Author's Recommendation: The Story continues in the BOOK 2 - FOUND YOU after the Part 11.
The next day, maagang gumising si Ysah, pumunta kaagad siya sa coffee shop. Mahilig din kasi talaga siyang magkape while working with her masterpiece.
Nasa tatlong oras lang ang naging tulog niya dahil madami siyang iniisip. Lalo na yung staff na naghatid ng pagkain kagabi...
Nakaayos at nakasuot ng makapal na eye make-up, at nakasuot ng facemask kaya hindi siya sigurado sa nakita niya...
'Yung mga mata niya...she reminds me of someone'
Could it be...she's the one she's been looking for?
Bagamat 11 pm na silang natapos ni Marie, mga 3am na din siya tuloyang nakapagpahinga at bumangon ng 6am diretso sa coffee shop. Sanay sa puyatan si Ysah as a contemporary artist tuwing tinatapos niya ang kaniyang obra-maestra or masterpiece.
Si Marie naman ay sa kaniyang sariling suite natulog. Mukhang mahimbing ang tulog niya. Hindi pa din inaamin ni Ysah ang totoong naramdaman niya noon kay Jelyn. Maaaring nakalimutan niya na din sa tagal.
Nagsimula ng magkape si Ysah at kumain ng croissant habang tanaw ang karagatan.
Tonight they will land in Japan. 15 days itinerary nila sa Japan specifically in Hokkaido, Tokyo, Kyoto tapos ay pupunta sila pa-China. Then Singapore at Vietnam.
Sumunod naman si Marie sa coffee shop at sinamahan si Ysah na mag-breakfast. Naka-pajama lang si Ysah and V-neck shirt, while si Marie ay nakasuot ng cute na sweater at jogger pants.
"Nasaan na kaya si Dwayne, sabay na sana kaming mag-almusal."
Kausap ni Jelyn ang kasamahan niya sa coffee shop kung saan siya nakaduty this time.
From the distance, mga 8 tables from the counter kung saan nakaupo si Ysah at Marie ay pinagmamasdan ni Ysah ang culinary student na nakasuot ng white uniform. Nakatali ang buhok ng maayos at laging hawak ang cellphone tila may tinatawagan.
A guy approached her. Then they sat down to have breakfast as well.
Inoobserbahan ni Ysah ang mga kilos nito. Kahit pa may kaagaw ito sa atensyon.
"Binitin mo ko kagabi Ysah." Marie told her as she sliced the omelet.
"Oy, ba't tulala ka diyan?" Marie looked at her and she waived her left hand.
"Marie, here's the thing. After all that we've been through, I'm afraid Jelyn would not be able to forgive me. I left her without explanation. Wala akong mukhang maihaharap sa kaniya."
Hindi pa din nagtagumpay si Marie sa pagkuha ng kasagutan kay Ysah. Gumagambala din kasi ito kay Marie dati. Lalo na at naging crush din niya si Jelyn at nagseselos siya kay Ysah dati. But she had moved on. Nakailang girlfriends na din siya at boyfriends. I guess it doesn't matter now kung hindi man niya malaman kung may gusto ba talaga si Ysah kay Marie especially madami nang nagbago. Hindi na sila mga bata ngayon.
"Okay okay if you say so. But what if magkita nga kayo ulit? What would you do?"
Napa-inom si Ysah sa kape with Marie's question. She ordered black coffee, by the way. Yan ang bisyo niya - coffee. Unlike other artists, not all, hindi siya nagti-take ng drugs or marijuana.
Actually, nasubukan niya na ang mga yun nong nasa college siya sa Sweden. Living in Europe during college, liberating experience sa kaniya yun. But she already made peace in herself, thanks to rehab therapy, naagapan niya ang kaniyang suicidal tendencies at maging drug dependent. Before she graduated from college ay sober na siya and clean. Mas ginalingan niya pa ang pagiging professional artist. At 18 years old, she already finished her studies and started participating in art exhibits around Europe. She's a changed person now.
Madami ding mga nangyari sa kaniya simula nang malayo siya sa Pinas. She was not able to stay in touch. As introvert, hindi din siya nahilig sa social media.
She tried to send letters sa old address ni Jelyn without knowing na wala na pala siya doon. Pinapa-mail niya ang kaniyang mga sulat kahit umaabot ito ng ilang buwan dahil gusto niya hand-written mabasa ni Jelyn at sinasamahan niya ito ng postcard.
She got hurt too back then. Sobrang complicated ng buhay niya non. Hindi man lang sila nagkita ulit ng bestfriend niya at nakapag-usap.
'What would I do? That's a great question...' Ysah's heart skipped a beat thinking about it. Naisip niya na din yan pero she always brushed the idea off her thoughts since hindi pa naman nangyayari.
Napansin sila ng ibang customers dahil sa malakas na boses ni Marie. Dwayne glanced at them for a few seconds and then he faced Jelyn.
"So, have you thought about my proposal Jel?"
"What proposal, Dwayne?"
"Ang magpakasal after college graduation."
"Hindi pa nga tayo pasado as intern. Kasal na iniisip mo. Let's take one step at a time."
Parehas na wala pang nangyayari kay Jelyn at Dwayne. And also they haven't done "it" yet sexually with other people in the past, too. Jelyn has this principle that if she's going to give all herself, she will give it to her true love only at yung makakatuloyan niya.
"Dwayne, sinong tinitingnan mo?"
Jelyn noticed Dwayne staring at the two ladies.
"Hmm, yung dalawa kasing babae panay ang tingin sa direction natin."
Lumingon si Jelyn sa kanila. Familiar sa kaniya ang dalawang babae. Sila yung pinadalhan niya ng order kagabi sa room 14.
"Assuming ka lang Dwayne. Kilala ka ba nila?"
"Ses, selos ka naman agad." Dwayne was flirting with Jelyn.
"Hindi ako nagseselos Dwayne. Guni-guni mo lang yan." Jelyn said.
Kinutoban si Ysah na maaaring si Jelyn itong natatanaw niya. By her gestures, sa pag-ipit ng buhok nito sa tenga, at side view nito. Kahawig ng babae si Jelyn. Hindi na din nakatali ang buhok ng culinary student at nakasuot ng face mask sa mga sandaling iyon.
"I have a hunch na nandito lang si Jelyn sa cruise ship na ito."
"Ha? Saan?" Napatingin si Marie sa babaeng tinutukoy ng mga mata ni Ysah.
"Baka kamukha lang?" Marie was skeptical.
"Pano kung hindi siya, ede mapapahiya lang tayo."
Marie added in her statement.
"You know what, you're right, Marie. Let's just stop talking about her."
Gustong lapitan ni Ysah ang babaeng kamukha ni Jelyn. Pero kinakabahan siya. Her heart was jumping in every direction and she was shaking as well until there was an announcement on board that diverted their attention.
Contradicting to what she said, she still wanted to approach the lady.
"This is an announcement. We will be arriving in Hokkaido at 1500 hours today. Please ready your things for your designated hotels and activities."
Announcement ended.
"Kilala mo ba sila personally Jelyn?" Dwayne asked.
"I don't think so."
Jelyn realized that she saw Ysah last night. Jelyn leaned her elbow at she covered half of her face habang kumakain na tila nagtatago siya. Pero sumisilip ito sa kanila...
Pero sino kaya itong kasama ni Ysah? Is it her new best friend? Girl friend?
"Tara na, Dwayne. We still have a lot of tasks to do." Nagmadali si Jelyn na umalis.
Ysah was disappointed to see the lady that looks like her childhood best friend to be leaving. Ysah and Marie also went to their respective rooms to prepare their luggage for the Japan trip.
Ysah will be having a business appointment with one of the famous artists who owns galleries in Japan. While Marie will do the vlogging because what she earns on Youtube pays for her luxury cruise ship experience.
"Dwayne, I need to go to the toilet. Let's meet at the kitchen."
"Jel, okay ka lang ba talaga?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Why would I not be?" Pero sa totoo lang biglang sumama pakiramdam niya at sumasakit ang tiyan. Humihilab.
"Susundan natin si Jelyn."
Lakas loob na sinabi ni Marie kay Ysah. Kitang kita kasi niya ang pananabik ni Ysah na ma-confirm ang identity ng cruise ship staff na yun.
Huminto muna sila saglit sa paglalakad.
"Sandali..." Hinawakan ni Ysah ng mahigpit ang kanang kamay ni Marie.
"What do we do? Okay ba yung hitsura ko? Nakapang tulog lang tayo." Marie told her in concern.
"Hay naku, don't get your hopes high, Ysah. We just want to ask her name. That's it." Hinawakan ni Marie ang mukha ni Ysah.
"Are you sure that's it? Pano kung tumakbo siya papalayo?" Natataranta si Ysah.
"Hindi na natin siya maiiwasan kung nandito man siya sa cruise ship na ito." Kinakausap ni Marie si Ysah habang nakatitig sa mga labi nito. Tama naman si Marie unless tatalon at lalangoy si Jelyn papalayo sa kanila. At sa haba ng panahon, siguro ay na-mimiss naman sila nito. At baka napatawad na din ni Jelyn si Ysah. Sana nga.
"You know what, you have a point Marie. I'm glad I met you again." Ysah tried to suppress her anxiety by hugging Marie.
"Your hand is so cold. So pano? Are you ready?" Marie asked her while holding and squeezing her hand.
Ysah could not say anything. Deep inside, nagpa-panicked na siya.
"I did not expect this, Marie.. I think I'm out of my mind." She continued as she sobbed. She was gasping for air.
"Hindi ka pa din ready sa tagal ng panahon? Pero please huwag ka mag-expect baka masaktan ka lang. Just, be strong. Okay?" Hinawakan ng mahigpit ni Marie ang kamay ni Ysah.
"I'm not expecting anything." Binitawan ni Ysah ang kamay niya kay Marie at sinundan ang kamukha ni Jelyn sa may hallway.
Deep inside she was really expecting something. She wanted to make things right. She had been mean to Jelyn. Now she has the courage to be confess to Jelyn everything. Pero hindi siya sigurado kung maiintindihan ba siya. Hindi siya siguro kung okay lang ba na gulohin ang buhay ni Jelyn.
Gustong umatras ni Ysah. Hindi niya maipaliwanag yung nerbyos na makakaharap niya na din si Jelyn. But she needs closure. She wanted to ask for forgiveness. At gusto niyang kamustahin si Jelyn kung ano ang nangyari sa buhay niya.
Nasa labas ng rest room silang dalawa ni Marie at Ysah at nakikiramdam sila kung naroon pa ba sa loob si Jelyn.
Tinulak ni Marie si Ysah papasok ng rest room nang biglang nagpakita si Jelyn sa harapan nila.
"Jelyn..." Marie said softly for the first time in a long time, nagawa niyang tawagin si Jelyn.
Habang tinitingnan ni Ysah si Jelyn na may pangungulila.
Lumingon si Jelyn at kinakabahan sa pagtatagpong ito.
"Yes ma'am, may kailangan po ba sila?" Hindi agad nakilala ni Jelyn si Marie.
"Jelyn? Sorry to bother you..."
"It's me, coach Marie and this is Ysah." Marie had the courage to speak. Biglang nagpakita si Ysah sa harapan ni Jelyn.
"Do you still remember us?"
Naririnig siya ni Jelyn pero halos hindi niya maintindihan ang sinasabi niya. Hindi ito makasagot at natulala sa labas ng rest room.
Hindi na talaga mapigilan ni Jelyn ang kaniyang sarili at nagmamadali na itong pumasok sa cubicle para ilabas ang kaniyang sama ng loob. Hehe
Halos hindi niya na din makilala si Marie kung siya man yun. Ang laki ng pinagbago ng hitsura. Pero si Ysah, maganda pa rin. Mas lalo pang gumanda ngayon...
It was an unexpected meeting. She was not even prepared for this. Iniisip niya kung mahalaga pa rin ba silang dalawa sa buhay niya? Lalo na si Ysah biglang nagpakita ngayon. Nagugolohan sya at hindi niya alam ang dapat niyang maramdaman. Litong-lito siya, so she isolated herself up inside the restroom.
Ayaw niya munang magpakita, pero hindi siya pupwedeng hindi lumabas baka hanapin siya sa duty.
Hindi pa siya handang makita sila ulit. Pero hanggang kailan siya magtatago?
But what just happened earlier... Was it fate, though?