Tadhana

Prologue

"Bakit hindi pa tayo nag-oorder? May hinihintay pa ba tayo?" Nakakunot ang noong tanong ko sa matalik kong kaibigan na si Kathleen.

Nagkita kami sa Conti's sa may Trinoma para kumain at pagkatapos ay manood ng sine dahil ilang buwan na din kaming hindi nagkikita. Simula noong nag-graduate kami ng college ay nawalan na rin kami ng oras para mag-bonding. We used to eat out atleast once a month before and talk about what we've missed in each other's lives.

Kath and I are bestfriends. I grew up with her in the province until her family decided to transfer to Manila. We reunited when I went to college but we enrolled in different schools and took up different courses. She's a Certified Public Accountant while I am a Registered Nurse. She works as a freelancer, habang ako, pagkatapos mag-volunteer sa isang pampublikong ospital sa aming probinsiya at makapagtrabaho sa goberyno ng ilang taon ay napagdesisyunan na maging isang full time baker. We definitely like taking different directions but that only made our friendship grow stronger. The only thing that we have in common is our love for each other. We understand each other like no one else.

Kathleen smiled sweetly at me before answering, "He's already on his way na daw. Huwag ka ng mainip okay? Or we can order now if you're already hungry.."

"Why wasn't I informed that we have company today?" I spat at her, but she's too nice to even flinch.

"This is also unexpected, bubb." She started explaining. "Wait—-," may sasabihin pa sana siya pero naputol dahil may nakita. I am seated against the front door and I can't have a view of who she's staring at. She smiled to the person, waved her hand, and greeted him, "Hi Vince!" That made me stay still. I'm not sure who she's referring to, but I know someone named Vince. Yung crush kong anak ng celebrity. Pero di naman siguro. Di naman niya nabanggit dati na kilala niya yon.

I felt the guy behind me, and stopped right at our table. Nararamdaman kong nakatingin siya sa'kin pero hindi ako tumitingin. Kinakabahan ako.

"Hey," that voice. Oh. Em. Gee.

Naramdaman kong nakatingin sa akin ang best friend ko and urging me to look at the guy and say something. Nilakihan niya ang singkit niyang mata, pero hindi ako kumilos. Tumahimik lang ako.

"Uhm..." Kathleen started, "Vince, have a seat." She offered the vacant seat beside me! This girl is really crazy! Ginulat na nga ako tapos sakin pa itatabi. Umupo na si Vince sa tabi ko pero di ko pa din sinusulyapan. Eh kasi naman.

"Thank you.." Vince spoke, "Kath," Aba at talagang kay Kathleen lang nagpasalamat! Eh upuan kaya sa tabi ko yung inupuan niya! "And to your friend." That made me stop thinking.

"Naku, ako nga ang dapat magpasalamat sa'yo kasi ikaw pa talaga ang pumunta dito. I know how busy you are." Kathleen said while also signalling me to speak up or do something. I'm dumbfounded and seemed at lost for words. I didn't expect this to happen today. I am not prepared!

I saw from my peripheral vision how Vince's eye smiled together with his lips. Tama ba yun? Ewan. Basta noong ngumiti siya parang nalaglag ang panty ko.

"No worries, Kath. We haven't seen each other in a long time. Nagtatanong si Mama kung kailan ka daw bibisita ulit sa kanya." Vince's reply made me even more sensitive to their conversation. Magkakilala sila dati pa? Bakit di ko alam? "Nami-miss daw niya yung Morcon ng Mommy mo." Pagpapatuloy pa nito, pagkatapos ay tumawa ng mahina. Sobrang finesse. Ang gwapo sa pandinig.

Tumawa din naman ang best friend ko. Sige tawa pa more.

"Oo nga pala. I promised I'll pay her a visit but I've been so busy lately. Maybe I'll do that one of these days—," hindi pa siya tapos magsalita ay doon ko napiling magsalita. Kanina pa sila nag uusap pero di pa din ako naipapakilala! Bukod doon, nagugutom na din ako, ha. Kanina pa kami dito.