Eleven years have passed, and I'm living the life I've dreamed of. The life that I've fought for and the dream I cried for. Who would've thought that I will achieve success despite all those pain and heart breaks. Now, I'm peacefully living the moment that I can finally say, 'the long wait is over."
"Come in." I said when I heard a knock.
"Good day, Miss Gonzales. Architect Guanzon is looking for you." my secretary told me.
"Please tell her I'll be there in a minute." I said. "Thank you."
I then fixed my things after my secretary left the room. After fixing my things, I headed out of my office to see Jill.
"Ara!" Jill said then she stood up from the couch. She hugged me then I kissed her on her cheeks.
"What brought you here, Miss Architect?" I asked.
"Where's Ali?" Jill asked then she looked around, looking for Ali.
"Oh, so you went here just to look for Ali?" I asked then she laughed.
"Of course not." natatawang sabi ni Jill. "I'm looking for her para isang sabihan nalang."
"She's not in her office sabi ng secretary niya." I said. "Let's just meet her sa coffee shop nearby."
We both agreed with what I said. After telling my secretary that we'll be going out, Jill texted Ali to meet us at the coffee shop. I drove myself going to the coffee shop near the firm because Jill brought her car.
"Where's Ali na daw?" I asked.
"Let's order na daw. She's malapit na." Jill said.
"How conyo." I said teasing Jill.
"Whatever, Arabella." Jill said then she rolled her eyes. "I'll order na. I know what's yours, don't mind telling me." she said then she winked. Gross.
"Hey!" Ali said then she kissed me on my cheeks. "Jill?" she asked looking for Jill. Ano 'to magdamag silang maghahanapan?
"You guys kept on looking for each other. Jill's at the counter." I said.
"You're finally here Miss Attorney!" Jill said referring to Ali then she placed the tray on the table.
"So why go to the firm and look for Ali?" I asked then I took a sip on my drink.
"Well, Jade just called me kaninang morning." Jill said after taking a sip on her drink.
"Can you just speak straight english or maybe tagalog?" asked Ali at tinawanan ko naman.
"Whatever you two." Jill said then she rolled her eyes again. "So eto na nga. Jade told me na Allen's gonna be having a party tonight!"
"Omg, I almost forgot. Today's Allen's birthday nga pala!" gulat kong sabi.
"Oh see. Isa ka ding conyo." Jill said which made me realize what I've said. "So ano, punta kayo?"
"Of course!" I said. "It's been years mula nung huli kaming nagkita nila Allen. How about you, Ali. You going?"
"Oo naman." Ali said as an aswer.
"Kamusta na nga pala kayo ni Kio?" tanong ko. "Are you guys okay na?"
"Okay na kami. We're friends na ulit and we settled things na." Ali said. "Sana yung iba dyan din."
"Alam mo ikaw, magpaparinig ka na nga lang obvious pa." I said.
"Ilag ka minsan, Ara. Hahaha!" Ali said then they both laughed. We spent our day by telling each other some funny stories and by telling some rants. We then decided to go home as early as we can so that we can prepare for Allen's party.
Pagdating sa bahay ay nagprepare na ko. I told mom about the party then she helped me with my outfit. Yes, I'm now living in our house ever since I graduated from college, I moved here. Ali and I left the condo and lived with our family.
Mom made me wear a beige colored string silk dress and a pair of silver stiletto. She then asked a makeup artist friend of her to do my hair and make up. After all those girly stuffs, I headed to our living room because Mom's waiting for me there.
"You look stunning, anak!" Mom said with a smile. I then hugged my mom and thanked her.
"I'll see you later, Mommy." I said. "I have to go na po."
"Yes, anak." Mommy said. "Stay safe and enjoy the night. Pakikamusta nalang sila Jill and Ali for me."
"Sure, Mommy." I said then I went out.Nang makarating ako sa venue ay naghintay ako sa parking lot to wait for Jill and Ali. Hindi nagtagal ay dumating na din sila then we went inside.
"You guys came!" Allen said. "Long time no see!"
"Happy birthday, Doc!" I said as I greeted Allen. "Long time no see, grabe."
"Thank you, Ara!" Allen said.
"Happy birthday, buddy!" Ali said. "Nasaan sila Jade?"
"Sus lagi niyo nalang ginagamit pangalan ni Jade. Pwede namang 'nasan si Jazen?' or 'nasan si Kio?" natatawang sabi ni Allen. "Biro lang! Nasa loob, she's waiting for you guys. By the way, thanks Attorney!"
"Hahaha! Lakas no'n, Allen!" Jill said then she laughed. "Happy Birthday Cortez with an M.D."
"Hahaha! Thanks, Architect!" Allen said thanking Jill. "Let's join the others inside, tara!"
We then went inside to join our friends. Naabutan namin si Kio at Jade na naguusap sa couch. I suddenly found myself looking around to fnd someone but then I stopped. I realized that I'm just fooling myself, expecting him to be here knowing him na hindi pupunta pag sumama ako.
"Looking for someone, huh?" Kio asked.
"No! Tinitignan ko lang yung venue. Ang g-ganda lang." I said then I smiled.
"If you say so." nang-aasar na sabi ni Kio pero dinedma ko lang.
"Kumain na kayo guys. Ieentertain ko lang yung mga bisita." paalam ni Allen.
Pag-alis ni Allen ay kumuha na kami ng foods tsaka kami kumain. Nang matapos kumain ay nagpaalam si Ali at Kio na magiikot lang daw sila. Ilang saglit ang nagdaan ay nabored ako kaya inaya ko si Jill at Jade na magikot pero tinatamad daw sila kaya ako nalang ang nagikot. Pumunta ako sa terrace kung saan tanaw ang magandang view at hindi gaoon karami ang taong nandoon.
"What a nice view, right?" I heard someone next to me say.
"H-Hey!" gulat kong sabi. "Long time no see, I guess?"
"Long time no see, indeed." He said. "So how are you?"
"I'm good." I answered awkwardly. "How about you? You're a doctor now for sure."
"Yes." He answered. "A general surgeon with an M.D. at the end of my name, as what you want kapag nagkita tayo ulit."
"Happy for you." I said with a smile.
"Come on, we're friends. Wag ka ma-awkward." sabi niya kaya natawa ako. "How should I call you? Miss or Mrs?"
"Attorney." I said then I saw his schocked reaction.
"You've made it." he said with a smile then I smiled as well. "I'm happy for you, sobra."
"Luckily, yes." I said. "Ikaw, do you have a girlfriend or married na?"
"Happily single." sagot niya na ipinagtaka ko. "Feeling ko kasi hindi pa 'ko ready ulit."
"I'm sorry." I said which made him look at me with a confused face. "I'm sorry for what happened. For everything, twelve years ago."
"Apology accepted, matagal na. Things are meant to happen." he said. "I just didn't expected things to happen that way."
"Sobra akong nahirapan noon. Gusto kong bumalik sa'yo pero wala nang dahilan pa." sambit ko. "Baka ayaw mo na. Baka wala na 'kong babalikan."
"You know, you can always leave and come bck to me whenever you want to." he said and that confused me. "Ganon kita kamahal dati."
'Dati.'
"Alam mo, narealize ko na kaya siguro hindi ko kayang sumaya, kasi may mga sugat na hindi pa rin humihilom." sabi ko habang nakatingin sa kawalan. "I want to fix things. I want to make everything alright and to put everything back in place."
"Yeah, same with me." he said. "I want to fix things between us."
"I'm really sorry for the pain, Jazen. I really do." I said in a soft voice. "Hindi ko mababalik yung tayo pero nagbabakasakali akong kahit yung pagkakaibigan lang natin."
"We're friends. Yeah, we are." he said then he looked away trying to hide the pain brought by the words. "I guess we're okay now?" he asked then I nodded.
"Thank you." I said with a smile. We continued our conversation the entire hour. Ako pa rin yung madaming kwento at siya pa rin yung taga pakinig ko. This feels good rather than keeping the pain which only causes us hatred and bitterness. We may not be together again, but at least we're not completely strangers.
"Hey, it's getting late na." I said while looking at the time on my watch. "I think I have to go now."
"Yeah sure." he said. "Thank you for your time and I guess I'll see you around?"
"Of course! See you around as well!" I said then I started walking away when he suddenly called my name. "Why?" I asked.
"You look wonderful tonight, lady." he said.