At Last, Him

Chapter 4: Wrong Timing

It was Sunday, and finally, allowed akong magpahinga until Wednesday. My flight to Bali was scheduled for Thursday, and the thought of it made me feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. Kaya naman, nagdesisyon akong umuwi sa bahay namin sa Mariveles, Bataan. I loaded my car with all my things, which took longer than I expected. Dinala ko na ang lahat ng gamit ko mula sa condo dahil hindi na ako babalik doon. I felt a bittersweet pang in my chest at the thought of leaving that place behind, but I knew it was time for a fresh start.

Bago ako umalis, siniguro kong nagpaalam ako kina Christine at Christian. As I packed the last of my things, they came into the living room, their expressions a mix of sadness and support.

"Shan, are you really leaving us for a year?" tanong ni Christine, nanlalaki ang mga mata na tila hindi makapaniwala.

"Yeah, I know it's a long time," sagot ko, pilit na pinananatili ang boses kong matatag. "But I need this. It's an opportunity I can't pass up."

Lumapit si Christian, may ngiti sa kanyang mukha. "Just know that we're going to miss you like crazy. Sino na ang magpapasaya sa amin kapag wala ka?"

I chuckled lightly, my heart swelling with appreciation. "Grabe, mamimiss ko kayong dalawa," sabi ko, habang yakap ko siya.

Nagulat ako sa bigat ng yakap ni Christine. "We'll make sure to keep you in the loop," Christine promised. "But it won't be the same without you here."

As I pulled away, I turned to Christian, who looked a bit more serious. "Take care of each other, okay? And don't forget to video call me. I want to see all the fun you're having while I'm gone."

"Deal," he said, giving me a thumbs-up. "But seriously, don't be a stranger. Bali is a long way, but we'll be cheering for you every step of the way."

After one last group hug, I made my way to the door, feeling a bittersweet mix of emotions. I took one last look around the condo that had been my home for so long, letting the memories wash over me. It was time to move forward, but leaving my friends behind felt like leaving a piece of my heart.

As I drove along the familiar roads to Bataan, memories flooded my mind—long drives with friends, late-night study sessions, and moments of laughter in the condo. The scenery of Bataan welcomed me with open arms, and I could already feel the stress of my busy life beginning to melt away. I took a deep breath, savoring the salty sea air as I approached our house.

When I finally arrived, I parked my car and got out, my heart fluttering with anticipation. Pagbukas ko ng gate, sinalubong ako agad nina Mommy at Daddy, kasama na ang kapatid kong si Mags.

"Ate Shan! Na-miss kita!" Mags exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she rushed to embrace me. I felt a wave of warmth envelop me, easing the fatigue that had settled in my bones.

Natawa ako. Hindi naman kasi talaga sweet si Mags sa 'kin. Naiirita nga siya tuwing nilalambing ko siya. Pero dahil na-miss niya nga talaga ako, ayan tuloy siya, siya na ang naglalambing.

"Na-miss ko rin kayo. Sorry, sobrang busy," I replied, forcing a smile even though my body felt like it was made of lead.

"Baka naman masyado ka nang subsob doon sa trabaho. Tingnan mo, mukha kang pagod na pagod," Mommy Theresa said, her voice laced with concern. Her eyes scanned me, taking in the dark circles under my eyes and the weight I had lost.

"Nako, okay lang ako, Mommy. Busy lang talaga," I reassured her, but even I could hear the exhaustion creeping into my voice. "Saka, hindi na ako babalik doon, so lahat ng gamit ko nandito na."

"Good. At least mas makakapag-relax ka na dito sa bahay kahit ilang araw lang," Daddy Arman chimed in, peeking into the trunk of my car. "Kumusta naman ang trabaho mo?"