Just Because You Are

Chapter 16 - LSS

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.

- Victor Hugo

"Don't forget, tomorrow afternoon andyan na kami ni Kuya," Harvey told Louie during their FaceTime conversation early Sunday morning. "Make sure you'll prepare an early dinner for us, okay?"

"No sweat. Magpapa-reserve ako sa favorite buffet resto natin," Louie declared.

"Hindi ba pwedeng lutong bahay care of Tita Chona?"

"Aba, at ang demanding mo rin, ano? Busy sila bukas. May mga darating na Canadian doctors today para sa medical mission bukas. Kaya hindi possible yang request mo."

"Eh di kayo na lang ni Raffie magluto," Harvey insisted gently.

"Hihirit pa 'to, eh. Hello? Whole day kaya si Raffie sa university bukas, tapos may special class daw sya sa Forte bandang hapon. Kaya nga malamang mauuna na tayo dun sa resto at hahabol na lang sya. Na-inform ko na sya kagabi tungkol dyan."

"Okay. So I'll see you at the airport tomorrow, Louie. I miss you," Harvey sweetly said.

"Likewise," was Louie's simple reply.

"Yun lang? Likewise? Hindi ba pwedeng marinig talaga yung 'I miss you, too' from you?"

"Harvey Pascual, you are the most demanding person I've ever known!" Louie complained.

"Sabihin mo na rin kasi, para tapos agad yung usapan," Harvey teased.

Louie raised her brow at him, but she eventually smiled crookedly while saying, "Fine. I miss you, too. O sige na, I have to prepare for church now. See you tomorrow."

"I love you!" Harvey said, just before Louie ended the conversation.

"Ang kulet talaga nitong taong ito," she mumbled as she prepared her dress for the morning church service.

As she went to her dresser mirror, she saw the towel cake souvenir which she literally begged from Raffie yesterday.

It was the souvenir from Raymund and Kate's wedding. She picked and placed it inside a shelf that was full of other souvenirs she had been collecting for the past five years. While arranging it, she remembered her talk with Raffie last night when their batchmates finally went home.

(Flashback)

"Wow! Ang cute naman nitong souvenir nila! Sa akin na lang 'to, ha, Chummy? Please?"

"Makakatanggi ba naman ako sa'yo? Here, take it," Raffie said as she handed the towel cake to Louie.

"Thank you so so much! Let's see...Chua-Monteverde Nuptial...apelyido pa lang bagay na, ano, Chummy? Hmmm...now let's see...how about...Carlisle-Legazpi Nuptial...well, pwede rin. Pero mas bet ko ata yung Pascual-Legazpi or better yet, Chua-Legazpi," Louie said in a dreamy tone while giggling at the idea.

"You really have wild imaginations, Chummy!" Raffie commented. "Alam mo namang yung una malabong mangyari yun, diba?"

"Really? Diba ikaw na rin yung nagsabi sa akin nung kararating mo palang dito na you're still hoping that Vince would eventually change his principle about marriage? So what happened? Give up ka na?"