Learn to Love Again

The Other Half of Me

“Paano Sars and Ge, convoy na lang tayo ha,” Jessy said as she and Mike walked to his car. Part of the plan was Jessy and Sarah were to prepare at Gerald’s house but Mike will pick Jessy up and together will be going to the party.

“Sige Sis. We’ll just be behind you,” Sarah replied.

“At Ge, keep your eye on the road. Baka mamaya mabangga pa kayo. Hindi na natanggal ‘yang titig mo kay Sarah.”

“Ha?” Gerald said when he heard his name.

“Pare, sa palagay ko walang hindi makakapansin mamaya na magboyfriend kayo nitong si Sarah. Sa palagay ko lang ay hindi matatanggal ‘yang kamay mo sa bewang n’ya,” Mike added.

“Tigilan n’yo nga itong si Gerald.”

“Eh paano naman Sis, parang na-hypnotize lang o. Tignan mo.”

“Sino ba naman kasi ang hindi mahi-hypnotize sa ‘yo Ma?” Gerald said.

“Hay naku, tigilan na natin ito at baka ma-late pa tayo sa party. Mike, hilahin mo na itong si Jessy pasakay ng kotse mo at ikaw naman Da umayos ka na para makaalis na rin tayo.”

They finally walked to the directions of the guys’ vehicles and were driving off a few minutes later. Inside the car, Gerald still couldn’t stop to steal glances from her.

“Da, eyes on the road.”

“Ma, ‘wag ka aalis sa tabi ko mamaya ha?”

“Ha? Bakit naman?”

“Baka kasi may lumapit sa ‘yo at hindi ka na ibalik sa akin eh.”

“Da, ang OA lang ha.”

“I’m not being OA. You look so beautiful Ma. I’m pretty sure some will be staring at you tonight.”

“It doesn’t matter because I wouldn’t be able to notice them kasi ikaw lang ang mapapansin ko,” she sweetly replied.

“Smooth Ma… really smooth. Ang galing mo na mambola ngayon ah.”

“Nagmana ako sa ‘yo eh.”

When they got the hotel where the party is being held and after he has parked his car, they walked to the ballroom with Sarah holding on to Gerald’s hand. By the door were Mike and Jessy, obviously waiting for them to arrive.

“Are you ready Ma?”

“Very.”

As they made their way to an empty table, they greeted people they passed by. Sarah and Gerald were busy being attentive to each other to notice that some of their officemates have been whispering about them and their intertwined hands.

“That wasn’t so bad,” Sarah said when all four them were already seated.

“Bakit? What were you expecting?” Gerald asked him.

“That they will all be whispering,” she replied.

“Sis, some of them were kaya lang masyado lang hindi n’yo na napapansin kasi palagi lang kayong nakatingin sa isa’t isa.”

“Hayaan mo na nga sila Tart. Ako rin naman palagi lang nakatingin sa ‘yo ah. Bakit hindi mo napapansin?” Mike said.

“Alam ko ‘yun pero sanay na ako. Alam ko namang you only have eyes for me,” Jessy teased.

“Ah ganon. Sige, sa iba na lang ako titingin. Parang taken for granted na ako dito ah,” Mike whined.

“Hoy kayong dalawa, tigilan n’yo ‘yang asaran n’yo at baka mauwi ‘yan sa away at masira ang gabi nating lahat.”

“Ito kasing bestfriend mo eh…” Mike started to say but was cut off by Sarah.

“Oo na sige. Basta tigilan n’yo na ‘yan. I have a better idea… photo booth tayo,” Sarah invited.

“Tara!”

********

After the party, Sarah and Gerald sat side-by-side in the hotel’s coffee shop. Jessy and Mike had already left.

“So, are you and Cassie ready for your vacation?”

“I think so. She’s really excited.”

“And you?”

“What about me?”

“Excited ka rin ba?”

“Medyo. This is my first time to go to the US.”

“Are all your plans finalized already? Okay na ang itinerary n’yo?”

“I think so.”

“So finalized na rin that you will be staying with Mark.”

She sighed a little and said, “Da, gusto mo ba talaga pag-usapan ulit natin ‘yan?”

“You’re right. Hindi na. Okay na.”

Sarah remembered her conversation with Jessy earlier. Though a bit hesitant, she asked him, “Da, di ba aalis kami next week ni Cassie at nasa US rin naman ang parents mo?” He nodded. “Ano na ang balak mo sa Christmas?”

“I don’t know yet. Probably just stay home. Even Ken won’t be coming home,” referring to his brother who’s based in Singapore.

“That’s good,” she casually said.

“What?” he asked.

“Ah eh…. It’s good na wala kang kasama dito sa Pilipinas this Christmas.”

“Don’t rub it in. Please.”

“Hindi Da… kasi… ah kasi… Alam ko medyo mahirap itong hihilingin ko pero sana pag-isipan mo pa rin.”

“You know I would do anything that you ask me to basta kaya ko.”

“I want you to come with us.”

“Come with you to the US?”

“Yes.”

He shook his head. “You know there is nothing in this world that I’d want more than to be with you and Cassie on Christmas but that’s your time with Mark. Ayaw kong sirain ang family bonding n’yo.”

“Da, we were never a family. He just happened to be Cassie’s father but we were never a family. Da, ikaw ang family namin ni Cassie ngayon. Ang nakakatawa pa n’yan ay s’ya pa ang nagpamukha sa akin ng reality na ‘yon. Hindi ko alam kung anong gayuma ang ginamit mo sa anak ko pero you’ll be very happy to know that he chose you over Mark to be his dad.”

A tear suddenly escaped his eye, which he immediately wiped away. “Mahal na mahal ko rin naman s’ya parang sarili kong anak eh.”

Sarah cupped his face and said, “And I chose you, too… to be my husband for the rest of my life. That is kung open pa rin ang proposal mo.”

He was smiling while frantically nodding his head. She let go of his face and looked at him lovingly. “I love you Da. Pero teka muna. So are you going with us?”

“Wait… so are you officially engaged to me?”

“Yes Da,” she answered with a smile.

This time it was his turn to cup her face. “You have made me so happy Ma. I know we haven’t been together for a long time but this is one of those rare moments that you just know. There are no ifs, no buts. The first time I asked you to marry me wasn’t just about me feeling secured about our relationship or not letting you go to him. It is about me loving you so much and asking you to spend the rest of your life with me. I know we are for each other because I see you as the other half of me. And I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t be complete without you. So thank you, thank you for saying yes.”

As he said his piece, her tears were continuously flowing. After he was done she told him, “Nakakainis ka Da. Ginagawa mo akong loka-loka… pinaiiyak mo ako dahil sa sobrang happiness.”

“And that’s you’re all ever gonna be… happy.”

They smiled at each other before sealing their engagement with a sweet kiss.