Leaving it to chance [ Serendipity Series #01 ]

XV: dahom

Dahom — (v.) await, expect, look, wait [ cebuano/bisaya ]

* Should there be any Bisaya words used throughout the chapter, translations & a Bisaya glossary will be provided at the end of the chapter for your reference.

***

Mikie didn't stay long. I asked him if he wanted to stay for dinner, but he replied that I had to fix things with Astrid first which was true. If anything, Astrid needed a friend now more than ever.

I knocked on Astrid's door, waiting for her to open it. When she finally did, I gave her a hug. She didn't say anything but she needed it. I knew she did. My best friend hugged me back tighter, face buried on my shoulder.

"Sorry, Strid. Alam kong nahihirapan ka ngayon." I sighed habang hinimas-himas ang likod niya.

"Nins, I am sorry din. Alam kong na-disappoint ka kanina. Napakatanga ko talaga," Astrid mumbled on my shoulder. I felt bad, but where was the lie?

We talked on the couch and she filled me in on what happened. Apparently, Franko showed up at our doorstep. She forgot he had an access card that was why he was able to come up. They talked and he apologized for hurting her. He asked for another chance raw which was the conversation I walked in on.

Astrid looked at me, embarrassed when I asked her if pumayag ba siya. She said she wasn't sure. She didn't know if she wanted to give him a second chance, but she also knew he, too, was going through a tough time.

"So ano ngayon?" tanong ko.

"Ewan ko, Nins. Mahal ko pa rin si Franko kahit sinaktan niya ako. Ika niya, it was a mistake raw. Alam niyang my biggest fear was to be cheated on because that was what almost ruined my parent's relationship. Lo and behold, he did that to me. But I also don't want to lose him. I told him that I don't think I was ready to accept him yet, but regardless, I was going to be there for him through this whole ordeal. Masakit pa rin, Nins, e. So no, we didn't get back together, but I won't totally close that door for him."

"Napaka-martyr mo, Astrid." I sighed heavily. "What if he fools you again?"

"Well, that's on me na. You know the saying: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Siya pa rin, Nins. I know I shouldn't let him in again, but I love Franko. "

"Alam mong hindi ako kunstintidor, but if that is what you want, then I will support you. Mark my words, if he hurts you again, Ipapa-salvage ko talaga siya," banta ko. It was a joke, the salvage part, I mean, but I wouldn't hesitate to hurt him.

If Franko truly loved her like he said, and Astrid likewise, then sino ba naman ako para umangal sa pagmamahalan nila? The fact that he cheated on her and got a woman pregnant did not sit well with me, but what could I do? "This isn't going to be easy, you know?" I turned to her. "May kahati ka na. May obligation siya sa bata. That's if panindigan niya."

"Of course. He said he will. Hindi rin ako papayag na hindi niya paninindigan ang bata. Ewan ko, Nins. I don't know what the future has in store for us. Kung para talaga kami sa isa't isa then kami. I just want to see if we can still work things out. Only time will tell."

"Can you promise me one thing?" I asked quietly. "If he hurts you again, leave. Never settle, Astrid. Franko may be the first person to ever love you this way, but know that there will be others. Others who can and will love you more."

My best friend hugged me once more as she nodded. We did not talk about her and Franko after that. Everything had been said and done. We ordered food na lang since tinamad na kaming magluto and spent the rest of our night watching a movie on Netflix. Mikie updated me that he was home na but had to sleep early kasi may early training pa siya the next day.