Second Chance

THE FINAL

(ATHENA)

It was months after that surreal night. Hanggang ngayon, iniisip ko pa din kung totoo ba yung lahat o nanaginip lang talaga ako. Dahil pagkamulat ko, wala na si Theo sa tabi ko.

But I knew too well that it was real. Wala na yung envelope sa drawer. He must have seen it…at saka siya umalis. I should know that it would have happened anyway, kung dinelay ko man ang pagsabi. It must have hurt him so much….and I didn’t want to cause any more pain.

I left my agency months ago too. Rachel and I separated ways. At yung shares ko sa MBS Entertainment, ibinenta ko at binalik ko yung pera sa mga Ramisses. I gave it to Pau, sabi ko siya na bahalang magbigay sa kanila nun.

“Athena???”

Kumaway sakin si Kian at tumakbo siya papalapit sakin.

“Kamusta na?? Bat ka nandito??”

Nagkita kami sa isang fastfood chain that I loved everytime we visited the states. Mabuti na lang, pumayag na makipagkita si Kian.

“Ayos lang ako. Hmm, tara kain muna tayo.”

We ate burgers and fries at habang kumakain kami, nagkkwento din si Kian ng buhay niya ngayon.

“Well, I’m in Juilliard!”, pagbabalita nito sakin.
“Talaga??? That’s great!! Buti pinursue mo na talaga ang pagmumusika.”
“Yeah..makakatulong din yun sa credentials ko dito. Saka may mga gigs ako here and there to support Becca and Sab.”

Una kong nalaman kay Pau. Nabalitaan niya daw kasi na nasa states na si Kian, then she also found out na nagsasama na nga sila ni Sabrina ngayon. When I messaged Kian, kinwento din niya ang nangyari. It was true. Kian is Becca’s real father. Nagulat din ako eh, but I’m happy he has now found a purpose for his life.

“That’s really great, Kian…I’m happy for you…”
“And you? Wala na kong balita sayo ah after those scandals.”
“Ahh. I quit…it turns out, hindi para sakin ang pagiging artista.”
“You did?? Wow…so what are you up to these days then??”
“May ipon naman kasi ako kaya I built a training center for models in Korea. It’s mostly for girls who think they don’t have what it takes. I’ll help them make their dreams come true.”

Pumalakpak naman si Kian. “Grabe. Iba na talaga tong si Athena eh.”
Pinalo ko nga siya at pareho naman kaming natawa.
I then looked at him seriously at binitawan ko muna yung kinakain ko.

“Kian, meron sana kasi akong favor sayo... ”
“Sure. Ano ba yun??”

-----

I went back to the Philippines after my trip to the US. Kasama ko ng umuwi sila mama at Mr. Kim as he was discharged already at cleared na siyang bumyahe pauwi. I’m glad na makakasama ko na ulit sila.

Bago pa man ako umuwi, ay kinontact ko na si Clyde. I asked him a favor too. We met at the Eli hotel and he told me the good news too.

Pinakita niya sakin yung singsing sa daliri niya.

“Oh my god!!!”
“Shh, ano ka ba wag kang maingay!”, pagpapatahimik sakin ni Clyde.
“She said yes???”
“Yep! Finally, totoo na to.”, pagtatawa niya.
“Grabe, goosebumps pa din ako talaga ah. Parang reincarnation talaga ni Faye eh!”
“Shh. Pag narinig ka nun, lagot ako dun!!”
“Iba na talaga siya oh…dati parang sakin ka lang takot ah??”

Clyde smiled at me and I hugged him. “I’m really happy for you, Clyde!”

“Ehem. Baka magselos ako ulit nyan ah.”

Eliza went into the room at agad akong bumitaw kay Clyde. I smiled at her at lumapit ako sa kanya.

She smiled at me and hugged me too.