Serendipitous

There is Sepanx

'Uuwi na ko bukas sa Pilipinas.'

The words echoed in his head and it took RJ a while to process it.

Kung may natutunan man siya sa mga experiences niya sa New York, yun ay ang 'if it's meant to be, it will be'. Naniniwala si RJ na may nakalaang tamang panahon para sa lahat ng bagay. Pero bago pa yun, isa sa mga natutunan niya sa tagumpay ng kanilang banda ay "if you want it, go get it". Naniniwala siya sa pagsisikap at pagpupursige para makamit ang mga hinahangad.

At sa moment na yun, nag-gyera ang dalawang paniniwala niyang 'yon. 

Anak ng timing naman yan o.  

"Para namang hindi na tayo magkikita. Uuwi din naman ako ng Pilipinas one of these days."

She just shrugged.

"Umattend ako sa summer camp dati. Maraming akong nakilalang mga bagong kaibigan. Bago matapos ang camp, laging nagpa-promise ang mga tao to keep in touch and that they'll never forget. But when they return to their regular lives, the hype slowly fades and the promises, forgotten." Her smile is contrite as she hesitantly touched his hand. 

I'm sure what you feel right now is real. I'm sure what I feel is real too. Parang all those feelings before the summer camp ends. Pero pagbalik natin sa totoong buhay, ...sa Plipinas, wala tayong assurance na--"

"Ikaw walang assurance, ako meron. You don't know me yet but I know myself. This is not a summer camp to me na nag-iipon lang ng magandang memories at kwento na baon pauwi. This is for real. Kaya okay, umuwi ka ng Pilipinas. Uuwi din ako ng Pilipinas. And when we get here, i'll prove myself to you. Again."

"Bulacan at Laguna. Gaano kaya kalayo yun sa isa't isa? What are the chances? What are our chances?"

 "Don't worry, marami kaya akong pang-gas!"

She finally laughs.  

"You know this wouldn't be a problem if you give me your number." 

 She smacked his chest. "Pag nasa Pilipinas ka na. Siguro."  

"Tanggalin mo na yung 'siguro'."

"Okay. Laguna at Bulacan. At QC. How would we even find each other?"

"Kahit saan ka pa, pupuntahan kita."

Hindi sumagot si Maine.

"Anong oras ang flight mo?"

"8:15"

Tumingala si RJ. Pumikit. Huminga ng malalim.

Nang tumingin ulit ito kay Maine, nakangiti na itong nagsabing, "Ice cream tayo? Comfort food pampa-alis ng lungkot."

This time, she was the one who reached out to hold his hand.

"Breakfast muna. Masama yun sa tiyan. Tsaka winter na winter uy!"

"Wala ka bang ibang gagawin ngayon?"

"Mag-iimpake."

"Tapos?"

She smiles at him sadly.

"Hindi ko din alam."

"Pwede ko bang hingin ang araw mo?"

"Ha?"

"Kunwari best friend mo ko, huling araw na nating magkasama ngayon kasi uuwi ka ng Pilipinas bukas."

"Best friend?"

"Anything more than that and I'd probably cross some lines with you today. Even if it's all pretend."