Leaving it to chance [ Serendipity Series #01 ]

XXI: kanais-nais

Kanais-nais — (adj.) desirable; wholesome.

* should there be any bisaya words used throughout the chapter, translations will be provided.

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"I can't believe you're here!" I squealed as I rushed to hug Ate Aria. It had been a while since I last saw her. When she told me that she was in Manila, I immediately rushed to where she was. Okay, maybe exaggerated iyon kasi hindi naman immediately, but gets n'yo na 'yon. She was in Manila to meet up with a wedding supplier. I knew she wasn't going to be here for long, so I just had to see her.

"Gi mingaw na mi nimo oy. Inig kasal nako, uli jud ha?" Nami-miss ka na namin. Basta umuwi ka sa kasal ko, ha? she said as she peeled away from my hug and gestured for me to take the seat in front of her.

She invited me to lunch at this restaurant close to where she met up with her supplier. Saktong-sakto na wala akong klase today.

"How was your meeting?" I asked, flipping through the menu.

"It was okay. I couldn't find any wedding giveaways I wanted in Cebu, so I decided to check here in Manila. My coordinator said she knew someone so that's why I had to check them out. Kiyo wanted to come, but he got busy with work. Anyway, he would probably just follow me around and tell me he'd like whatever I'd pick." Ate Aria chuckled as she shook her head. "Ikaw? Kumusta ka? You're going to graduate soon! It seemed like yesterday you were crying to Kass about being so scared to fly to Manila. Paris is waving na!"

"I'm doing good. Better, actually. I know, time does fly so fast sometimes I want it to stop." I smiled. The fact that it was already December made me realize how fast time flew by. I was enjoying everything so far and there were days that flew by so quickly that I didn't have enough time to let things sink in. I was enjoying things so much that I had forgotten about Paris. As time moved faster, so did my time in Paris. For the first time, I was dreading it.

We proceeded to call our waiter and ordered our food. While waiting, we talked and caught up. Ate Aria told me about her wedding planning adventures and misadventures, all the fun moments and stressful ones. She showed me her wedding gown—or what was finished of it since it wasn't done yet.

I was telling her about my senior project when my phone began to ring. My screen instantly illuminated with Mikie's contact photo, causing me to stop midway.

"Who's Mikie, Nins?" Ate Aria asked as she glanced at my phone and then at me. She pursed her lips, eyes looking at me teasingly.

"Oh, uhm, my boyfriend," I replied shyly.

"Oy giatay ka bataa ka! Answer it, oh my gosh! You have a boyfriend na. Answer it. No, better yet, tell him to come here na lang if he's not busy. I want to meet him." She giggled, rushing me to pick up the call.

I nodded and clicked the answer button.

"Hey," Mikie greeted.

"Hi, 'ga. Nasaan ka?" I started calling him langga or 'ga for short after our date. I do occasionally call him babe, but 'ga naturally just comes out of my mouth. And I didn't know, langga felt more special.

I could hear him chuckle from the other line.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that question?" he said. "Kakatapos lang ng klase ko. I wanted to check if you wanted lunch or something."

"You know, funny thing. I am having lunch with Ate Aria, Kuya Kiyo's fiancée. She's in Manila kasi. Actually, she wanted me to invite you raw. That's if you're okay with that."

"Talaga? Uhm, sige. Nasaan ba kayo? Text mo the address."

"Okay. I'll send you the location. See you. Ingat sa pag-drive."