LIVING WITH HER (COMPLETED)

Chapter 42: Winter's Season - part 2

THE FINALE

[11:30 AM Saturday, in Palm Springs, CA, USA]

Departure—(Springs International Airport...)

"Southwest airways regret to announce the delay of flight 2031 to Massachusetts, due to depart at 12:25. This flight is now scheduled to depart at 14:50."

There you go, the familiar noises in the airport. I plugged in my earphones just to get rid of the sounds around. Holding my mini 2-wheeled luggage on my right hand and bag on my left arm, I stepped out of the terminal. Napagpasyahan kong sa labas na lamang hintayin si Xenon na siyang susundo sa akin dahil malapit na rin naman siya. I think five minutes away.

Malamig na hangin ang sumalubong sa akin. Palm Springs never disappoints. Once again, it welcomed me with an embrace and sweet ambience just like it did the first time I got here. I'm back. I let loose a sigh of contentment before looking around, having a grateful smile plastered on my face. I feel happy. It's so nice to be back.

I love Palm Springs.

This was where my life started to change and this place helped me become better. It brought out the very best of me. Ang daming nangyari sa lugar na 'to, ang dami kong realization. Ang dami kong natutunan especially when I started living here independently. This is where I learned to appreciate myself more and be grateful no matter how small or big my achievements were. This was where I found the new me, the better version of the old one.

Not only that I found myself here,

I also found love—no, actually...love found me this time.

And now, finally, I am married. Happily married. Matagal na akong nasa tamang tao. Sana kayo rin. Tama lang na naghintay ako. Tama lang na sa parehong tao pa rin ako napunta. Minsan may mga bagay na akala natin ay hindi para sa'tin ngunit sa huli'y...kailangan lang pala nating masaktan para matutunan kung paano alagaan ito.

Kung para sayo, para sayo. Kung hindi—subukan mong ipilit. Haha. I guess that was what I mostly did.

AFTER a few minutes of waiting, a car came. Binusinahan pa ako. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasakyang dala ni Xenon ngayon pero alam kong siya na ito. Finally. Inihinto niya ang kotse malapit sa kung saan ako nakatayo, then he beeped the horn again; hindi lang isa kundi tatlong beses pa.

What on earth...galit ba siya?

I drifted over. "Xenon, I get it. It's you."

Huminto ako sa gawi ng shotgun seat at kinatok ang bintana, ngunit sa halip na bumukas 'yon, ang pintuan sa backseat ang umuwang at nasurprisa ako nang makita ang bumaba mula roon.

"Mom?" I uttered, a little bit surprised to see her. Ang buong akala ko kasi ay next week pa ang flight nila. She greeted me with a huge smile while arms wide open. I smiled back. I let go of my luggage and embraced her. "Mom!"

"Ang anak ko. I missed you, sweetie. How are you and my apo's?"

"I missed you, too, mom! We're healthy."