Please, Remember

Chapter 15

Mabilis ang paglipas ng panahon, ngunit ang nararamdaman ay hindi mawari kung ito ay lumipas rin gaya ng panahon. At kahit hindi man aminin sa harap ng mga taong mahal ang totoo, ay nasasaktan pa rin sya. Nagsisinungaling sya kung sasabihin nyang hindi.

Paunti-unti ay pinipilit nyang umusad, kahit masakit ay pinipilit nyang makalimot, kahit na mahirap ay pinipilit nyang lumaban, at kahit napapagod ay pinipilit nyang tumayo at bumangon muli upang magpatuloy.

'Now is the perfect time to start again.' she thought. Sad faces are facing her as she said her goodbye to her employees.

"Thank you, guys. Alam kong hindi ako kasing perfect boss kagaya ng iba, hindi ako mabait at kung minsan nasisigawan ko kayo. But it doesn't mean that I did not appreciate all of you here. When these restaurant started, my presence was absent. When I came back, I am still absent. Pero tandaan nyo, hindi ko man nasubaybayan ng husto ang paglago nito, I am very much thankful because of all your hard works. Kung Wala kayo, matagal na ring wala 'to." She remarks. All eyes and attention is on her.

"Aalis lang ako, pero babalikan ko kayo and I hope! Kayong mga nandito sa harap ko ngayon, kayo pa rin ang makikita ko sa pagbalik kong 'yon. I won't say goodbye, though aalis ako, ayoko pa rin magpaalam." She finished, smiled at them.

It's her last day on her own restaurant, she looked at them one by one and she saw how sad their faces is.

"Mami-miss ka namin, Ma'am."

"Hihintayin namin ang pagbabalik mo, Ma'am Olivia."

Her heart melts with their words. She gulped and simply wiped the tears that escape from her eyes as she listens to their thank yous and pabaon short yet sincere speech.

"You guys should close early today. Dapat nandon kayo sa party mamaya. 'yong ibang branch, they are coming so dapat kayo rin. Don't miss my last appearance." Olivia joked as she and her branch manager walks out from her office.

"Of course, Ma'am! Pupunta po kaming lahat."

"Okay! I'll go ahead now," she said, smiling as they bade goodbye.

Olivia stopped on the counter side and roamed around her eyes. She stares at every corner of her restaurant for the last time.

Sa paglipas ng mga oras, araw, linggo at mga buwan, walang David na nagpakita o kahit na nagparamdam manlang. And she needs to stop her longing to see him. He is a married man now at ayaw nyang ipilit ang sarili sa lalaking nakalimutan na sya. At kahit hindi nawala ang pagmamahal na meron sya ay kailangan nyang pigilan ang sarili. Thanks to her mother, sister and best friends for helping her to move forward.

Mahirap umusad lalo na kung mabigat ang mga dala-dala. Pero mas mahirap manatili kung ikaw nalang ang naiwan mag-isa.

Mahirap pakawalan ang isang bagay o tao lalo na kung sa simula palang ay hawak mo na sya.

Ngunit mas mahirap kung ipipilit mong itago at hawakan kahit na nawala na.

At ngayon, bibitaw na sya at palalayain ang sarili sa nakaraang nagkulong sa kanya.

"Kerstin? Ikaw na ba 'yan?"

Olivia stopped from walking out of the restaurant when someone called her name. Nilingon nya ang tumawag sa kanyang pangalan at agad na niyakap nang makilala.

"Oh my gosh! Ang ganda mo pa rin, hija! Kailan ka pa bumalik? Are you staying for good?" The woman asked. Olivia swallowed and smiles.

"Ahm, have a seat muna, Ma - I mean, Tita."