The One For Me (For EDITING)

FOURTEEN

DANNY~

I was on my way to my office because Im processing one of our client's event when suddenly I heard someone scream.

"Oh bro, kamusta ka na? No time no see ah!" Ford shouted while approaching me.

Kumain sila ng friends nya sa resto kasi may birthday daw ang isa sa kanila. Parehang pareha talaga sila ni Bata. Napaka jolly.

"Oo nga bro, been so busy this past few days. Im good, how about you?" I answered and asking him to sit down with one of the unoccupied table.

"Good din. Aalis kami lahat papuntang Davao this Sunday bro. We'll be there for a week. Excited na nga ako eh! Namimiss ko na family namin doon!"

"Is that so? Is bata coming? Dont they have classes?"

"Yes bro. Isasama nya si Apollo. Semestral break na nila pati ako. Sinabihan kasi kami ni papa na pwede kaming magdala ng friend as long as sila gagastos ng plane ticket back and forth para sa sarili nila. Hindi kasi kami mayaman bro. Hihi." He said while laughing.

"Shut up. Hahaha. I heard about Davao and many told me its a beautiful city. Have fun there bro." I said while laughing too.

"Hahahaha. After we eat here nga pupunta ako sa ticketing office para magpabook."

"You want me to accompany you bro? After I finalize the upcoming events here at resto Im gonna be free na."

"Are you also free the whole next week?" He asked, grinning.

"Yes. Why bro?"

"Bingo! Ikaw nalang ang isasama kong kaibigan! Total mayaman ka naman so okay lang na gagastos ka ng plane ticket. Magugustuhan mo doon bro! Fresh na fresh. Ano?! Game ka?!"

Nag isip ako. Yeah he's right. I work all the time and sometimes a guy like me needs some break too.

"Game! I'll just let my partner handle the resto for a while."

"Astig! Okay bro, sabay na tayo magpabook. Sasabihan ko na rin si Estelle na sasama ka."

"Wag bro! I want to surprise her. Hahahaha."

"Okay. Im sure matutuwa yun."

And Im going with them. I hope this a good idea. After I finish my work, I go with Ford in a ticketing office. After we had booked our flight we went to the mall to buy everything we need.

"Bro, bili ka ng mosquito repellant, kakailanganin mo yan. When we go camping." Ford said.

"Camping? Sounds fun ah." I said.

"Fun talaga. Everytime kasi na uuwi kami sa Davao, our family will go camping doon sa isang lake na malapit sa bahay."

"Ganon ba. Sige bro."

Natapos na kaming mag grocery. Me and Ford seperate ways at ako naman ay dumiretso sa puntod ni Marisse.

"Hey beautiful. How are you? I know nagsasawa ka nang marinig to pero I miss you so much. You remember Estelle right? Yung kamukha mo. Alam mo ang gaan gaan ng loob ko sa kanya. Wag kang magseselos ha? Bata pa yun. Hahahaha." I said while putting the flowers near her tomb.

"Her kuya invited me to go with them at Davao. And pumayag naman ako, I hope okay lang yun sayo. Wag kang mag alala, I'll take good care of myself alright?"

I just sat there and reminiscing all the memories we had back then. It was like a bittersweet feeling. It kinda hurts but I know shes in a good place right now and shes always by my side. I talked and talked and talked. Talking about my life and everything. It was as if she was just right there. And it makes me feel so much better. When I lost Marisse I realized that when you truly love someone, you'd still love them even when they are gone. Because its just their bodies that is gone, but I know that their presence is still there and it'll stay in our hearts forever.

"Beautiful, I'll go ahead. I have some papers to finish. I miss you. And I love you always." I said.

I went back to resto and do all the things I have to finish. It was past ten when Im done and I close the resto, and went straight home. I took a shower and after I go to sleep.

It was Saturday evening. I was busy packing up my things when,

*RING! RING! RING!*

I looked at my phone to see whos calling and it was Ford.

"Bro! You ready for tomorrow?" Ford said on the other line.

"Yes. Im packing up now."

"Magkita nalang tayo bukas sa may cafeteria ng airport para sabay tayo magboard."

"Wag bro. Mauna na kayo. I'll just board alone. I'll just meet you up at Davao airport. And dont tell Estelle. Dont let her see me." I said while laughing.

"Loko loko ka talaga. Osige. You take care bro. Goodnight!'

And he hung up. After I packed my things, I went to bed and sleep.

Our flight is 10:30am and Im running late. Natanghali ako ng gising. It was 9:10 na and I have to hurry. I arrived at the airport and I looked at my watch, shit! 9:20 na! I ran papasok ng airport. As in takbo talaga ng mabilis, I was like in a race when suddenly I bumped myself on someone at natumba sya, sa sobrang pagmamadali ay hindi ko na sya nilingon at patuloy lang ako sa pagtakbo. I immediately board myself. The time I was settled down it was 9:49am. Thank God at umabot ako. I saw them a few meters away and I saw bata from the comfort room, pabalik na sya sa seat nya. Nagtakip ako ng mukha at baka makita nya ako. Nang makarating sya sa seat nya, I noticed na parang galit at badtrip kasi nakakunot ang noo neto. I just ignored her and hid myself. Hindi nya dapat ako makita.

After an hour, we arrived. Pinauna ko lang sila baba and Ford saw me and just winked. Nang makapasok na ako sa airport, I texted Ford kung nasaan na sila and he replied na nasa may lobby sila at nag aantay ng sundo. Pinuntahan ko sila and nang makita ko, I approached them and they saw me.

I swear to God na sobrang epic ng itsura ni Estelle. Lets say nakanganga sya and I can see that shes thinking what the hell Im doing here at Davao. And Apollo was like mad or something. Sumimangot kasi ito nang makita ako at bigla syang lumapit kay Estelle. Weird talaga ang batang to. I just smiled at them, nagpipigil ng tawa.

"Danny! Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Tanong ni Tita Esther.

"Ford invited me to come with you all here. I hope its okay for you maam?"

"Oo naman! Masaya nga ako at nakasama ka. Bakit hindi ka sumabay sa amin kanina?" She asked.

"I was trying to surprise someone kasi." I told her and looked at Estelle. "Diba bata?" Sabi ko sabay kindat.

And I cant help but laugh because Estelle is still on shock, hindi sya makasagot at nakatingin lang sa akin. Well this is gonna be a fun vacation. I noticed na may dumi ang damit niya.

"Anong nangyari sayo bata? Bakit madumi damit mo? Magbihis ka doon." nagtataka kong sabi.

"Ah eto po? Nasa maleta ang mga damit ko kuya tanda eh. Mahirap kunin. May isang lalake kasi na nakabangga sa akin, may dala akong juice at pagkain. Natumba ako at nabitawan ko ito kaya dumiretso sa damit ko. Tumatakbo sya ng mabilis nun kaya hindi ko nakita mukha nya kasi nakatalikod ako at ang bilis ng pangyayari." Galit nyang sabi.

Ooops.