yuanfen (completed)

confessions

"Grabe kayo mga friends....so ayun na nga, nagkiss nga kami sa street....habang umuulan....and it was the best kiss I've ever had....better than....nevermind....basta yun....naputol lang kasi ang dami nang bumubusina sa amin....medyo nakaka-conscious...bitin din....."

"Whoa! That kiss was the best I've ever had! Her lips were so soft...softer than I imagined them to be....buti nalang she said that she didn't have a boyfriend....I'm single too....I've waited 4 years for this....I held on...I knew, deep down, that Dei would still be here....she has a special place in my heart...."

"My dad's mechanic texted...your car is now at their shop and will be repaired...it should be done in a couple of days..."

"How long?"

"Uhmm....mga 2-3 days siguro....they found some other problems e....I told them to go ahead with the repairs...."

"You shouldn't have.....I can't....afford...."

"Shh...don't worry...I've got it...."

"No, Chuck...." Dei huffed and turned to look out the window of Chuck's condo. They were on the 38th floor and it was raining still.

"Hey! Don't get mad....please....sorry na...." Chuck said as he embraced Dei from behind. He slowly rested his chin on her shoulder.

"....thanks for the help...and the dinner....and the clothes...." Dei said as she patted Chuck's arms which were on her waist. "When did you return to Manila?"

".....I've been here for the last three months....I didn't like living alone in the States...."

"Hmm....what happened nga ba?"

"Well....Mom and Dad brought me there for therapy. They enrolled me in this assisted living community where we had our own house within a community of patients. It was connected to a hospital nearby....."

"Ahh..."

"....our neighbors were either senior citizens or recovering patients of the hospital...I'd go to therapy four times a week at the rehab center....then a trainer came by twice a week to make sure I was doing the therapies properly and moving about independently.....nakakapagod! After about a month, Mom and Dad decided to come home na....they came back after several months when I had to move out of the community and into our own house because I completed the program....I worked for a firm there for three years but I wasn't happy...." They moved from the window back to the sofa. There was lightning and thunder. When a bright flash of light lit the sky, Dei had turned to hide in Chuck's embrace.

"Aww....takot ka pala sa kidlat?.....kaya pala para kang nawawala nun pag may bagyo...."

"Did you have any girlfriends? Dei asked.

"Just one....Abigail....but we eventually broke up....she recently got married I think...."

"Ah...."

"How about you? How was your scholarship?"

"How did you know?"

"I was wondering what happened to you after I left Resurge....I honestly missed you....."

"I missed you too...."

"....Dad told me about the scholarship when once I mentioned your name when we were already in the States....I had relearned to speak in clearer and better sentences and one of the first things I said was, "Nasaan na kaya si Dei?"....."

"....I will forever be grateful to your family for that scholarship....it was difficult....I almost lost it after the first semester but I got reminded of all the sacrifices of everyone to get me there....I'm sure your parents earned that money well and I wasn't about to blow it....I wanted them to be proud of me, too....they trusted me even if we barely knew each other....so, I worked hard and was on the Dean's List until I graduated.....I fulfilled my promise of returning the favour by training the staff at Resurge and Happy House....your family has been very good to me....thank you...."

"No, thank you! Without your help and dedication, there wouldn't be a Chuck here now.....your care and compassion is what helped me snap out of the depression I was feeling when I was "trapped" in my own body after my accident. Honestly, I was so frustrated that I was losing hope of ever getting over my disability. There are still frustrating days, then I remember how hard you worked to get me back....Frankly speaking, I was a spoiled brat before the accident but your patience and compassion for me knocked some sense into me...."

They cried and hugged each other for a while.

Without noticing it, Dei slowly leaned on Chuck's shoulder while they relaxed on the sofa. He, on the other hand, wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her on her head.

".....does this mean were official or something?" Chuck said, breaking their silence, when he realized what was happening.

"...I've waited for so long for this..."

"Me too...."

"....I guess you really are my yuanfen...."

"Yuanfen?"

"Mama said it means destiny....tadhana...."

"Destiny?.....we're meant for each other?"

".....ayaw mo?"

"Ay kingina! Ano ka ba Chuck! Panira ka ng moment e...."

"Dei! Excited? Let destiny work for you....kalma..."

"....Gusto.....gustong gusto!.....I love you, Deiondrea Giannina...."

"Wow! Alam ang full name ko..."

"Oo naman...alam na alam!" Chuck said proudly.

"I love you too, Richard Emmanuel...."

They embraced tightly and kissed, their tongues playing in their mouths.