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We are still here. Talking and talking about random things. Pati electric fan pinag-usapan na namin. She's really something. She made me feel things I never imagine I'd feel again.

"Naranasan mo na bang mapagod?" She interrupted my musings, opening for another topic. Simula na ata ng open forum namin.

"Oo naman. Kasama ang pagod sa buhay ng tao."

"Pero 'pag sumobra na, the only solution you could think of is to end everything." I was taken aback by what she just stated.

"W-what do you mean? Teka nga lang... don't tell me-"

"I'm not suicidal. Kalma. Sadyang nakakapagod lang. Matapos ang lahat ng oras na ginugol ko para sa wedding namin, only to receive that message. Come on, that's so unfair!"

"Did he tell you the reason?"

"None. He told me nothing. Don't I deserve to know? Iniwan niya ako na parang wala lang 'yung singsing na binigay niya. At, fyi singsing ng nanay ko 'yun! May pa long speech pa siya sa akin. Sinayang niya lang luha ko." I can feel her frustration. Eto nga oh, napakahigpit ng hawak niya sa braso ko. Natutusok na ako ng kuko niyang may french tip.

"Ilabas mo lang 'yan" I patted her back.

"Wala akong plema 'tol pero salamat." Kanina kuya, ngayon 'tol. Aba! Sinusubukan ako ng babaeng 'to.

"Plema wala, problema madami. Sa tingin ko ang mas magandang gawin, hayaan mo muna siya. Hintayin mo kung kailan niya gustong i-open up ang rason. Alam ko, kahit di niya sabihin, may rason 'yon."

"Kasi everything happens for a reason. Noted po Father." Kuya,'tol, father. Ano pa sunod?

"May iba ka pang gustong sabihin kay father, h0ija? Wag ka nang mahiya."

"Ikaw. Anong problema mo? Ang hirap naman na ako lang ang nag-sha-share dito. Wag kang kj, father."

"Naghahanap lang ako."

"Ng pera? Sorry, wala ako nun eh."

"Sira. I'm finding purpose-"

"All-purpose cream? Ayun marami ako." This woman is really testing my patience.

"Ano, mag-sha-share ba ako o babasagin mo na lang ako? Kasi sinasabi ko sa'yo baka iba ang mabasag."

"Sorry po Father. Take it away."

"I'm finding, not money. I'm finding purpose, not all-purpose cream. I'm finding the purpose... of my life."

"Woah! Nalunod ako sa lalim ng sinabi mo. But, just like what I've said earlier. If everything happens for a reason, then everyone has their own purpose. Mahahanap mo din 'yan."

"Salamat po, sister." I said, making her giggle. Bumabawi lang ako.

"I never thought you could be this deep in giving advice. Coming from a person who has a broken heart. Pero, ayoko..."

"Ayaw mo ang alin?" She asked confusedly.

"Ayaw kong hanapin ang purpose ng buhay ko. Kusa namang darating 'yon. Actually, parang dumating na nga." I said, lowering my voice onto the last sentence. Looking exactly at her innocent yet precious eyes.

"Ha?" Maganda siya, bingi at slow lang pero maganda siya.

"Hatdog!"

"Hamburger!"

"Hanabishi!" This program is not sponsored by Hanabishi. Nililinaw ko lang.

"Halaman!"

"Hadouken!"

"Hanger!" Dinaig ang hadouken ko.

"Ha... ha... ha... hachoo!" I can't help but to sneeze. At least may entry ako diba.

"Bless you" She said while laughing in her iconic asthma-laugh.

"Kanina pa ako napapahiya." I bowed down and rubbed the back of my neck.

"At kanina mo pa ako napapasaya."

"I'm glad. It's such an honor to be the reason you're happy after you know, after what you're going through."

"Thank you..." She stopped in the middle of her sentence and frowned. Galing mo talaga Faulkerson, kanina pa kayo nag-uusap, 'di pa rin alam ang pangalan ng isa't-isa.

"Richard. My name is Richard. You can call me RJ, for short." I introduced myself, offering my hand.

"Thank you, RJ. By the way, I'm Nicomaine, for long. Maine, for short. And Dei, for skirt." She took my hand in a handshake and with a warm smile.

"Maine..." I released a sigh. It felt light uttering her name. "Or can I call you 'Mine' instead?" I said as I wiggle my eyebrows.

"H-ha?" Her voice cracked, it's so obvious she's blushing. Such adorable cutie pie.

"Joke lang" I said with a chuckle and rubbed my nape.

"But sometimes, jokes are half meant true."

"Or it's just wholly true." I raised an eyebrow.

"W-what are you trying to imply?" She asked with a nervous chuckle.

"I'm implying that you have a very unique name. It suits you." It suits my surname as well.

"Ah okay. Um RJ, pwede ko na bang kunin yung kamay ko?" I frowned because of confusion, until I noticed her hand still clasped to mine.

"Ay sorry." I unclasped it and touched my blushing ears.

"Okay lang. Pwede mong ibalik ang kamay mo." My ears turned redder than they were before.

Masunurin ako but before my hand met her soft hands, her phone started ringing. She panicked so she dropped her clutch bag.

She answered the call. "C-Carl?" She gasped then her tears flowed. "Okay, I'm coming there. Bye, RJ, thank you for today. You're right, I should wait when he's ready to open up. And I think he is now. Thank you again."

"Wait, 'yung clutch bag mo." She's in such a hurry that she forgot her bag. I'll just give it to her next time we meet. Kailan kaya 'yon? Gusto ko pang magkaroon ng open forum part 2, malabas ko lamang ang hinanakit ko sa ex-fiancé niya. 'Yun na brad eh, mahahawakan ko na ulit kamay niya kung 'di ka lang papansin.

If there's one thing I realized today, it's really much better to wait until it comes than to find it and hope for nothing. Because, I, myself, have experienced it already. My all-purpose, I mean my purpose in life came, Maine came in the right place and the right time.

//

Note: Chapter 2 done! G ba sa open forum part 2? If yes, then just stay tuned and don't forget to vote.

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