Status: Married

Chapter 23. Him

"Shiny!"

Chloe's voiced was heard all over the arrival area ng airport. Kakalapag lang ng eroplano, Shiny and Skylar walked hand in hand habang hinahanap ang boses ni Chloe. How could Shiny forget Chloe's voice kung halos araw araw naman silang magka videochat?

"Huy! Shiny!" It was from Dexter.

Inikot ni Shiny ang paligid at nakita niya na nga sina Chloe at Dexter na palapit sa kanila.

"There they are, sweetheart." Skylar squeezed Shiny's hand.

"Chloe!" Napatakbo si Shiny sa kaibigang matagal niya ng hindi nakita. Five years of not seeing her friends in person.

"Oh my god, bakla ka ng taon! Ang ganda mo, girl!" Sigaw naman ni Chloe habang sabay silang tumatalon na magka yakap.

"Mas maganda ka, Chloe! Ano ka ba! I missed you!"

"What about me?" Singit naman ni Dexter.

Bumitaw naman sa pagkakayakap kay Chloe si Shiny at lumapit kay Dexter at napayakap, "Kumusta naman ang adiktos boyfriend ng best friend ko?"

Natawa silang lahat na hanggang ngayon adik pa rin ang tingin ni Shiny kay Dexter. A thought which started way back during their college years pa. Dexter acknowledged Sky through a nod.

"Ano pa? Edi adik pa rin, adik kay Chloe." He smiled and grabbed Chloe's waist.

"Pasalubong ko, Sky?" Tanong naman ni Chloe.

Sky stopped laughing and playfully grabbed Shiny's hand, "I didn't know I should bring you something."

Nagbibiro namang sisipain sana ni Chloe si Skylar, "Sira ulo ka, baka gusto mong balian kita ng buto ha."

Natawa pa lalo si Sky, "Easy lang, Chloe. 'to naman. Nasa maleta ni Shiny. Don't worry."

"Teka, Sky. Nadala mo ba yung pinapabili ni Sabrina?" Naalala ni Shiny yung souvenir na pinapabili ni Sabrina, although wala naman sa bansa ang kapatid ni Skylar, she wants to leave it sa bahay nila Sky dito sa Pilipinas para makuha na ni Sabrina pag uwi niya.

"Yeah, it's in my bag. Don't worry about it, I kn-"

"Mrs. Chua! Mrs. Chua! Mrs. Chua!"

Hindi na natapos ni Skylar ang sasabihin niya ng biglang natigilan silang magkakaibigan sa airport personnel na tumatawag kay Shiny.

Palakas nang palakas ang boses ng lalaki habang palapit sa kanila. Shiny stood still. Mrs. Chua. She is Mrs. Chua.

Matagal na nang huli niyang marinig ang salitang yun. Mrs. Chua.

She felt her friends watched in shock habang patakbo pa rin ang lalaking may winawagayway papunta sa kanila.

"What is it?" Shiny heard Skylar shouted at the employee who's now just a few steps away from them. Shiny heard the annoyance in Skylar's voice.

"Ma'am, nahulog niyo po yung ID niyo sa baggage area," the employee handed an ID where her name is printed as Shiny Chua, married. And as if driving a point deeper, "Ikaw po si Mrs. Shiny Chua, diba?" The employee asked.

Chloe was having an internal panic, si Dexter naman didn't say anything. Hindi nila alam kung paano o ano ang gagawin sa sitwasyong ito. It was unexpected.

Shiny just felt Sky squeezed her hand as if assuring that he'll handle it. Skylar spoke, "Thank you for bringing my girlfriend's ID."

The employee simply nodded and left. Shiny was standing still, unsure of what to do. Hindi niya alam kung paano i-process ang nangyari. Skylar started walking towards the parking lot as he held Shiny's right hand. What was supposed to be a happy arrival turned into a sour event. They all walked quietly na para bang may prosesyon, but in truth, they just didn't know how to process what had happened.

SHINY

"Are you okay?" Skylar held my hand habang nag da drive naman si Dexter. Naka upo kami sa likod ng sasakyan ni Sky. Nasa front seat naman si Chloe. 

I don't really know how to respond sa tanong ni Sky. I know I'm okay pero nagugulat pa rin ako when something reminds me of a glimpse of my past, glimpse of him.

I smiled at Sky and nodded. I don't know if he can feel my uncertainty pero wala na siyang sinabi and just held me throughout the drive. We drove towards our hotel. Instead of staying sa bahay namin with Papa, I decided to book a hotel room dahil nasa abroad naman si Papa for business and he's going to be back a week before Kuya's wedding. Kuya offered na doon na lang ako mag stay sa bahay nila ni Ate Bea, pero I decline again dahil ayokong maka disturbo and I strive in peace and alone. Five years did that to me. Skylar wanted to stay with me pero sinabihan ko na umuwi muna siya sa kanila, although Sabrina is not home, sigurado naman akong gusto ng parents niya na makita siya. So for the first two nights, I'll be staying alone in a hotel until Sky joins me.

"Are you sure na hindi mo ako gustong makasama sa hotel, girl?" Chloe asked habang busy sa kaka update ng Facebook niya.

I shrugged. I missed Chloe so much pero I just really want to stay alone though, and we can meet naman in the morning. "Meh. Negative. Ayoko na mandisturbo. Basta we'll see each other during the mornings naman."

"O sige ha. Basta sabihan mo ako." 

"You sure about that, sweetheart? Ayaw mo na lang sumama sa akin sa bahay?" Skylar asked me...again. I know he's worried about me staying alone pero I really feel sa sarili ko na I need these two nights alone with my thoughts. Being here sa Pilipinas heightened my senses and I feel na kailangan ko pang isaayos ang sarili ko for the days to come while I am here.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me." I said kissing Sky on his cheeks. He smiled and squeezed my hands. 

We drove quietly hanggang sa makapag check in ako sa hotel, Kuya Jester and Ate Bea was there waiting for my arrival. They filled me in sa mga bagong kaganapan sa Pilipinas. It was almost midnight when they all left, Chloe and Dexter dropped Skylar sa bahay nila. So then it's just me.

Gusto kong kumain pero I don't think I have the energy to order and eat my food, so I decided na maligo and lounge on the bathtub. The bathroom of the hotel features a glass panel na overlooking sa city. A night on a city in the Philippines is something else, parang walang natutulog na tao. Everybody is on the go even on the wee hours of night. Gusto ko mang sabihin that it bothers me, pero that would be lying. The truth is, I missed the chaos. I miss being here in the Philippines, and for the first time in such a long time, I'd be honest with myself at least for tonight and admit that I also miss him. Louie. 

After Skylar came for me sa New York, I tried my best to not think of Louie. To be honest, naging rebound ko rin si Sky and I know he knows it too. But I love Sky. It was a long process for me to realize and I only admitted that to Sky and myself pagkatapos kung marealize na Louie was not coming for me. What we had, regardless of the marriage, was a young reckless kind of love. Now I'm back and I know better.

So as the moon shines at its peak tonight, I let my thoughts wander. Kumusta na kaya siya? Did he found love in Sarah? Masaya kaya siya? Does he know I'm with Sky now? Naiisip niya pa kaya ako? I wonder if he knows I'm back. 

I know there's only one way for my questions to have answers.

I never asked Chloe or anyone about him. Skylar wanted me to talk about him, pero I didn't think there was a point for me to talk about him. Back in New York, I didn't think about what's about to come. But it's different now. Ngayon na nandito na ako ulit sa Pilipinas, I think it's about time for us to close our book. Louie and I's book.

I closed my eyes and sighed. The moon can never answer my wonders and the stars can never close our book. It's about time that I see him.