Basta't Kasama Kita

Prologue

“Pare, you will not believe who just left my office,” Fred told his bestfriend on the phone.

“You woke me up just to tell me that?” ang sagot naman ni Greg.

“I’ve got two words for you, bro… Alessandra Gallego.” The other end of the line went quiet. “Bro, are you still there?” Fred asked when his friend didn’t react. “Gising ka na ba?”

“Why was she there?”

“Remember I told you that I have a vacancy for an Account Executive? Another friend recommended her to me. We just finished with the interview.”

“Are you going to hire her?”

“I am inclined to. She was highly recommended and her credentials are really good.”

“Okay. Hire her. I’ll be there in about three weeks. Aayusin ko lang ang mga bagay dito.”

“Sira-ulo ka ba? You’re leaving everything behind just for her.”

“This is my last shot. Matagal ko nang hinintay ito. Basta uuwi ako.”

“Ikaw ang bahala bro. Just let me know kung anong plano mo.”

“I will. I’ll just call you.”

“O sige, bro. Matulog ka na ulit.”

“Paano pa ako makakatulog n’yan? You just dropped a bomb on me.”

“A good bomb that is.”

“Yeah… a really beautiful bomb.”

The next three weeks went by like a breeze for Greg. He took care of everything that he will be leaving behind in the US and got ready for his homecoming.

While waiting for his flight to board, he sat in one of the coffee shops inside the airport. He got out his wallet and pulled a photo of a girl. It was Sandra’s graduation picture in college. All these years he has kept it with him and with the promise that he will come back for her. “Malapit na ulit kitang makita sa personal. Sana this time pwede na tayo,” he said to her picture.