five minutes of happiness

           Thought I was late when I entered our classroom, but when I glanced at my watch... good thing I got 5 more minutes of spare time...

           I was so busy arranging things on my desk when someone entered and the class went silence... I looked up and saw the most beautiful maiden on earth...

          She smiled at me and ask if this is section C... I just nodded in return.... and she proceed to the teachers desk and the room started to go chaotic again...

          3:59... "2 more minutes..." I told myself... I looked at her... to my surprised she's looking at me also and ask... "what's your name?"

        I stood up and approached her... "I'm Andy... class president of section C..." she again smiled... God! I could fall for her that instant...

        I went back to my seat and just observed her... how she moves... how she seat... how she glance... how she writes...

       4:59... a minute more... she stood up... fixed her dress... "Please take your seat..." she ask the class...

       Every one obeyed... focusing their eyes on the girl that asked them to seat... "angelic voice..." I thought...

       "Section C... I'll be your teacher for biology from now on... Mr. Cruz just resigned..." she started... "Good... an inspiration..." I told myself

       "By the way... I'm Mrs. Camille Arambulo... happily married with kids... hoping that I can have harmonious relationship with you guys..." she said...

       5 minutes... I just smiled... I thought... never mind... It's ok... five minutes of happiness...

hopelessparalyze ©

soul mate

*disclaimer: all the words that was italicized are the story that the character Louie created - hopelessparalyze ©

Sabi ng mga matatanda, noon daw ang tao ay binubuo ng dalawang ulo, apat na kamay, at apat na paa sa iisang katawan… kahindik-hindik man ang itsura nila, sila’y masaya’t puno ng pagmamahalan… at dahil dito, sila’y kinainggitan ng mga Diyos na lumikha sa kanila at sila’y pinaghiwalay ng mga ito’t isinumpang habang buhay nilang hahanapin ang kanilang mga kabiyak…

Ako si Louisa Marie Angeles… Louie for short… 5’11-6’ ang height, medium built, boyish cut hair, Chinese eyes with glasses, and with cute set of dimples… para akong replica ni kd lang sa edad kong 28… isa akong full time ICU nurse sa isang tertiary hospital at isa din akong freelance writer… at this point in life masasabing nasa akin na ang lahat: sariling condo, savings, magandang gamit, kotse, damit, permanenteng trabaho at isang maliit na negosyo… ngunit ang totoo… kahit ganun ang buhay ko parang kulang pa din…

8:00 am na ng makaalis ako sa ospital, madaming pasyente ngayon, holiday kasi… madaming naaksidente, nagsaksakan, at nagkakasakit… normal lang ang ganitong scenario sa’king mga mata ngunit parang nakakastress pa din kaya naisipan kong magtungo sa isang tahimik na lugar malapit sa aking tinitirhan… dun ko na ding tatapusin ang istoryang matagal ko ng ginagawa… halos wala pa kasing ending, kinukulit na ako ng editor namin…

Tahimik sa park Ngayon, maaga pa kasi… mga runners, walkers, at oldies pa lang ang andito…

Tahimik akong umupo sa pinakamalapit ng bench at doo’y sinimulang basahin ang isinulat kong istorya… wala pa akong ending… gusto ng editor masayang ending… kaso kahit anong gawin ko talagang hirap na hirap akong gawin iyon…

“Marami na akong nakitang relasyong perpekto kung titignan… super saya na parang hindi maghihiwalay… then after few years that love fades away leaving scars on both hearts…

Sa totoo lang, I don’t believe on near-perfect relationship… it won’t last long… nakakasawa… nakakabagot… things became different when I met her…

Dapit hapon na… at andito pa din ako, nakaupo… umaasang makikita ko ulit siya… ang babaeng nagpapahinto ng pagtibok ng aking puso sa tuwing kami’y magkakatinginan… nagpapahirap sa’king paghinga tuwing siya’y ngingiti… at nagbibigay sa’kin ng ligaya sa tuwing akoy’ kanyang hahawak…ka..”

“SWOOSH!!!”

“Badtrip!!!” at nilipad ng malakas na hangin ang buong manuscript ko… Hay, para akong tanga sa kakahabol… pinagtatawanan pa ako… nakakahiya na… sana matapos na ito… “Asan na ba yung iba?” hay, peste talaga… “what a day!?” hindi pa din tumitigil ang tawanan… ang iba’y tumulong na sa pagpupulot…

“S-Salamat po…” hangos kong saad sa mga taong tumulong… umupo ako ulit at binilang ang papel… “one, two, three, four… ten, eleven, twelve, thirtee… anak ng! kulang!... yung papel para sa ending!” muli akong tumayo para hanapin ito…

“Sana nasa malapit lang… nakakahiya pag may makabasa… hindi pa maayos yun… asan ka na ba? Ano na bang nakasulat dun? Uulitin ko na lang… kaysa maghanap pa ako… hay…”

Ok… hindi ako ganun kagaling magsulat na parang silang Nicholas Sparks… kung tutuusin pang high school ang dating ng mga stories ko… ang malupit pa dun tragic ang ending… kaya hindi talaga maganda… bitin pa kung minsan, kaya nakakahiya pag may makabasa nun…

Suko na ako… wala na talaga siguro… aalis na lang ako… tumitingin na kasi ang mga tao… yung iba, tumatawa pa din… nakakatawa naman talaga… akma na akong tatayo nang…

“Hi! Eto yung last piece ng paper mo…”

Ang sarap pakinggan… pag tingala ko’y… ang ganda ng ngiti niya… long shiny hair na pag nasikatan ng araw nagiging brown ang kulay, matangos ang ilong, perfect set of dimples, at ang kanyang mga mata… hazel eyes… biglang tumigil ang mundo ko…

“Eto yung paper mo…”

Inabot ko ang papel at nagtama ang aming kamay…

Wow… may electricity… kakaiba… ang hirap huminga…

“Salamat…”

“Sam... Samantha Mendoza ang pangalan ko…”

“Louie… Louisa Marie Angeles…” at ngumiti ako sa kanya…

Umupo siya sa tabi ko… habang inaayos ko na ang mga papel at akmang ilalagay sa bag ko… “So, nagsusulat ka pala ng love stories… particularly same sex stories…” wika niya at agad akong namula sa sinabi niyang yun…

Yup… yun ang forte ko… Lesbian stories to be exact… pero tragic… wala pa akong nakikitang same sex na nagkatuluyan sa huli… kahit in reality…

“Yup… freelance writer…” sagot ko…

“Maganda yung supposedly ending mo… kaso tragic… why not change it? Para happy ending… kawawa naman yung bida…”

“Umm… hindi ko kasi forte ang happy ending eh… pumapanget kasi yung story ko pag ganun… pero try ko… salamat…” at ako’y tumayo na…

“Sana pag tapos mo na yung story mo mabasa ko ng buong-buo… at hopefully… happy ending yun…” pahabol niyang saad habang nakangiti …

First time sa tanang buhay ko ang may magsalita ng ganun… yung ibibigay niya yung opinion niya ng hindi ko tinatanong… at first time ko din ngumiti after several years… nakalimutan ko nang tumawa at ngumiti… at masarap pala sa pakiramdam…

Masayahin naman ako… noong kasama ko siya… akala ko I’ve found my other half… almost perfect relationship… noong una naninibago kasi straight siya… bago sa same sex relationship… pero kinalaunan, ok naman… parang matagal na kaming magkakilala… hanggang we decided to get steady… pareho pa kaming nag-aaral noon… araw-araw kaming magkasama… at laging masaya…

Noong ika-28 month namin together, nagbabago ang lahat… hanggang maghiwalay kami sa dahilang hindi ko alam… that’s what they say “the feeling is mutual…” we’ve both decided to end the relationship… hangga’t ok pa kami at hindi nagkakasakitan… sabi nila, nagsawa na daw kami…

That was 6 years ago… pero  nagbago ang buhay ko dahil dun… nawalan ako ng direction… ilang beses akong nagpapalit-palit ng work… naging sakit ng ulo ng magulang ko… hanggang napunta ako sa buhay ko ngayon… marangya ngunit kulang… masaya sa panlabas ngunit malungkot sa loob… isang seryoso at masungit na Louie…

7:00 am Day-off… after gumising at magbabad sa exercise at ligo, ito na naman ako nakatanga sa harap ng mesa at kaharap ang papel at bolpen… nag-iisip ng magandang ending… ngunit kahit anong gawin ko tragic pa din…

Sulat… basa… tapon… paulit-ulit…

Nag ring ang phone… nag alarm ang relo…

Sulat… basa… tapon… ok… madami ng nasayang…

Madami ng puno at pugitang nagamit… ayoko na!

Break muna…

Nagpalit ako ng damit at naglakad-lakad… dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa lugar kung saan ako napahiya kahapon… kung saan tahimik ang mundo… magkasintahang naglalakad… mag-asawang masayang nakaupo at nagkukwentuhan… at mga batang tumatakbo’t naglalaro…

“This is life…” saad ko habang nag-uunat at ipipikit ang mga mata…

“Yup… this is indeed life…”

Ang boses na ‘yon… agad kong nilingon ang may-ari ng magandang boses na ‘yon…

“Hi Louie! Nakita kitang naglalakad papunta dito kaya sinundan kita… Ok lang ba if I join your world?”

“Yup… Free lang ang entrance…”

At natawa siya… ang sarap pakinggan ng tawa niya… parang maliliit na kampana…

“Nice punch line ha… So, anong ginagawa ng isang Louie Angeles dito sa lover’s park ng mag-isa?

Lover’s park?! Huh? Eto ba pangalan nito? Ang tagal ko ng tiga dito pero hindi ko alam na lover’s park pala ang pangalan nito…

“Umm… naghahanap ng inspirasyon para sa ending ng istorya ko… baka sakaling makakita ng happy ending sa reality…”

Ngumiti siya at… “Alam mo… bawat tao sa mundo, may kanya kanyang ending ng love life… siguro mostly ng nakakita mo tragic… pero ang totoo Louie… lahat ng tao may kanya kanyang happy ending… lalu na kung makikita mo ang other half ng buhay mo…”

Tama… ang soul mate ng buhay ko…

“Pero Samantha… paano kung yung soul mate mo ang mismong nang-iwan sa’yo?”

“Tsaka pa lang papasok ang tragic ending… pero Louie kung soul mate mo talaga siya… hindi ka niya iiwan… which means hindi siya ang kalahati ng katawan mo na bubuo ng…”

“Dalawang ulo… apat na kamay… apat na paa… at magiging masaya… tama?” ngiti kong saad…

“How’d you know about that?”

“Kwento ng lolo ko… every person has his/her own other half… andyan lang daw yun…”

“Yup… tama siya… just need to listen to what your heart says… and it will lead you there…”

Kaya ba ako andito ulit? Dahil dito ko makikita ang happy ending ko… tinignan ko siya… tumingin din siya sa’kin… tumigil na naman ang mundo ko… ano bang meron ang babaeng ‘to? As if she knows me too well…

“GRRROOWWWLL!!!”

“Ooppss… sorry… gutom na ako… hindi pa kasi ako nagbreakfast… ok lang ba if we could go out and have brunch together Samantha?”

“Are you asking me for a date?”

Date?! 1^st time kong nakausap siya ng matagal tapos…

“Ummm… parang ganun na nga… yup… and I’d like to know about you more… if that’s ok…”

“Sounds great! May alam akong malapit lang dito… lika na…” at agad niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko’t hinila ako papunta sa resto na talagang very memorable sa’kin…

Delicioso… yan ang pangalan ng restaurant na malapit sa park… tambayan ko ito… dito ako unang sinagot ng naging girlfriend ko dati… dito kami nagcelebrate ng mga anniversaries namin… at dito din kami naghiwalay… at dito din ako nagbuhos ng sama ng loob…

Agad kaming pumasok at umupo sa pinakamalapit na booth… nakangiti siya sa’kin at nakatingin sa’king mata… may spark ang kanyang mga mata…

“So what do you want Louie?”

“Hmm… carbonara at iced tea… ikaw?”

“Same as yours…” at siya’y ngumiti ulit…

“So tell me more about yourself Samantha aside from being a regular person at the park and strolling as past time…”

“Well, madami akong work… isa akong full time chef at part time musician… nasa Boston na ang family ko… mahilig akong gumawa ng kanta: pop, ballad, slow rock… name it… I can sing… living near this place… single and available… kaw?”

 At dumating na ang food… nakatingin pa din siya sa’kin… nakangiti…

“I’m a nurse sa isang tertiary hospital malapit lang dito and freelance writer sa isang magazine… living two blocks away from here… medyo tahimik ang mundo ko… papel at pen lang ang kaibigan…”

“Ok lang… kahit hindi ka masyadong magsalita…I understand… I know deep inside you, you’re still mending a broken heart… hindi madali yan… I’ve been there… done that… but still I’m here… standing strong despite everything… Ilang taon na ba?”

“6 years…”

“Tagal na… protecting your heart? Or being cautious not to love again?”

“Both… Sort of…”

“I understand…” at hinawakan niya ang kamay ko…

May kuryente talaga pag hinahawakan niya ako…

“Salamat…”

At nagpatuloy kami sa pagkain… after that hinatid ko siya sa condo niya… walking distance lang… habang naglalakad ako pauwi, nakaisip ako ng sobrang daming idea para sa story ko… madaming lumilipad na words… dali-dali akong umuwi…

“hindi pa din ako sumuko… ilang oras ang lumipas at dumating din siya… at nagkatinginan kami… parang huminto lahat… dahan dahan siyang umupo sa tabi ko… nakatingin siya sa’king mga mata at buong pusong sinabing…

Salamat naghintay ko… hindi ko matiis na hindi kita makita ulit… mahal kita… mahal na mahal…

Hindi kita kayang iwan… alam mong ikaw lang ang buhay ko… ikaw lang ang nagpapaikot ng mundo ko…

Mahal kita…”

Pagkatapos nang araw na ‘yon, ang pagkikita nami’y nasundan pa ng isa, dalawa, at maraming beses pa…constant text mates din kami… masaya siyang kasama… makulit… makwento… para siyang bata… no dull moments… puro ngiti at halakhak lang…

Unti-unti na din akong nag-oopen sa kanya… ang dating seryosong Louie ay napalitan ng ngiti… paminsan tumatawa… sa mga simpleng patawa niya… madami na din akong nakwento sa kanya…tinulungan na din niya ako sa ibang stories ko… mula sa tragic endings, paunti-unti nagiging happy ending na…

May mga moments na nagpapalitan kami ng tingin… ang simpleng touch sa isa’t isa ay nagiging routinary na… pinagluluto niya ako… minsan may mga sleepovers kami…

Minsan sa isang sleepover session namin… tahimik kaming nanonood ng rent movie… bigla ko siyang natitigan… sa position naming ito para kaming magboyfriend-girlfriend… nanonood ng sine together… ang ulo niya nasa balikat ko… magkaholding hands kami… biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko…

At dahan-dahan kong hinalikan ang noo niya…

That’s our life… sleepovers… watching movies, eat out at ang pinakafavorite strolling sa park… parang hindi kumpleto anf buhay ko pag hindi namin nagawa ang isa sa mga ito… lalu na pag hindi ko siya nakikita… nakakasama…

“Not again…” at ako’y yumuko…

Am I falling for her? Impossible… 6 years kong prinotektahan ang puso ko… hindi na ako babalik dun… ayoko na… masakit… pero if you look on the other side, parang perfect match… parang kami talaga para sa isa’t isa… everything works nice and slow…

RRIIINNNGGG!!!!

“Louie here…”

“Hey, got a sec?”

“Yup Sam… what about?”

“Can we have sleepover tonight? Umm… Please?”

“Ok… I’ll be there…”

8:00pm Manhattan Gardens, Rm. 407… nakatayo ako ngayon sa harap ng pinto ng condo nya… hindi ko alam kung papasok ako… kinakabahan ako… may nararamdaman na kasi ako for her… paano kung biglang may gawin ako sa kanya? At masira ang friendship namin?

Ding dong! Ding dong!

At bumukas ang pinto… andun siya… wearing her favorite pajamas… para akong sinalubong ng aking asawa after a long work day… agad niya akong hinila… may kakaiba sa mata niya… desire? Sinara niya ang pinto…

“Louie…”

“Sam…”

At biglang naglapat ang aming mga labi… and the rest is history…

Tahimik ang paligid ngunit pareho kaming gising… nakatingin sa mga mata…

“Sam…”

“No Louie… don’t talk… baka may masabi ka na dala lamang ng iyong damdamin ngayon at hindi ang tunay mong nararamdaman… ayokong pareho tayong masaktan…”

Niyakap ko siya at hinalikan sa noo… hanggang sa makatulog siya…

I know… this is right… we’re made for each other… everytime I look at her, alam kong siya ang soul mate ko… the one whom I want to spend the rest of my life with… bakit ba nagdalawang isip pa ako noon?

“at kami’y nagtanan… nagpakalayu-layo sa realidad… sa taong hadlang sa relasyon namin… Ngayon ko lang naramdamang tama ang lahat ng ito… at hindi ko ito isusuko…”

Amoy ng ulam ang tumambad sa’kin ng ako’y magising… parang panaginip lang…

“Hi Sweetie! Gising ka na pala… upo ka… niluto ko favorite mo…”

“Thanks!”

Nagsimula na kaming kumain…usually maingay… ngunit ngayo’y tahimik… panay sulyap sa isa’t isa… hahawak sa kamay… ngingiti… hanggang sa matapos kumain…

Nagtungo ako sa veranda pagkatapos magligpit… ang bilis ng pangyayari… anim na buwan na kaming magkakilala… at humatong kami sa ganitong sitwasyon… sa bawat tingin ko sa kanya alam kong para kami sa isa’t isa… natakot ba akong aminin sa kanyang… mahal ko siya?

“Penny for your thoughts?” at niyakap niya ako mula sa aking likod…

Hinila ko siya’t ikinulong sa’king bisig… tinitignan ko ang kanyang mga mata… I can see her sincerity, care, and love… now I know this is love… this girl is really in love…

“Sam, I’m happy… really… hindi ko alam kung paano nangyari… pero, you completely made me happy… you complete me… I’m… in love… with you… from the day I first saw you smile at me…”

“Aww… Louie… I fallen for you from the day I saw you picking up those papers… at the park… ang cute mo…” and then she smiles…

“Akala ko…”

“I’m straight? Nope… I’m not…”

At tumawa kami…

“I love you for the rest of my life… my only Louie…”

“I love you too… my better half… my Samantha…”

Tama nga sila… ang bawat isa ay may kanya-kanyang ending… at hindi mauulit ang nakaraan na… at kung tragic man ang ending sa simula… sa huli magiging happy ending din…

And I’m so blessed… to have my soul mate around me… the person whom I want to spend the rest of my life with…

“Masaya kaming nagsama hanggang sa tumanda kami… dinapuan siya ng malubhang sakit… at dahan-dahan siyang nanghina…hindi pa din ako nawalan ng pag-asa at patuloy ko siyang inalagaan at pinaglaban…

Ngayon andito ako sa tahimik na lugar kung san nakahimlay ang babaeng aking pinaglaban… tumagal pa siya ng tatlong taon bago siya tuluyang kinuha ng kanyang karamdaman…

Masakit ang nangyari… ngunit… masaya na din ako… dahil alam kong maghihintay siya sa’kin… at doon namin ipagpapatuloy ang aming pagmamahalan…

Hintayin mo lang ako dun… darating ako…”

love newly found... prologue

Cassandra,

Time slows down when I’m with you and I liked that because I can spend most of it just looking at you, listening to your voice while you sing for me or just simply telling me your stories, and even just having you beside me. You certainly make me happy every single part of the day and when the time comes that we need to be apart I feel so empty, so cold, so alone. I need to be next to you. Feel you. See you.

I remember the day we first met, I was at the park sitting by the bench, looking at people passing by me, while I try to finish a story that I kept on trying to end but I can’t find the correct ending for I don’t really write happy endings, because that’s for fairytales and tragic once are for reality. Then the wind blew hard that made my masterpiece flew away and I was having a hard time collecting them again. I was like a child running after the papers and all kinds of people are laughing at me because of my silliness.

I was in a hurry to go because of humiliation that I didn’t notice that a piece were missing, until you approach me, giving me the last piece of paper, the paper where I should write the story’s ending. You smiled at me as you handed it to me. I looked at you; I was mesmerized by your brown eyes, those eyes that looked at me with concern. And as I reach for the papers on your hand, I accidentally touch your fingers that touch of care. The world suddenly stopped that day and I wished we could stay that way longer.

From that moment I know I could write again, I could write a beautiful ending because at that moment I have found my inspiration. The person I want to be a part of that story, and that is you. From that day you made me whole again, you made me see the world is kind and I should be kind to it also. That not all the time tragic endings are for reality, that the word “and they lived happy ever after” are for realities too and that I thank you for making me realized it. And I’m glad that I listened to you.

You are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. The one who will be the person I want to grow old with. The person I want to marry, be my wife, the mother of my little juniors, my partner and best friend. The one who will I assist in the journey called life. You are my life, my all. The one whom I’ll be spending forever with and the one that gave me chance to grow be the person I am right now. You are the one that I’ve been waiting for all these years, my true love the one who’s destined to be with me.

I will never get tired of saying these words to you over and over again. And I wanted you to know that I love everything about you and certainly love you till the end of time.

Louie

till i see you again

What a busy day… lotta work from here to there… everyone crams just to finish task per task… scheduled seminars, unfinished business meetings, emergency meeting with the executives and even the simplest call from the cellphones doesn’t end… what a heck! Everyone needs a break…

“Good morning Sir…” everyone greeted as I entered as if the world stops just to greet me good morning… then the work continue…

“Sir, you have an appointment with Mr. Tan of the Conseco Industries, you also have a lunch meeting with the executives and the share holders at 1:00pm… And…”

“Please… kindly put all the scheduled meetings on my table…” I said…

“Yes Sir… Do you need anything else Sir? The secretary asked with her head bowed.

“Just Milo… my energy drink…” I said with a smirk and she went away…

“I need a break…” I said as I went inside my office.

I headed directly on my table… sit… and looked at the windows where you would have the whole glimpse of Makati…

“So how’s life being the C.E.O of Go Bao Long Industries?” a voice from my back was heard… it’s my best friend… James Chua, C.E.O of Islands and Roses Corporation.

“How’s Clifford Justin Go, or should I say how’s the only boy of the Go family?” he asked sarcastically.

“Damn! Will you shout up James? Haven’t you observed? I’m too busy with these piles of work? And you kept on asking how’s me? Well, to tell you honestly, I NEED A BREAK!!!” I answered.

“Hehehe… I guess you need too… you sounded like a mad dragon GO BAO LONG…”

“Stop calling me in that name Chu Han Tae…”

“’Ok… you said it…” he said with a smirk.

I, Go Bao long… or mostly known as Clifford Justin Go, one of the busiest bachelors in the whole world…

Yes, I’m already 29 years old, still single due to work, work and work… The eldest of the Go clan and their only son…

Since I was a child I don’t even understand the word “vacation”… I was trained every Saturday and Sunday at the temple for martial arts and from Monday to Friday I studied Arithmetic, different languages, ethics and even economics…

James and I were trained to be leaders of our clan… because in our culture men dominate women…

I was focused on family business… all the things I would do are already planned and written on the planner of my secretary…

Would I still change? Can I do things without being planned?

Can I?

Everything’s changed when James suddenly came to my office with a very big smile on his face and holding something…

“Hi Bro!” he said. “Sorry for disturbing you but I need to tell you something…”

“Ok go on…”

“Bro, I have tickets for 2 weeks vacation in Puerto Galera… would you like to join?”

“No Thanks…”

“Bro, white sand, clear waters, and hot babes in bikinis…”

“No thanks…”

“Bro… please… this is your time to have a break… Don’t worry me would take care of your business…”

I looked at him and continued my work…

“Will you listen to me Mr. Perfectionist!” he shouted.

“Looked Bro, this is your only chance… you would be having a break for 2 weeks and that wasn’t bad at all… besides you’ll get some rest…”

“So, where’s the point?”

“The point here is… the break you wanted will be granted! Besides Bro, this is the first time you’ll be having a break… you need this I tell you…”

He then put the tickets on my table and left my office…

I looked at it…

Would I come?

Wouldn’t I?

Oh… Come on…

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“Bye Cliff! Hope you’ll be having a great time there… don’t forget to tell me ‘bout babes in bikinis!” James shouted.

I boarded the plane and off I go to Puerto Galera… where in white sand, clear water and bikini bodies are waiting… Hehehe…

After 45 minutes ride, we’re already there… I can feel the cold breeze coming from the bay… People waving as if they knew me…

“Welcome to Puerto Galera Mr. Go!” the owner of the hotel greeted me… “Rm. 506 will be your room. Hope you’ll love staying here…” then handed me the keys.

I was assisted by the Bell boy and keyed my room… I went in… directly went to the veranda and looked at the beach…

“This is life…” I said.

I didn’t even realize my life will change because of a single vacation…

First day isn’t bad I guess… as James said white sand… clear waters… and babes in bikinis are all here…

I walked and walked until I get tired… I sat at the nearby old log and watch the whole place as the sunset…

It is really good… this is the only time I appreciate things… then I record everything with my handy cam…

Then I saw this girl walking along the shore… alone… also appreciating things as I do… I continue looking at her using my camera…

She is beautiful… definitely, simple beauty I ever wanted… I’m longing to have…

Then she lost her consciousness and falls on to the white sand of Puerto…

I ran towards her and directly went to the island clinic…

“Due to drunkenness…” the doctor stated… “Thank you for bringing her here…” he said.

“That’s ok… I’d be going now…” I replied.

Morning came, and as expected I again had my stroll… having pictured all the scenery but yet something’s missing…

I went inside the souvenir shop to look for “pasalubongs” when I accidentally bumped to someone at my back…

“I’m so sorry… I didn’t even realize that…” I paused and looked back… this can’t be… It was the girl yesterday…

“That’s ok… you’re new here I guess…” she said.

“Yup… first time…” I replied.

“I see… any ways, I am Kim… you are?” She asked with a smile.

“Cliff… I am Cliff…”

“You are new here… you don’t even have any companion? You might get loss...” she said.

“Don’t worry, I have a map…”

“What is this map of Puerto? That was useless… you wouldn’t appreciate the whole place with this junked… Hehehe… I think everything you do was all planned huh?”

“Yah… I was used to it…”

“Hehehe… now let me show you, new strategy on how you’d be responding time without any scheduled task…”

She then grabbed my hand and accompanied me along…

Indeed she’s right… the place is more beautiful than expected… especially the setting sun…

It is more beautiful… and so was she…

“So you are a management graduate and one of the Go clans… that’s why you’re like that…” she said as we were eating dinner.

“Yah... everything in that building are stressors… everything were just papers… papers, papers… you? What do you do for living?”

“Me? I’m just a simple person… owns a restaurant in the heart of Makati… live a simple life without stressors… I am a HRM graduate…”

She’s too beautiful being a HRM graduate… everything went nice, smooth, and slow…

With her, there’s no dull moment… I even enjoyed my two weeks with her… we went to the mountains, enjoyed the banana boat, we even go snorkeling… everything was heaven…

Then I received an invitation… a party with the entire guest in the beach…

Does she have a date?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

As I was busy talking to other guest, an urge forced me to lock back…

I saw her going down from the stairs wearing blue singled strapped gown… damn, she was gorgeous… I was stunned for a moment…

She fixed my hair and said, “You looked handsome today…” I smiled at her and lead her the way…

We walked at the shore, hands together… silent… listening to one’s breathing…

“Tomorrow’s the last day Cliff… You’ll be back with the real world…”

“Yah… but before that… may I ask… do you believe in true love?”

“Hehehe… might be yes… might be no…”

“Me, I do…” I said sincerely and gently kissed her on her lips…

“I’m in love with you…” then she walked away…

After that incident I didn’t saw her… I didn’t even said goodbye… I didn’t have a chance to tell her what I really feel…

I went back in the real world… but I became quiet, sad, and even caught staring at nowhere… I just think of her all day long…

Maybe I was wrong… really wrong… we’d only met for 2 weeks and I’d already fall for her… seriously…

Days, weeks, months passed but I haven’t seen her… I even went to her restaurant but she’s not there…

5 months passed and as expected I went back to Puerto hoping I could see her again… I’m longing for her…

Then I went for a stroll… nothing has changed… even the arrangements…

I directly went to the souvenir shop and “ouch!” that voice…

I looked back and saw her… pale… sunken eyes as if she was totally ill…

“Kim? Is that you?” I asked.

“Hi Cliff!” she tends to give me a weak smile… I know there’s something wrong with her…

“What happened to you?” I asked.

She then holds my hand and we took some stroll… hand in hand… still quiet…

“I have leukemia Cliff… I had few more days to live…” she said seriously… looking directly unto my eyes as if she is leaving me…

All I can do is hug her… no words came out of me… I just hug her and cry…

“Cliff… that’s why I don’t want you to fall for me… but I guess I couldn’t stop it… and I too felt it… and now I’m afraid to die because of you… I love you Cliff…”

Upon hearing it, I smiled… I indeed was happy… I didn’t even realize she too felt it…

Due to her sickness, I make it to the point that she’ll live her life to the fullest…

I decided to conduct a proposal, a weeding proposal for her…

That night, she dressed up more beautiful than before… I approached her and lead the way…

We had a fine dining… nice music… and perfect place…

I held out my hand, “can I have this dance?” I asked.

“With pleasure…” she answered.

We then glide to the floor and dance… I give the queue to the orchestra and play one of the music we liked…

I looked at her intently, and then kneel in front of her…

“Will you marry me Kim?” I asked.

“Yes… I would...” she said…

I stood up and hugged her…

Everything went fast… the marriage was conducted at the beach…

I made her life a heaven… I make it to the fact that everything would be ok…

“Hon, I liked to go to the shore would you come with me?” she said.

“Why not…” and we went to the shore… exactly for the sunset…

Everything was perfect… silent and steady… but the heavens seem so cold… seems so sad…

“Everything has changed Cliff… Everything seems to be fine… perfectly arranged… my life changed because of you… you made my life complete… before, I was just a hopeless person, just waiting for my time… but that change, I learned to fight just for you…”

“You also did the same for me… I learned to live my life without being dictated by planner… you made me whole Kim…”

We watched the sun as it set… quietly snuggled together…

“Cliff… please takes good care of you… I love you…”

“Was that her last word?” I thought.

“I love you too Kim… till eternity…”

I hugged her tightly… winds blown softly… sunset… Kim slowly closed her eyes… uttered her last words, “I love you Cliff…”

Tears rolled down my eyes as she lies lifeless unto my arms…

Kim, my only one, my all… she’s gone now… leaving me behind… with her is my heart and my soul…

Kim, will always stay unto my heart… memories will fade I know, but I’ll never forget that somehow, someday we will see each other… and I’ll never forget that once I fall for a girl at first sight and fall harder than expected…

Kim, I will miss her… I’ll be longing for her… and continuously think of her… she will always stay…

And I will always fall in love for her this way…