Just Because You Are

Chapter 14 - Reaching Out

Happiness is a by-product of an effort to make someone else happy.
- Gretta Brooker Palmer

“Louie, kamusta na nga pala yung legs mo?”

Louie looked at Harvey in bafflement. They were having a Skype session on Monday morning while she was in her office. “Legs? Wala naman akong injury, ah….what do you mean?”

“Talaga? Hindi ka ba napagod? Kase you’ve been running through my mind all night.”

Louie stifled her smile and raised her brow at Harvey. “Waley yang pick-up line mo!”

“Talaga lang, ha? Bakit yung mga mata mo tumatawa?”

“Hay naku, tama na nga yan…Kamusta na nga pala si Tito Allan? Tsaka si Tita Ella?”

“Ayun, by God’s grace stable naman na si Dad after the operation. We’re just helping Tita Marian here…si Mommy naman bumalik na sa family nya dun sa Sydney, but she stayed with us for a couple of days.”

Louie nodded, noticing the change of tone in Harvey’s voice. She knew that whenever he was talking about his parents who are both living in Australia but with different families, he was kind of uncomfortable.

His mom had remarried an Australian musician who’s based in Sydney while his dad is living with his young Filipina wife and two kids in Townsville. “Good to hear that Tito Allan is now stable…how about Prof?”

“Well, he’s playing the role of a responsible son as always. Kahit na alam kong gusto na rin nyang umuwi dyan dahil may hinahanap-hanap syang tao…ayun, ayaw nyang iwan si Dad until na makasigurong okay na sya.”

“Parang alam ko yata kung sinong hinahanap-hanap nya.”

“He’s really in-love, I can tell it.”

“And he isn’t the only one who’s attracted to her, that’s for sure,” Louie added, almost in a whisper.

“Yeah, I know. Actually, I’m a bit worried, kase dati na silang nagka-conflict ni Kuya Quino nung highschool days nila…sana hindi na yun maulit…kung bakit kase palagi silang pareho ng babaeng nagugustuhan…”

“Mas mature naman na siguro sila ngayon, diba? They can handle that well without starting world war III…besides, Raffie is in a relationship, and they both know that.”

“I do hope so…though this time I’m not so sure if Kuya Rob will remain as passive with his feelings as he used to be.”

“Bakit naman?”

“Well, I guess people just change.”

“People change…yeah, tama ka. Kaya yung BFF ko ngayon litong-lito. Ang complicated kase magmahal.”

“Complicated? Tayo lang naman din ang nagpapa-complicate ng sitwasyon, eh. Kung mahal mo ang isang tao…kung yung totoo mo talagang mahal, ha…yun bang hindi lang infatuation or superficial na common attraction…well, simple lang naman eh. Make that person happy. Make that person feel important. Make that person your priority. If the person doesn’t love you back, or if he gets out of love, well, move on. But if the feeling is mutual, blessing yan na dapat i-nurture.”