Right Where We Left

10 - Worth the Fight

DESIREE

For the whole week, I juggled between attending my surf lessons and working on my travel feature.

Hindi ko nakita si Kib, o kahit sino sa mga bago kong nakilala dito sa La Union. Khryzia and I have been constantly texting, though. And na-kwento niya na busy daw ang ahia niya sa pakikipag-meet sa mga donors and sponsors for the auction.

Mabuti na rin yun. I realized that I've been spending too much time with him ever since I came here. Ayan tuloy, yung puso kong mahimbing ang tulog eh parang biglang nagising. Paano naman kasi, I've never been close to a guy other than Patrick. Eh parang magkapatid lang talaga kami nun, walang malisya. Then here comes Kib, making me feel emotions all foreign to me.

Yes, I need to build a genuine connection with him for my task, but it shouldn't go beyond that. Trabaho ang pinunta mo dito, Desiree.

Wala akong pinagsabihan tungkol sa underwater ganap namin. Bale yung mga bato sa Tangadan lang ang nakakaalam. Minsan napapatanong pa rin ako kung may ibig sabihin ba yun sa kanya, pero nag-sorry siya diba? Meaning, it wasn't his intention to do that. Kaya ni-resolve ko na sa sarili ko to pretend that nothing ever happened.

At dahil mabilis akong mag-move on, I'm ready to face him again. Kumusta na kaya siya?

Aissshhh, erase! It's not like g na g akong makita ang taong yon, ok? Yup, that's right. Mataas lang kasi talaga yung chance na magkita kami dahil papunta ako ngayon sa auction.

It was around quarter to 5 in the afternoon when I arrived at San Fernando Plaza. Dahil 5 PM pa yung start, expected na hindi pa ganun ka-raming nandoon. Di katanggap-tanggap pero madalas talagang late ang mga tao. Lalo na pag may mga pa-VIP na hinihintay kaya di makapag-start on time ang isang event. Ako na talaga ang may hinanakit sa kanila.

I went to the registration booth and signed up. Number 20 yung nakuha kong number. The number was printed on a round cardboard and attached to a wooden stick. Ito daw yung i-raraise namin for bidding.

Nag-decide ako mag-bid hanggang 50k max para sa kung anumang mga bagay na sa tingin ko eh magagamit ko. Besides, all proceeds of this event will go to the Rehabilitation Center for the Youth, for them to be given a better home as well as scholarship grants and training for various vocational jobs.

Ang sarap kaya sa puso maging part ng isang bagay na makakapag-bigay ng pag-asa sa ibang tao. A second chance. Naniniwala akong deserve yun ng mga batang 'to. And I have faith that their past mistakes can turn into inspiring stories that can also change other people's lives.

"Des!", narinig kong may tumawag sa akin. I turned around and saw Khryzia running towards me.

"Hey Khrysh!"

We gave each other a hug the moment she got close.

"Buti nakapunta ka.", she said, smiling.

"Ah, oo. Pasok naman sa sched ko and gusto ko rin mag-participate.", I responded.

"Great! Hindi mo kasama si Patrick?", she asked.

"No eh. May scheduled Baguio trip na siya with his family, three days yata sila doon."

"I see. Tara, let's find a seat!", she dragged me by the hand.

Buti na lang super bait nitong kapatid ni Kib, ok lang kahit siya lang ang kilala ko dito. Ganun naman ako eh, basta may isa akong makakasama at pinagkakatiwalaan, I'll be fine.