SECOND CHANCE

"Hey, Are you ready?" Jay said. I look at him and smile. The truth? I am nervous. I am back to the place I run off four years ago. Away from people who broke me. To pick every broken pieces of myself. "Yes. At some point, namiss ko na din dito." I said with a faint smile. "Does your family know?" Jay grab his bag and stand. "Hindi pa. I think I'll let them know when the meeting is done." I grab my bag and start to walk. Jay run beside me and start to walk at my phase. I don't know why I decided to go back. Maybe, I want to challenge myself. I want to know if I already had a change of heart. Besides, I can't run and hide. It's time to face everything. Four years ago.... "Hi, Andiyan ba si Pick?" I give the receptionist a wide smile and try to look at the glass door inside his office even though I knew I won't see him that way. "Good morning po. Yes. He's with a patient. Pero malamang patapos na din po yun" Angela gives me big smile. She's the only person that knows who I am to Pick. "Does he has Lunch meeting for today?" "I don't think so. Pero kanina tumawag yung Papa niya. I think, it was an invitation for a dinner meeting with some clients and sponsors." "Good." I help myself to sit to a sofa in the lobby. I have spare time to have lunch with him while Arm and Podd was out of the cafe. Tumayo ako ng bumukas ang pinto ng office at lumabas ang isang babaeng may hawak na aso kasunod ni Pick. I try to hide my smile. I really like to see him in that white coat. He waved goodbye with his patient and gives me a question of what are you doing here look in the eyes. "Kain tayo. Free ka ba?" I smiled at him. "May nakita akong bagong open na restaurant gusto kong i-try" waving the phamplet of some restaurant that's near his clinic. "Can I say no?" He ask me removing his coat. I just smile and make an X sign using my hands. He folds his coat and enter his office again. He's now wearing his semi-formal look with this long sleeve polo folded half way. I followed him after I waved my goodbye to Angela. "Anong gusto mo?" he asks me while looking the menu. I just keep staring at him and wait for him to ask me what I want. "Kung ano 'yong gusto mo. Iyon na din yung akin. I heard, their steaks are the best. How about let's try that one?" "You just tell me to choose what I want and ended up making a decision at the end." He put the menu down and ask for a waiter to take our order. "Bakit nandito ka? Sarado ba ang shop?" he ask me without giving me a look. He's too focus eating his food. "Yes. Wala si Arm at Podd. Pero mag oopen din kami later. I just take my time and have a lunch with you. Matagal na din tayong di nakakapag lunch na magkasama eh. Late ka na din nakakauwi. Minsan tulog na ako." He just nod and continue eating. I also try to focus on my food. In all fairness, masarap nga yung steak nila. I was too happy since the last time that we have this kind of meal together was a month ago. "Oh, by the way." He put his pork and knife down and look at me. "Baka hindi ako makauwi mamaya. Dad called and ask me to go home. He's going to introduce me to someone who manages a Zoo in a rural area." "Talaga? Sure. Pero bukas uuwi ka?" "Yes. I think I will just stay for a night. You know how uncomfortable it is with Dad around." He says and continue to devour his food. He gives me a ride to the shop. I wait until I don't see his car anymore. "Oho, Kaya pala masaya ka na wala kami. Nakipagdate ka pala" I look at the person who put his hands on me. I just shook his hands off my head and enter the Cafe. "How's the deal going?" I asked while putting my apron. "Beautiful as you" Podd suddenly pop his head from a door over the kitchen. "Good. Want to watch a movie with me? Treat ko. I don't need to go home early." "Why? Noone's waiting?" Arm keeps giving me a teasing smile while also putting his apron and joining me to the counter. I gave him a face. "Kung ayaw niyo, di wag. Ako nalang." "Sama ako." Podd get out from the kitchen with a mop in his hands and wink at me. I just laugh and look at Arm. I saw him shrugged and put his hands up like surrendering and nod. I just keep staring at my phone. Pick did not leave me a message. I try to call him but he's out of reach. It is already 11PM and I just got home from watching movie with Arm and Podd. Naexcite akong ikwento kay Pick and ayain siya na panoorin yung movie na pinanood namin. I just leave him a goodnight message and ask him to text me when he woke up. I woke up in the morning and still has no text from Pick. I get up and get ready to work after I send him another text. The day is almost done and still no text or call from Pick. I ask Angela and she says that Pick took a day off from work. I keep on trying to reach on him however his phone is still turn off. I woke up the next day and checking my phone again. I still got no text or call from Pick. I am starting to worry. I leave him a voice mail to call me once he reads my messages. "Rome, we'll having a meeting today. Can you join us?" Arm ask me from behind. "Are you okay?" I just nod and gives him a big smile. "Kailangan ba ako dun?" I ask while putting my apron back. "Well, we just want you to be there. As a lucky charm I think?" he gives me a pat on the back. "Okay. If that so." I shrugged and continue what I'm doing. The meeting is almost over. I saw a big smile from Arm knowing that we were sure that we will close the deal. We'll supply the pastries and drinks for a big event. I heard the chime as a sign that the door open and a customer comes in. I have my back from the door but I felt that whoever entered that door. They chose to occupy the table near us. I don't try to look back and just continue on focusing to the meeting that I am not really useful of aside from giving some reactions. "So, are we going to talk about our wedding?" I heard the girl behind me talk. She got that angelic voice. "Yes." said a guy's voice that is too familiar to me. I put my drinks down. My heart is pumping hard like it'll explode anytime. "We were just introduce few days ago and you want to talk about our wedding. Woah, is it love at first sight?" I heard the girl gives a heartful laugh. My hand is shaking. My heart's rejecting that the voice was not his. I ask myself not to look back. To just run without confirming anything. But still, my body betrayed me. I look at my back and saw the familiar guy. The guy whom I am waiting to text me to know his whereabouts. The guy whom I am worrying of. It is indeed, Pick I accidentally bump the table while standing up that cause the cup to fall and 'cause attention from the table that I am in and all the customer of the restaurant to look at me. Along with that was the eyes of the person from the table behind. Our eyes met. That familiar eyes that I am used to look at and gives me happiness. But now, it is the other way around. It gives me pain. A pain that numb me. I look at him and gives courage to myself to go outside of that restaurant. I heard him calling for me. I don't know how fast my steps was but why does it feels like his voice was so far. Is he really calling me? Or he's not chasing me. It's just my imagination. I continue to walk fast when an arm grab me. I look at the arm that is also familiar to me. I am familiar with this warmth. I am familiar with this person. I look at him with no emotion. I want to cry but my eyes won't let me. "Let me explain. Wait for me. I'll just finish my business here and I'll go home. Please." He said. I look at him. I know that he's my weakness. I nod. He calls a taxi for me. I just obey him. "Wait for me, okay?" He said after he ask the driver to took me home. I just nod. Yes. I will wait for him. I wait for Pick to arrive. It is almost dawn and no one came. The pain is killing me every minute. I am crying my heart out. I try to call but decided not to. It is almost 5AM and no Pick come. I suddenly laughed at myself. Really? I just aggreed to wait for him. While probably he's planning his wedding with that woman. And I just decided to just wait. I just wait hoping that he'll be back and explains that I got the idea wrong. And we will be back on what we were. Back to being happy with me. But, no. No Pick arrive. No one arrive. I decided to run. Without anything. Without my clothes. Without anyone knowing. I took the flight to Korea with just myself. With my broken self. I took the path away from the person who asks me to wait and never gets back to me. There, I become a Rome that don't depends on anyone but myself. I fixed myself. I pursue my dreams that I have set aside because I want to be besides of Pick and I am contented seeing him achieving his dream. After four years, I am now a Rome that has his own dream. I am now a Rome who has achieved his dream. "Rome, look at this. What do you think?" I look at Jay looking at a portrait on a restaurant that we were in. It's a photo of a sunset in the woods. I checked the photo. It feels somewhat familiar. I saw the name down and find out it was taken at the forest near Arm and Podd's Cafe. The same spot that's always my subject on my photos when I have time after doing my chores at the cafe. And it was taken by Arm. "Rome, ikaw ba yan?" I heard a familiar voice behind me. I look at him ready to smile when I saw another familiar face that I never thought I will encounter on the first day I got back from abroad. Why is he with him? Since when they have connection? "Arm" I said ignoring the person behind him. I give him a warm smile and he come hugging me. "Yah, kailan ka pa bumalik? Hindi mo man lang kami sinabihan. Sana nasundo ka man lang namin ni Podd. Saka paano mo nalaman 'tong restaurant ko?" he excitedly ask me while I was not paying attention since my focus was the other guy behind him. I switch my focus to Arm. "I didn't know it was your restaurant. And I am here for a meeting." "You knew each other?" Jay comes from behind me switching his look from Arm and me. I just nod at him. "Wow, so this project would be awesome. There's no adjustment needed." he clap his hand and give me and Arm a hug. "And, Pick will also be part of this project" Arm said looking at me. "Oh, really? That's.. good then. Shall we start?" I ask looking all of them. I don't know if I manage to deliver my words without shaking but I don't care. Four years has passed. I shouldn't be affected.