So, bukod sa wala ka nang trabaho, may iba pa bang good news dyan?
Hahaha. Daddy naman eh. Wala man lang wise words dyan from you? Nakakainis ka.Kunwaring asar na sagot ni Julie. She was having a videocall with his dad thru Skype. He's currently based in Mindanao because of his job as an executive for a pineapple company.
Hahaha. Jules, believe me. Para sa akin good news ang pag-quit mo sa trabaho mo. What's the point in sticking with something that doesn't make you happy anymore? I'm glad you chose not to be miserable. Proud ako sayo anak. Malapad ang ngiti nito pero alam nyang seryoso ang daddy nya. This is what she likes about him. Napaka-liberal mag-isip.
Aw, Daddy naman eh. Kaya kita nami-miss lalo eh. Nagpapa-miss ka kasi. Haha. Biro nya pero ang totoo para na syang maiyak. Nami-miss na talaga nya ang daddy nya. It's been a while since nagkasama sila dahil nga palagi syang stuck sa trabaho nya. Thanks, dad. I'm the world's luckiest daughter.
Ngumiti ang daddy nya. But she didn't miss the hint of sadness in his eyes. Alam nyang nami-miss na rin sya nito. Sandali silang natahimik.
So, Jules. Kumusta na ang future son-in-law ko? Mahal ka na rin ba nya? O baka naman, until now, unrequited love pa rin? Hahaha. He segued. Ganun talaga ang dad nya. Maparaan sa usapan. Pag nasi-sense nito na may iyakan na namang magaganap, nagbibiro kaagad ito sa kanya.
Hahaha. Si daddy talaga. Kainis ka. Hahaha. Wala, dad. Zero. Kaswal nyang sagot at biglang naalala ang nangyari sa coffee shop.
Nagkamot ng ulo ang daddy nya, kunwaring disappointed sa narinig. Her love life had become a standing joke between them. Alam din nito ang tungkol sa 'crush' nya na syang tinatawag nitong future son-in-law. Ganun sila ka-open na mag-ama.
Tsk. What is the problem with those guys? My daughter's perfect tapos di nila napapansin? Biro nito.
Hahaha. Go, dad! Sige ibenta mo pa ako! Woooo! Hahaha.
But seriously, Jules, wala talaga?
Wala nga. Ang kulit mo. Hahaha.
Nagkibit-balikat ito.
I see. Bata ka pa naman eh. Besides para sa akin, kung sino man ang lalake na makita how wonderful you are, yun ang nagdi-deserve sayo. He has to have my eyes, Jules. If he can't see you, he's not a keeper. He has to discover you.
Dad...
Her dad gently smiled at her then took a deep breath.
I want only the best for you, Jules. Alam kong alam mo na. But I still want to remind you to take care. You know...
She interjected with a soft laugh.
I know dad. Kilala mo ako.
Her dad smiled.
Yes. But like I always say, love fearlessly.
She smiled back.
But never beg for love. Dugtong nya.
Tumango-tango ang daddy nya.
Because you're too wonderful for that, Jules.
Thanks, dad. Teka, bakit ang drama natin? Hahaha.
Hahaha. Right. Maiba naman tayo. Kelan mo ulit ako bibisitahin dito?
Soon, dad. Soon. Matipid nyang sagot. Kanina pa nya pinipigilan ang sarili na mabanggit ang bago nyang venture.
Sige. Keep me posted. Remember, I'm not the only one who misses you.
Oo nga pala, dad. How's Ruffian?
.....
Labo mo. Sarap mong kurutin sa singit. Alam mo yun? Inis na sambit ni Maqui kay Julie. They were having snacks at a still unfamiliar coffee shop inside a mall.
Hahaha. What? Tama lang yung ginawa ko no.
Maqui shook her head, na tila di pa rin makapaniwala.
Chance mo na yun, Jules. Bakit pinalampas mo pa? Eeeee. Kainis ka talaga. Sambit ng best friend na tila di pa rin maka-move on sa nalaman nito.
Hahaha. Ang OA mo lang, Maq. Naaaliwng sagot nya pero sandaling natigilan. Naalala nya ang araw na muntik na syang naipakilala ni Kuya Ben sa crush nya which she politely declined. Medyo may panghihinayang syang naramdaman.
O ayan. Tulalang Julie ka na naman. Ikaw kasi eh. Yun na yun eh.
She gently smiled at her best friend.
No, Maq. That wasn't the right time, I guess.
Kelan ang right time? Sa 50th birthday mo? Pabiro pero asar na tanong nito sa kanya.
No. Pero di mo ba naisip that there's something off about everything? Something's missing, Maq.
Huh? Ano daw? Hahaha. Alien language alert.
She softly laughed, amused by Maqui's confused look.
Matagal na kaming nagkita, Maq. We were at the same place at the same time far too many times. Nakita ko na syang nakita nya ako. May eye contact pa nga minsan eh. But...but...
But what, Jules?
She heaved a deep sigh.
There was no substance. Hindi solid, Maq. Alam mo yung feeling na...na kinikilig ka but...you also get the feeling na...na baka it's not going to turn into something more...something more meaningful?
It was Maqui's turn to laugh.
Anong pinagsasabi mo, Jules? Wow. Na windang naman ako sa analysis mo.
Ang totoo, pati sya nahihirapang i-analyze ang nasa utak at sa puso nya. Kahit masasabing infatuation and physical attraction lang ang nararamdaman nya, she couldn't stop thinking of the possibilities. But at the same time, she's also looking for a strong reason to pursue those possibilities. Ayaw na nya sa walang kabuluhang kilig.
Yun. Yes, gets ko na. Hahaha. Sambit nya as soon as she arrived at the conclusion.
Hoy, baliw. I-share mo naman kung ano man ang nasa utak mo ngayon. Kanina mo pa ako winiwindang.
She looked at her friend.
I had a talk with dad yesterday.
Ok.
Ang dami naming napag-usapan. Halos two hours din yun.
And?
He told me something about seeing a person, looking at someone with a different pair of eyes.
Hmmm. Interesting. And?
Well, to cap it all off, what he said was that the 'one' should find me...and see me as I am.
So?
If sya yun Maq, magtago man ako sa kweba, masusundan nya pa rin ako.
Ngumiti si Maqui. Malapad na ngiti.
Hehehe. Nice one, Jules. Parang nagsisimula na sya. He's here.
