So Into You (A JeDean / GaWong Story)

Three Years Late

***
(Deanna said)

I'm returning to the Philippines after living in Paris for three years. I recently completed double degrees in Business Administration and Sports Management and now I am bound to take over our family business.

"DEANNA WONG!" a familiar voice screamed while I was waiting for my luggage at Mactan airport.

"Ate Jia!" I shouted back from excitement. I ran towards her.

Ate Jia gave me a big hug. "How long has it been? Kelan ka pa bumalik?"

"Three years din. Kadarating ko lang ngayon. What brought you here in Cebu?"

"We have games here in the coming days. On tour ang league."

Coach Tai and the other members of Creamline appeared one by one giving a surprised expression upon seeing me.

"Ahhh... I see. It's nice to see you and the rest of the team."

"Parang may hinahanap ka pang iba?"

"Ako? Uhmmmm... Si Ate Ly nasaan?"

"The others took a different flight. Nandun sila Ate Ly, Liz and Je--" Ate Jia stopped herself.

I just smiled. "I see..."

"Why don't you join us for dinner? May sundo ka ba?"

"Actually wala. Ang alam sa bahay bukas pa balik ko."

"Sama ka na muna sa amin." Ate Jia locked her arm with mine.

"Alright... hindi naman ako nagmamadali."

***
(Jema said)

I have an uneasy feeling about coming to Cebu. It's probably because it's Deanna's hometown. She promised to take me to her favorite places here but it's one of those promises that extinguished when we broke up.

It has been three years since she left me. She just disappeared after the break up. She didn't enroll that semester in Ateneo and news came out that she resigned from the team due to personal reasons.

I heard she's studying abroad now so there won't be a chance of running into her. This gave me a little comfort as I stepped out of the airport.

"Nasa Japanese restaurant na raw sila," Ate Liz told us when got into the van. "In thirty minutes nandun na rin tayo."

I had a good nap on our way to the resto.

"Sa restroom muna ako ha," I informed them when we arrived.

"Sunod ka sa function room ha," Ate Liz advised.

***
(Deanna said)

After shrieks of excitement, I received warm hugs from Ate Ly and Ate Liz. I collided with them on my way to the rest room.

"Babalik ako kaagad. Kwentuhan tayo later," I told them.

They were trying to tell me something but I didn't hear it as I ran away. I couldn't control my bladder any longer.

When I entered, there was someone singing. The voice sent me shivers.

"Di... Di ko inakalang
Darating din sa akin
Nung ako'y nanalangin kay bathala
Naubusan ng bakit..."

Jema's here. I thought to myself. My heart was pounding. I locked myself in the next cubicle.

"Bakit umalis ng walang sabi?
Bakit 'di siya lumaban kahit konti?
Bakit 'di maitama ang tadhana?"

I couldn't control my tears. I finally heard the voice I was longing to hear.

I dragged myself back to the room after collecting myself. I peeked through the glass door to check. All of the seats were taken except one--the one beside Jema.

A guy entered the room and walked towards Jema's direction. I initially thought he was a waiter working there. I followed him since he's blocking Jema's line of sight.

"Hi Babe!" he said. I was surprised when he gave Jema a kiss on her cheek. "Sorry kung hindi na ako umabot sa airport sa traffic."

"Okay lang," Jema answered. "At least nandito ka na."

Jema stood up and hugged the guy. That was when Jema and I finally met eye-to-eye. I froze.

"Mark, this is Deanna, former teammate namin ni Ate Ly," Ate Jia said, rescuing me. "Deanna, meet Mark, Jema's boyfriend."

We shook hands before I walked to the other side of the table. They created a space for me across Jema.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Mark. I felt like I was not in the position to do so," Ate Jia whispered to me. "Hindi ko rin naman alam na pupunta siya dito."

"It's okay, Ate Jia," I answered. "I'm actually happy for Jema that she found someone great."

I said it with sincerity. I was really relieved to see that Jema had moved on.

I was trying to distract myself with food but I kept on hearing their conversation.

"Huhulaan ko order mo," Mark said to Jema. "Ramen noh?"

"Wala ako sa mood mag-ramen ngayon," Jema answered.

"Aba! Minsan lang yan ah. May sakit ka yata." Mark caressed Jema's forehead then her face. Jema caught Mark's hand and put it down.

"You know what Deanna?" Mark started engaging me in a conversation. "Hindi pwedeng walang ramen sa order ni Jema kung sa Japanese restaurant kami kakain."

He probably noticed I ordered ramen.

"Comfort food," Jema and I blurted at the same time. The room fell silent.

"So Mark," I said flushing out the awkwardness. "Paano kayo nagkakilala?"

Mark wrapped her arm around Jema. "I love telling this story. When I moved to Manila, I found this park where I would jog. Sa araw-araw yata na ginawa ng Diyos eh merong babaeng nakaupo lang dun, nakasimangot. So I made it my mission to make that girl smile again. Nakakasira na kasi siya sa ganda ng park."

"Hay nako!" Jema complained but then she smiled. I died a little knowing that I took that smile away and now she's smiling because of someone else.

"See that smile?" Mark said. "My mission now is to see that smile everyday... whatever it takes."

"Kinikilig ako kahit ilang beses ko na narinig," Risa commented. Ate Alex elbowed her softly that Risa made a peace sign.

"That's a lovely story," I managed to say.

The rest of the orders were served. The commotion saved me from asking Mark more questions and eventually hurting myself.

I quickly finished my food and said my goodbyes to the team. I needed to get out of there.

"Attend training tomorrow," Coach Taid said and everyone chuckled.

"I'll check my schedule, Coach," I answered, scratching my head.

Ate Liz volunteered to walk me out. She stayed with while waiting for my ride to arrive.

"Deans, I need to tell you this," she said. "When you left Jema, I saw how devastated she was but she hid it well from everybody else. Now I could say she's happy again... with Mark. Team Jedean talaga ako noon pero kung sinong magpapasaya kay Mare, doon ako."

"I completely understand, Ate Liz," I answered. "Jema deserves someone whose happiness depends on hers."