Housemates

CHAPTER 30

ARA

Amsterdam, Netherlands (Two years later)

I left Philippines not knowing where and how I'll begin. Bago ako umalis, sinigurado kong maayos lahat, inayos ko kung ano man 'yung naidulot kong problema sa business and between my parents. My brother's handling the company, I surrendered it. I said to myself I'm not ready for it, I'm not confident for it, I'm incompetent.

Pumunta ako dito sa Amsterdam, not knowing what's waiting for me. I'm living here on my own, I'm renting an apartment. I do have shifts on a fast food resto. And when I have free time I roam the streets here in Amsterdam. I'm living a simple, stress free life.

Unlike before, though it seems so perfect in the eyes of others na anak ka ng may-ari ng isang malaking kompanya, nakapag-aral ka sa isang kilalang unibersidad, nabibili mo lahat ng gusto mo, meron at meron pa rin talagang tinatawag na consequences ang lahat.

Ngayon na naranasan kong mag-isa, natuto ako. Oo, nahihirapan ako, ilang beses akong nagrereklamo, pero hanggang reklamo na lang ako ngayon dito dahil eto 'yung sitwasyon na pinili ko, at kuntento ako dito. And I learn to trust myself more.

Wala akong shift, at maulan ngayon kaya andito lang ako ngayon sa apartment. Actually I'm not alone today. I'm with John and Kris. John, well he is someone I really know. We were together noong high school kami but we really don't consider it as a serious relationship that's why I never spoke of it. We lost contact noong nag-college kami.

Ngayong andito ako sa Amsterdam, I think it was fate that we met. He lives here and he do works here. Kris is his friend na naging kaibigan ko na rin. Bumibisita sila sa akin paminsan-minsan, and we do hangout when I'm free. So I'm basically not a loner here.

"Bakit kasi hindi na lang ulit maging kayo? Why not rekindle that high school spark? You guys look good together. And for a year, you're the only lady that John's been seeing. Like c'mon, I know you guys have a little something for each other? I see how you guys look at each other last Friday at the club." pang-aasar ni Kris habang abala kami ni John sa pagluluto sa kusina.

"Halika na dito, just join us here." John told him.

The three of us enjoyed our lunch.

Truth is, about what Kris said, John and I had been trying to date, actually we are dating we're just not trying to rush things. I don't know how things happened, pero ganon naman ata siguro? Hindi naman natin namamalayan, kusa na lang nangyayari ang mga bagay sa paligid natin.

John is a very nice person, for a year I've been here he really helped me a lot and I've learn new things from him. My perception in life has broadened because of him. I can say my heart's been healed. I finally feel at peace.

After eating I left the two of them since I'm receiving a call from my brother. It's very unusual for them to call me kaya nakaramdam na agad ako ng hindi maganda. We first greeted each other on video chat, nagkamustahan. Until I told them to immediately get into his point of calling. Then he called our Mom.

"Ara you need to come back here, you need to run this company again."

At 'yun agad ang sinabi niya. I couldn't answer them, hindi ako makahanap ng salita na isasagot sa kanila. Para bang bumalik na naman 'yung takot ko at 'yung kaba ko.