Hello There, David

XXVI- No More Lonely Nights

David POV

Last week, I've finally made my decision to leave the Philippines. The past months had been a struggle for me. It's not that I don't want to stay here but operating a tutorial center by myself is a challenge--- from hiring teachers to getting new students to ensuring the viability of the business. May nahire akong assistants pero mabilis din silang sumusuko.

Sa totoo lang, lahat sila bumagsak sa dedication na pinakita ni Maggie kahit pa sabihing isang araw lang siyang nag work sa akin. She was very productive, accomplishing a lot of things without direct supervision. Pero sa isang iglap, she left me.

I don't take it against her naman. I mean kahit ako, I'd choose scholarship. At least dun mas sigurado siyang makatatapos siya ng pag-aaral. Ang malungkot lang, we didn't have the chance to talk about us.

Pwede pa rin naman kaming maging magkaibigan di ba? Pero she cut off our communication. Ayoko namang kausapin si Brian about Maggie kasi baka naman ako pa ang maging dahilan ng pagkasira nilang dalawa. Basta ang alam ko, laging masaya Si Brian. Lagi siyang excited pumunta sa university ni Maggie. Well, at least alam kong nasa maayos na kalagayan siya. Sometimes I would think of joining him, pero Anong reason KO?

Kaya naisip kong bumalik na lang ng Korea. At least hindi na ako ma ho-home sick at mas magiging successful siguro ang business ko. Isa pa, alam ko na sa sarili ko na kahit makita ko pa si Minhee, I'm totally healed. Kaya ko na siyang harapin ng wala ng sama ng loob, na hindi ko na siya susumbatan pa. Na we can still be friends.

One thing that made my stay here in the Philippines worth the while is being friends with fellow Koreans who share the same faith with me. Sila ang naging support system ko. Narealize ko na with God, no country nor nationality can stop Him from loving us. Iiwan ko ang Pilipinas na baon ang panibagong buhay.

Kagabi was my despedida. My friends and I ate in a Korean restaurant. The same restaurant where I brought Maggie, where I found how amusing her smile is, how her eyes glow and how meeting her is one of the best things that happened in my life.

It was nostalgic. Everything in the restaurant reminded me of Maggie. Naisip ko, bago ako umalis, okay lang naman sigurong kausapin siya, puntahan siya sa bahay nila at ipadamang special siya sa buhay ko. Tapos nun, okay na ko.

"Where am I?!"

Isang malakas na sigaw galing sa kwarto ko ang bumasag ng pag-iisip ko.

Di ko napigilan ang sarili kong ngumiti. Maggie is awake and I'm pretty sure she is hysterical waking up in a room with blue bed sheet and curtain. I know I'll do a lot of explaining to Maggie. Why she ended up in my room, why is she dressed with my shirt and why I opted to bring her in my unit and not hers.

***

Maggie POV

"Mabuti naman at kumalma ka na. You scared me."

Inabot sa akin ni Sir David ang isang baso ng pineapple juice. Aaminin ko until now di pa rin ako makapaniwala na I was so drunk last night. At nakakahiya na sa ganong sitwasyon niya ako nakita.

"Maggie, next time, don't do that again. What if I'm not there? What do you think will happen to you? Tapos soju pa Ang ininom mo. You are not used to that. Mabuti at nakita kita at dinala kita dito sa bahay. Paano kung ibang lalaki ang nakakita sa yo? Paano kung..."

Pinunasan ni Sir David ang noo ko ng basang bimpo gaya ng ginagawa ng nanay ko dati kapag may lagnat ako.

"Sir David, ilang beses ba kong dapat mag sorry? Nadala lang ako ng problema ko. Yun lang yun. Saka personal yun sir, di mo na kailangang malaman pa.."

Hindi ko dapat sabihin kay Sir David na it is all because of Brian. At kaya ako nagpunta sa korean restaurant na yun Eh gusto kong hingin ang tulong niya. Nagbakasakali akong andun siya after I went to the tutorial center at malaman sa guard na magsasara na pala to. I waited and waited hanggang sa nainip ako at naisip kong umorder ng soju. May promo yung restaurant kaya marami akong nabili. Hindi ko naman alam na malalasing ako at makakalimot.

"Look Maggie, I know you don't consider me a friend close enough to share your problems. Pero dahil nandito ka na rin sa bahay ko at uuwi na rin naman ako ng Korea, tell me, what is bothering you? Just tell me so you lighten up your load."

"Why didn't you warn me sir David? Why didn't you tell me?"

Hindi ko na napigilang mapahagulgol habang hinahampas ko ang braso ni Sir David. Pilit siyang umiiwas pero mas lalo ko pa siyang hinampas.

"Why didn't you warn me? Ang sakit-sakit. Pakiramdam ko di ko kaya."

I know I asked space from Brian but I didn't know that we will end up like this. He running with another girl without explanation, and me, being left by myself, hanging, questioning. Alam kong confused ako sa feelings KO for him Pero mas masakit pala na habang minamahal niya ko ay may minamahal pa siyang iba.

"What are you saying Maggie? Hindi kita maintindihan kung di mo sasabihin sa akin. Bakit ako ang sinisisi mo sa bagay na Wala akong alam?"

Tumayo Si Sir David at sinalampak ang pinto. Nagulat ako dahil first time ko siyang nakitang nagalit.

Tumayo ako ng kama at inayos ang bag ko. Ano ba kasing pumasok sa isip ko para maglasing. Aalis na lang ako. Saktong tatalian ko na ang buhok ko nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto ni Sir David and out of nowhere, niyakap niya ko mula sa likod ko.

"I know I can't help you with whatever that is bothering you Maggie. Pero nandito lang ako. Let's pray about it."

"Sir David, Si Brian kasi Eh."

Mas lalong humigpit ang yakap ni Sir David at mas lalong lumakas ang pag-Iyak ko.

"Was it because of Mayumi?"

Nagulat ako na kilala ni Sir David si Mayumi na para bang he knows something is going on.

"Anong alam mo Sir David?"

"You and Brian should talk. Both of you are my friends."

"No. You tell me now Sir David. I need to know."

"I'll call up Brian."

Tumayo siya at binuksan ang pinto ng kwarto.

"No. I'm leaving."

Sinukbit ko ang shoulder bag ko at tumayo na rin.

"You stay put."

Sir David left the room and I heard him locked the door.