In Its Truest Form: Part II

Rading, Coring, and my mother’s family were neighbors. My mother and her family were witnesses to the young love of the two sweethearts, Rading and Coring.

And like Romeo and Juliet, their love was not blessed by their family, at least not by Rading’s family. Rading belonged to a middle-class family and afforded education, whereas Coring had been working as a dressmaker. And the cruelest thing that can happen between young lovers, they were separated.

Eventually, Rading got married and resided in the United States. Coring almost became a spinster, but also wed with a younger man, due to the insistence of her family, afraid that she was already past marrying age. She also stayed a while in Canada but decided to live here in the country.

They both had children and were without communication for decades. Last year, Tito Rading, already 68 years old, went back here in the Philippines and visited my grandmother. He told my grandmother she wanted to see Tita Coring, who was about the same age as Tito Rading. My grandmother and mother invited Tita Coring for dinner in our house. She was hesitant at first but also came, for old times’ sake I guess.

We all sat around our elliptical dining table. I was aware of the past love story of the two and was a bit observant of the two’s behavior. Tita Coring was still as prim and proper as I surmise she has always been. She was accompanied by her young helper, which I translated was her “chaperone.” I kind of laughed at the idea; it seemed so juvenile. haha. They did not seat beside each other, but I can sense the high spirits of Tito Rading. He had so many stories and opinions on matters, exchanging thoughts with my grandmother while Tita Coring most of the time only listened.

By this time, Tita Coring was already a widow but Tito Rading was still married to her wife abroad. My mother and grandmother teased Tito Rading a bit, and he would glee at the idea, but they rarely joked about their love story with Tita Coring. She seemed so Maria Clara.

From what I gathered, Tita Coring lived a comfortable life but not a happy married life. Her husband was rather arrogant and irresponsible. But Tita Coring was never one to complain. Tito Rading, on the other hand, always complained about his wife. He would often tell stories to my grandmother of how he and his wife do not get along well. She had an “attitude,” as he said. I wondered how they remained married for so long if they did not get along well.

The dinner was the first time I saw Tito Rading. He has been living in the States even before I was born. But since that dinner, I saw him several times, because several times he visited the country.

Last month, Tito Rading called up my mom to inform her of a shocking news, at least to me. He said that he and his wife got their marriage divorced. I didn’t know he and his wife filed for divorce. It’s a long process, isn’t it? I meant the contemplation of having one and the actual process of divorce. Their divorce papers must have been already filed before he came back, when we all sat for dinner.

Another shocking news followed, but this time a pleasant one. He and Tita Coring are going to get married. At 70 years old, they are tying the knot! They say first love never dies, and it never did for this two. They are no longer pressured to build a family or to have children. In fact, they can just live together, and not get married. No one will judge them. They must have felt that no less than the sanctity of marriage can bear witness to their pure love. They must have dreamt about this as a young couple and are now fulfilling their dreams. What more sincere way to say, “til death do us part,” than that said by two old people in love.

Tito Rading is again here in the Philippines, to see his fiancée. He talked to Tita Coring’s children and told them of their marriage plan. Instead from their parents, they got blessings from their children. This year, they’re going to get married in Hong Kong and live in the United States—happily ever after, no doubt.

(also see part I)