SHORT STORIES (ENGLISH VERSION)

Synopsis: Carlito and Princess were childhood lovers but did not prosper because they were separated when the family of Carlito lives overseas. Even though they were separated, the love they built, still binding to each other, that waiting was not a hindrance to them. Carlito, when he came back, and almost find Princess, to express again his feelings but it was too late. He is about to wed to a woman chosen by his mother.

Tag: Love Story

"Princess you bet, you chase me", Carlito says.

"Later I'm just tired", Princess's reply.

"Alright, let's just go to the boulder and just sit there", an invitation of Carlito to Princess.

In a village in the province of Bulacan, there were two children, Carlito and Princess, who are seven years old. They always played, joked, and laughed. In their younger years, they will find joy as if their joys are endless.

"That is far from it, my mother might find me", Princess objected.

"We're just there for a while, we're just watching the rice growers", says Carlito.

And the two ran to the place where there's a large rock and they sat there to watch the rice growers.

"You know, Princess, when you play with me, I'm happy. And when we're apart, I'm sad", says Carlito.

"I am also Carlito."

And because of their love and care for each other, they will not forget their childhood promises because they are best friends.

They started as friends and became best friends, so the two swore relentlessly.

And to make their promise true, they crossed their little fingers to make their promise bindings to each other.

"Now, we have sworn Carlito, and you must obey otherwise you will be learning to be good with me."

"Don't worry Princess, even if I'm far away from you for a few miles I will never forget you because you are my best friend."

But the moment of their separation came when Carlito's family moved overseas. And when Carlito said good-bye to Princess, Princess was sad and wept at what Carlito had said.

"Princess, although we are living overseas, I will come back and remember that I will keep my promise that we will never separate and that I will return for you," said Carlito sadly.

Princess couldn't hide the sadness on her face, as she was about to lose her playmate, and knew when they would meet again.

"Be careful, Carlito, and don't forget our oath, huh?", cried Princess.

"Yes Princess, and be careful too, when I have grown up, I will get back to you", reiterated Carlito's promise.

In remembrance, Carlito gave Princess the necklace with letter C pendant.

"Keep this necklace Princess and remember this will be the key when we meet again because I'm sure we both are grown up then", said Carlito, who also seen the sadness of being separated from her.

"Promise, I will keep it Carlito until the day you come back."

The two children felt sad, Carlito didn't know that as they were leaving the car that was going to take them to the airport, Princess was watching them from the distance.

"CARLITO I'LL WAIT FOR YOU!" exclaimed Princess.

Carlito, who was sitting in the back, saw Princess chasing them, so he just waived.

"I'll be back, Princess, I promise that", whispered to himself by Carlito.

Years have passed, and Princess was now a beautiful woman. Many young men admired her beauty, and some tried to seduce her, but none of them got answered Princess's love because she was bound, by Carlito's oath. She will wait because that is Carlito's promise that he will come back for her.

Days of sadness have passed over the two, hoping they would meet someday, but how long do they wait? There is no guarantee that only time will tell.

"How is he now? Can he ever remember me? When will we meet again? What will he look like now?" said Princess, as she sat in the window of their house watching the glittering stars that give a nice glow in the darkness of the night.

She remembers what Carlito once told her that when she was depressed, she would just look at the stars so that she could have hope in life, the future, and hope, that when sadness comes, happiness comes.

After fifteen years, Carlito's family returned to visit.

Carlito, upon arrival, sought out Princess, but they were no longer in the same address. They moved to Tondo, Manila, the information he got from the neighborhood.

But how could he find Princess in Tondo? He had never been there if he had been looking for Princess there, how would he have known her. In the fifteen years, they haven't met, it looks like, he'll probably be getting hard to find Princess.

"Princess, I am here now, but why did you move to another place? Where can I find you now?", said Carlito sadly

From the time of Carlito's arrival, Princess has always been in his mind. There were even nights when he couldn't sleep. And this time they seem to have lost the chance to meet.

Carlito's decision was made, he was going to find Princess and the only key to knowing her was the necklace he gave to Princess before he left, abroad.

"Carlito, you stay at home because Sophia's mother is coming. We will discuss the preparation or your wedding", said her mother while cleaning the kitchen.

This is Carlito's big problem. The main reason for their visit is to arrange their wedding ceremony. He can't disagree with his mother, he just only obeys his mother because of her serious illness, and it is bad for her to have resentment that may result in even death. This was the findings of the doctor attending to her health condition.

But, what about Princess? Carlito loves Princess, and until now she is still in the subconscious mind of Carlito. He has never lost his love for Princess.

On the other side, where Precious lives.

"Let's go, Princess, we are late already. The owner of the restaurant will get angry, already", said Princess's friend.

"Why are you late? We have plenty of customers waiting", said the owner of the restaurant.

The two didn't answer, instead, they go straight to their respective duty.

Even when Princess is at work, she always thought of Carlito.

"What if Carlito arrives and I was not there in our old address how do we meet? He doesn't know where I am. He looked so different now I'm sure and so do I. Ah, this necklace he gave me would be the only key for us to know each other", Princess often asked herself.

While Princess was thinking of Carlito, Frederick had come to her with flowers, asking again to give her love to him. Frederick is Princess's strict lover.

"Princess, you know how much I love you, but until now, you haven't answered me yet", said Frederick with a smile.

Princess just smiled at what Frederick had said and told him that she has not decided yet. But the only reason why Princess couldn't answer Frederick's love was because of Carlito's promise that he will come back for her someday.

Although to all her lovers, Frederick was a little bit closer to her heart, Carlito could still weigh in her heart.

Carlito had come to Tondo to look for Princess.

"Tondo has a big area and densely populated, where could I find Princess here?", said Carlito to himself with a sigh.

But despite these problems, Carlito is decided not to stop finding Princess. In his mind, he must see her and prove that he made his promise, despite that he is about to wed somebody against his will.

Carlito went to many places but failed to find Princess.

Every time Carlito was tired and hungry, he will go to any restaurant and order his favorite food.

As Carlito was eating, he glanced at the lady cashier, and was amazed at her beauty, not knowing it was Princess, he was looking for.

After Carlito has finished eating, he went to the lady cashier and paid for the food he ate and smiled at her. Princess also smiled at him, not knowing it was Carlito, her lover she was waiting for, a long time.

Carlito, after he paid, went out of the restaurant and did not hear the name Princess, when Princess was called by, the owner of the restaurant.

"Princess, come to the office, I have something to discuss with."

"Yes, ma'am."

If ever Carlito heard the name of Princess while he is still in the restaurant, he would certainly end his effort of finding his childhood sweetheart Princess.

Because Princess wanted to find out if Carlito has arrived, she asked for the permission of the owner of the restaurant to visit her province.

So, the next morning Princess went to the province to see if Carlito has arrived yet. Upon her arrival, she passed Carlito's house, and when she felt of none presence of Carlito, she left.

However, Princess didn't know that it was two weeks already that Carlito has arrived, and without knowing also, that Carlito was looking for her in Tondo, Manila.

Carlito, meanwhile, is tired of finding Princess and goes back to the same restaurant he eats, and he noticed, that the beautiful cashier is not around, without knowing that Princess, has left for the province.

After one week of useless finding Princess, Carlito has decided to return home.

"Inday, Carlito has arrived, prepare for his food."

"Yes, ma'am."

After Carlito has finished eating, he went to his room. His mother followed him and said that Sophia's parents had come and agreed to prepare for the wedding.

Carlito heard of what his mother has said to him, and it sounded like a bell rang loudly in Carlito's ear. He just ignored it, because Carlito knew that after the wedding they would return overseas to live there permanently.

But what about Princess? Is there still hope for them to meet?

While Princess, still in the province, she went to those places frequently were she and Carlito had happy moments playing their favorite games, especially, TAGUAN, HABULAN, and TAEYANG PRESO were most of the children played. By this, she could somehow remember Carlito, who truly made her happy.

"How is Carlito? Can he remember me too?" asked Princess to herself sadly.

However, Princess doesn't know Carlito's feelings as well, so after Carlito has rested a couple of minutes, he left the house, and do what Princess did. He also went to memorable places of his childhood sweetheart to recall the happy moments.

"This was the place that Princess wept as she chased after me and fell-down", recalls Carlito.

Princess has reached her decision to end her long period of waiting for the person she doesn't know whether she was, forgotten or not.

And to prove of her being serious, she will be going to remove the necklace given to her by Carlito and left it in the rock where she and Carlito had their oath.

Carlito saw what Princess did when she removed the necklace and place it slowly above the rock where she was sitting. At this time, Carlito convinced himself that it was Princess.

So, Carlito couldn't stop himself and called Princess, by her name.

"Do you know me?", asked Princess.

"Ah yes, someone nearby has told me of your name", replied Carlito vehemently.

It was just their conversation. Then Princess left at once.

Carlito has picked up the necklace, brought it to his lips, and kissed it.

"I am sorry Princess though I have waited for you for a long time, I have to let you go, for the sake of your happiness. I came back for you, but it's too late and it seems that we are not destined to each other, but within my heart and my mind I'm hoping for your success and happiness and pray that you meet the good guy who will give that kind of happiness I didn't do.

Goodbye, my love, maybe someday, somehow, we will meet again."