"Monette anak saan ka pupunta?" Mom asked me when she saw me running down the stairs. Its sunday kaya talagang magtataka siya kung bakit bihis na bihis ako.
"Mamamasyal lang po"
"May kasama ka ba?" Tumango naman ako.
"Kaibigan ko po" Agap ko at magmadaling hinalikan siya sa pisngi I didn't gave her the chance para usisain pa ako ng husto.
May usapan kami ni Jack ngayon na magkita, a date perhaps. Well, he said its not a date he just wanted to treat me out but for me its a date. A guy would never simply ask a girl just to treat her specially if alam niyo sa isa't isang hindi lang pagkakaibigan ang nararamdaman niyo.
Pagkarating ko sa park kung saan kami magkikita ay naupo muna ako, masyado ata akong napaaga ng punta. Tomorrow's our flight to Korea that's why I'm eager to see him early to have more time with him. Naaliw naman ako sa mga batang naglalaro sa paligid, if only I have a younger sibling madalas rin siguro kami mamasyal sa parke.
Minutes and hours had passed, no Jack Olivares had shown. I took a deep sigh and looked at my watch, isang oras pa Monette. I'll wait for an hour. Nilibang ko nalang muna ang sarili ko sa pagkain ng street foods until I decided just to go home, papalubog narin naman ang araw. Naglakad lang ako pauwi since malapit lang naman ito sa subdivision na tinutuluyan namin.
"Monette!" Napalingon naman ako ng may tumawag sa akin and to my surprise its Jack. Hinihingal niyang tinawid ang pagitan naming dalawa.
"Tumakbo ka ba?" I asked him even if its obvious and he just nodded.
"Nagbabakasakali akong maabutan kita, pasensya na nagkaroon lang ng problema sa bahay" Hinihingal parin niyang sabi sa akin. I handed him my bottled water na nabili ko kanina habang bumibili ng pagkain sa park.
"Thanks" he said and drank the water. "I know its late but can I still have your time? Kahit 30 minutes lang" dagdag niya.
I nodded. I guess 30 minutes is enough than have nothing. I really can't go home late today maaga pa kaming aalis bukas. Kaya naman wala na kaming inaksayang oras at bumalik sa park. Within that time we waste nothing we ate again and played quickly, nakipag habulan sa mga batang naglalaro parin roon. Nang mapagod ay napag pasyahan naming maupo sa swing upang doon magpahinga.
"Jack/Monette" Pagsasabay namin. Natawa naman kami sa nangyari
"You go first" he said. I gave him my sweet and genuine smile.
"Gusto ko lang magpasalamat"
"Saan naman?"
"Sa lahat?"
"You don't need to thank me, I enjoyed every moment with you" Nag init naman ang mga tenga ko sa tinuran niya, the effects of Jack Olivares to Monette Fabrigas.
"Jack, Is being a CPA is really your dream?" I asked him and he nodded as an answer.
"Pre course" Nangunot naman ang noo ko sa sinabi niya
"You planned to have a second degree?"
"I want to become a Lawyer someday"
Napangiti naman ako as I imagined him wearing his suit with his client. Atty. Jack Noah Olivares, CPA suits perfectly.
"Ikaw ba? Have you planned out what you want to become?" I nodded.
"I will continue studying BSA still while doing my passion on skating" I said dreamingly
"Good for you" he said. Nilingon ko naman siya and I saw him staring at me. Mabilis ko namang inilag ang aking mga mata.
"Jack?"
"Hmmm?"
"Uwi na tayo" he nodded and we started to walk. Makalipas ng ilang minutong paglalakad nakarating kami sa bahay.
"I guess this is a goodbye for now" he nodded.
"Pumasok ka na" Tumango naman ako at mag aamba ng papasok sa gate ng may ma alala ako, nilingon ko naman siya at nakitang nagtataka kung bakit huminto ako sa pagbukas ng gate.
"Jack?" He just stared at me listening attentively on what I am going to say.
"Can you promise me something?"
"Promise what?"
"Promise me you will chase your dreams" I said. He gave me his sweetest smile and filled the spaces between us.
"As you also promise me to keep your dreams soaring" he said and kissed my forehead.
[Present]
The crowd are starting to get wild as the participants went out for appearance before the competition get started, before we start we get to be interviewed briefly first. I am sitting in front bench with some of the competitors as I wait for my turn to be interviewed. I stared at the bracelet he gave to me before leaving, a silver bracelet designed with snowflakes with my engraved name on it, Chasing dreams it was written beside my name.
"Nervous?" I lifted my head and saw Blace in front of me.
"Blace!" I immediately hugged her and back to where I was seated after. Naupo naman siya sa tabing upuan ko.
"Yes, I've been doing this my whole life but it feels like my first time everytime I here the crowd chanting their bias' names"
"Ms. Fabrigas may I interview you for a while? Just a quick questions" A journalist cut our conversation and called me.
"Sure" I said smiling.
"Before anything else, I want to ask how are you? You've been gone for too long after your last competition how's the feeling to be back again?"
"I'm fine, I just got my degree and I planned to pursue and focus now on skating"
"Are you back for good?"
"Yes I am"
"Do still have plans to visit Philippines? I heard you have plenty of fans there"
"In time yes and I plan to stay there too"
"May I know when?"
"No exact date yet"
"Last question, Do you have plans to reveal the mystery guy you've always dedicate your performance with? The story you have written is quite popular specially for the teens. We want to know, is Noah his real name?"
"And she is back! May we call on, the gold medalist and 2019 champion the Sitting Spin Queen of the Philippines, Ms. Clarissa Monette Fabrigas"
As I heard my name being called I excused myself to her.
"Just give us a clue Ms. Fabrigas" she added. Nilingon ko naman siya.
"CPA like mine" I said and went out to the crowd.
Its been years, but the story I had with him will always be with me. Hindi na kami muling nakabalik pa ng Pilipinas at ipinagpatuloy nalang ang pag aaral ko sa ibang bansa hanggang sa magtapos. Matapos ang competition sa Korea ay lumipad kami pabalik ng states at dito na namalagi at naisipang isulat at ikwento ang panandaliang panahon na kasama ko siya. I should have known that's the last time we will be together. The promise we had for each other is still here.
The temporary time I had with Jack will always leave a permanent happiness in me.
