Second Chance At Love

Chapter Seven - Catching Up

"So, kamusta ang mga kapatid mo? I haven't seen them for so long." I asked and drank the bottle of beer. "Si Simon, he's working as a CEO sa isang company sa Manila, si Vincent ay nag aaral para sa masters sa Singapore, eh yung mga magulang mo kamusta sila?" Tanong ni Sandro pero umaalingawngaw ang lakas ng tunog sa bar.

"Okay naman sila, retired na at pa travel travel nalang sila habang buhay pa sila, they're also in Singapore now and currently travelling there and next week pa sila babalik sa Pilipinas, oo nga pala, how was your life for the past ten years?" Tanong ko at tumingin sakanya.

"There's so much things happened ever since, I travelled to different countries and met new people there, finished my college in University Of London and went to London School of Economics for my masters, and of course while I am in college I was such a party boy, nag d-dj ako minsan sa mga clubs sa London and met famous people, my life was quite wild in London." Sagot nya, his life was full of thrill in college and I was envious of it.

"Well you're so lucky to have that college life, because when I was in college we were struggling financially so I have to study in a state university for free tuition fee and focused on my studies to get higher grades, yun lang naman ang nangyari nung nag college ako wala ng iba, hindi rin ako makapag club or had a night life but to be honest you're so lucky to be sent in London." 

"Yeah, I guess I was really lucky," sagot ni Sandro sabay lagok ng beer. "Pero alam mo, minsan naiisip ko rin na hindi lang naman sa lugar o mga experience ang basehan ng pagiging masaya or to gain success. You, Gigi, you've always been hardworking, and I admire that. I may have had the wild times, but you were building something solid for your future."

Napangiti ako kahit bahagyang nag-aalangan. "Thanks, Sandro. Minsan iniisip ko rin na kung naging ibang tao siguro ako, baka iba rin ang mga naranasan ko. Pero siguro ganito lang talaga 'yung kapalaran ko."

"Hindi rin naman masama ang kapalaran mo, Gigi," sabi niya, seryoso ang tono. "You made the best of what you had, and that's something not everyone can do."

Naramdaman ko ang bigat ng mga salita niya, at naisip ko na tama nga siya. Kahit gaano pa ka-simple o ka-hirap ang buhay ko noon, ginawa ko ang lahat ng makakaya ko.

"Well thank you again for that Sandro, you really see through the things, by the way did you miss being a dj or partying during your college years?" I asked while the music was totally hyping. 

"Well of course because it's fun and makes me remember my college days, if I were only able to go back to my college days I definitely would." He answered and we just laughed out of nowhere.

"Well it's good to experience club because it was just my first time to step into this kind of place, by the way thank you pala sa libre ha." Saad ko at pinat ko ang braso nya. 

"No problem, Gigi. Gusto ko lang na ma-experience mo rin kahit papaano," sagot ni Sandro habang ngumiti. "Besides, it's fun to have you here. Parang balik high school days lang, kahit ibang setting na."

Napatawa ako. "Oo nga, para tayong bumalik sa dati. Ang dami nang nagbago pero parang ganun pa rin tayo." Tumingin ako sa paligid, sa mga ilaw at sayawan. "Pero ibang-iba na talaga ngayon. Nakakatuwa rin na maranasan 'to kahit minsan."

"Exactly," sagot niya. "Life's too short not to enjoy these moments." Sandro raised his beer bottle and smiled at me. "Cheers to new experiences, and maybe a bit of the old ones too."

"Cheers!" sagot ko, sabay taas din ng bote ko. Saka kami muling natahimik sandali, nakikinig sa musika at sa ingay ng mga tao sa paligid.

"By the way, nakita mo ba ulit si Morgan?" tanong ni Sandro, tila may pagka-interesado ang tono niya.