Courage To Let Go( Completed )

Chapter 4 ~ Chance Encounter

ANOTHER weekend has passed. She woke up in the morning with rays of the sun touching her skin, the twittering of birds from everywhere, and the warm breeze flying in from the windows. “Morning, my precious,” she said as she greeted her not-so-huge baby bump. She opened her eyes and squinted at her phone. At almost five in the morning, it’s time to face life again.

“Why won’t you wake me at five? I’m late again,” she’s talking to the angel inside her belly. She took a deep breath, then pulled herself up to get up. She had to get up. She needs to prepare breakfast for herself as early as she can. 

The sun had not yet risen; it was still dark outside. It was cold yet refreshing. Every day had been the same since her man left her, except for her growing tummy, her dislike of foods, her nausea, and her cravings for seasonal fruits.

“This is life! I have no right to complain. I will survive because there's a little life inside me.” With a smile on her lips, she touched her little bump again and took a deep breath. “Rephrase it, Priscille. We have to survive,” she continued, talking about her little treasure inside her as if it were talking back.

She needs to get up early because today is her grocery day. Kailangan niyang mamalengke nang maaga para hindi siya maabutan ng matinding init sa Market. Thanks, God, dahil busy si Tyron. Medyo nahihiya na siya sa kaibigan, dahil palaging sa kaniya na lang nito inilalaan ang oras. Nagpaalam ang binata na may pupuntahan itong site sa karatig bayan, kaya hindi siya masasamahan nito mag-grocery. Kaya pa naman niyang mag-drive. Kinuha na niya ang susi sa mesa at lumabas ng bahay para mamalengke.

Ilang oras din siyang nanatili sa market at grocery store. Medyo maaga pa naman, kaya napagdesisyunan niya munang dumaan sa coffee shop na pinupuntahan niya. Bitbit ang pinamili ay naghanap ito ng bakanteng mesa at umupo, lumapit naman agad ang waitress para kunin ang kaniyang order. “Coffee latte and bread, please,” she said.

As she sat in the empty chair, she remembered Onyx again. She remembers how happy they used to be together while talking and sipping coffee in this shop. Ilang beses na rin kasi silang nakapunta sa shop na ito at nagkukuwentuhan ng kung ano-ano. Bigla na naman tuloy nabago ang mood niya,  na kanina lang ay magaan ang pakiramdam. Ngayon nga’y kaagad nang nabalot ng lungkot ang kaniyang pagkatao. Naawa siya sa bata dahil wala itong makikilalang ama sa paglabas.

Time flies; she’s in the middle of contemplating her uncertain future. She saw a young man playing with his cup while staring outside. Priscille somehow felt a connection to this man; she had experienced heartbreak in her own life, and she saw it in the young man’s face. “C’mon Priscille! You had your own pain why this man caught her attention twice,” she’s talking to herself, but she finds herself walking towards him. Curiosity lifted her feet, and she mustered the courage to strike up a simple conversation with the stranger.

“Uhm, hi.” Priscille felt a little ashamed. But a guy smiled at him sweetly.

“Hi,” he replied, putting down his phone and sitting properly while staring at her face.

“You look familiar,” she smiled and said.

“Really? I’m Hezron,” pakilala niya at sabay lahad ng kamay na mukhang nanlalamig pa. Hindi siya makapaniwala na lalapitan siya ng babaeng nakakuha ng kaniyang atensyon nitong nakaraang Linggo.

“Hezron,” she repeated. “Kahit ang pangalan mo ay may kahawig,” she added. Tinanggap ni Priscille ang kamay ni Hezron at niyayang maupo sa bakanteng upuan na kaharap niya. Mukhang komportable naman siya.

“I’m Priscille,” pakilala nito. Hindi nakaligtas dito ang mga titig ni Hezron sa kaniyang mga labi.

‘The hell! She’s pregnant!’ sa isip ni Priscille. Parang pakiramdam niya’y nag-init ang kaniyang magkabilaang pisngi. ‘Why is he gazing at my lips?’ medyo nahiyang tanong ni Priscille sa sarili.