FRIEND OF MINE (2nd Generation HUGS)

Chapter 8 -Let Fate Move Its Course

Chapter 8 -Let Fate Move Its Course

I saw daddy smiling pa at me when I turn my back at my best friend, along with his smile are his eyes filled with sadness. I know where that sadness is coming from at hindi yun dahil sa aalis na ako ng country because we can still each other kahit na nasaan pa akong lugar sa mundo. That sadness is because he perfectly knew that I am hurting. He knew na sa likod ng pagiging matatag ko now at ng mga tawa saka ngiti ko, my heart is breaking apart. I remember what happened to us last night, talagang sinadya niya pa na puntahan ako sa room ko kagabi. 

***FLASHBACK***

I was done packing my stuff in my luggage when I heard knocks at my door. Pinuntahan ko ito and open it only to see my father outside.

'Dad!'

'Come I come in Princess?'

'Sure Dad, come in.' I open the door wide enough for him to enter. He sat on my leather couch so I followed him there and sat beside him. 'What does my old man want to say to his princess now that he has to personally come to my room?' I smirk when he smiles widely before leaning back comfortably.

'Just a little chit-chat before you leave tomorrow.'

'About what?' hindi siya sumagot but his smile broadens. 'No way! Wala akong kwento sayo Daddy! Tigilan mo na ako about jan sa thinkings mo about me and Ziggy!' I protest agad bago pa siya magsalita ulit.

'You are so defensive Bella. Wala pa nga akong sinasabi, you are protesting already. Hahahahaha!' 

'It is because I knew you so well Dad. Alam ko naman that you are here not because you want to wish me a happy and safe trip Daddy. Or tell me that you will miss me because kaya mo naman akong puntahan kahit saan part ng mundo. So ano pa ang reason to why you are here now if not because of my best friend then?' I heard him sigh deeply. 

'I am just hoping that I might change your mind in leaving tomorrow Princess. A month's vacation is short enough for you to be with your family Bella.'

'Why would I change my mind Daddy? I need to be back at work already, ang tagal ko ng nawala. I can't prolong my vacation anymore.' sumandal narin ako sa couch.

'Don't give me that bullshit Bella. How can you say na kailangan mo nang bumalik at your work when you are and will always be the owner of your own company! Cut the s**t Princess! You won't fool me just like what I have told you before.' I stare at him fiercely. Hindi niya talaga ako titigilan not until umamin ako sa kanya. 'And f**k those stares as well! Quit it dahil hindi bagay sayo!' I exhaled defeatedly. I will never win over him talaga. If I am hard-headed already then mas hard-headed pa siya sa akin dahil siya ang puno as they always say. 

'Fine, fine. What is it that you want to talk about Dad?' I utter in a much mellow tone.

'Tell me the truth why you are leaving the country tomorrow, aside from the fact that you are going back to work.' I gaze at him first before shaking my head with such disbelief. 

'Ano bang gusto mong marinig sa akin Dad? That is my reason. I need to be back at work. Period.'

'I already know it Princess. I just want it to hear from you lang, that's all.' huminga muna ulit ako ng malalim. Well knowing my father kapag sinabi niyang alam niya, it means alam niya. Period. So what's the reason of hiding it from him pa kung alam na niya right?

'Fine! I am leaving because I don't want to be the cause of why Ziggy and his girlfriend are fighting.' I wait for his reaction but he is just staring at me expressionless. 'He told me once this week that he planned on breaking up with her dahil daw sa ayaw niya akong nasasaktan at ayaw niyang may nang-aaway sa akin.'

'Was that the scene at the coffee shop just a couple of days ago? The one that you almost got slap?' hindi na ako nagtataka that my daddy knew about that. Sa lawak ba naman ng mga connections niya and knowing him being so overprotective of his children. Mas magtataka pa ako kung hindi niya alam ang nangyaring yun at the coffee shop with Phoebe. 

'Yes. That same day ay nasabi sa akin ni Ziggy about his plan of breaking up with her.'

'And?' his eyebrow arch.

'But I questioned his plan. I told him that it's not the right thing to do since I knew that he loves Phoebe as much as she loves him. I don't want him to be torn between his friendship with me and his love for her.' nagsimula nang mag-water ang mga eyes ko. I saw him staring at me with deep concern pero hindi ko siya pinansin, I let my tears fall in front of my father. I let him see my weakness, dahil alam ko naman that he will never judge me nor accuse me for being weak. 'I love him Dad.' I sniff before continuing. 'I love Ziggy so much that I can't be selfish of my feelings for him. I want him to be happy even if his happiness will cause me tremendous pain. Kaligayahan niya si Phoebe and I can't deprive him of that. I don't want to be a hindrance sa happiness niya even if I love him that much.' I place my hand at my face as I cry in despair. 

'That's the most noblest thing you have ever done Bella. And I am so proud of you Princess.' He held me in his arms and embraced me tight. 'Time will come that your heart will heal, that will come Princess. And if you and Ziggy are meant for each other, kahit gaano pa yan katagal Bella believe me, magiging kayo pa rin sa huli. Just like what has happened to us ng Tita Coreen mo. So is that your decision? You are really leaving the country and letting him go then?'

'As if I have a choice Daddy.'

'People always have a choice Princess. Hindi totoo na walang choice because there is always a choice. And it is up to you what it will be.' I wipe my tears off.

'I guess I chose to let go of him because I love him and I want him to be happy, even not in my arms but in someone else's arm.' another painful tear fell at my cheek. Masakit but that is reality and I have to bear it.

'That is a choice Bella, although it is a sad one.' his smile warms my heart a bit. 'Always remember that it is better to sacrifice some things that you love than to be called selfish. Love isn't selfish Princess, at least you knew that you did the right thing.' I nod. 'As I've told you before Bella, there are many fishes in our ocean. You just have to open your eyes further for you to see the other fishes.'

'But I don't want other fishes Daddy! Siya lang ang gusto ko!' I heard him chuckled.

'Then you just have to let fate move its course. Huwag mong pangunahan Bella. Let fate do its own way at hayaan mo lang since you are still young.'

***END OF FLASHBACK***

Let fate move its course. That's exactly what I will do starting today. Hahayaan ko na lang ang destiny kung ano ang para sa akin. If it is Ziggy then I will be glad, but if it's not, then that is my fate.

My tears are shedding as I board the plane, I don't care about what people will say about me. I am in deep pain and I need to release it by crying. Sana lang tama ang ginawa ko dahil it will hurt me more if nagkamali ako sa decision ko of letting him go. Buong duration ng travel ko I am in misery, it is like I am mourning for something that died in me. I wore my shades the moment the plane landed, my eyes are red and puffy and I don't want to attract more attention. I am now back here in a foreign land, all by myself. It's time for me to shape up and do what I always do... Pretend.

---

A week had already passed mula nang umalis ng country si Bella, but even if it's a week already ay hindi pa rin mawala sa isip ko ang mga salitang binitiwan ni Tito Poseidon sa akin at the airport. It really puzzles me kung ano ang tinutukoy niya. Wala naman kasi akong natatandaan na decision na nagawa ko na sinasabi niya except not pursuing on my plan of breaking up with Phoebe na advice rin naman ng best friend ko. Aside from that ay wala na akong maalala pa na decision na ginawa ko. At isa pa sa gumugulo sa mind ko ay ang sinabi rin ni Tito Poseidon about his daughter made a choice for herself. Anong choice ang ginawa ni Bella? Was it the fact that she have left the country? Pero talaga naman na aalis siya because kailangan na niyang bumalik sa work niya. Or was it the decision she has said that she will distance herself muna sa akin para hindi na magselos pa si Phoebe? Yun ba ang choice na tinutukoy ni Tito Poseidon? If it was the latter na hindi rin naman ako in favor, I just hope na hindi ito gawin ni Bella. Though she may be far from me literally, but I do hope that she wouldn't stop our communication and totally forget about our friendship. 

Kakalabas ko lang ng room ko when I saw my dad, galing siya sa gym. I walk quick to catch up with him. Ilan days ko rin hindi nakita si daddy because he just got back from a business trip yesterday. 

'Dad!'

'Ziggy.' He halted and waited for me to reach him. 

'Do you have a minute Dad?'

'Sure son. What about?'

'Can we talk at the library instead? There are some things that I need to consult with you Dad.' 

'Go ahead, I'll just change then I'll be there with you in a while.' He patted my shoulder before heading to the master's bedroom. Tumuloy na ako sa library and sat in a chair while waiting for him. Maya-maya pa ay pumasok na siya and sit in front of me. 'What is it that you want to talk about Ziggy? You sound so serious, son. Is there something wrong?'

'There are certain things that bothers me recently Dad. Maybe you can help me sort it out.'

'Alright, what is it?' he lean back comfortably and look straight at me. Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago nagsimulang magsalita. 

'Last week before I left REIZ AIRLINES, the time na hinatid namin si Bella. Tito Poseidon said some things that bothers me enormously until now.'

'What did he say?'

'He said that he hoped I made the right decision because Bella had chosen to decide for herself as well. I don't get it Dad. Ilan beses ko ng iniisip if ano ba ang decision na tinutukoy ni Tito Poseidon that I have made at kung ano ba ang choice na ginawa ni Bella, pero hindi ko parin makuha kung ano yun.'

'Maybe he was pertaining to Bella leaving the country.'

'But she is really bound to leave Dad. Kailangan na niyang bumalik sa work niya, her vacation is over.' 

'Anak, if you are the owner of your own company then you have the liberty of doing what you please. Pwede kang hindi pumasok if you really want to. Pwede kang mag-vacation even if how long you wishes to. There are a lot of ways na pwede kang mag-handle ng company mo even without being there literally. It's new age already at walang hindi kayang gawin ang technology natin ngayon.'

'So? What's the relevance there Dad?'

'All I am saying is that Bella has a choice to stay in the country further and prolong her vacation.'

'Which she didn't dahil nga sa kailangan na niyang bumalik sa work niya.'

'Is that her real reason why she has left the country? Yun nga ba talaga ang reason niya? Or maybe there is something else.' my forehead creased at what my father had said. 

Is her decision of leaving the country related to what she has said to me that she will distance herself sa akin para hindi na kami mag-away pa ni Phoebe? Is that the real reason? 

'Oh s**t!' realization just struck me hard.

'What? Have I hit the jackpot?'

`We had fights kasi ni Phoebe weeks ago Dad. She was jealous with Bella because I am too close to her, she even confronted Bella one time at a coffee shop. Then after the confrontation ay sinabi rin sa akin ni Phoebe about that kaya agad akong nagpunta kila Bella to talk to her on that very same day. We talked and she told me that she will distance herself from me for the moment so that hindi na raw namin siya pag-awayan pa ni Phoebe. Yun lang daw ang nakikita niyang way to stop Phoebe from being jealous of her.'

'She said that?'

'Yes Dad. So if what you have said were true, about the real reason why Bella left the country, then maybe her real reason was because ayaw na niyang maging siya ulit ang dahilan why we have fights ng girlfriend ko. That she would rather leave the country and literally distance herself from me than be here at pinagseselosan siya ng girlfriend ko.' I slap my forehead hard. 'Kasi pwede naman niyang i-prolong ang vacation niya if she really wanted to because she is the boss. s**t! Why haven't I thought about this before?'

'Now have you been enlightened son? Based on your story, I guess that was her reason for leaving the country and her loved ones and prefer to live alone again.' mabilis akong tumayo and head towards the door.

'Yes Dad. Thanks a lot. I'll call Bella now.' mabilis akong lumabas at nagpunta pabalik sa room ko. I call her immediately pero naka-ilang try na ako ay hindi pa rin niya sinasagot ang mga tawag ko. 'Answer my call Bella. Please answer my call.' sinubukan ko ulit siyang tawagan pero ganun parin. I throw my phone at my bed out of frustration. 's**t! Bakit ayaw mong sagutin ang calls ko Bella?'

---

Ilang beses na nag-ring ang phone ko but I prefer not to answer it when I see that it was Ziggy. One week ko ng pinipigilan ang sarili ko na dumistansya sa kanya. I didn't even message him nang makarating ako dito, sila dad lang and my siblings ang sinabihan ko that I have arrived saka sa group chat pala namin. As much as I wanted to call him or message him since nami-miss ko na siya, I have castigated myself from communicating him. I have focused on my work at bihira akong pumasok sa group chat namin. I am doing this for him kaya kakayanin ko even if it hurts a lot. I look again at my phone when it beeps. I read his message.

Answer my call please.

I shut my eyes close as I lean back on the seat. Nasa office ako ngayon pero nawala ang concentration ko sa ginagawa ko dahil sa mga attempted calls niya. 

'Stop pestering my mind Ziggy. Parang awa mo na. Nahihirapan na nga ako tapos ganito pa ang ginagawa mo. Just be happy with Phoebe at pabayaan mo na ako sa buhay ko.' a tear fell on my cheek. Huminga muna ako ng malalim before I close my laptop. I decided to call it a day at umuwi na lang. Ganitong magulo na naman ang mind ko, I doubt if I can work efficiently today. But before I can leave my office, I receive another message and this one isn't from Ziggy. 

Can I meet you now Belle? I am now here at the ground floor lobby of your building.

My eyes popped open after reading the message. Only one man calls me Belle, nag-iisa lang ang taong tumatawag sa akin ng ganon. 

'Don't tell me he is here. That's not possible right? Wala ako sa Pilipinas for him to be here.' 

Pero bago ko pa masagot ang sariling question ko, may office phone rings. The call is from my secretary. 

'Sorry to bother you Mam, but a certain Troy Anderson is at the ground floor lobby now and wishes to see you. He doesn't have any appointments with you Mam. Should I advise the front desk to...'

'That's alright, I knew him personally. Advise the front desk to let him pass and once he is outside, call me again first.'

'Alright Mam, right away.'

So andito nga siya ngayon. What is he doing here by the way? At bakit gusto niya akong makita all of a sudden? First si Ziggy then now him? What's next Lord?

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