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Chapter 57 Tessa´s visit to the States
His father's house was a two-story modern building in a classy part of Norwalk. On the ground floor was Doctor Martin's clinic, where he practiced his medicine. They lived on the first floor. The open concept living room was wide and painted white with Renaissance paintings on the wall. The armchairs and the sofa were expensively furnished with upholstery from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Protruding at the back was an elegant glass-covered veranda where the family could frolic in summer.
They had dinner in the open air with French wine. Doctor Martin prepared barbecue while Joan was in the kitchen with the salad and dessert. Marinated meat had been taken out and laid for barbecuing. Jacky, Tessa, and JC were seated around the table, chatting and drinking red wine, waiting to be served their first plate. There was Dionne Warwick music from a stereo inside the house that accompanied their celebration.
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BUNGLED Chapter 58 The wedding
Himalayas, Nepal. Having the civil wedding in the States was practically out of the question due to the paperwork involved and the visa processing which would have extended it longer. So, they went back to Makati to do it there in one of the courts, in a simple civil ceremony, witnessed by only two required relatives or friends. Then the religious imbroglio came to the scene. There was so much fuss over which religion they should celebrate their wedding ceremony in. Finding a common ground was contentious if not difficult. Tessa Lopez was Roman Catholic and JC's family went to the Evangelical church. To top it all, JC was agnostic. It was tough trying to meet in the middle. After several discussions and deliberations, they ended up having it on neutral ground. And that was to celebrate it in a simple rite in the Himalayas, Nepal. Tessa's parents had eventually given in to
BUNGLED Chapter 59 His last visit to the Raj Guru
Hindu hermitage, Himalayas, Nepal. After the wedding celebration, when relatives and friends were preparing to return to their respective homes, JC found time to swing back to the Ashram. He hardly had the chance to talk with the raj guru when there were so many people around during the celebration. He thought that it would not only be a simple parting and saying goodbyes but to be alone with him for the last time. He went there the day following the party. Tessa wanted to be with him and he didn't want to leave her behind. When they stepped into the temple, a certain kind of awe struck him anew. There was a fresh and deafening stillness around. It was unusually strange to be in a place that had amazingly reverted to its usual silence and stillness after the raucous celebration. Suddenly he heard the murmuring of the waters in the river and the sound of silence. All memorie
BUNGLED EPILOGUE
The ambulance in the street was blaring. It was midnight and Gen Ver had no notion as to how this was coming to him. He sat alone in the shadows of his lonely apartment, in exile. No more men to order, no more leaders to follow. You were a loyal soldier . . . a great survivor. A voice came from somewhere inside his mind. Yes, he mused with a cynical smile. I've been a loyal one through and through - but loyalty turned zilch once I lost everything including the honor that I guarded so much. I'd rather die now with honor than to live in the shadow of disgrace. And disgrace hung over his head. He had bungled the plan to eliminate the senator in a very disgraceful way. There was no doubt he deserved to be hanged, to be ridiculed. His intentions had been patriotic, but nothing had gone as he had planned. There had been trials, accusations, and public outrage. He had served the strong man with honor
BUNGLED Prologue
1983 Hindu hermitage, Himalayas, Nepal. John Carlos Martin had long been wishing to learn Astral travel. This is a unique experience going back in time. Also, he wanted some personal questions answered by the masters of the unknown mystical world which he could not find in his city. So during his one-week vacation from work, he took the liberty to fly to India and visit one of the Ashrams. It was a long trip but he knew that what he was going to experience was worth the expense and the hassle. Once there, he immediately had a session with a Raj guru. The place was like nothing he had visited before. He felt the deafening silence that echoed all over. On the edge of the sacred river Ganges, he only heard the dribbling of the water. The sound of the flowing current could hold anyone under its spell, so much so that he swore he would be able to find inner peace and solace. In its indo
BUNGLED Chapter 1 The show of force
Halfway around the world, where the sun shone whole year-round, the splendor of the land was highlighted by the booming of drums. People were dancing in the streets. Cebu city celebrated the annual veneration of the Santo Niño, the young Jesus.It was high noon, and spectators, young and old, excitedly trickled in, filling the streets with expectations. Floats glittered with colorful decorations and confetti from buildings showered in different shades. Although the atmosphere was uncomfortably hot in the open, the curious ones stayed on to feel the throbbing of the festival. When the sun slithered down behind the school grandstand the shadow gave people some shade and relief. Those who had crowded under the trees, elbowing for the little space, later swarmed out into the open spaces when the sun went down.Tourists from other countries also came, curious as to what the festival was about. Also, prominent personalities started to notice the importa
BUNGLED Chapter 2 Back to New York
Half a world away, spring was around the corner, trees were turning green, and colorful rosebuds were blossoming at the park near John Carlos' apartment building. In the early mornings, the air was fresh and cool. Now he was back from his trip to Nepal. Under the comforter, he stretched, moaned, and rolled to get out of bed.Dawn had broken, and daylight found its way through the tall drapes covering the Persian window in his room and landed on the floor. It gave form to the pair of pants, shirt, shoes, and socks worn the night before, scattered all over the place. Struggling with a hangover from a Saturday night out with friends, he half-heartedly stepped out still sleepy and groggy and then groped for his glasses. When he found them he toddled to the kitchen to look for something to drink. His mind was fixed on the fridge. He opened it and winced. The light from inside assaulted his unaccustomed eyes, making him grope for what he wanted to find.“Derr bra
BUNGLED Chapter 3 The Breakfast Club or Sulog
From the street level, San Carlos university was an imposing building. It occupied the entire block, from one corner to the other corner of a long street, with its bricks painted impressive green and dirty white. A magnificent structure that reflected knowledge, history, and years and years of labor in molding students to become one whole being, it was the meeting place of a secret organization. In one of the rooms, concern, and worry pervaded in the air. Not too large with a wide window facing the street, the room smelled of antique furnishings and old books. Along the walls were shelves stacked with legal and political tomes which suggested higher learning in the field. Lodged in the main building where the Dean of Law held office, two of the highest-ranking officers held their emergency meeting.“This is getting out of hand,” Mr. Anton Silva said, pacing back and forth along the length of the room. He was a university professor, the leade
BUNGLED Chapter 4 His Assignment
It was a warm August Monday in New York. Nobody liked Mondays. JC was no exception. But whether it was a Monday or a Friday, or even if it was a rainy day, he would have to move his arse and go to work. At twenty-six, life was just okay, getting by with a job as an international correspondent for the Asia region. Okay because he had no responsibility of raising kids and building a home yet. He strolled to his office along Eighth Avenue, about twenty-eight blocks down south of Manhattan. He calculated that thirty minutes was enough to spare and be at the office on time. He crossed Columbus Circle toward the other side and took the left side of the road. Today he liked to walk. The excellent summer weather and the sight of some familiar big names along the way made it seem shorter, for it gave him the chance to admire their beauty and greatness.Under the competent management of people who made them move all over the world, he repeated their names one by one as he padded along:
Latest chapter
- BUNGLED EPILOGUE
- BUNGLED Chapter 59 His last visit to the Raj Guru
- BUNGLED Chapter 58 The wedding
- BUNGLED Chapter 57 Tessa´s visit to the States
- BUNGLED Chapter 56 Their next date
- BUNGLED Chapter 55 Celia and Jeanie
- BUNGLED Chapter 54 Tessa´s invitation
- BUNGLED Chapter 53 Love´s first enounter
- BUNGLED Chapter 52 JC´s return
