From Ash to Flame

29

We rode a taxi and stopped in front of a hotel. Chiang Mai is really a busy city. The tall buildings and cars around gave me a Makati City feels.

"Ate, sa'n dito 'yong room nila Jonathan?" tanong ko nang makapasok kami sa room allotted for me and Carl.

"Sa tabi niyo lang po, diyan sa right side. Dito naman po sa left ay room po namin ni Mama so if you need help, pwede niyo lang po ako puntahan," she said before leaving.

"Sosyal naman pala nila girl. Ay bukas na ang wedding day 'di ba? Tara kina Jonathan. I wanna meet them," ani Carl.

We went to the room next to us and knocked. When Chester opened the door, Carly held my hand tightly.

"Pogi naman girl, magtataksil yata ako kay Diesel," he whispered.

"Uy, Flame, kayo pala. Come in," Chester said.

Nang makapasok kami ni Carl sa room nila ay naabutan namin si Jonathan sa dining table. "Oh, nandiyan na pala kayo. Here, I prepared spaghetti for us. Sabi kasi ni Ate Edna, today ang arrival niyo kaya ayan. Ay hello mister?" said Jonathan and waited for Carl's answer.

"Tse, bruha ka, isa ka rin e. Sa ganda kong 'to, mister? Jusko day!" maarteng sagot ng isa.

"Ah, Carly, this is Jonathan," sabi ko and pointed at him, "and this is Chester. Guys, ito naman ang frenny ko, si Carl na mas maharot pa kaysa sa'kin."

"Ay sorry haha. I didn't know na magkapatid pala tayo. Anyway, how's your trip?" asked Jonathan.

"Okay naman, nagsawasdee kha kami ro'n kay Ate Edna. Cute pala 'no, mag-wai," sabi ko sabay subo ng spaghetti.

"Ah yes. The first time we went here, we didn't know anything. Puro kami 'Chiang Mai' gano'n para lang makapunta rito," shared Chester.

"Kami nga nanood pa ng Thai series e para lang dito," malanding sabi ni Carl. "Ay hala, may jowa rin ako girl. 'Di ako taksil kay Diesel baby tsaka 'di ako nang-aagaw. Eww, I'm not like that," sabi nito nang mapansing tinititigan siya ni Jonathan.

"Hahaha gaga hindi naman e. Pero wait lang, totoong engaged ka na? E last time lang, ang pangit mo pa umiyak no'ng nasa Paris ka," asked Jonathan.

"Ganyan naman kasi 'yang frenny ko. Overthinker tapos napaka-OA. Pero lab ko 'yan. Pero bobita pa rin tss," Carl answered.

"Tse! Oo nga engaged na, 'yan oh," I showed them the ring on my finger. "The day after you called, do'n siya nagpropose," I answered.

"Oh my ghad! Dati lang todo talon at sigaw tayo sa Nevis, ngayon ikakasal ka na rin. Congrats! May baby bruha na ba?" Jonathan asked and smiled widely.

"Wala. We haven't even kissed yet," nahihiyang sabi ko.

"That's the kind of guy you girls should marry, the one who knows the words respect and limit," ani Chester.

"Kaya nga love ko rin 'yong si Diesel e. Kayo ba, pa'no kayo nagkakilala? College pa lang daw, kayo na sabi ni Sister Edna e," asked Carly.

"Ah, we were schoolmates before. We were just Facebook friends no'ng una, we don't talk gano'n. He just replied on one of my stories, 'yong sa may sketch ko. That's how everything began. Until second sem came, first year pa lang kami no'n. He's a BSED and I'm a BSBA so nauna naming na-take ang isang minor subject before them. Wala silang books, he borrowed mine. That's it. No'ng tumagal, mas lalo kaming naging close and eventually turned into lovers," pagkukwento ni Chester.

Jonathan smiled pero bakas sa mga mata niya ang lungkot. "Secret lovers," pagtatama niya sa boyfriend. "Strict kasi parents ni Ches. Hanggang sa one night, fifth anniversary namin no'n e nakita kami ng isang bruhang Dorrie ang pangalan, ex niya. So she made sumbong, his father got mad and ayon. Imagine keeping our relationship for five years, hirap din no'n. He wanted us to break, that's when I went to New Zealand and met you," he looked at me.

Grabe naman palang challenges ang kinaharap nitong dalawa. I can't imagine myself being in a situation like that, 'yong magtago at ayawan ng mundo.

"Pero look at you naman, okay na ang lahat sa inyo. Nakaya niyong lagpasan all the hindrances that tried to stop you from being here. Congrats," said Carl and genuinely smiled.

"Thanks. That's what we want to tell you, guys, especially Flame. Na hindi madali ang daang pinasok natin once we choose to be in love with someone. We experience pain, feel our tears, hear our hearts break, lahat. But at the end of a long day, you should ask yourself why you want this. Na kapag gusto mo, you'll really fight for it," Jonathan said in a serious tone.

"You too, you have a boyfriend?" tanong ni Chester kay Carl and the latter nodded. "That's it. You chose it, fight for it. The strongest warriors aren't the ones unscratched but those who had the deepest wounds and didn't give up." Chester's words sounded like an advice a father would give to his children.

"Thank you guys for everything. I really wish you the best. Congrats, Alvaros," I said and hugged both of them. Carl did the same.

We left their room with all smiles. I didn't let them notice that something was bothering me. I've been feeling this even before we left the Philippines.

If Jonathan and Chester experienced painful things before getting married, then Steel and I... 'Di ko alam, feeling ko kasi ang smooth ng lahat. The only problem we faced was admitting our feelings for and to each other. Ewan, feeling ko something's coming that will try to break us.

Whatever it is-be it something or someone-I must prepare myself for a needle that will pop the bubble of happiness where I used to live in.