Keanu never thought he would love Baguio. Hindi naman niya first-time pumunta years ago. It was their friendship goal to go to different places every semestral break. Noong nagpunta silang barkada sa Baguio, pangatlong beses na nila, but maybe some were right.
The third time was a charm. On his third visit to Baguio, he met his Tadhana.
Funny, though. Tadhana was the Tagalog term for destiny. Destiny minus Y was his girl's second name. Tadhana Destin made Keanu love Baguio so much. Aside from the woman who changed his outlook in life, Sarki came. The little boy who gave him a purpose.
It wasn't Keanu's plan to fall in love with the coolest woman he met, but maybe destiny worked in ways he never expected. Again, destiny. Again, his Tadhana.
"Finally." Inakbayan ni Juancho si Keanu habang parehong nakatingin sa mga kaibigan nilang nakapalibot sa bonfire. "Akala ko, hindi tayo makokompleto, e. 'Buti na lang, nakagawa ng paraan sina Melissa at Ariana para makasama. This place is the bomb, Eve. Ang ganda!"
"Tadhana and I did all of this. Kaming dalawa ang nag-design. Mabuti na lang din at maalam na si Tadhana sa mga ganito, kaya madali na sa amin." Ipinalibot ni Keanu ang tingin transient house na pinaglaanan niya ng kalahati ng trust fund niya. "It's worth it."
Juancho chuckled and their beer bottles clanked. "Congratulations on finding the life you wanted, Eve."
"I never wanted this life, J. Alam mo 'yan. I never expected to live here. Wala sa plano ko ang lahat ng nangyari, wala sa plano kong maging taong-bahay, dahil gusto kong maging supervisor, maging boss, 'di ba?" Keanu breathed and smiled. "But all changed because of that woman."
Pareho silang nakatingin kay Tadhana na biglang tumungga ng kalahating alak sabay ngiwi. "'Tang ina!"
Keanu chuckled and shook his head. "'Tang ina, I love her," he whispered. "Hindi ko ginusto ang buhay na ito noon, never once imagined this would be my life. But I never thought I'd love it this much. Hindi ko inasahan na ang bagay na hindi ko inaasahan ang magiging happiness ko, Juancho. It's not always fairy tales and butterfli—"
Muling natigilan si Keanu sa pagsasalita nang marinig ang malakas na halakhak ni Tadhana. Naupo itong nakataas ang paa sa upuan, malakas na tumatawa kasama ang pinagsamang kaibigan nila.
"I guess love will really change you, 'no?" tanong ni Juancho.
Keanu shrugged. "Siguro. Hindi ako sure. Maybe love and family? Something unexpected was made here in Baguio. Grabe, sa tuwing binabalikan ko kung paano kami nagkakilala ni Tadhana, I never thought we'd end up in this situation. She was never my type!"
"I know." Mahinang natawa si Juancho. "But I guess that's what made you both unique. Parang hindi ka rin naman niya type, but here you are, happily living with Tadhana. Kasal na lang talaga ang kulang."
"Kaya nga, e." Keanu shook his head. "In three days, graduation na niya. I am so happy for her. Nakikita ko rin kasi ang hirap niya. At nahihirapan din ako kasi napakahirap gisingin sa umaga. Finally, she could rest from all of it."
Sumama na sina Keanu at Juancho sa grupo. Nagpainom si Tadhana dahil malapit na ang graduation nito at invited ang ilang kaibigan, lalo na sina Fidel at Ezekiel.
Tumabi si Keanu kay Tadhana at ipinalibot niya ang braso sa baywang ng kasintahan. Bahagya itong lumingon at ngumiti bago muling nakipagkuwentuhan sa mga kasama nila. They were all having fun. Maraming alak, marami ring pulutan.
"Na-miss ko bigla si Saki," bulong ni Tadhana kay Keanu nang maglapit sila. "Ang lala ng separation anxiety ko talaga kay Singkit."
Keanu kissed Tadhana's shoulder and smiled. "Minsan lang naman. Akala ko nga, hindi ka iinom, e. It's good that you're having fun. You deserve this naman."
