3 years later...
"No, don't put that there. That would ruin the whole arrangement. The stage was supposed to be just elegant, the theme is dark. The performance won't give something unless we do it dark and black." Sabi ko kay Mandy, yung stage director... we're going to have a charity performance here tonight.
Doing charities was a great stress reliever for me dahil marami kaming natutulungan especially the people who are affected by calamities. The money raised is given to them.
I'm a senior now. I did well, didn't I? My graduation will be in a few days... I'm excited as hell. Pupunta nga si Mommy dito eh. While Kuya is doing a great job at Chicago, sumunod na rin sa kanya si Ate Nadine, they married before Kuya flew. I wasn't able to go but I wished them well. May anak na rin sila ngayon, ang favourite kong pamangkin! His name is Daniel, but we call him Niel, he's adorable, a very smart kid, 3 years old na siya. Bago pa pala ako umalis, buntis na si Ate Nadz, kaya naman nagpakasal na nila. Ate Nadz flew afer a few months, dito na niya pinanganak si Niel. Mommy was very excited nung nagka-apo na siya. Muntik nangang dito rin tumira yan dahil kay Niel eh. Pupunta rin daw sila Kuya. I was worried dahil mag-isa na lang ni mommy but it was just a good thing, nandoon pa rin si manang na 10 years na sa amin at nag-aalaga at tumitingin kay mommy. She has been consistently visiting me thrice a year. I love it that she still manages to visit me. Si Andy naman, nag-stay na sa Pilipinas. Ewan ko sa kanya kung bakit hindi na yun bumalik ng Australia pero sabi niya naman sa akin pag nagkakausap kami, gusto na lang daw niya mag-stay sa Pilipinas. Weirdo siya.
"You're doing a great job, Reena." Mark said sabay akbay niya sa akin.
Mark is one of my close friends here. He's the first one to talk to me too. He's a Fil-Am, his father is American tapos nanay niya is Filipina. Hindi ko maitatanggi na nararamdaman ko nga na may feelings para sa akin si Mark. He's a good person but all I can really give him is friendship. I think he's aware of that.
"Thanks, Mark." Ngiti ko naman sa kanya.
"Hey, love birds! Come on, we have tons to do. We still have to prepare." Tawag naman sa amin ni Mia.
She's lovely, and friendly. Full American girl.
Yan ang tingin nila sa amin ni Mark dito, love birds. That's what they call us. But I just let it go dahil alam na rin naman ni Mark yun. We're not love birds just friends. At hindi maitatago ni Mark yang ngiti niya pag tinatawag kami ng ganun. Sira ulo to talaga.
"Nginingiti ngiti mo na naman diyan?" kunwaring pagsusungit ko kay Mark.
"Nothing, bawal ba maging masaya?" he shrugs. Alam niyan mag-tagalog kaso slang. Tinuruan din kasi niyan ng nanay niya.
"Oo, para sayo bawal. Halika na nga. Mag-ilusyon ka pa diyan." Pang-aasar ko pa rin sa kanya.
"Wag mo nga sirain dreams ko." He said playfully na umakto pang nasasaktan.
Sinundan na lang namin si Mia palabas ng auditorium.
Natapos yung performance namin ng 11 pm. As per usual, Mark walked me home. It's been a habit.
I called my mom when I got home.
We just talked about how the performance have been and so on until he mentioned someone that made my heart jump.
"Do you still remember Kevin? He used to come here, right? Kevin Lim. You're maybe ex-boyfriend? He's one of the finest architects in the Philippines now. Rumors say he's the best in their company." My mom informed me.
Hindi ako agad nakasagot. I haven't heard from him in years. Even Andy won't talk about him. Hindi na rin naman kasi ako nagtatanong eh. It's part of moving on, I think? Well...
