I Found Love at Thirty Two

32: William

Shout out to @aimeejoyce Salamat sa message.

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For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.- Jeremiah 29:11

I was not able to control my tears anymore upon reflecting on the Bible verse at totoong sa ganitong pagkakataon kapag mag-isa ka na lang, ang tangi mong maasahan ay ang pangako ng Diyos na may maganda siyang plano sa lahat ng mga nangyayari sa buhay mo. Katulad ng ginawa niya kay Joseph the dreamer na binenta ng mga kapatid para maging alipin pero naging isang leader at tinitingala ng mga tao.

Earlier as I kissed Lucy goodbye and embraced her and my parents before I surrendered to the police, I know this will be a long road of faith, a bumpy road, at sa totoo lang, may parte ng puso kong natatakot sa kung anong pwedeng mangyari sa akin. I wont deny that I am scared of what lies ahead. Paano na lang kung hindi ako mapawalang sala? What if I'll be imprisoned for a lifetime? How am I supposed to live my dream? How am I supposed to bring Lucy infront of the church and later on run after our own children? Mangyayari pa nga kaya yun sa amin? If that day comes, I'd be the happiest man pero paano kung hindi?

Alam kong bukod sa akin at sa mga magulang ko, si Lucy ang pinakanasasaktan. Marami naman siyang pwedeng mahaling iba na mas matino kesa sa akin, na may malinis na past pero ako pang sira ang pinili niya. She is supposed to celebrate her victory and yet she is in pain of seeing me behind bars. At bukas, bukas we planned to move around Australia for the last time before we fly back to the Philippines but how would we be able to do that?

"Love, love...love.. gising.. William."

Napabalikwas ako nang marealize kong panaginip lang pala ang lahat at nakatulog na pala ako sa lap ni Lucy.

"What happened? So I was just dreaming? But...everything seemed real."

"Kasi naman ang kulit mo Will eh. Remember I asked you to wear a shirt? Inasar mo ko tapos naghabulan tayo and yun.. nadulas ka sa sahig at nawalan ng malay."

"What?  Wait? So you mean I've been sleeping since then?"

"Oo. Nagpatulong ako sa dad mo para buhatin ka at ihiga sa sofa and I stayed to take care of you."

Nagulat ako sa mga sinabi ni Lucy. Kung totoong nadulas ako at nawalan ng malay at natulog lang does that mean that Lucy missed the awarding ceremony? Napatingin ako sa wristwatch ko. Mukhang yun nga ang nangyari.

"Im..I'm sorry love. Sorry. You missed the awarding. This day is special for you. I'm so sorry."

"Love, that doesn't matter. Anong palagay mo? Mas mahalaga sa akin ang award kesa sa yo? Masaya akong pagmasdang payapa kang natutulog. At least nakapagpahinga ka, yun nga lang, kanina, medyo parang nahihirapan kang huminga kaya ginising na kita. Ano ba kasi ang napaginipan mo?"

"Nakakulong na raw ako."

"Oh."

"At masakit lang na sa halip na masaya tayo nakakulong ako. Yun. Yun ang panaginip ko."

"Love, God has plans why things happen. Alam mo yan." Hinawakan ni Lucy ang magkabila kong pisngi at pinaglapat ang aming mga noo.

"Will, kahit na ano pang mangyari, I will not leave you. That is a promise. Tara, kain tayo."

Lucy pulled me up and dragged me to the kitchen at sa totoo lang nagulat ako sa ayos ng mesa.  May nakahaing Wendy's cheeseburger and fries with KFC muffins and chicken. Upsize ang cola and may Mcdonald's na kiddie meal on the side.  Hindi ko napigilang matuwa at nabuhat ko si Lucy.

"Hala, love, parang bata lang. Ibaba mo ko!"

"You made me so happy love. How did you know that these are my favourites?" Natatawa kong tanong kay Lucy bago ko siya binaba at hinila para maupo na rin. Kumuha ako ng burger at sinimulan na ang pagkain bago ako pinigilan ni Lucy para magdasal muna.

"Amen! Love, how did you know that I like fastfood? I never told you this."

"Nakakatampo nga eh. Akala ko ikaw yung tipong gusto lagi mga fine dine in restaurants okay ka rin naman pala sa fastfood."

"Oo naman. Tinago ko lang kasi..."

"Dahil dito no?" Nilabas ni Lucy ang childhood picture ko na medyo chubby ako at mataba ang pisngi. Ang lakas ko kasi noong kumain lalo kapag fastfood and since I started maintaining my ideal body weight, I tried to cut down on fastfood.

"My mom showed you my photo album huh?"
"Yep. Yep. Even your class pictures and looking at your pictures mahal is a blessing in disguise."

"Bakit? Dahil nakita mo na ang pangit ko noong bata ako? Ganun ba? At may pang blackmail ka na? I hate you and my mom. For sure, you laughed hard behind my back while looking at my pictures."

"Well, sort of pero, hindi naman yun talaga eh. Look at your class pictures. Look at this girl here, and here, and here, and here pa." Lucy pointed to a girl who in all my pictures is just looking not on the camera lens but to me.

"Bata pa lang ako love, heartthrob na ko eh. Wala akong magagawa." Natatawa kong sabi habang patuloy na tiningnan ang photo album ko and smiling from time to time. Naisip ko lang, ano kayang  mangyayari kung magkaklase kami ni Lucy? Siguro hindi ako lumaking playboy. Panigurado, I will be the stick to one man type of a guy. Just like now.

"And I guess that is the very reason why you have a case now love. Look closely oh. She has similarities with the lady who filed for a case against you. Totoo bang hindi mo siya maalala? Kasi nandito rin siya sa high school class pictures mo. Here oh."

"Well... Teka.. I don't remember hitting on her.  I mean, I don't know. I just don't  recall."

"Ayokong mag-assume love pero pakiramdam ko, we have to talk to her before you surrender. Pakiramdam ko, you have done something to her which made her so mad at you to the point of making up stories."

"You mean? Teka, ewan ko. I really don't have an idea."

"Kaya nga. We have to meet her and talk to her. Baka naman maayos pa natin ang lahat. Para...para hindi na rin siya ma-humiliate in public. Ang ibig kong sabihin ano.."

"you mean, kung sakaling I will be able to clean my name, she will appear like someone desperate  of my attention?"

"Medyo. Babae rin ako. Masakit na magmahal ng lalaking di ka mahal. Remember Brian?"

"Brian..."

"Naisip ko lang, baka. Baka mahal ka lang ni Ariane and maybe she wanted your attention. Kailangan natin siyang maunawaan. Kausapin sa maayos na paraan para di na lumaki ang gulo."

Listening to how Lucy reasons out made me smile. Right before me is a woman who tries to understand people even those who have hurt her. Paano ka ba naman hindi mapapamahal sa babaeng katulad ni Lucy?

"Oh. Are you still listening to me?"

"Oo love. Di lang ako makapaniwalang you think so mature. Mas lalo tuloy akong napapamahal sa yo. Ibang iba ka."

"Sira. I will really be mature compared to you. Hello, mas matanda ako sa yo no. Kumain ka na nga at nang makakilos na tayo at mapuntahan si Ariane. And yes, I know where she lives kung yan ang iniisip mo. I stalked her facebook account. So no worries. All I need for you to do is to be man enough to talk to Ariane. Okies?"

"Okies." I moved closer to Lucy and kissed her on her forehead like what I usually do. I just thank God that I have found a woman who has a big heart to love even the unlovable.