“So babe, what is it you want to talk about? You could’ve told me over the phone.” Gavin rested his elbows on the table. They were almost done with dinner at Countryside restaurant.
Fran let out a faint smile. “I know you had meetings the whole day. Besides, hindi puwede sa phone.”
Gavin was puzzled at her behavior, feeling a tinge of anxiety at what it could be. “So, what is it babe?”
She stared at him from across the table, trying to gauge his would-be reaction. She had decided to tell him the news as soon as they returned from their weekend escapade. Without a word, she fished out a piece of paper from her bag and handed it over to Gavin. It was now or never.
“What is this?” Gavin asked before reading it. Fran watched nervously as a number of emotions registered on his face. Was it anger? Disappointment? Or sadness? It took a while before he looked up from the piece of paper he held before him. When he did, Fran’s heart sank at what she saw on his face.
“Babe, please say something.” She pleaded.
He cleared his throat. “I was afraid this day would come.” His voice was too quiet. “Mabel told me….about the scholarship you didn’t accept back then.”
She nodded tentatively. “I decided to just finish college here. But this one’s a master’s degree.”
“I didn’t know you applied for it.” There was a hint of hurt in his voice.
“Babe, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you….but that was the time you learned about Mabel and you were hardly talking to me….besides, we weren’t even official that time. I got to thinking about ….about my future—“
“Your future? …. And do I have a place in that future of yours?” He was definitely hurt.
Fran reached across the table to hold his hand. “Babe, of course! Anong klaseng tanong yan? But this is for our future, too. Hindi ba?”
Gavin squeezed her hand, gazing at her with sadness. “I know, babe….and I know how much this means to you.”
“So babe….what do you think?” Fran looked at him anxiously.
He shook his head slowly. “I don’t own you….I don’t have the right to stop you.”
“But your opinion matters….very much. And it makes things easier if I know I have your support.”
He sighed and gently kissed her hand. “You know you always have my support…..but it doesn’t mean I’m happy about it……I’ll miss you terribly.”
“Babe…” She squeezed his hand. “It’s only for 1 and a half years …. Two years max….besides, Singapore is just three hours away. We can visit each other on weekends. And we can Skype everyday, if you want.”
“I know, babe……but what if you find another chinito there? Marami pa naman dun…” Gavin had this puppy face that made Fran smile. Unmindful of the other diners, she stood up to hug his neck from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder.
“You’re the only chinito for me. Tandaan mo yan.” She whispered, suddenly teary-eyed.
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Henry sighed audibly from across his desk the next morning. “So Fran, are you sure this is what you want to do?”
