . . what will I do in times you're working?" Nag-isip si Eloise bago nagsalita. "Stroll around? Watch theater shows. . . they have a lot of those here which you will love." "I hate theater shows." "What?" Doon ay parang natauhan bigla si Eloise at nakuha kung saan tutungo ang kanilang usapan. "You're not really flying here, am I right?" "I love our life here. My parents are here, yours too. And –" "It's Paris, Bryce! The city is beautiful and lively, and I love the scenery here. This is my dream country, and you know that." Luminga siya sa paligid at pagtingin niya uli sa cell phone, nakita niyang nawala-wala na si Bryce. "Eloise, nawala ka," "Right, you lost me." Sumuko na siya. Kahit ano namang paliwanag niya ay wala rin naman mangyayari. Bryce is contented what he have back home while she's ready to tide the next train to conquer her dreams. Kaya niya nga pinili na manirahan sa Paris kahit temporary posting lang binigay sa kanya ng kumpanyang pinagta-trabaho-han. "We're done." Paris is Eloise's big chance to go outside her comfort zone, and she will never let anyone ruin her plan. Not even an indecisive long-time boyfriend. BEING brokenhearted comes along with different stages of unwanted feelings. And Eloise is still reeling from the break-up she had with Bryce. Mas masakit dahil hindi lang naman sila basta magkasintahan ni Bryce. They're an engaged couple and supposed to be married, but she ended things between them. Yes, Eloise ended it, and she's questioning all the decisions she has made now. Mga desisyon gaya ng pagtanggap niya sa temporary job posting sa Paris at ang pagtira na mag-isa sa bansang hindi naman pamilyar sa kanya. "Bonjour!" Iyon ang masiglang bati sa kanya ni Yvette na siyang bantay sa paborito niyang coffee shop. "Que voulez-vous pour commencer, madame?" "Un pain au chocolat et un café au lait chaud." sagot ni Eloise kay Yvette na hinanda naman nito agad. Pumunta siya sa kabilang side upang kuhain ang kanyang order na sa kanyang tingin ay makapagpapagaan ng kanyang kalooban. It's been a week since Bryce and Eloise broke up. Isang linggo na rin siyang walang gana sa lahat ng bagay. Hindi siya nalabas kahit ayain pa siya ng mga katrabaho niyang French. Bahay-trabaho lamang ang naging routine niya at madalang na rin kung tumawag sa kanyang mga magulang sa Pilipinas. Alam ni Eloise na pauuwiin lamang siya ng mga ito na ayaw naman niyang gawin. She belongs to Paris and Eloise still believed that this too shall pass. Feel the pain, ika nga ng lahat. And this is Eloise, feeling the pain and dealing with the different stages of unwanted feelings. "There you are," said the voice who stopped Eloise from travelling down the memory lane. Napatingin kasi siya sa kapwa niya customer na magkasintahan at akto na siyang magbabaliktanaw ngunit hindi natuloy dahil sa pagsulpot ni Darren. "We will be having a night out later and you're not allowed to bail out, okay?" "I have many things to do and prepare for our presentations, Darren," tugon niya. "No. No. I said there's no room for bails. You're coming with us and will drink away that broken heart of yours." Nakipagbeso-beso na ito sa kanya at mabilis na nagpaalam sa kanya. Hindi na tuloy siya nakahindi at huminga na lamang ng malalim saka lumabas na sa coffee shop. Eloise walks with such elegance towards their office building. Tandang-tanda pa niya noong unang beses siya dumating ng bansa. Her eyes were widely open because of the amazement she felt. And because French people are known for being mean, Eloise gets a hard time to mingle. Luckily she met Dareen and Sybil who accepted her even if she only knew few French words. Ginamit lang niya ang mga natutunan sa kanyang language class noong nag-aaral pa. "Bonjour!" Masiglang bati ni Sybil sa kanya. "Does Darren tell you about the night out?" "Yeah, and I tried to bail –" "No. You bail many times. Do not let an asshole guy who chose comfortability chase the next big thing with you here in Paris." Iyon ang palaging payo ng mga ito sa kanya. Bryce didn't deserve her tears. Kahit na itong kawalan niya ng gana sa lahat ay hindi deserve ng lalaking napagod na tumakbo kasabay niya. Is it wrong to be goal and career-oriented? It's not like she's forgetting all the important things about their relationship. Eloise remembers every date and celebration they have to celebrate together. But Eloise still cannot help but question her life decision. Is it wrong to pursue the life she wants in a foreign country? Huminga siya nang malalim at tinanguan lamang si Sybil. If a night out will help then she'll do it for the sake of her sanity.