Will you continue battling regardless of whether the one you are fighting for is as of the moment giving up? How can you fight if the reason you're fighting for wants to end it?
This is a story of a family who is fighting cancer. After months of bat...
I arrived at the place an hour late at sinalubong naman ako ni Richard kasama ang girlfriend niya na si Dawn.
"Happy birthday, Goma!! Tumatanda ka na!!" I greeted him as I gave him two bottles of my finest wine in our company.
"Nagsalita ang mas matanda sa'kin ng ilang taon! Hahahaha! Siya nga pala, bat ka nalate?" He said immediately as soon as he saw me.
"Nagkaroon kasi ng emergency meeting kanina tapos na traffic pa. Nakabangga pa ko," I laughed as I remembered what happened earlier.
"Lumang style na 'yan, pareho pa kayo ng Ate ko ng rason kung bakit late," Dawn snickered and took a gander at a lady who was conversing with Dawn's mother. Nilingon ko yung babaeng tinutukoy niya. Mukhang kakarating nga lang kasi kakabeso palang niya.
My eyes were locked when she turned around. It's her. The woman who looks like Angelina Jolie. Or then again should I say, prettier than Angelina Jolie. Yung mabait na nabangga ko kanina.
My world halted when I saw her smile. Yung tipong siya lang yung nakikita ko.
'Di ko namalayan, nakalapit na pala siya sa amin kasi tinawag siya ng kapatid niya.
"Pangalawa na 'yan ha?" She said playfully.
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"Magkakilala kayo?" Richard asked confusingly.
"Sabi ko sa'yo diba? Nakabangga nga ako kanina, at sa kanya yung kotse. Buti hindi nga nagdemanda eh," I explained.
"Mister, we're both at fault sa nangyari, so why would I file a case against you kung alam ko naman sa sarili ko na may kasalanan din ako sa nangyari," she said.
I just laughed as Richard and Dawn excused themselves because they were called by someone.
But before Dawn left, she whispered something to her sister which I didn't put much attention to it because most of my attention was on the woman before me.
"Albert," inilahad ko yung kamay ko, "Albert Martinez," pakilala ko.
She once again gave me a sweet smile, "Julia Valdes, but you can call me Eula," tinanggap niya yung kamay ko.
'Eula.. What a lovely name. It coordinates her lovely face' I thought. But it sounds familiar tho. Pero imposible namang nakilala ko siya dati kasi kung oo, I doubt na makakalimutan ko pa siya.
"Strike three, Mr. Martinez. Kanina ka pa titig nang titig sa'kin," mapang-asar niyang sabi. "Di ko alam kung may dumi ba sa mukha ko or something."
I just laughed and just asked her if she has already eaten to divert the topic.
Umiling siya, "Tara, sabay na tayo kumain. Or baka may iba kang kasama?"
"Sabay na tayo, kumain na rin sila Mommy eh," she said that made me smile. She's one of a kind. A very joyous person.
-----
We got our meal, said our own prayer and nagsimula na siya kumain.
"Bakit 'di ka kumakain? Okay ka lang?" She asked concernedly.
I nodded and began eating na din. Silence invaded our table, kaming dalawa lang naman nandito.
"So, Mr. Martinez, what do you do? Anong work mo?" She broke the silence.
"You can call me Albert, mukha naman akong matanda sa Mr. Martinez," I chuckled. "And to answer your question, I own Martinez Corporation," I said confidently.
"Anong company yun? Anong prinoproduce niyo?" She asked curiously.
"We make wines, various of wines," and she answered a simple "okay.."
"Di ka ba umiinom ng wine?" I asked.
She shakes her head, "We have a history of liver cancer kasi, and I'm scared na baka makuha ko rin 'to. So as much as possible, iniiwasan ko lahat ng mag-iincrease ng risk ko to get cancer, like drinking alcohol. Kaya I don't drink. And, uy no offense ha? Ayoko rin ng lasa ng alak, ang pait pait. Di ko nga alam kung paano niyo naiinom yun eh. Hahaha," she said. "Ikaw? Di ka ba natatakot na magkaroon ng cancer kung lagi kang umiinom ng wine na gawa ninyo?"
"I drink moderately naman at paminsan-minsan lang din," I explained. "I love drinking wine pero alam ko pa rin naman how to control." I told her.
She gestured, "That's good."
"Hmm, ikaw? What do you do?"
"I own a boutique, Eula's Choice." she said. Sabi na eh. Her name sounds familiar. Dun pala.
"Sabi ko na, familliar yung name mo. Ikaw yung may-ari ng Eula's Choice. I bought a dress for my mom noon para sa birthday niya," I saw her smile.
"Kamusta? Nagustuhan ba niya?"
"Yes, in fact, favorite niya yun hanggang ngayon. Sabi niya, galing na nga raw sa'kin tapos ang ganda ganda pa tingnan. Elegant, exquisite," her eyes twinkled.
"Salamat naman, tell your mom I said thank you," she smiled genuinely and I returned one as well.
"Maiba ako, do you like watching movies?"
Umiling ulit siya, "No, I prefer reading books haha mas naiimagine ko pag ganon tapos peaceful din," she answered. "Pero I love watching Korean Dramas, how 'bout you?"
"I don't watch Korean Dramas and I'm not that into books. I love watching movies kasi like you, sa movies ko naman nahahanap yung relaxation na kailangan ko," I explained.
We talked about a lot of things and I can say, we were completely different from each other.
-----
We finished eating, and sakto the band started playing love songs which made couples dance on the dance floor.
I didn't know what happened, but I found myself asking Eula to dance.
"C-can I have this dance, Ms. Valdes?" I asked nervously with my hand infront of her.
She smiled and took my hand. We went in the middle and 'the band started playing 'With A Smile.' My favorite song.
I put my hands in her waist and she put hers on my shoulder.
"That's my favorite song," she murmured.
"Me too," I whispered back.
That was one thing that is common to both of us. Our favorite song by Eraserheads.
We both swayed to the rhythm of the song and sometimes sang with the singer too.
-----
"Thank you, Mr. Martinez," she said as we went back to our seats.
"Sabi ko naman sa'yo, don't call me Mr. Martinez, nakakatanda," I said that made her giggle. "You called me Ms. Valdes din kanina when I can recall impeccably na I said you can call me Eula, nakakatanda rin kaya yang Ms. Valdes. Kaya ayan, quits na tayo."
"Haha okay, fine, Eula.." I surrendered. "The pleasure is all mine, Eula. And thank you, as well." I said sincerely.
"You're welcome, Albert," she said with her sweetest smile.
-----
We were completely opposites, but as we state in science, opposites attract..
