From Hatred To Love | 2

Ep: 3 [Time for a Change]

"Manila just isn't working out for me anymore, y'know?"

Reyna watched her friend take a sip of her coffee, the displeasure crystal clear on her face. "So...it's final, then? You're going back to Korea?"

An uneasiness washed over Reyna. She didn't want her to leave Manila. They had a good life there. Sure, she was a writer-in-the-making and made a living out of waiting tables at the small and snug restaurant above which they lived. Her friend was a photographer who, for the first time ever, put her pictures on display at their local street fest a while back. They were obviously not rich, obviously didn't live in a big apartment and didn't date guys from big families or with big jobs. They would pass by the big restaurants that served fancy meals in fancy plates, sparkling water in champagne glasses, bland food at high prices and expensive cushions that made your ass feel as if it was on a cloud. They didn't exactly live the ideal life, but it was a sufficient living. Reyna preferred not to change that.

"Yep," her friend smacked her lips, wiping off the excess with a napkin, making sure she was not smudging her lipstick. "I booked the place tickets for next week."

"Next week!" Reyna exclaimed. Shock. Utter shock.

Reyna was supposed to know. They were roommates. Yeah, roommates. That's where the full stop was. First friends, then roommates. Nothing more.

"Dahee?" She prompted after moments of silence. So many questions needed to be asked. Would Dahee even remember her after moving back to Korea? Would they still be best friends? Would Dahee ever miss her? Would Dahee eventually feel for her they way she feels for Dahee?

"Yes, Reyna?" Dahee met her eyes, keeping her phone down.

"What will you tell Benjie?" Reyna asked, fighting back the scream of frustration that tore her throat. There she was again, suppressing her confession.

Benjie. She hated him, quite a lot. Irrelevantly, of course. He wasn't at fault. He was the chosen one. He had the courage to ask Dahee for a dance when the banjo played at the local fest all those months ago. Reyna, on the other hand, watched from the sidewalk with a mimosa in her hand.

Benjie had soon begun to come over to their nice apartment. Their apartment. Her and Dahee. He'd greet Reyna with a smile which soon became a high-five or a fist bump as Dahee and Benjie got closer. Reyna hated how he got to touch Dahee's skin, kiss her lips and play with her hair. But it was her decision to stay shut about her feelings, and she had to brace it herself.

"I'm breaking up with him today," Dahee said in a matter of fact tone. "Long distance isn't my thing. As much as I like Benjie, he isn't the one for me." She added, her tone casual.

"Oh." Reyna tried to sound sympathetic. But how could she? She was—yes, this is harsh to say—happy. Benjie was losing Dahee too. He couldn't kiss her anymore. Or hug her, or hold her, or touch her, or even see her. 

Reyna knew what kind of a woman Dahee was. Dahee had vision. Ambition. Dahee wanted to make a name for herself. Go travel the world. Do something with her life.

Dahee graduated college from Seoul with a bachelors' degree in sales and marketing. A smart individual, she could have easily been next in line for the position of an executive in some big company. However, on a random day, Dahee's nerves crackled and ticked her off. She gathered her hard-earned money from her night job as the hostel receptionist next to her university. She booked a ticket for Manila (no one knew why chose this place out of every other place in the world) and before she knew it, Dahee was on a plane to Manila with all her documents in her bag.

Truth was, Dahee was fervent with photography. Photography of people. On the streets. Doing their thing. In their element. Once she moved to Manila, she began street photography. At first, she clicked photos of unknowing ongoers to test her hand at the workings of the camera. Upon finding success, she went bolder. She would ask passing strangers to simply pose for her camera. Some would agree, others would deny. But it would work out in a way.