Intramuros Read online

thunderstruck at what lay before her eyes. It was the Spoliarium - a magnificent painting depicting dead gladiators being pulled away by roman soldiers. Charles had brought him to the national art gallery where the countless collection of the country's best and historical paintings and sculptures were housed. Charles had gone to the side of Julia and the two of them stared in astonishment of the gigantic painting. The museum had only a few guests around at that time and so Julia experienced the quietness of the hall and the awesomeness of the paintings surrounding her, everywhere she looked, images vied for her attention.

  "It's true what people say about the Spoliarium." Julia said to Charles without removing her eyes from the massive canvass.

  "What do people say about it?" he asked.

  "It is truly one of man's masterpieces." Julia answered without facing him.

  "And you are one of God's masterpieces." Charles fired a love shell to Julia.

  Hearing what Charles said, Julia giggled, smiled and finally looked at him with her enticing eyes. Charles' was in a state of ecstasy, Julia's heart was tranquil. Their hearts needed one another, they haven't felt like this since the night they went their separate ways in Escolta.

  They waltzed across the galleries of the museum, sharing opinions to one other, Julia enjoyed the gallery the most for it was her first time - she looked at every detail of the classic paintings and sculptures in each room. Charles gladly escorted her, he stayed quiet most of the time, only speaking when Julia asked something. He let Julia enjoy the museum on her own. But on the back of his mind came questions that he still needs to be answered - why was she suddenly back in his life? Is this a message from fate that it is finally the right time to be together? Julia had the same questions on her mind although she wouldn't let Charles see it. She asked the paintings for signs that Charles was the right one for her, that it is simply not coincidence but purely fate that led them to the same path again.

  "You know, I used to be here all the time" Charles said as they took a seat and rested at one of the benches in the museum's garden where a replica of a Benguet Nipa Hut stood. The birds chirped as they nested at the Nipa Hut's roof.

  "In college when I had long breaks and I had the extra money, I would go here all the time and sit in front of the Spoliarium." He continued.

  "Why did you do that?" she asked, confusion painted on her face.

  "I love the serenity it gave me, I'd sit there just staring at it and wonder what it's like to be loved by many, to be adored, to be looked at for every detail of myself, just like how people admired the painting. And because I was often there I made friends with the staff and the tour guides. Usually it wasn't crowded so they'd allow me to sit on the floor. The museum wasn't as grand as this. It was much simpler, and there were few things on display. I'm glad I had the chance to bring you first in here, now it's beautiful."

  "Thanks for bringing me here, it's very beautiful. I love to paint but I never dared to visit this place, now I realize that this place too, calms me." Julia said as she leaned against Charles' torso and they sat undisturbed in the garden, sitting quietly, suspended in each other's presence.

  They spent nearly two hours inside the museum. The sun was priming itself to set when they got out. Outside the museum, street food vendors were lined up under the shade of a Narra tree - Ice cream, Fish balls, beverage, and even boiled eggs were sold. They went over and had a feast. Julia had ice cream stuffed in bread while Charles had some of the fish balls which he dipped into the flavourful sweet sauce.

  As the rays of the sun retreated and became frailer, they walked back to Intramuros, entering through the Sta. Lucia gate. Julia marvelled at its colossal wall that surrounded old Manila and enclosed the ancient city like a mighty fortress - it was known as the Vatican of the Far East because of the number of churches and religious orders that were based inside its 22-feet high, more than two meters thick walls. The stone wall was made by Filipino and Chinese workers who lived outside its walls, one can only imagine the sight and wonder the massive construction gave that began centuries before, it was quite the sight to see as Filipinos during that time had never seen such a mighty curtain wall, what they didn't know was it was made by the Spanish to protect themselves from the very people who laboured to build it. A moat was also added facing the outskirts of the walls. Today, only the Manila Cathedral and San Agustin churches remained and the religious orders have since fled away to neighbour cities after the last Great War devastated their houses of praise. Parts of its walls now lay in ruin and in disrepair. The moat is now a playground for rich men who play golf. But in the walled city's beautiful decay, romance flourished.

  At one part of the walls where the old cannons still faced the outskirts of the wall was Puerta de Dilao. It is popular to couples and student lovers to spend afternoons after class here. Young lovers would sit atop the wall where they have the full view of the golf course below them and the clock tower of Manila across the horizon. Here they took naps under the shades where the tree grew taller than the wall, men serenaded their women, and some shared stolen kisses. Because it was December, the cool breeze had enveloped the afternoon, there were only tourists around, and Charles eagerly picked the perfect spot for him and Julia to sit and talk.

  Charles lighted their cigarettes and they watched the rich play golf, they waved at the players and some acknowledged their presence. Charles and Julia were all smiles that Friday afternoon, they now didn't question why they were brought together - they now knew it was fate all along, after all those years of separation, without contact, without a clue, they now realized what their hearts longed for - they needed each other to warm their souls, to give each other comfort in their turbulent lives.

  "What have you been doing all these years?" asked Charles and Julia looked at the horizon to recollect memories of the past years.

  "I went to places; I travelled all around the country with my canvas and brush. I painted the stars and waves in El Nido, the crater of Mount Apo, the folks of Ifugao. I went to the churches of Cebu, the beaches of Bohol, the people of Mindanao. I found myself in these places, I remembered a part of me that was lost when I was heartbroken." Julia explained with a slight smile on her face while she looked up to the clouds.

  "I was rediscovering myself, I was doing the things I thought I would never do. I thought I couldn't travel alone, I thought I couldn't be independent, but as my travels amassed, I learned a lot of things - to haggle for prices, to eat whatever was available, I even got to forage for food when I camped." She continued.

  "Most importantly, I knew who I was, before my heart was shattered and who I am now. I am whole again, at least in this moment." She hinted.

  "What do you mean at least in this moment?" he curiously asked.

  "There was one night when I was at the beach in Dapitan, and the stars lit the heaven so bright. The constellations were beautiful and I saw shooting stars, I wished upon each one I saw. But for the brightest star, I wished for you." Julia professed.

  Charles was surprised of what he heard. Julia had just confessed that she had not forgotten him. Charles' eyes had become misty, his heart skipped beats and so was Julia. The sun had set behind them and the darkness began to swallow the walled city. The winds of December blew cold and they looked at each other tensely, wondering what was on each other's mind. Charles couldn't react to what he heard, Julia could not continue to what she said. They were at the mercy of what's next to come.

  "I often thought about you, too." Charles answered as he dabbed his dewy eyes with a handkerchief.

  "You never slipped my mind, when I close my eyes all I saw was your wide, bright eyes. And I couldn't forget the way you looked at me back at the bridge. The first time I laid my eyes on you I knew we connected. I felt your eyes go through my soul, and you stayed inside me all these years." He continued.

  "How could I even forget you? It was you who gave me sleepless nights. Your smile haunted me, I often dream about you, about
this moment when I finally see you again. I already have something in mind on what to do, but somehow when I saw your face, my heart danced all over the place." Charles said with a slight tremble in his voice.

  "I know I told you before not to go looking for me, but when I started travelling, somehow I wanted to see you, even just to say a greeting. Sometimes when I paint, I stop and often think how you were doing or where you are during that time. I wished you were there to see me paint." Julia replied.

  It became clear that they were still in each other's hearts, that their memories were forever etched in each other. He wanted her, she needed him - There was nothing else to say to each other. Julia sighed and rested on Charles' chest. He closed his eyes and leaned toward her, he was about make contact to her lips, to make love, but Julia looked the other way.

  "What's wrong?" Charles asked curiously, not sure why Julia evaded his attempt.

  "Where were you all these years?! I waited and waited but you never came!" she became furious.

  "What are you talking about?" Charles was now confused, Julia had suddenly become hostile.

  "I went to the Chinese restaurant on Saturdays if time permitted me, I had hope you'd show up. I talked to the owner of that place and he