A person someone worth waiting for, It's Khael.
After all his efforts, sacrifices and one-sided love for me, He deserves to be happy and loved in the end.
I promised myself I'm going to give my all as soon as he returns
Sabi nga nila "Waiting is not a wasted time. Something is being worked out- in us, in someone else, in the universe"
Those 5 years I waited for Chris was never a waste of time, I realized a lot of things including Khael's love for me.
So again, like before, I will wait and let something happen and work out, but this time, it's between Khael and I.
Kung sana nakita at napansin ko lang siya noon pa, kung sana naramdaman ko ito sa mga panahong palagi siyang nandyan para sakin, SANA nakabawi ako, SANA nasuklian ko yung pagmamahal niya.
It's been 2 years already since Khael entered the seminary, I have to wait for 2 years more and I'll finally get the answer.
I kept on texting and updating him, calling him every other day even though he never answered.
I don't know where this deep hope is coming from but I believe in him, I felt his love it's authentic and real.
It's our third week in Sagada and we're so lucky we are able to witness the most anticipated Bonfire Festival, it's one of the most exciting festivals where people lit a fire from pieces of woods and make a big bonfire while the residents of the place dance around it.
Saturday night at 6:00 PM, one of the officials in the place came to our transient house and gave us a a set of clothes, he instructed us to wear it during the festival.
He told us to join them at 8:00 para sabay sabay daw naming i-light up yung woods.
We arrived at the event and nadatnan namin ang napaka raming tourists like us, there was a ritual before they start the event, the organizer then approached me and said " Ma'am I heard you are a teacher, can you be one of the readers of the ritual?"
I was like...
Kahit ba naman sa malayong lugar kasali parin ako.
"Oh sige po sir, can I get a copy po ?"
I read the introduction of the ritual and it was dedicated to those who seek healing for sickness, emotional stress, healing of all aspects of life.
I was reading solemnly when I can feel my phone vibrating from my pocket
Medyo mahaba haba din yung aking binabasa kaya inignore ko lang, siguro three times siya nag vibrate and that means 3 missed calls na yun, I thought walang signal sa lugar pero narealize ko nasa peak pala kami ng mountain so maybe may nasasagap na connection.
After I read for almost a minute, I checked my phone.
Someone called me, it's an unfamiliar number.
I tried to call it in return pero wala pala akong load that time.
I continued to watch and enjoy the event with my family and syempre kailangan mong makihalubilo dahil kaming mga turista ang guests.
Napalitan ng init ang malamig na simoy ng hangin dahil sa napakalakas ng apoy, napakataas and nagliliyab, napaisip tuloy ako, "ang saya siguro kapag kasama mo yung taong mahal mo" although I was with my family pero iba parin pag yung taong special sayo ang kasama mo.
I took a lot of pictures for remembrance, aaminin ko medyo parang ayoko nang umuwi at bumalik sa napakagulong mundo sa siyudad, dito tahimik, malamig, everything is fresh and dito mafefeel mo talaga yung peace of mind.
I saw Chris and his family together with Jane his girlfriend, I know they've also been through a lot, mahirap din ang pinagdaanan nila as family bago nakabalik dito. I saw them very happy and they're really enjoying
Suddenly, nag vibrate uli yung phone ko, I got the chance to pick up the call..
At first, no one was talking, it was pure silence
So, I talked first
"Hello, who's this?"
"Sa wakas sinagot mo, It's Khael, I've been calling you for weeks now, super nag-aalala ako na hindi na kita ma contact"
"Khael? Is that really you?
"Yes, I got a chance to call you, by the way, are you still in Sagada?"
"Yes, I'm attending a feast now kaya maingay, can you hear me?"
"Medyo choppy nga, but hearing your voice again is enough for me"
I know any time pwedeng mawala yung connection so gusto kong sulitin yung oras na kausap ko siya.
"Khael, kamusta ka diyan? Are you doing okay?"
"Don't worry about me Aika, okay na okay ako dito, ikaw?"
"Are you sure? can I ask you something?"
"Sure"
"Are going to stay there for a long time? may chance pa ba tayo? Yung tayong dalawa?"
I know it will be a hard question for him but I think I have to ask, malay natin eto na yung huling pag-uusap naming so I didn't hesitate to ask
There was 10 seconds of silence, so I thought he was not ready for that, kaya I changed the topic.
The he suddenly answered
"Can you for me a bit longer? Please I ask of you"
"I can wait forever Khael, like you waited for me"
"It won't be too long, please do remember that I love you, I have and I will, forever"
"I'll wait for you love"
Khael and I talked trough the phone for almost an hour and it was magical, it was full of love.
After a week, we have to return to Manila, go back to our normal lives and continued to seek some opportunity for me.
When everything gets back to their normal places, I continued to strive and learn for my dreams, I didn't give up, not even once.
Until one day, I received a call from one of the divisions of the department, asking me to get my appointment paper as Teacher I permanent position.
After years of waiting, I finally reached my dream, I was hoping my friends and other classmates are now enjoying their hard-earned money also.
At first, I thought having a permanent job can give you everything in life, Happiness, Comfort, Luxury and Stability
Not until I realized, those things will become another dream.
I had to support my siblings' studies, lalong lalo na't nasa private school sila, I give them allowances and buy everything they needed in school to the extent na parang napagdadamutan ko nadin ang sarili ko.
I realized na totoo pala talaga yung kasabihang, more power, more responsibilities, I never complained, in the first place they're my family.
I tried to earn, I always keep the 20% of my salary for future purposes and needs.
Until one day, a very unexpected event happened, it seemed like a nightmare for me and my family.
I was on my way going home at 5:00 PM, habang tinatahak ang daan papuntang bus station, I couldn't find my wallet in my pocket so bumalik ako.
As I was looking into it on the streets, I didn't realize a motorcycle is coming fast towards me
Nakita kong papalapit na siya ng napakabilis pero dahil sa sobrang takot at kaba, I couldn't move my feet, para akong tumigas kung saan ako nakatayo
And there the accident happened....
I don't know what happened after that, I lost my consciousness and wasn't able to breath normally
My mom told me, someone called her and said puntahan daw ako sa hospital.
And there natagpuan panay ang galos, at halos mahimatay daw si mama sa nakita niya.
Ibinigay daw kay mama yung aking bag and ang my phone.
As soon as I gained my consciousness, I can feel the pain, it's killing me, I cannot move a bit, it really hurts all over my body.
I was crying when I saw my mama na super tired and stressed, tears began to fall from my eyes, I was wearing a patient's gown when I tried to get up pero hindi kaya ng aking katawan.
I asked my sister to get my phone, just to check if Khael called or texted me.
There was none.
Gusto ko siyang makausap at marinig ang kanyang comforting voice pero hindi na ata kaya ng katawan ko, pakiramdam ko mamamatay na ako.
Biglang pumasok ang isang nurse sa aking room at may ininject na gamot, after a second bigla akong nakaramdam ng antok.
My mom said, they have to make me sleep kasi lilinisan daw ang mga sugat ko.
As soon as I woke up, my mom revealed something to me....