An Affair to Remember

Until We Meet Again

Althea's POV

   It's 7 in the morning, we're here at the top deck again, ito naging tambayan namin ni Jade dahil dito din kami una nagkakilala. We spent the rest of our trip relaxing, chatting, and enjoying the view. I know kagabi lang kami nagkakilala but there's something about her kaya madali ko siya nakagaanan ng loob. Now I'm gazing at this beautiful woman beside me. Her brown eyes, they're beautiful. The way she stares at me as if she sees right through to my soul. Like we can understand each other without even talking. I think I finally found my soulmate.

"Wow.. This is so beautiful. Ang ganda ng view noh? Nakaka-inlove." She said looking at the view in awe.

"Yes it is, parang ikaw, nakakainlove." I mindlessly blurted out while gazing at her taking in every detail of her face.

She turned to face me and gave me the did-you-really-mean-what-you-just-said look. I looked away trying to hide my flushed face, because she caught me staring at her.

"I-I mean ano.. Y-yung view.. Oo yung view ang ganda di ba? Nakakainlove." I said nervously, because she kept on looking at me na para bang hindi naniniwala sa sinabi ko.

I flinched when she placed her hand on my arm that's resting on the railing. Her touch sent electricity all over my body and it made me stiffen.

"Althea... thank you. Thank you because you made this trip so memorable. I don't even know you that well, pero magaan loob ko sayo. Masaya ako nakilala kita. I hope this won't be our first and last. Hope to see you again soon." She said with a wide smile, her happiness was written all over her face.

"Yeah sure! We'll see each other again soon. Salamat din sayo Jade. At masaya din ako na nakilala at nakasama kita kahit saglit lang." I said and winked at her.

Ngumiti lang siya at inilahad ang kanyang kamay sakin.

"What?" I confusedly asked

"Your phone.. Give me your phone ise-save ko lang number ko." She plainly said and handed me her phone to save my digits.

"Here.." I said as we swapped phones, and I watched her as she types her digit.

"There... So we can keep in touch." She said as we handed our phones back to it's owner.

"Okay.. Thanks! Yeah, I will." I said, and I can't help myself from smiling when I saw her name on my contacts.

"Jade with a smiley? Seriously?haha." And then I laughed.

"What?!" She pouted. "Ancute nga eh. Wag mo buburahin yan ha. Para pag lumabas yung name ko sa notifications mo may smiley. Pampagood vibes din yan." She chuckled and winked at me.

Then the speaker overhead announced that the ship will be pulling into port soon. We glanced up and we both sighed.

"So... Our ship trip is almost over. I guess we'd better get ready na?" She pouted.

"Ahm.. Yeah! Ahm.. You know, I hate to say goodbye, so I'll just say until we meet again?" I said and smiled at her.

"Yeah! Until we meet again." She replied and smiled back at me. Then we parted ways and went to our respective cabins.

As soon as the ferry docked. And cars began to drive onto shore. I crane my neck, scanning the crowd to look for Jade. But my eyes only see what wasn't there. I sighed, inisip ko nalang na baka nakalabas na siya.

Then my phone beeped and it's from my bestfriend Batchi. She texted me na kanina pa daw siya nagiintay sa labas para sunduin ako gamit sasakyan ko. At agad ko siyang tinungo.

"There you are! Kamusta naman bakasyon mo chong?! Pasalubong ko asan na?" She said while hugging me.

"Sira ka talaga! Mukha kang pasalubong! Yun agad bungad mo eh noh? Mamaya na pag-uwi! Hatid mo muna ako sa bahay." I said while shaking my head. Puro talaga kalokohan tong bestfriend ko.

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Jade's POV

     While on the road my mind was filled with thoughts of her and our memories together. I found myself smiling and feeling sad at the same time dahil di ko alam kung magkikita pa ba ulit kami. Then I realized something... No Jade! This is so wrong! Di mo dapat siya iniisip! Baka kaya ka lang naattached sakanya kasi siya lang yung kasama mo sa ship buong magdamag! Babae kaya yun! Like hello?! You're not supposed to feel this way towards her! Mali to! Maling-mali! Then I shook my head trying to shrug the thoughts of her.

"Ma'am Jade.. andito na po tayo." Pag agaw ni Mang Bernard sa sa atensyon ko.

"Salamat ho, Mang Bernard." Magalang kong sagot.

I got out of the car and headed straight to the front door of our house. I was surprised because they're all waiting for me at the front door. Si Mama unang lumapit para yakapin ako and then sumunod naman si Dada at Kuya Gab.

And then I was shocked like I've seen a ghost when I saw David. Lumapit siya sakin para salubungin ako.

"Hi hon! I missed you so much. Akala ko mamamatay na ko sa sobrang pagkamiss sayo." He said while hugging me tightly, my body stiffened. I tapped his back, then he pulled away.

"How's your vacation? Nagenjoy ka ba? I'm sorry di kita nasamahan sa Cebu. Pasensya ka na busy kasi ako sa business namin, alam mo na. But don't worry, I promise, I'll make it up t-..." He said apologetically.

"No, David you don't have to. And there's nothing to be sorry about, it's fine. In fact, nagenjoy talaga ako, kasi kasama ko naman dun si Kuya Paul. Andami namin ginawa at pinuntahan dun." I said cutting him off.

And yes I do have a boyfriend, we're together for 5 years. And I felt guilty, mainly because bigla ko siya nakalimutan lalo na nung kasama ko si Althea. Na dapat namimiss ko din siya, na dapat masaya ako na makita siya ulit. Pero habang kinakapa ko yung feelings ko, bakit hindi ko makapa yung hinahanap ko. Yung dapat nararamdaman ko para sa kanya. At nagiguilty din ako dahil hindi ko man lang siya nabanggit kay Althea. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ko maikwento si David kay Althea.

David is a good guy, good-looking, wealthy, thoughtful and gentleman. Nasa kanya na ata lahat ng hinahanap ng isang babae sa isang lalaki. He's a good catch indeed. As a matter of fact, siya na nga ata ang perfect example ng ideal man ko, pero bakit parang may kulang? At bakit may kulang?

"Hey, Hon? You alright?" Tanong nya na may pag-aalala.

"Y-yeah! Yeah! I'm fine David. Medyo napagod lang siguro ako sa biyahe. So, if you'll excuse me, magpapahinga lang muna ako? Ma? Dada? Kuya?" I said as I excused myself from them and they all nodded in sync.

So I went upstairs, headed straight to my room and threw myself on bed. I closed my eyes and took a deep sigh. Come on Jade.. what's wrong with you? I said to myself. Then I reached for my bag and fumbled for my phone to check kung may nagtext ba sakin.

*3 missed calls
*10 messages

I checked kung kanino galing, then I placed it under my pillow ng makita ko na wala yung inaasahan kong message from Althea. Bakit kaya di ako tinext man lang nun? Kahit simpleng "balita?" o "musta?" lang ayos na sakin. Pero ayoko din na ako mauna magtext sakanya baka maistorbo ko pa siya. I sighed and closed my eyes again.

After a couple of hours...

*Ring*

*Ring*

Nagising ako sa tunog ng phone ko. Di ko namalayang nakatulog na pala ako.

"Hello? Who's this?" I said without even checking on my phone screen.

"Hello... Jade? Wow hindi mo na ko agad kilala?" Sabi ng tao sa kabilang linya.

Then I checked my phone screen.

To be continued...
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