As time goes by, my relationship with my First Love became deeper and deeper.
Back in the ‘70's when Cotabato was only divided into South and North, the Moslem rebels in the North were adamant to gain dominion over the Christians in the South. One ordinary fine day, while my friends and I were sipping our favorite Coke and munching the tasty banana cue (skewed deep-fried unripe banana saba soaked in brown sugar) in Non's Store, we heard the church bells ring and the deafening siren. It was a warning signal for all citizens to take cover inside their homes because of a possible bloody attack from the North. Our town Marbel (now Koronadal City) was the capital of South Cotabato.
In a flash, everybody around me vanished from my sight.
I was left alone with my First Love.
Nanay Goring, the owner of the store, frantically told me to go home right away. She was Genevieve’s mom and was like my 2nd mother, taking care of me and my gang everyday that we were there at her store. Non’s Store was just across KNCHS (Koronadal National Comprehensive HS).
I could sense that Nanay Goring was already anxious for my safety so I assured her that I would leave after I finish my bottle of Coke . . .
There were no cellphones then. It was the age of Morse Code and snail mails. Nobody knew where I was. I was walking alone on a deserted town, just like a scene in a horror movie. When I arrived home, people in our household were at the gate worried sick for me. They couldn't believe that I would sacrifice my life because of a bottle of Coke.
I told them: If the rebels did attack our town and I was gunned down or beheaded, I would have died very happy because I was kissing my First Love during my last moment on earth!
Back in the ‘70's when Cotabato was only divided into South and North, the Moslem rebels in the North were adamant to gain dominion over the Christians in the South. One ordinary fine day, while my friends and I were sipping our favorite Coke and munching the tasty banana cue (skewed deep-fried unripe banana saba soaked in brown sugar) in Non's Store, we heard the church bells ring and the deafening siren. It was a warning signal for all citizens to take cover inside their homes because of a possible bloody attack from the North. Our town Marbel (now Koronadal City) was the capital of South Cotabato.
In a flash, everybody around me vanished from my sight.
I was left alone with my First Love.
Nanay Goring, the owner of the store, frantically told me to go home right away. She was Genevieve’s mom and was like my 2nd mother, taking care of me and my gang everyday that we were there at her store. Non’s Store was just across KNCHS (Koronadal National Comprehensive HS).
I could sense that Nanay Goring was already anxious for my safety so I assured her that I would leave after I finish my bottle of Coke . . .
There were no cellphones then. It was the age of Morse Code and snail mails. Nobody knew where I was. I was walking alone on a deserted town, just like a scene in a horror movie. When I arrived home, people in our household were at the gate worried sick for me. They couldn't believe that I would sacrifice my life because of a bottle of Coke.
I told them: If the rebels did attack our town and I was gunned down or beheaded, I would have died very happy because I was kissing my First Love during my last moment on earth!
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