At Last, Him

Chapter 34: Never Too Late

It was December 23, 2023, a Saturday, and the crisp, coastal breeze carried the salty scent of the sea across the construction site. I was on-site, standing at the base of what would soon be the main villa of our private resort project in Batangas. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow on the freshly laid foundation and newly erected structures. Phase 4 was in full swing—we were deep into Weeks 16 to 18, focused on exterior work and roofing. The clatter of hammers and the whir of drills blended with the sounds of the sea, a symphony of progress and persistence.

"Siguraduhin nating doblehin ang pag-check sa waterproofing membranes bago tapusin ang pag-install ng bubong," sabi ko sa crew, na tumango, ang kanilang mga noo'y nakakunot sa konsentrasyon. My boots crunched over gravel and half-dried cement as I walked along the perimeter, mentally ticking off my checklist. The site bustled with activity—workers lifted steel beams, positioned scaffolding, and secured wooden panels.

Tumingin ako sa aking relo. Hapon na, at ang araw ay nagsisimula nang lumubog, pinipintahan ang kalangitan ng mga guhit ng rosas at kahel. A soft fatigue settled over my limbs, the kind that came with long hours and the unyielding push for precision. Still, a sense of fulfillment warmed me; we were bringing the project to life, one beam, one brick at a time.

"Ar. Pertierra, sabi ni Engr. Santos gusto niyang malaman ang opinyon mo tungkol sa roof truss sa ibabaw ng guest villa," isang boses ang tumawag. I turned to see Donell, one of our site coordinators, gesturing from the opposite end of the site.

"Papunta na ako," sagot ko, binigyan siya ng mabilis na thumbs-up bago tumuloy. The sun's rays caught the sweat on my skin, making it glisten as I navigated through the maze of materials and tools. It was moments like these that tested every ounce of resilience I had, but I thrived on it—the challenges, the exhaustion, the satisfaction of solving problems on the fly.

Parang lumilipad ang oras kapag ganito ako kaabala sa trabaho. It wasn't until I was making notes on a blueprint spread across a makeshift table that I felt the sensation of being watched. A familiar warmth spread over my skin, an intuition honed over the years. I glanced up, squinting against the glare of the sun.

There he was—CL. He stood at the edge of the construction zone, hands in the pockets of his dark jeans, a soft smile curving his lips. Ang hangin ay nagpagulo sa kanyang maitim na buhok, at kahit mula sa malayo, nakita ko ang pagmamahal sa kanyang mga mata. Bigla at hindi inaasahang tumalon ang puso ko.

"CL!" I called out, abandoning my clipboard as I hurried across the site. Ang pagod na naramdaman ko ilang sandali bago iyon ay nawala sa bawat hakbang. As soon as I reached him, I threw my arms around his neck, inhaling the familiar, calming scent of him—a blend of cedarwood and something inherently CL.

Tumawa siya, ang mga braso niya ay yumakap sa aking baywang. "Miss mo ako?" pang-aasar niya, ang boses niya ay isang mahina na bulong sa aking tainga.

"Palagi," sagot ko, humilig pabalik upang matugunan ang kanyang tingin. Ang mga bakas ng pagod ay humupa nang tumingin ako sa kanya, ang kanyang presensya ay parang pamahid sa pagod ng araw. "Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?"

He smiled wider, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I brought everything you'd need for the holiday," he said, gesturing over his shoulder. "It's all in the car."

The thought of heading home, of driving back to Mariveles and spending Christmas with the people who mattered most, made my chest tighten with a mix of anticipation and relief.

"You're incredible, you know that?" I said, the words coming out more like a breath.

"Only because you inspire me," he countered, his expression softening into something vulnerable, something unspoken. For a moment, the clamor of the site, the noise of drills and hammering, receded into the background, leaving just us—a pocket of peace in the middle of all the chaos.