Finding Love In The Unexpected Time

Farewell

“I’m not leaving. I’m not taking the scholarship. All I want is to be with you.” Jaycee said. What is he saying? Is he giving up on his dreams just to be with me? No, I can’t accept that.

“Look, Jaycee... That’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. You should take it. I’ll be fine here. We made a promise, remember?” I said, pinipilit kong kumbinsihin siya na mas dapat niyang pagtuunan ng pansin yung pag-aaral niya.

“No. I’m staying here. With you.” Pagpupumilit niya. Hindi ko na alam gagawin ko. Everything was already planned, tapos biglang magkakaganito.

Pagkatapos ng eksenang yun, hindi muna ako nakipagkita kay Jaycee. Alam niyang galit ako at hindi ko matatanggap yung desisyon nya. Mahal ko siya kaya ayokong masira yung future niya nang dahil lang sakin. Mas mahalaga yun kesa sakin. Hindi ako magpapaka selfish na I’ll just keep him to myself no. That’s too much.

That night, naka-receive ako ng text from Jaycee. Niyayaya niya kong magdinner tomorrow night and he’s not taking no for an answer daw. So, I had no choice but to accept. After all, boyfriend ko pa din siya kahit ano pang mangyari.

The next morning, nakipagkita ako kay Lizzy. Love expert ang bruhang to. Hindi lang halata. At madami na din siyang na-experience sa buhay. Kaya kanino pa ba ko lalapit, edi sa kaniya diba?

“By the way he acts, he looks obsessed. Sorry but that’s how I see it.” Sabi ni Lizzy habang nakaupo kami sa isang part ng Agno. When’s the last time na napunta ako dito? Haaay.

“He just loves me too much siguro.” Depensa ko.

“And you don’t think of that as obsession?” seryoso niyang tanong sakin. May point nga ba siya?

“Well, not exactly. I mean, wala naman siyang ginagawang masama eh.” Sagot ko. We both have a point now.

“Oo nga naman. It’ll be obsession kapag may ginawa na siyang masama sayo. So far, he’s decent. Like nung una mo siyang nakilala. Jaycee’s the most gentleman of all the guys you met, Gabby. Don’t let him slip away.” Sabi ni Lizzy. Alam ko naman yun eh.

“I know that, Lizzy. Di ko lang talaga kayang tanggapin na kaya niyang isacrifice ang best option for his future para lang sakin. I’m not worthy of his love. It’s too big.” Sagot ko. Nararamdaman ko na luha ko na baka tumulo na. This is a very sensitive topic for me.

“Then that’s real love, Gabby. Make him understand why you want him to go. I have to go na. You go prepare na. You have to be pretty for your dinner with him later.” Sabi ni Lizzy then umalis na din siya. I’m left thinking dito sa table namin na inooccupy namin.

I’m eating my lunch dito pa din sa Agno. I’m planning on going to BGC para magshopping. Retail Therapy? Lol no. I’m doing that for tonight. Kailangan lalong pretty for boyfie.

“So we meet again.” Narinig kong may nagsabi. Napatingala ako then nakita ko siya.

“Thomas.” Yun lang nasabi ko.

“Hi Gabby. Mind if I sit here?” tanong niya. Ano na namang kailangan nito.

“Sure.” Ang tipid ko sumagot no? Ok lang yan.

“Why are you alone?” tanong niya. Ugh. What do you want Thomas?

“Because I want to be alone.” Masyado na bang masungit? Crush ko siya kaso may boyfriend problem ako ngayon so sorry siya.

“Bakit ang sungit mo sakin? Sumbong kita kay Tita eh.” Sagot niya. Tita? My mom?

“Are you talking about my mom? Why are you calling her tita? We’re not close.” Mas masungit kong tanong sa kanya.

“You don’t know anything, do you?” sabi niya. Kinuha niya yung phone nya tapos may dina-dial sya. He placed his phone on his ear. “Hello? Tita! This is Thomas. I’m with Gabby right now.” Sabi niya, tinitingnan ko sya ng masama kaya inabot nya sakin yung phone niya. Kinuha ko naman.

“Hello? Mom?” when in doubt, just ask.

“Hello Gabby? You know Thomas pala you’re not even saying anything to us.” Sabi ni mom

“Ugh. Sorry mom. We just met a few months ago. And we’re NOT close.”

“That’s not the case, Gabby. His parents are our business partners. You’ll be seeing a lot of him, then.”

“WHAT?! Why didn’t I know any of this?”

“Because you don’t ask. And you don’t seem a bit interested in our business.”

“Well, I am now!”

“That reminds me, he owns a stock din in our company just like his parents.”

“HA?! Then I want in din!”

“Baby girl, you already own some stocks.”

“Oh, really? Okay. Hehe. Sorry mom. Bye, I’ll give Thomas his phone back na.”

Pagkabigay ko kay Thomas ng phone niya ang laki ng ngiti niya. Muntanga lang.

“So, now you believe me?” tanong niya sakin.

“Yes. I need to go na. Don’t follow me.” Sabi ko tsaka ako tumayo at umalis ng Agno. Ugh. So Annoying!

After picking some clothes. Nagdecide na kong pumunta sa restuarant na sinabi ni Jaycee sakin, wearing the plain blue dress, black leather biker jacket and ankle-high boots na binili ko kanina sa BGC.

He’s there na. Looking handsome as usual, with his natural Korean looks and his good taste in clothing. I tried to force a smile nung nginitian niya ko. I’m getting kinda nervous about tonight.

“Hi baby.” Bati nya sakin. Hinalikan niya ko sa pisngi tsaka niya ko tinulungan umupo.

“Hello. Did you prepare all of this? These look expensive.” Sabi ko sa kaniya nung nakita ko yung mga pagkain sa table namin.

“Nothing’s too expensive when it comes to you.” Sagot niya. Ang sweet!

“Awww! So sweet naman ng baby ko!” napangiti ako dun ah.

“Baby, I changed my mind.” Huh?

“About what?” tanong ko.

“I’m taking the scholarship na. All of our friends, including Lizzy, tried to talk some sense into me. And I also realized that the future is a serious thing for you. To have the best future with you, I have to focus on my future first. Just like how you focus on your studies.” He said. Napangiti ako lalo dun. Yes, Lizzy’s right. This is real love.

“I respect your decision, baby. In fact, I’m happy that you understand what I really wanted to tell you. I’m really sure you’ll be a great singer, Engineer, boyfriend, future husband and future dad.”  I leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

We talked through the night, even after namin mag dinner. Everything’s going smoothly.

I guess this is not farewell after all.