A Chance of Forever

Kabanata 2

One year later.

The snow season wraps itself around one open palm. It has made the first step on a years journey. The sky is gloomy, and the trees have lost their leaves, which contrast sharply against the snow, almost like charcoal. Rachell reached out her hand outside her balcony, feeling the cold wind blowing and brushing on her skin. Maganda talaga sa New York, lalo na kapag papalapit ang Christmas season. Uminom siya ng mainit na kape habang pinagmamasdan ang naglalakihang building at magandang tanawin ng lugar mula sa ika-dalawampu't-limang palapag ng condo na tinitirahan niya ngayon. It's been a year since that incident happened. It's been a year since umalis siya— no, tumakas siya mula sa magulang papunta dito sa New York. And it's the best decision she made. Nagagawa niya na ang lahat na hindi hinahadlangan ng iba. Ganito pala ang feeling kapag natikman mo ang kalayaan. Masarap sa pakiramdam na tila nakalabas ka na sa hawla.

Kamusta na kaya sila sa Pinas? Ang mga kaibigan niya ng panandaliang panahon, malaki ang na-occupy nitong parte sa buhay niya dahil sa tulong ng mga ito. Are they living happily? Did Levine and Maeve finally settle? She hopes to see them soon lalo na si Maeve. Hindi na kasi siya nakakapag-video call dito since naging busy siya sa pagtatapos ng kursong Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. Actually, kinuha niya ang subject na meron ito ng patago sa parents niya dahil ayaw nito ng dream job niya. Ito ang gusto niya magmula highs school. And finally, she graduated with flying colors! She’s now working under the Studio Plus Interior Design firm here in New York at sa blessing naman ng Maykapal, kumikita siya ng malaki at gusto niya ang working environment doon.

A knock suddenly interrupted her reverie. Mabilis na lumiwanag ang kanyang mga mata at gumuhit sa labi niya ang malaking ngiti. Pumasok siya sa loob at sinara ang sliding door ng balkonahe bago ibinaba ang dalang tasa sa center table ng living room at mabilis na pumunta sa pinto ng condo nito.

She opened the door and the man, who was her closest friend, was there standing on her door with a paper bag of food holding on his left hand. Halatang kakagaling lang nito sa isang meeting for client. Iniwan nito ang business sa kapatid na si Levine at sinamahan siya dito sa New York na talagang ikinagulat niya. Lorenzo was a stockholder in one of America's most prominent entertainment companies, as far as she knows at nasa New York ang kumpanya nito.

The man gave a loop smile. “I bought you your favorite Shake Shack snacks.” Napatawa si Rachell at kinuha nito ang paper bag. It was probably the Shroom Burger, which contained an entire portobello mushroom grilled low and slow, topped with lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce, that was most likely the best and the Chick’n Shack, crispy chicken breast with lettuce, pickles and buttermilk herb mayo.

“Thank you, Lorenzo!”

Pumasok silang dalawa at nilagay ni Rachell ang pagkain sa counter table at pumunta ng kusina.

“Kumain ka na ba?” tanong niya sa binata habang inaalis nito ang suit na suot at inorolyo ang sleeve ng puting pulong suot.

“Not yet. We can eat together. Ano ba ang niluluto mo?” Lumapit sa kanya si Lorenzo ngunit nahihiya siya na baka makita ito kaya hinarangan niya.

“Noodles again? Baka magkasakit ka n’yan. Move, I’ll be the one to cook.” He gently pushed her at the side and the woman was left with no choice but to let Lorenzo do it.

“You’re tired. Let me do it,” she insisted, but the latter ignored her. She huffed and decided to sit on the bar tool leaning her both elbows on the table.

Rachell just watched him as he started to mix some ingredients and vegetables.

“What are you cooking?” She curiously wondered her eyes looking for what dish he was going to serve pero hindi ito makita dahil sa laki ng katawan nito.

“I’ll be cooking sinigang and chop suey. You should eat healthy food, Rachell,” pangaral nito. Rachell pouted. Hindi kasi siya marunong mag-luto. Her parents wouldn’t let her do anything in the kitchen. Ito ang mahirap kapag spoiled but she’s trying to learn from the bottom kahit paunti-unti mahahasa din siya.

Natapos na si Lorenzo magluto at hinandan na nito ang pagkain sa mesa. Hindi naman nagpatalo si Rachell at siya na ang naghanda ng plato, baso, kutsara at tinidor.

“Let’s dig in. It’s already dark outside. Do you have plans after you file a one week leave?” Tumaas ang kilay ni Lorenzo na tiningnan ang dalaga. Nasabi kasi nito na gusto muna nito mag-unwind since may big project ito sa isang pinapatayong firm sa Manhattan.

“Well, I plan to visit the places here since I didn’t have time before. How about you? Do you have no plan on going back?” Tukoy nito sa Pinas.

“Not yet. I’m doing fine here, anyway.” Isa pa, humihilom pa ang puso niya mula sa pagkabasag nito sa first love niya na ngayon ay magiging asawa na ng kapatid nito. Levine called him last week and said that they were planning to settle maybe next year? He’s not ready to face Maeve and to see her with another man kahit pa kapatid niya iyon.

Lumambot ang ekspresyon ni Rachell. Alam niya na kung ano si Maeve sa buhay ni Lorenzo. Kahit siguro siya ay hindi mahaharap ang dating kasintahan kung gano’n rin ang nangyari.

“It takes time, Lorenzo. You’re still healing. I’m sure you can meet someone again,” she said casually and continued eating.

“Maybe not,” sagot ni Lorenzo at nagpatuloy din sa pagkain. After his experience, he bet that he will ever find a woman like Maeve again. She’s the only one.

-----

Pagkatapos kumain ay napagpasyahan pa ni Lorenzo na mag-stay muna ng ilang sandali sa condo ng dalaga. Magkatabi lang naman kasi ang unit nito.

“Lorenzo, napapansin ko parang late ka na umuuwi? Is there a problem?”

The man’s hand froze while browsing on his phone. Then, he nodded later. “May nangyari lang. May na-leak kasing information about sa isang foreign investor ng agency.”

“It’s not your problem, right? Within the company naman na iyon,” singit ni Rachell.

“Yeah, but someone notify na nasagap daw iyon ng kabilang network, so we did have an emergency meeting and work on it. Kung may na-leak na information, posibleng ma-leak din ang information namin,” he explained.

“Well, don’t get yourself tired because of it.”

Tumayo si Lorenzo at kinuha ang suit na nakasabit. “I have to go. Matulog ka na.”

Tumayo rin ang dalaga t sinamahan ito palabas ng unit niya. Bago pa makapasok ang binata sa condo nito ay tinawag niya ito.

“Lorenzo.”

The man tilted his head and looked at her. She instantly stared at his eyes but she later realized what she was doing so she coughed awkwardly.

“When you are already healed, is there a chance that you may open your heart again?” she asked.

Seryoso siya nitong tinitigan at mula sa kanyang mata nakita niya ang pagbuka ng bibig nito.

“I will not love again, Rachell. Sa isang tao lang naman nakalaan ang puso ko. But sadly, we are not destined to be.”