'LOOK: Famous basketball star and three-time MVP, Ryder Labrador, found together with Charlotte Pena, a rising star in the Philippine entertainment industry...'
Sumimangot ako sa nabasa. Kabubukas ko lang ng phone at balak tawagan ang pamilya pero natigil dahil sa nakita. Hindi ko na alam kung ano gagawin ko. Parang nakalimutan ko na ang ginagawa ko dito!
They were close to each other. The guy was assisting the girl towards a seat inside a fine dining restaurant. It looks like it's only the both of them. They were also seen going inside a car after their dinner.
I blinked rapidly as I felt the corners of my eyes getting warm from tears. Naiiyak kahit hindi alam kung ano ang nararamdaman. Naiiyak kahit naging blanko ang sistema niya.
Para akong nabalik sa batang Bella na ilang beses natititigan ang lalaki pero hindi alam kung bakit ganun ang nararamdaman niya. Para akong bumalik sa dati na hindi makayanan ang presensya ng lalaki kapag magkakaroon na ng pagkakataon na makita.
That was what Marco saw as he went inside the tent we're in.
"Tulala ka?" Salubong niya sa akin. Hindi ko siya pinansin at pinagpatuloy ang pagsusulat sa notebook binder tungkol sa impormasyon na nakuha ko kanina. Hindi ko na napansin na naka on pa ang screen ko noong iniwan ko sa desk ko.
"Ay, aray ko po. Masakit, Bella?" Pang aasar niya sa akin.
I pouted and rolled my eyes at the paper I was writing on. If only I knew how to hit a guy, I would do it in a heartbeat.
Nakilala ni Marco ang tungkol kay Ryder noong bumigay na ako sa pamimilit niya sa akin. Ilang beses niya na kasi tinatanong kung sino tapos nakita niya pa ang isa sa mga sinusulat ko sa notebook na bigay ng lalaki sa akin noon. Nakita niya rin ang isa sa mga tula na ginawa sa akin ng lalakI! Hindi na pinalampas ni Marco ang pagkakataon at nagtanong na kung sino.
"Shut up, doctor. Your voice is irritating." I said as I continued to write on the paper.
I heard his laugh before sitting beside me on the table. He removed his lab coat and placed it on the sofa near us. He plopped his elbow on the table and rested his chin on his closed fist. He watches what I'm doing.
"Baka wala lang 'yon, Bella." Sabi niya sa akin na parang gusto pawalain ang mga iniisip ko. Binalewala ko siya.
"Mukha naman gentleman 'yon. Aggressive sa court 'pag pinapanood ko pero soft outside."
I stopped writing to frown at him. "Are you saying he's like a hard-boiled egg?"
Tumawa nang malakas si Marco. Mahihiya sana ako kaso kaming dalawa lang ang nandito sa tent.
"Cute mo pa rin mainis, Bella. What more kung makita niya itsura mo ngayon, 'no? Baka panggigilan ka." Marco said while sporting a teasing smile to my blushing face.
"Stop it. Umalis ka na nga. Your girlfriend is probably looking for you."
Nakita ko na kinagat ni Marco ang labi niya para pigilan na ngumiti. Lalo akong nainis kasi ang pangit niyang tingnan kiligin!
After years of courtship, Olivia finally said her 'yes' to my scientist friend. Kasama rin kasi namin si Olivia dito sa research na ito. She represents the company she's in and has limited knowledge about the topic wherein she wants to learn more. Thankfully, she knew us already so she's always with us ever since we started this conference. That's the start of being a freaking third wheel.
Tapos kapag uuwi naman ako, magiging fifth wheel naman ako sa mga kaibigan ko. Hindi ko na nga alam kung saan pa ako lulugar!
Tumayo na si Marco matapos ang pang aasar sa akin. Kinuha ang lab coat at ang niluto niyang pagkain para sa girlfriend niya.
"I also cooked you some. Kumain ka na at 'wag mag mukmok. Ilang linggo na lang makakauwi naman na tayo." Marco said before going outside of the tent.
I sighed before I continued my writing. I won't let myself get distracted by that type of news.
When I said that I will lose contact with anyone from home, I meant what I said. I only contact my family and friends from time to time because it's so freaking hard to find a signal in this place. We're near the mountains and the small village near it only deals with everything traditionally. Meaning, no use of gadgets or any kind of technology.
Nakakakuha lang ako ng signal for internet kapag nalalayo sa area na ito. Which happens at least once every two months! Iniisip ko na talaga na parang itinakwil na ako nila mommy dahil parang hindi nila ako namimiss!
Dahil sa limited signal na mayroon, saglit lang ako makipag usap kila mommy at daddy. Noong una ay kaya pang makipag usap sa dalawa kong kaibigan. Pero dahil nga sa onting oras lang namin magkaroon ng signal, ang mga magulang ko na lang ang tinatawagan ko at sinasabi na lang na sabihin kila Misha at Crim na okay lang ako.
I lost contact with Ryder. Aside from his management regulating the team's players' focus, I don't want to distract him any further on his way to every championship. Ilang beses na rin siya naging MVP kaya mas mabuting tumigil na muna. Wala rin naman kaming relasyon para ipagpatuloy.
Babawi ka naman pag uwi mo, Bella, 'diba?
Pumikit ako nang mariin dahil sa maliit na boses na nagsalita. Ugh! Nahirapan na nga ako sa ginagawa ko dahil sa nakita kanina, pagkatapos ay may gana pa ako isipin ang lalaking 'yon!
Mukhang wala ka nang babawian, Bella. May iba na, eh.
I groaned as I stopped writing. I rested my head on my desk and didn't realize I'd fallen asleep until I saw darkness outside our tent.
Pumasok sila Olivia and Marco sa loob ng tent. I stared blankly at them as I also pouted at their sweetness. Ilang buwan ko na rin gusto masuka dahil sa nakikita!
We share a tent. Malaking tent at may dividers per bed area namin. Sa labas ng bed area namin ay living and dining area. Ang lutuan namin ay single burner na gumagamit ng butane gas. We're literally camping as this conference proceeds. Ilang taon na namin ginagawa ito!
"Hey, Bella. Have you eaten?" Olivia greeted me as she also pinched my cheeks. I pouted more. Ilang taon na niya akong nakikita na parang bata! Bakit ba kasi ang tatangkad ng mga tao na kilala ako?!
I nodded.
Olivia frowned. "Why are you so tahimik?" I slowly smiled at her slang.
"Lagi naman tahimik 'yan. Kailangan mo pa nga hulugan ng piso para magsalita." Sabat ni Marco sa usapan namin. I frowned at him and rolled my eyes.
"Ay, attitude ka na, ah!"
Olivia giggled. "Marco said that your guy was seen with someone else. Is it true?"
I sighed and only shrugged. When you deal with a couple, your single life will be the highlight of their topics.
Olivia smiled at me before draping her arms over my shoulders. "The media says a lot to feed their hunger for news. Don't believe it. I'm sure they twisted something about that article."
"Oo, tama! Galing talaga ng bebe ko, 'no?!" Marco said proudly as he stared adoringly at his girlfriend.
Ilang taon na rin tinuturuan ni Marco mag Tagalog si Olivia. Somehow, he's not failing. Nakakaintindi na rin si Olivia ng Tagalog. Nagtampo pa nga ang mama ni Olivia dahil ang bilis matuto ng babae pero sa nanay ay nahihirapan.
"You trust your guy naman, right?" Olivia asked me. I remember Misha when Olivia speaks. I freaking miss my friends!
"There's no need because we're not a couple." Sabi ko sa kanya.
Olivia gave me a teasing smile. "I'm sure that he's the type of guy who gives you reassurances. Marco said that he saw the poems that that guy wrote for you. I think that's enough of an assurance on your part."
I pouted before hugging her sideways. Ayaw ko na magsalita.
"There's a need to trust, Bella. Afterall, I think you're bound to be with him." Olivia said as she pats my head.
"It's...Lagi...At...Magpakailanman for the both of you, right?" Dahan dahan na sinabi ni Olivia.
I groaned at what she said. Hindi na rin ako nagtataka kung kanino niya nalaman ang mga katagang iyon.
"...When bioprinting tissue, organ, or bone-like structures with bioprinters, bioinks are employed as the basic material. 3D bioinks, which are easily adjustable hydrogel-based bioinks consisting of nanofibrillar cellulose and water, can be cell-laden, scaffold-free, or cell-free..." I said as I pointed my laser towards the information found on my presentation.
Nasa harap ako ng ilan sa mga importanteng tao na nakilala ko dito. The conference is about to conclude and these important people tasked us to present all the things we learned during the intensive study of bioprinting. Representatives of the companies that also joined the conference were also tasked with doing this. Kaya nagtulong kaming dalawa ni Marco sa presentation namin ngayon. Olivia and her companion also represented the company in which they work.
"...It is crucial to choose the best bioink for each study objective since the density and composition of the bioink can affect the vitality and density of the cells..." Patuloy na sabi ko habang tinuturo ang mga nasa powerpoint presentation namin. That sense of satisfaction when I saw people nodding at what I was saying was literally gratifying and urged me to speak more.
When these influential individuals learn that our company deserves to advance in bioprinting, they will support it and also assist the company with it.
I even pat myself on the back when I realized I was not shaking anymore. During my young days, halos manginig pa ako dahil sa kaba, takot, at hiya na nadarama kapag haharap sa maraming tao at magsasalita. I can't believe how fast the night changes and I'm so proud of what I have become.
Of course, I still prefer to be alone or with my friends, but the fact that I am slowly getting used to a lot of people is something to be celebrated. Ilang taon ko rin pinaghirapan na makihalubilo sa ibang tao.
When Marco's part came, I stood on the side as I waited for him to finish. People will ask after our presentation at kailangan namin masagot ang mga 'yon.
"...Each type of printer has advantages and disadvantages in terms of price, cell survival, cell density, resolution, and other factors..." Marco spoke clearly as he pointed his laser towards his presentation. I can see Olivia from the crowd who was smiling proudly at her boyfriend.
A small smile appeared on my lips. It's crazy how love can be found anywhere. You can literally just stand by the waiting shed, and someone will also stand beside you.
You can buy yourself a burger from a food truck, and someone will approach you and tell you what food he would recommend.
You can idle around in a music store, and you will be surprised when you share the same music taste with someone else.
You're at a conference, and someone who was in the same field as you can be your soulmate.
You will find something real and unique when you don't force things to happen. It will come naturally and at a time when you least expect it. Just like how chemical elements are formed over time and how they are involved with other elements under different conditions. Their connection was natural. It's like they were bound to connect at the beginning of time.
"Oh, my God! You're coming home?!" Misha shrieked over the phone.
I pouted when I heard her voice again. Nilayo ko ang phone at ginawang loudspeaker dahil baka mabingi ako sa mga sigaw niya.
"Oh, my gosh! When? Where? How? Should we sundo you?! Oh, my gosh, Bella!" Patuloy ang pagiging taranta ng boses ni Misha. I can even hear a man's chuckle from the background so I'm sure it's Kai.
"Misha, calm down. I'm starting to panic at your voice." I softly uttered. Nakadapa ako sa kama at nakatitig sa phone call namin.
"Hijo de puta! Paano ako kakalma kung uuwi ka na? My gosh, Bella! You were missing in action for years! You even missed Ma'am Amelia's wedding! Ang daming nangyari here! Oh, my gosh!"
I pouted. "I contacted Ma'am Amelia about her wedding. She understood my situation. Sabi ko nga na babawi na lang ako kapag nakabalik na ako."
"Yeah. You even asked for us to buy a gift for her at kami na lang ni Crim ang magdadala."
"How's Crim? I miss her. Nagtatampo ba sa akin?" Dahan dahan ko sinabi na parang hinahanda ko na ang sarili sa pagtatampo ng kaibigan sa akin.
"Oh, don't worry about her. She's busy. Galen's been taking care of her. They must be out now. Sinamahan ni Galen somewhere, I think?"
I smiled when I remembered my comment on one of Misha's Instagram posts. Silang dalawa ni Crim 'yon at nakita ko rin ang comment ni Galen. I assumed that something was about to happen between them.
"Alam na ba ni Crim 'yong sinabi mo sa akin dati? About their marriage?" I asked when I remembered how Misha spoke about it to me one time when I had a signal again. She sent a message to me about it na sinabi pa na 'wag ipagsabi! Naalala ko ang pagkabigla ko doon!
"Yep. It's crazy when Crim thought she cheated on Galen while Galen thought how he took advantage of Crim's drunk situation. Ah, I love both of them. I swear, they look like cats and dogs during their banter! Mag asawa na talaga ang datingan! Ang ingay nila kapag magkasama!"
I giggled at that.
"Hey, Bella! 'Wag mong ipahalata na alam mo ang shotgun wedding nila, ah! Magagalit sa atin ang bruha!"
I giggled again. "Crim won't get mad. But I will surely do it."
It's crazy how you can find love anywhere. It's even crazier when love can change your fate, and you won't be able to stop what's already written in the stars.
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