The Young and the Beautiful

Chapter 42

After almost flying for fifteen hours we arrived in Madrid. I never felt more safe when we touched down in the airport. Andres will fly to California in a day or two to be with his family. Mateo gave us an address of the house that he arranged for us. He said that it wasn't as big as ours but it will work.

Andres and I reached our new house before noon and it looked like an ordinary Spanish house in the village. I saw Camila knitting by the porch when we arrived. She called for our children when she saw us by the gate.

"Pancho! You made it!" She said.

"Hush now. I made it out. I told you I'll be with you." I replied. The children went out and welcomed me and Andres on our new home.

"We thought that something happened to you. My sister called me and told me the bad news. I thought you wouldn't make it." She said, still in disbelief that I arrived in Madrid safely.

We didn't have household staff to wait on us now because it's expensive and we need to live here for a long time. It was a good thing because the kids were designated with different household tasks. Camila and Bela were responsible for the food, sometimes Alfonso helped them too. While Charlie is the man of the house and he tried learning technical skills to fix minor house problems.

"We made it. But I think that after we disappeared, they will have stricter protocols and stricter detaining methods. Too bad for those who hasn't escaped yet." Andres said.

"It's a phase, it will pass. It will pass." Camila replied.

"So, the kids will be studying here in September, I hope that they will accept Charlie and Bela. I can arrange to make them take the qualification exams by next week and Alfonso can go to an English middle school." I said.

Camila later called us all for lunch that she and Bela prepared. It wasn't as festive as it used to be but at least there's something on the table.

I saw a beautiful painting hanging by the dining table. Did Camila got this? It was a painting of the view from Andres' beach house in Batangas.

"Did you paint this, Camila?" I asked her. Then she smiled and said no.

"I painted it, papa." Alfonso said. When Alfonso was young I knew that he can draw, but I didn't know that he can paint a beautiful landscape.

"Well Pancho, you're the only one in this family who can't do art." Andres said. Then everyone laughed.

"Charlie, and Bela can't paint too." I replied. Then Charlie and Bela pointed at the drawings they made.

"Papa, the woman in the dress? I made it." Bela said.

"The cars by the fireplace papa? I made it. Something to remind us of who we were before we lived here."

"See. I told you. You're the only one who can't paint." Andres joked again. Then we all laughed. I've never seen my family like this in a very long time, and all their faces looked priceless.

Andres left two days after he arrived here. He flew to Los Angeles to be with his family. We said our goodbyes and wished to see him again. My kids loved him too and they were sad to see him leave.

"Papa, I hope that we'll live like how we used to in Manila in the future." Alfonso said.

"I hope so too. Alfonso." I replied.

1985. Los Angeles USA. 

Its been ten years since we left Manila and our lives couldn't be better. I got a job in the embassy again as a consultant, and did some volunteer work for international human rights cases.