Something Spectacular

Something Spectacular: Epilogue

Epilogue:

My phone keeps vibrating on the table. Agad kong niligpit ang mga materials na nasa mesa. My laptop, magazine clips, my notebook and pens. Siniksik ko ang mga ito sa aking back pack saka sinagot ang tawag.

"Hey, Pia!"

"Where are you, Isabelle? We're going to be late."

"I'm coming. May tinatapos lang ako."

Nagmadali akong lumabas mula sa coffee shop. Halos tumatakbo akong tumungo sa meeting place namin. Sa park malapit sa downtown. Napangiti ako nang makita ang familiar na minivan. Matagal ko din itong hindi nakita.

Naghihintay ang aking mga kasama. There's Pia tapping on her phone, probably texting another member na tulad ko ay late din. There's Rhea and Stephen. Charlie is already inside the open van.

Sandali akong tumigil para pagmasdan ang aking mga kasama. We often see each other every now and then. Kahit nakagraduate na ang halos lahat sa amin at may kanya kanya ng trabaho, we always make it a point to see each other at least every other week, other than late night group chats and video calls.

Dalawang taon na ang lumipas. Two years since that day. His grin flashed in my memories. Kamusta ka na, Gavin?

Lumapit ako sa mga kasama ko. Rhea hugged me immediately once she saw me. Rhea is a teacher now, a kind and dedicated one. Tulad si Charlie ay nagtuturo siya ng secondary education sa kanilang bayan. Pia works in an advertising agency in Makati. Lawrence works in Quezon City as an IT specialist. And Stephen in one of the tech companies in Clark. Me? I've graduated business course, cum laude of my class. Yes, a rank lower than my parent's expected from me. But for the first time in my life I heard those words from them.

"I'm proud of you."

Now, I'm studying. Again. I'm taking film and creative writing in a higher university here in Pampanga.

"Isabelle!"

Nagtatalon kami ni Rhea habang magkayakap. I hugged every member of my group. Dalawang taon. Madami na ang nagbago. Pero mas pinagtibay kami ng pagkakataon.

Hindi naalis ang simangot sa labi ni Pia. I turned to Stephen. "Ano'ng meron?" I mouthed.

"Si Lawrence hindi nagre-reply," bulong niya. "Ilang oras ng nasa byahe pauwi."

Oh. Mukhang nasa boss mode nanaman ang EIC namin. Maya maya pa tumawag si Lawrence.

"Darating ka pa?"

Pinigilan ko ang aking ngiti dahil sa sagot ni Pia. Hindi na nagbago ang dalawa. Habang nakikipag usap si Pia kay Lawrence, isang lalake ang naglalakad palapit sa amin. Walang malay si Pia dahil busy siya sa phone. Lawrence placed his fingers on his lips, silently telling us not to say a word.

"Ano na? Hindi ka sasagot?"

Umakbay si Lawrence kay Pia. And because it's Pia, her first reaction is to nudge the ribs of whoever it is. Lawrence let out an 'ow' at napahawak sa tyan niya.

"Yong ibang girlfriend halik ang bati, ikaw sakit ng katawan."

Pia didn't look guilty at all. "Kasalanan mo, hindi ka nagrereply."

Natawa si Charlie at Stephen. "Lawrence, panay pasa ka na ata," biro nila.

Lawrence chuckled with them. "Pasalamat ka Boss, mahal kita."

Pia rolled her eyes. Pero nang pumasok kami sa minivan narinig ko ang nag aalalang tanong niya kay Lawrence.

"Ano ba kasing nangyari?"