I was bombarded with greeting and it feels good. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you! Mom, thank you very much for the gift and...for this celebration." Sambit ko.
"Where's Asher? Is he coming? Its already dinner." My mom asks.
"Mom he is busy – lets have dinner." I replied. Maybe he can't make it tonight – he is a busy man after all; he promises to congratulate me on the day of my graduation but he's not even here however I understand him.
My family together with my friends are having our dinner when someone knocks on the door, for me to not be disappointed I did not look at door – he is not coming because he is busy and he's still probably at the work.
"Am sorry." Bungad niya sa akin sabay nun ang paglingon ko "Is this seat taken?" he asks referring to the seat next to me.
"No" matipid kong sagot. "Come on, let's eat" pag aya ko. Bakas sa aking muka ang galak ng makarating si Asher, maaring late siya at lubos kong ikinalungkot na hindi niya ako nasilayan na suot ang toga ngunit mas importante na tinupad niya ang kaniyang pangako.
Congratulating someone is indeed simple and easy but when it comes to the person you love and treasure its beyond that – might be your lover, friends, and family.
"Mom, we are going for a walk." Paalam ko at pumayag naman sila.
...
"Hmm" ani Asher
"What is that?" I ask. "A gift" he answered.
"Look...am sorry...I had to prepare and finish my presentation for the day after tomorrow." He explains.
"It's okay...at least you came." He's not convinced so I stop from walking and face him "Come on, you don't have to be sorry...am not your responsibility and besides its your work."
"Really?" he asks, "Do you want me to have responsibility to you?" he said while grinning cheerfully. I was taken a back for a minute when I saw his right hand still holding the gift he was giving to me a while ago.
"Can I have my gift?" I ask to avoid his question.
"Hmm...here!" ani niya "Do you perhaps know the meaning of your name?" tanong niya
Of course! That's my name after all. "Hmmm...in Greek Stella means a star."
"How about my name?" he asks.
"I don't know." I answered.
"In Hebrew, Asher means happy or blessed." He explained while looking directly in my eyes. "Does it make sense to you?"
I shrugged. "How about you?"
"It does...when I was a kid I love stargazing; it calms me, it makes me happy, I feel at ease, and its ethereal beauty captivates me and that is you to me. But...when I enter the school I haven't got a chance to stargaze." upon hearing those words make my heartbeat fast – he might hear my heartbeat. "Hundreds of stars shining in the sky but only one star who captivates me." he added.
"A-asher-" I haven't finished when he cut me off.
"Stella, will you give me a chance to be by your side? will you be my star?" I was tongue-tied when he kneels with his hands holding mine. I never felt this way before, I never felt this feeling I feel at this moment. For those who experience unrequited love might think that no one would love them, but we are wrong – let's take a pause and look around; it might also be painful, but we can learn from the pain.
I used to plan to forget my painful experiences but when I met him I realize that we can never forget and run from our painful experiences and so why don't we treasure it for we learn from that certain painful experiences – in that way it won't hunt us in the present.
"Stell, will you be my girlfriend?" ani Asher.
"W-will...you also be my happiness?" I ask. Asher stood up from kneeling and meet my gaze.
"YES!" We said in unison and share our first embrace as a lover.
"Kaya pala kapag naririnig ko ang pangalan mo natutuwa ako" sambit ko.
"You must be very happy." Ani niya. Inalis ko ang pagkakayakap namin bago ako magsalita. "Yabang mo ah!"
He laughs "I never thought that I would be able to reach a star and it happens to be you; I am indeed happy and blessed to meet a star as my name."
We both laugh while reminiscing our happy moments together. "I love my star." Ani chance.
"I love my happiness, too." I said and at that moment in our lives we both share our first kiss.
"Congratulations!" ani Asher. He really keeps his promise to congratulate me. Everything started from a mere promise, but it ended this way – a blissful one.
"Let's stay and love each other for as long as we can." Sambit ko.
Friends will always be friends no matter what. They are the person whom we trust, like to be with, lean on, and love. A friends meaning depends on the person on how he/she perceive friend as; you might be friend with someone because you share the same interest but it's not applicable to all – not sharing the same interest might be problem in a friendship but to others it's not. With trust, problems in a friendship will overcome as long as you have each other.
It's amazing to have a friend – they can be your family too. A FRIEND IS A GIFT.
-END-
Thank you very much for having a time to read this - thank very much.
