The Love We Cannot Have

Chapter 1

Weight In Gold by Gallant

Celestine

I'm a nineteen year old girl, taking up advertising in college. My full name is Celestine Anne Francisco, but you can call me Celine. For me, I would say my life is boring. I haven't lived life fully, yet. Medyo strict pa parents ko sakin even though I'm already in a legal age na. I'm still single. I had a few flings, but then I realized that guys in my age are still immature. I get tired of them easily, so ayun 'di rin nagtatagal. I have two siblings, kuya Chris and Chelsea. Kuya is already working while Chelsea is an upcoming 11th grader this school year. Ngayon, I'm on my way sa Figaro-the café we all know that, right? I'm going to meet my best friend there, Kate Angeles. We'll be catching up kung ano nang nangyari sa mga buhay namin, because we haven't seen each other for 4 months. We're both really busy because of college, of course.

As I entered the café, Kate already saw me and shouted my name out loud inside the freaking café that is very quiet. "CELESTIIIINE!" I know, medyo gaga. Maingay talaga 'to since we were little kids. May nag tinginang mga tao and Kate immediately apologized to them. "Ay, sorry po. Sorry po." I also smiled at them apologetically. "Huy, girl. Nag order na 'ko for us ha." she said and I nod then I sat at the chair opposite to Kate and she already started talking...

"How's kuya Chris and Chelsea nga pala?" she asked.

"Si kuya, sobrang busy. As in. Kinausap na nga nila papa kasi sobrang workaholic, hindi na nabibigyan ng time ang family and church." Really, kuya is really serious about his job. I'm actually fine with that and I'm supportive about it kaso minsan halata mo na rin sa mukha n'ya na stressed s'ya. I understand him, because he wants to prove something and he wants to make our parents proud. Pero kahit super busy si kuya he still manage to ask me how I'm doing, he still cares. Kuya and I are really close. We share a lot of secrets that's why I love him so much.

"Eh si Chelsea?" she asked and sipped at her iced coffee latte.

"Chelsea's doing well, especially at school. My father now calls her the golden child." Kate reacted, "Wow! Way to go, Chels." Chelsea is a very bright and pretty girl. To be honest, I'm proud to have a sister like her. At a young age madami na agad gustong manligaw sa kan'ya. Daig ako, sobra. I'm a late bloomer so that makes sense.

"Ikaw? How are you? Kumusta kayo ni tita Sam?" I asked.

"Ayun, si mama may suitor." She said with disappointment and a giggle.

"Si tita Sam? Gosh, I'm proud of her." We both laughed. Tita Samantha is Kate's super kalog mom. She's also a really close friend of my mom, so both of our families are both close. Tita Sam is single, iniwan sila ni tito Ricardo for another woman when Kate was only 2 years old, but tito still supports her by sending them money from the U.S. kaya they still keep in touch. Tita said she is absolutely fine being a single mom. It wasn't a hassle for her, she told us.

We talked about a lot of things. We talked about random things, about our acquaintances, we also talked about the stupid things we made when we were younger. She told me about this guy she met in class, they become really close. Sabi n'ya, he's a really great guy. She thinks she's inlove with him, she admitted. Sa tagal na naming mag kaibigan, syempre iba para sa pakiramdam na malaman na itong babaeng 'to ay umiibig na.

"You? How about your love life, Celine?" she asked and then she looked at me like she already knows what's going to be my response.

"Wala eh." Natawa na lang din ako sa sarili ko. "Parang wala na talaga kong chance mahanap yung love of my life ko. Wala ata akong soulmate, Kate eh." Seryoso lang, I feel hopeless na sa love.

Kahit na ba kasi sabihin natin sa mga sarili natin na mas masayang maging single, may mga gabi talagang mapapaisip ka bakit ka single? Bakit?! Dahil ba pangit ako? Dahil ba may mali sakin? Anong mali sakin? Hindi maman natin to maiiwasan 'di ba? Sa totoo lang pagod na pagod na ko sa sinasabi nilang right guy. Nasan ka na ba ha, dream guy?!

"Hoy, tanga! 'Wag ka ngang ano d'yan. Mayroong dadating, Celine. Alam ko sobrang tagal mo na iniintay, pero basta faith na lang." Nagtawanan na lang kaming dalawa dahil sa kadramahan kong taglay.

I have read a lot of books, and most of them are about love. Young love, perfect love, forbidden love, possessive love, all kinds of love there is. Sa lahat ng nabasa ko hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng pag-ibig ang dadating sa buhay ko. Sana yung love naman na 'di ako bibigyan ng maraming stress at masyado na kong stressed sa life. Sana deretso na sa perfect love. Sana. At sana naman dumating na 'to si love kasi ang tagal ko na po s'yang iniintay, but we wouldn't really know. Malay natin next month, next week, bukas, mamaya dadating si "The One".

The ambiance of the café was good. Maganda siguro tumambay dito lalo na pag mag-isa. Kate and I just continued talking about things, mostly non sense things. "Kanina pa tayo dito, girl. Uwi na tayo." Kate suggested and I laughed kasi I realized na ang tagal na nga naming nagkekwentuhan. We stood up and got a "Goodbye ma'am. Come again soon!" from the staff of the café. Nauna na si Kate mag-lakad. I walked to the exit with my head bowed.

I bumped into someone.

"Ayy." I said, still not looking up to the person.

"God. Miss, sorry." A guy's voice said.

I bumped into a guy.

What? This time tumingala na 'ko.

I looked at him and my eyes widened. Okay, this guy is very attractive. "Ay, kuya, sorry din po. Hala, sorry talaga." I apologized.

We just stared at each other for about 2 seconds... Well, this is awkward

"Okay, so we're both fine. Uhmmm. Okay ka lang ba?" He asked.

"Ah, yeah. Yeah, totally. I'm fine." I replied awkwardly. Damn, this is really awkward.

"So I'm gonna go." He said smiling "If you'll excuse me." Shit, nakaharang pala ko. Napatulala na lang ako sa sobrang shock. What the hell?

"Celine! Tara na, hoy!" Kate shouted at me. Bumalik na ko sa senses ko.

"Oh, coming!" I replied.

Lumingon ako and I caught his eyes once again. He said, "Bye!" and gave a wave. What was that for? I just smiled at him and left the café.

"Ano ba? Bakit ang tagal mo lumabas?" She asked a bit irritated.

"Ah, wala. May nabangga lang ako on our way out." I replied still thinking about what happened.

"Ah, okay."

We decided to talk and walk a bit before going home, then I thought,

"Kate. The guy I bumped into earlier, he's a bit familiar."

A bit too familiar...