Love and Resilience

A mall in Cebu

JOVANA'S POV

I'm here at the mall to relax and also to stop thinking about the girl I met during the Sinulog fest. It’s already 3 days ago since we met and until now I can’t get her out of my head.

I absentmindedly scanned the stores in case I need to buy something, when suddenly my gaze landed on a familiar figure just ahead. Time freeze as I recognized  that woman is the woman who still haunted me in my thoughts.

SERENA'S POV

I'm at the mall now going for a walk and also to relax and I need to go here to distract myself from thinking about the girl that I met 3 days ago at the Sinulog fest. I'm standing here near a shop window and scanned the whole store, when my eyes saw a familiar figure and she’s looking at me, I smiled as I realized who’s that girl is.

I walked through her directions and shock is visible in her face;

I smiled a little before I talk "jovana...hey" I shyly said to her.

"Serena..... I didn’t expect to see you here" she said while smiling shyly.

"Yeah, me neither" I said with a small laugh and brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear "shopping for something special?" I asked her

JOVANA'S POV

Yeah, me neither" serena said with a small laugh and brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear "shopping for something special?" she asked me.

I shrugged and trying to hide my nervousness "Just looking around, you?"

"same" serena said and laugh softly.

We stared for each other for almost 2 minutes when I found my tounge and speak "Serena I know we accidentally meet here.... can I treat you? coffee or something?" I nervously said and I feel my hands are getting wet because of the nervousness I feel.

"I’d like that" she said while smiling "I really like that"

Were inside the cozy coffee shop while were waiting for our order to arrive, I couldn’t help but to look and admire the woman who’s in front of me and busy with her phone, I stared at her and the memory of me and serena in Sinulog fest flashed through my minds. I secretly smiled because of that memory the vibrant colors, the sounds of drums and cheers, and the unexpected moment when we bond all day.

Minutes passed and their order already arrived.

Serena sipped to her coffee and suddenly spoke "I can’t believe we saw each other again here at the mall" she said while smiling and staring at me.

Humigop naman ako sa kape ko at sinagot sya "ako rin, I never expected to see you here"

Serena took a bite to her cookie and speak "kailan matatapos ang short visit mo dito?"

"Now, kaya nga I’m glad that I see you here even by accident, how about you? kailan matatapos ang vacation mo" I shyly said and laughed at her.

"two days from now and my vacation is already done and I need to back to manila and work" she said.

"You mentioned that you’re an oncologist right? anong stage kana sa oncology? residency?" tanong nito habang nakatingin sakin.

"Nope, I’m at Oncology Fellowship now, the last stage" I proudly said to her while looking into her eyes.

"Wow, you’re at the last page of your dream pala ha; well congrats and I’m proud of you even we just met 3 days ago" serena said while laughing and I can feel her sincerity in her voice when she said congrats and she’s proud of me.

Nang matapos kaming kumain at magkwentuhan ay napagdesisyunan na naming umuwi dahil kailangan ko ring ayusin ang mga gamit ko pabalik sa manila.

"Hey before we separate our ways.... I don’t want this to be the last time we talk and hang-out. Uhm serena can I get your number? In case you need someone to talk to and if you want to grab some coffe again or..... you know, catch up more" I said while smiling to her with shyness in my voice.

Serena chuckled softly and reach for her bag "yeah, that’s sounds good" and she pulled out her phone scrolling through her contacts before handing me her phone "here, just put your number in" serena said.

I took her phone and type my number and my name and I handed her phone to her "here serena, text me whenever you’re free. I’d like to talk more..... about anything, really" I said to her while serena is putting back her phone inside her bag.

Serena nodded "I will. I think I could use more of this; more talking, more..... us, I guess" she said while smiling softly.

We bid our goodbye to each other and promised to each other to keep on touch.

Mag aalas 7 na nang makarating ako sa airport nagbukas naman ako ng phone ko para sabihin kay papa na pauwi na ko ng mabasa ko ang text ni serena at napangiti ako.

From: Unknown number

Hi good evening jo, this is Serena save my number to your contact ha. Anw take care sa flight pabalik sa manila. Good night :*

Agad ko namang sinave ang number ni serena sa contact ko at nireplyan sya.

To: Serena

Hello serena, good evening din. I’m already here at the airport. Anw, yes mag iingat ako; ingat ka rin dyan. Have a nice good night serena :)

Sinend ko  naman ito at in-off ang phone ko.

I’m inside the airplane now looking outside through the window of this plane "Good bye cebu, and good bye Serena" I whispered to myself; I’m just admiring the night light while inside on this plane, when suddenly the memory of me and serena plays through my mind I smiled like an idiot because of that.

It’s already midnight when the airplane landed at airport here in Manila. I’m walking now through the airport and my eyes is scanning the whole airport to see if my daddy is already here, I saw a familiar figure and he’s smiling at me. I run to his direction and when I’m alredy there he hugged me "kamusta ang flight anak? I miss you" malambing na sabi sakin ng tatay ko. "It went good dada, and I miss you more" I said while hugging him.

"Osya akin na ang mga gamit mo at pumunta na tayo sa sasakyan natin para makauwi na at makapag pahinga kana rin" aya sakin ni daddy, sumunod naman ako kay daddy at sumakay na sa sasakyan namin. Buong byahe pauwi ay tulog lamang ako, ginising nalang ako ni dada ng nasa bahay na kami siya na rin ang nagdala ng gamit ko sa kwarto ko dahil sa pagod at inaantok na rin ako.

SERENA’S POV

I’m currently in my hotel room laying down to my bed when I reach for my phone and find Jovana’s number in my contact list. I’m going to text her. I wondered tuloy if Jo is still at the airport here at Cebu or already flew away to manila.

To: Jovana

Hi good evening jo, this is Serena save my number to your contact ha. Anw take care sa flight pabalik sa manila. Good night :*

I sent her the message and put my phone beside me.

From: Jovana

Hello serena, good evening din. I’m already here at the airport. Anw, yes mag iingat ako; ingat ka rin dyan. Have a nice good night serena :)

I softly smile as I read the message that I received from Jo, hindi ko naman na siya nireplyan at tinuon ang atensyon ko sa pinapanood ko sa tv; 10 pm ng dalawin ako ng antok, I turn off the TV and lights inside my room and peacefully lay in my bed while staring at the ceiling the memory of me and Jo flashed together, I smiled and crawl to my bed "brain, can you please stop flashing those memory of me and Jo? I’m sleepy and I want to sleep. Let me sleep" I said to myself and close my eyes and suddenly I already fell asleep.