Farewell

1941 Bataan, Philippines...

My name is Adela and today my mother finally bids goodbye to this world. Her untimely demise left me, a young woman, a huge responsibility. That is, to take care of my six siblings. We're seven and I happen to be the eldest. My father looks broken but I can't afford to join him with his loneliness.

I can't wallow in tears just like the rest of my family. I must fulfill and I can't do it if I allow myself to be eaten with loneliness. Of all times, my mother left us for good during the start of a war. The Japanese who have gotten past the border and living on the coastline were the ones who first got affected. Some Japanese soldiers are now in my mother's wake.

They don't look that bad since I got to know some of them. But they have a job to do and that is to invade the Philippines. Unfortunately, it's the same country I'm living in. I can't just disappear from this place especially now. My siblings need me to survive. I have to take this responsibility with open arms.

When my mother went six feet under, my family cried their eyes out. But I can't do the same thing as them. I have to stay strong and not falter from these sad moments. My mother taught me how to be independent. Not knowing that she was making me ready to become the keeper of my siblings.

I want to cry and ask her how she can do this to me? But I know that she can no longer provide me the answer I need to hear. I have to stay strong for my brothers and sisters. I'm already twenty-two years old. The perfect time for me to get married to the guy I was bestowed upon.

But after this moment, I don't think my father can do it on his own. My siblings need me to be with them. I can't get married at an early age like my friends. My mother seems to have left us to avoid that from happening. I felt relieved knowing that the wedding will not commence.

"Adela, our condolences!" One of the Japanese soldiers told me.

"Thank you all for coming," I replied to him.

I've made friends with them in such a short time. I can't let the war turn me into a hostile being. Other people seem to hate their presence but I find it comforting. I don't have many friends around. So for me, their presence makes me feel their support.

I said goodbye to my mother for the last time and headed back home. It's time to grow up and become a responsible adult. The war will soon become worse and I have to be ready. Whatever happens, I need to protect my siblings and survive this war.

Tokyo, Japan Present Time...

"Congratulations, Mr. Nagasaki! You will be handling a huge project that we have in the Philippines." The CEO of their firm announces.

Yoko can't believe that he finally got a huge project. He tried to contain his excitement but failed. It seems that all his hard work finally paid off. The only downside is that he has to travel abroad for this project. But he already pictures sunny beaches by hearing it.

"Thank you very much, Sir! You will not get disappointed for trusting me." Yoko replied to his boss.

"I know you would not mess it up. It's about time for you to lead this project." His boss told him with a smile.

Nagasaki Yoko started working at this firm five years ago. He didn't expect that he would be given a huge project right away. Normally, it takes ten years before an engineer gets considered for this opportunity. But he's one of the best and his boss knows it.

Mr. Mitzui doesn't run their firm like the other firms around Japan. He recognizes true talents and he hires people who can do the job well. Yoko is lucky to get recruited by this firm even when he was still in college. They see his potential and he's very good at it.

Yoko has to leave a week from now. He can't help but feel excited about this trip. Ever since he can remember, he always wanted to visit the Philippines. He usually read about the country and heard some stories from the other engineers. But he can't explain his fascination.

He often dreams about a certain place in that country even if he has never been there. That made him curious about their culture. He even read that it was invaded by their people a long time ago. Maybe that's why he seems to like the idea of going there and building something.

As an engineer, building a bridge and any structure is like invading that place. He can't avoid smiling whenever he sees their past projects. It made him proud knowing that he's one of the people who built them even if it's not grand. But soon, he will have his chance.

The project that he got is huge because he needs to build a new city. That includes roads, highways, buildings, bridges, and more. He can't believe that his boss gave this opportunity to him. Or maybe because of an urban legend that surrounds the area.

As he read the file, many firms attempted to start building on that place. The engineers who lead that project seem to vanish out of thin air. According to the locals, there is a portal going to a different dimension. They said that the enchanted bridge should not be crossed ever.

Yoko laughed because he found this urban legend ridiculous. How can people still believe in that kind of story? Maybe that's why their firm got this project. They usually deal with impossible projects such as haunted places. But an enchanted bridge sounds unique.

He puts down the documents regarding the project. Whatever story a place has, he doesn't believe that. Or that's what he believes since nothing bad happened to him yet. He never even encountered ghosts before. The enchanted bridge didn't even bother him.