The Book That Will Changed My Destiny

ʚChapter 98ɞ

6 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥

“Hey! Did I miss something important?” Everyone looked at my direction. They were all shocked as they stare at my outfit.

Well, I'm wearing my dream. I'm a flight attendant now. Actually, kalalapag ko lang, I had a lot of flights these past few years kaya ngayon lang ako nakauwi sa Pilipinas.

And I miss them. I miss the Philippines.

“Oh my gosh! Nakauwi na yung brvha.” I glared at Gwen.

“Fvck off.” I mouthed at her. Inirapan naman ako nito bago tumayo sa kinauupuan niya at tinakbo ang pagitan namin. She hugged me tightly. Obviously, she missed me.

“Papakilala kita sa boyfriend ko.” Bulong nito. Nagsalubong naman ang kilay ko. Si Raze? I already knew him.

Honestly, it's been 6 years since I graduated. I'm 30 years old now, and still single. I really don't know why.

If feels like something left me with a vague sense of something important missing from my life that I've been finding until now.

She walked me to their desk. Our friends were there, ako na lang talaga ang kulang. Gosh, I feel out of place huh.

“Ali, this is Gabriel, my 4-year boyfriend.” My eyes widened.

“What? H-How about Raze?” Tinawanan ako nito.

“Huli ka na talaga sa mga ganap teh. Duh 5 years ago I told him to stop courting me kasi I already found my the one, and it's Gabriel” Napatingin ulit ako sa lalaking nasa tabi niya.

My heart skipped a beat when I met his eyes. Mabilis akong napahawak sa ulo ko nang sumakit 'yon, hinawakan naman ako agad nung Gabriel pero napaatras lang ako nang makuryente ako sa hawak niya.

What the héck? What was just happened?

Bakit parang familiar siya sa'kin kahit ngayon ko palang naman siya nakita?

Weird.

“Are you okay?” Tanong ni Gwen. Tinanguan ko lang siya at hindi na pinansin.

“So, what's ganap sa'yo? May boyfriend ka na ba, Ali?” I laughed at Annie Grace, one of my colleagu back then. Me? May boyfriend? Hindi ko nga alam bakit nire-reject ko agad mga nagbabalak manligaw sa'kin kahit jowang jowa na ako eh.

“Wala, walang dilig.” Pabiro kong sabi  kaya nagtawanan sila.

“Buti na lang ako fresh na fresh.” Inirapan ko si Gwen. Proud na proud sa boyfriend niyang akala mo sinaunang tao, napakalalim mag-Tagalog eh.

It's been 6 years since I had a relationship, it was traumatic 'cause I carried a lot of pain during that time but later on, I healed myself. Kayden is happily married now and I'm proud of him.

Honestly, sa aming circle of friends, ako na lang ang napag-iwanan.

Kaya ako ang center of tukso sa kanila. Por que raw virgin pa ako? Duh I'm proud of it kaya!

I just really don't know why until now wala pa rin akong boyfriend. It feels like something in the past was missing, and that's the reason why.

“Hoy! Tulala ka na diyan.” Napabalikwas ako sa hampas ni Gwen, Hinawakan ako nito sa kamay at hinila patayo. “Excuse muna, guys. Usap lang kami.” Anito.

Kahit hindi alam saan kami pupunta ay sumunod lang ako sa kaniya.

I'm still wearing my F.A uniform kaya pinagtitinginan ako ngayon sa café, they all look so proud of me, as if they are all idolizing how far I've got.

“Puny3ta  ka Gwen  ah! Bitaw nga, makahawak 'to. Hygienic person ako 'no!” Tinapik ko ang kamay nito dahilan para mabitawan niya ako.

“Puny3ta ka rin! Oh ayan, lumabas na tunay mong ugali. Pa-sweet girl ka pa kanina doon.” Inirapan ako nito kaya tinawanan ko siya.

“Duh! I'm being nice to them kaya. Kababalik ko lang from Switzerland eh.” I retort. She sat on the bench near the café's garden kaya naupo na rin ako doon.

“Buti hindi ka nag-settle doon? I really thought you won't comeback here anymore, akala ko doon ka na magse-settle.” She pouted. Pabiro kong hinila ang buhok niya, inirapan na naman niya ako.

“Well, balak ko rin 'yan. Pero kasi it feels different, hindi ko magawang iwan ang Pinas. It's like, may something about me that I have to discover. I mean, homesick like that. J-Just... Arg! Hindi ko mapaliwanag basta gusto ko dito ba't ba?!”

“You still don't remember?” Mahina niyang tanong pero umabot 'yon sa pandinig ko.

“Ang alin?” Mabilis siyang umiwas ng tingin sa akin at nagkunwaring nililibot ang tingin.

“Wala! Echos mo. Bibisitahin mo ba puntod ni Lola Pasing mo later?” Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kaniya nang banggitin niya si Lola.

3 years ago she died, and I wasn't able to go to her funeral because of my job. I missed her funeral and this will be the first time that I'll visit her grave.

“Of course.” I simply said. I don't want to talk about my Lola, it just feels so heavy.

“Bes, seriously, bakit wala ka pang boyfriend?” Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Gwen at nakatingin na ito sa akin.

Her eyes, her eyes telling something I don't know. Ang weird ko talaga, dapat naging psychologist na lang ako eh.

“Kasi ayoko.” Pabalang kong sabi kaya hinampas ako nito sa braso.

“Gàgâ seryoso kasi!” Inis nitong sabi.

I heaved a sigh. My reason was unacceptable. T4nga na lang maniniwala sa rason ko eh.

“Hindi kita pipiliting maniwala pero I think my heart was taken with someone I don't know. Gabi-gabi kasi akong nananaginip eh, at isang lalaki lang ang nasa panaginip ko. It's so vivid, kapag nananaginip ako, his face was clear, but when I woke up, nakakalimutan ko agad ang itsura niya. That's frêàking weird.” Pagkwento ko sa kaniya. I stared at the floor.

That dream was so vivid.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang makarinig ng hikbi. I looked at Gwen and she's already crying now in front of me.

Luh! Anong ginawa ko dito?

“Hoy! Doctor trabaho mo ah hindi actor.” I joked but she's still crying.

Luh?!

“Ouch!” Gulat kong daing ng hampasin niya ako. Nakakarami na siya ah!

“Ang t4nga mo! Ang t4nga t4nga mo talaga mag-desisyon kahit kailan! Nasa paligid mo na, hindi mo pa makilala!” Kumunot ang noo ko. Ano bang pinagsasabi niya? Bakit nananakit talaga?!