I Found Love at Thirty Two

34-Surprise Part 2

I sent my last follow up email to Faith, a renowned writer who got our company for her wedding, before logging off from the net and turning off my computer.

Napangiti akong mag-isa at naalala ang pag-uusap namin ni Maggie. While it is true that I have accepted the fact that God perhaps prepared me to single blessedness, for the past months, there is still a part of me hoping that I could get to talk to William and officially close everything.

Aaminin ko, naduwag din ako nung gabing yun. When he said he fell out of love at iniwan akong mag-isa, parang di agad nag sink in sa akin. I just remained sitting, watching his shadow left me. At di gaya ng mga cheesy romance films na napapanood ko na hahabol yung babae at i-ko-confront yung lalaking mahal niya, magkakaroon ng iyakan, sampalan, o kaya tulakan, wala akong ginawa kung di ang hayaan lamang siyang umalis.

Siguro kahit ako naduwag na malaman ang totoong dahilan kung bakit nangyari sa amin yun. How could everything changed in just one click? Mabuti pa sa photography, you can ask your models to do this and that at pwede mong i-re-take ang shots pero yung sa amin ni William, naging ganun na lang.

I got my phone and opened my devotion app. I usually do my devotion in the office. Kapag kasi nasa bahay na ako, mas gusto kong matulog na lang. Kapag yata tumatanda mas lalong nagiging maantukin.

"My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus..."- Philippians 4:19-20

True. God will supply my every need, hindi lang sa material things kung di sa lahat ng bagay. Oo. Masakit na ganoon na lang ang nangyari sa amin ni Will pero kahit kailan, di ko naman naramdamang Im alone. Oo. Maraming pagkakataong I feel lonely pero in my loneliness, God comforts me, gives me joy, gives me healing-emotionally, physically. I got Maggie, I got my students, I got the sisters and the kids. God got my back.

I tied my hair in bun at inayos ko na ang gamit ko. I looked around my office and smiled. I am now holding office at the second floor of the building we are renting and hopefully, three months from now, we can already move to our own place. Nag expand na yung business ko through the help of my people rin. They too, are passionate and committed to their work.

I went down to the ground floor and was surprised with what I saw. Kumpleto ang team ko.

Bawat isa ay naghihintay pa rin pala sa akin.

Riri, who is one of my senior staff at parang 'big sister' ng lahat, is holding a chocolate cake. Si Jaja naman na isa sa mga strong supporter namin ni Will at umiyak pa nang umiyak nang malamang wala na kami, ay may hawak na mga lobo. Si Megumi naman na mahilig sa anime at lagi kong kasa-kasama kapag children themed ang mga sessions ay naka-cosplay. She, my 'spiritual adviser' apart from Maggie, at yung taong napaka bold sa faith niya kay Lord, ay nag play naman ng "This is the Day" at hinila ako para sumayaw. And Jennicelle, yung staff kong mahilig magbasa ng wattpad stories at palagian kong nahihingan ng mga creative ideas for the shots, ay may dalang banner.

"Seriously? May ganito talaga? Send off party ganun?" Natatawa kong sabi sa kanila.

"Medyo Ms. Lucy. Para malaman mong full support kami sa yo"-Riri

"Oo nga Ms. Lucy at di lang yan ang surprise namin sa yo."- Jaja

"Teka, ano pa ba ang plano niyo? Grabe kayo ha. Pinapaiyak niyo ko nito." I wiped off the tears from my eyes. Nakakatuwa lang na ang warm ng support sa akin ng team ko. Ni minsan di kami nagkaroon ng conflict, may disagreements pero naayos din naman namin agad agad. At ang pinaka maganda nga, every morning, we do reflections and prayer together and start the day right.

"Ms. Chai, I think its time." –She

"Chai? Andito ka?" Si Chai ang manager ng Chef Park's Kitchen at di ko talaga alam kung anong dahilan at andito siya. Tumayo sila sa kung saan siya nakaupo at---

"Yep. Not only me but also him." Binuksan ni Chai ang malaking kahon na ngayon ko lang napansin na nasa gitna ng lobby. Nakawrap iyon ng gift wrapper at doon lumabas si Chef Park na naka suot pa ng apron.

"Chef Park?" Di ko inaasahan na uuwi siya ngayon. Ang alam ko kasi he settled in the States at alam kong kasal na siya pero anong ginagawa niya rito?

"Hey, Lucy, I miss you." Lumabas si Chef Park sa kahon at lumapit sa akin sabay yakap sa akin ng mahigpit. Hindi ko rin alam kung anong nangyari sa akin at yumakap din naman ako pabalik.

"Ah... Ahmmm. I miss you too."

Narinig kong naghiyawan ang buong team bago nanahimik at isa-sang nagpaalam. As in seriously? Iiwan nila ako sa ganitong situation. Teka lang!

"May the force be with you Ms. Lucy." Bumulong sa akin si Megumi bago rin umalis. Teka? Di naman anime yun ah. Star Wars line kaya yun.

"Chef Park, my role is done. I better keep going." Kumindat pa si Chai bago tuluyan kaming naiwang dalawa ni Chef Park.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Takang tanong ko.

"Wow. That's harsh Lucy. Di mo man lang ba na miss ang isang kaibigan?"

"Well, na-miss naman pero ano nga at andito ka?"

"Para samahan ka."

"Huh?"

"You are flying to Australia right?"

"So?"

"So, I'll be your bodyguard."

"Bodyguard? You are confusing me. Saka di ba dapat nasa States ka?"

"Oo sana. But my heart wants to stay here... with you."

Di agad ako nakasagot kay Chef Park. Ano bang problema ng taong to at andito siya? Pero bakit ganito ang nararamdaman ko? Bakit parang may kilig sa mga sinasabi niya? Hmmmmmm. Puso, don't let your guard down. 'Pero matagal na kayong magkakilala. Baka naman you are not meant for single blessedness.' Narinig kong bulong ng isip ko.

"I know everything that happened to you. I was just silently watching you from afar. I pretended I could just let you go and gave up because of him. I thought I could stop my heart from loving you but I can't."

"Chef Park?"

"Alam kong di ko naman matuturuan ang puso mong mahalin mo ako agad. Pero gusto ko lang malaman mong I have given you a year to heal and I think it's about time."

"Time?"

"Yeah, time. Chance. Possibility of US being one."

"Huh?" Hindi pa rin maprocess ng utak ko ang mga pinagsasabi ni Chef Park. Yes he is my friend. Yes I know parang may nararamdaman siya para sa akin noon pero...

"Dont over analyze things Lucy. Kumain na lang muna tayo Noona."

"Hala ka. Were of the same age kaya. Noona ka diyan."

Di na ko sinagot pa ni Chef Park. Hinila niya ang kamay ko at kumain kaming dalawa. Tahimik lang. Awkward lang. Ewan.