Waiting for Love

Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Better Together

"Nakapag-review na ba kayo?" rinig kong pagsasalita ni Lilli sa gitna nang pag-kain namin ng lunch.

"Periodical Exam na pala sa susunod na araw," saad ni Marph pagkatapos niyang kagatin ang burger na binili niya.

Naramdaman kong bigla na lang akong kinurot ng katabi ko. Nilingon ko ito at nakita ko si Tani na nakatingin sa akin. Nanliliit ang mga mata niyang nakatingin sa akin.

"Hoy, paano nga kayo naging close ni Grae?"

Simula nung araw na malaman nila na nagkausap kami ni Grae, at naging magkaibigan kami. Lalo na ng malaman nila na kapitbahay ko lang ito ay lagi nila akong kinukulit at pinapaliguan ng maraming katanungan.

Ilang araw, linggo at buwan na ang nakalipas sa buhay ko. Pero patuloy pa rin ako sa pag-abot ng pangarap ko, at sa buhay na gusto kong maranasan.

I have enough strength and courage to continue living, to continue on fighting. I have a lot of people besides me that became a reason to be my strength to fight, and to be my courage to continue living my life, to continue achieving my dream.

From my mother who became my hope, to my brother who is my wisdom, my best of friends who are one of my strength, and even my teachers who are one of my greatest motivator to my life, to myself.

We can't continue on living if we don't have some person that can be our companion to our journey. Kailangan natin ng karamay, kasama para magpatuloy. Kasi isa sila sa magiging rason natin para maabot ang gusto nating para sa buhay at sa sarili natin.

No man is an island. We need a companion, a member, a comrade, and also a supporter along our way towards the end of the journey. We always need help from someone, we can't be alone.

We cannot fight alone; whatever our plan, we depends on other people. We need to discuss our plan, strategy, to ask for help, and, in moments of relaxation, to someone with whom can we sit by the fire.

"Dapat may name ang pagka-kaibigan natin," Marph suggested to us, happily.

I am blessed that I met them, that they enter my life without giving a doubt. I am thankful, and always be grateful that I shared and created memories with them. And I will always treasure the moment, the day that we decide to crossed our paths.

Lilli spoked. "We are an art student, and future art hero. So, what about... Arteam?"

Because of them I experienced a lot of things, I laugh a little harder, cry a little less, and smile a lot more.

They became one of my strength, one of the source of my bravery. And also, one of the source of my happiness.

There is a family, there are friends, and then there are friends that become family.

"Arteam. A team is a team. We will make a reality together."

Tani looked at us. Slowly, I saw her lips turned into a curve. A smile that you can always wear everyday. A smile that will bring light to our life.

"We are always better together."

And that's how our team created a stronger bond between us. Like, a little kind of unbreakable bond.

I imagine them inside my head when the day comes that they finally succeed on achieving their dream that they want, and the life that they've always wanted since the beginning.

From Tanya Mae Salvador, being a well-known dancer.

"Dancers don't need wings to fly, we can fly through our movement between the beats."

Marshalyn Pearly Sanchez, being an award-winning theater actress.

"Acting is to be someone else with ease while being yourself. Theater is my second home."

To Lilliana Jade Brites, being a published and well-known writer.

"I'm not vocal. I love being more non-verbal, because I voiced out my words without hesitation."

Isa ako sa mga taong magiging masaya kapag dumating araw na pinakahinihintay nila sa kanilang buhay. I will be their nunber one supporter until the end of time. I will be their first and last believer until the end of my life, and until the last stroke of my brush as a painter.

"Earth to Jhuliet." Bumalik ako sa sarili ko ng magsalita muli si Marph.

"Muntik na kaming malunod sa lalim ng pag-iisip mo, mind to share it?" she added.

"Ah, wala iyon. Biglang nag-daydream lang ako," saad ko bago ko kinain ang natitirang siomai sa lagayan ko.

"Ano naman iyon? Huwag mong sabihin, si Grae iyon?" Tani stated while her eyes widened.

Nagsalita si Lilli. "Sabihin mo lang sa amin kung crush mo siya, ilalakad ka namin sa kanya."

"Huwag nga kayong ganyan!" reklamo ko sa kanila.

"At saka kayo iyong iniisip ko, hindi siya. I just imagine the day when all of you succeed."

Bigla silang tumigil sa pag-kain. Tulala na tumingin sila sa akin. I saw how Marph's mouth slightly drop. How Lilli bit her lower lip, at kung paano nasamid si Tani sa iniinom niyang juice.

"Grabe naman iyon," masamid-samid na pagsasalita ni Tani. Marahan niyang tinatapik ang dibdib niya.

"Ang advance mo naman masyado, hinay-hinay lang," naiiling na saad sa akin ni Marph.

"Jhuliet loves us so much," pagbibiro ni Lilli bago niya kinagat ang french fries na hawak niya.

"Ang sweet naman ni Jhuliet sa amin, swerte naman ni Grae," sunod naman na pagbibiro ni Marph sa akin.

Narinig ko pa ang mahina niyang pagtawa matapos niyang sabihin iyon sa akin.

"Kumain na nga lang kayo, nang-aasar pa eh," pagtataray ko sa kanila at uminom ng juice na binili ko.

"Don't worry, kapag dumating iyong araw na nagtagumpay ako at nagiging kilalang mananayaw. Sagot ko na iyong ticket sa dance concert ko para sa inyo," natatawang saad ni Tani sa akin.

"Bigatin naman po pala ni Tani," biro ni Marph.

"Kukunin ko kayong staff sa theater ko, si Tani iyong gagawin kong choreographer, si Lilli iyong magiging playwright, tapos si Jhuliet iyong magiging set designer," dagdag ni Marph.

"Ay, bet ko iyan!" saad ni Tani ng buong galak.

Nagtanong si Marph. "Eh, kayo? Anong gagawin niyo?"

Nagsalita si Lilli. "I will create a novel about us, about our journey. From the beginning until the day we succeed."

"Naluluha ako, ano ba iyan!" reklamo ni Marph.

I am luck to have them. "Ikaw, Jhuliet?" tanong ni Lilli.

I smiled at them. "I will create a lot of masterpiece that are dedicated to all of you. Tapos ilalagay ko iyon sa art exhibit ko, I will show to the people the true meaning of our bond when it comes to art."

I know that day will come, and I will wait for it.