The Right Time

Chapter 2 (Final)

Chapter 2 Sypnosis

After 5 years, there's no sign of Khail still in love with jane. All of the people around them thought that both of them had fully moved on. But on their revival youth camp, the 28 years old Narjane and the 26 years old Mikhail had their first deepest talk. They talk about their past, some of their happy days, their dates, their secret meet ups and more. And on that very day, Khail told her that he still loves her, that he can't seem to move on and he can't handle if Jane had entered a new relationship in the past years. Jane was shocked by this declaration yet she can't accept..

Chapter 2

5 years later

"Come here and gather!! Let's pray for the food and the hands that prepared them." As soon all the youth that participate in this revival camp gather, Pastor Herbert starts praying. After that, the feast began. People were eating, laughing and already saying their goodbyes to the youth that comes from another church despite the camp still having tomorrow.

Pagtapos ko kumain, I decided na pumunta sa kubo na malapit sa camp ground. I didn't notice Khail following me.

"Konti lang kinain mo ah" sinabi niya iyon habang nakangiti na nakapag palabs ng malalim niyang dimples. Gwapo..

"Dami kong kinain na snacks kanina. Busog pa ako" he nodded and nahiga sa sahig ng kubo. Tahimik. Tanging ang pagsagi ng mga dahon sa isa't isa ang maririnig dahil sa malumanay na pag hangin. It keeps giving me a nostalgic vibe. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam.

"We used to do this.."

"You know, secretly hanging out with each other." Napalingon ako sa kaniya. Nakangiti pa rin sia while saying those words. Hindi siya nakatingin saakin. Nakatitig lang sia sa taas na animo ay may nakikita.

He's right.. I miss those times.

"I am the one that insists on keeping it a secret. Does it bother you?" I ask.

"Yeah, sometimes. Naiisip ko kase kung ayaw mo ba talaga na ipakilala ako kahit sa mga pinsan mo na boyfriend mo ako." napangiti ako.

"Ipinakilala naman kita sa mga kaibigan ko. Besides, we live in the same neighborhood, gusto ko lang yung thrill na halos lahat sila nakakasama natin every sunday pero walang nakakahalata, hahaha"

"I was forced to do a new i********: account para lang ma ipost mga pics natin kase ayaw mo don sa isa kong account. I miss those days.." this time nakatingin na siya saakin. Bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko, I'm assuming there's something behind those words.

"Jane.. those times we had when we were Univ Students. I miss those very much. The mornings that I am patiently waiting for you to come out of your apartment. Secret dates.. after school dates.. The lunch we always had inside the University. The days that we were coming back to our neighborhood together yet they didn't suspect anything. Jane, I miss those.."

"..."

"Can you please take me back?" My heart keeps beating faster, it's like anytime now it will explode. Is it really possible? To love someone that long without getting attracted to other people? To wait long?

He's now in front of me, holding my hands and in tears.

It hurts again..

"I—" I shut my eyes. Trying to compose myself. I take deep breaths after deep breaths. Kinuha ko ang mga kamay ko na hawak niya at dinala sa mga pisngi niya. Pinahiran ko ang mga luha na nag babadyang bumagsak at umalis sa sulok ng kanyang mga mata.

"Is it really possible to love someone that long? Tsaka ang dami mong pagkakataon bat ngayon mo lang ako namiss?" Nagbibirong wika ko, but still sadness is in my voice too.

"To prove to you that I am the right person but we just choose the wrong time to be together. "

"You can't decide that silly.." but maybe— maybe he's right. After 5 years why do i still love him too? Maybe we feel the love too early? Maybe God's plan was us to be friends first?

But..

This time..

It's wrong too..

"Khail, I can't accept your feelings again." He froze. Hr look at me intently asking why.

"Can you wait for 2 more years? If you still love me after 2 years let's be together or maybe let's get married?" I cried this time. In my university days, I can't handle khail crying. I always surrender whenever he starts crying.

This time too..

Your tears were too much to handle.

"My father got me a 2 year contract in korea as a farmer. You know how much I love farming. Ang galing lang ng timing kase kung kelan paalis na din ako. "

"This is a selfish request, but if you still love me when I get back. Let's get married." Pabiro na ang huli kong mga sinabe pero..

"I know you hate promises but promise me. Hmm?" He still had his teary eyes.

"Sure." I stand up. I tell him to fix his composure before coming back to the camping ground. Nagpaalam na ako na mauuna ako.

I leave him there. I don't know why but my heart is sad but happy at the same time.

I am hoping when that time has come, you still love me..

That it's still me..

Because I am sure it's still you..

Days passed after that conversation..

Everything is ready. My passport, my baggage, my visa and myself. A few more hours and I will be in Korea. It's time for the month that the spring season will end.

I landed there safely. As soon as i arrived, my father who also works there as a farmer guided me to the apartment he leased on my name.

Hindi naging madali ang adjustment ko sa bansang kinaroroonan ko ngayon. But all I can do is to wait patiently. Spring ended and summer arrived. The most tiring season for me as the demand for crops rises up. Madaling lumipas ang panahon. It's summer then autumn and now it's winter.

Christmas is approaching. This is the very first Christmas that I will celebrate alone. My father already returned to the Philippines last October as his 5 month contract ended.

I wonder, how are you? You told me you want me to take you back yet you didn't even contact me..

As we harvest our last crops for this month, the snow started to fall. The cold and dry air brush in my skin. It made me feel lonely.

Khail wanted the snow too, but he never wanted to go here.

Christmas and New year have passed. Mabilis ding lumipas ang mga sumunod na buwan pero wala pa rin akong natatanggap na pangangamusta mula kay Khail.

did he gave up?

Spring rapidly approach.

Mabilis na lumipas ang panahon pero bat nakakainip?

Time passed and no news from him. I never try asking my parents or my friends about it because there's something inside me pushing not to ask.

What if may iba na? What if hindi na ako?

Pain and fear slowly creeps into me.

Why did he made me promise?

Naisip ko, hindi na kami mga bata to act like this. Maybe, we really need to move on.

"It's not yet two years since that day but you already gave up?"

It's the voice inside my head. That's right. Wala pang dalawang taon. Nag ooverthink lang ako.

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring again. Pauwi na ako sa Pinas. This is the most awaited day of myself.

When I reach home, I receive warm hugs and welcome. Friends from churches and from the neighborhood was there.

Except for one..

Nilapitan ko ang lola ni Khail, one of the elders sa Church.

"Hello po. Si Khail po ba?" Mukhang narinig ako ng ilan at naglingunan sila. Patuloy naman ang iba sa paguusap nila.

"Ay? Akala ko pa naman ay nagkakausap kayo. Dalwang buwan simula nung umalis ka e natanggap din siya sa Canada. Alam mo naman in demand ang nurse doon. " Napakurap ako. I didn't expect to hear that. Nag apply sia? Don't tell me he initiate that conversation 2 years ago kase paalis siya?

"Nagpagawa na nga ng kanyang sariling bahay don sa dating court." Bahay? Kay Khail?

"Bat ho? Mag aasawa na ho ba siya?" Ang plastic ng tawa ko habng sinsabe to. Pero hindi naman siguro diba?

Itatapon ko talaga yung singsing na binili ko sa Korea pag mag aasawa na siya. Ang balak ko kase ay kung mahal niya pa rin. I will initiate the marriage again.

"Siguro.. hindi naman nag sasabi saken ang batang yon. E ang sabi laang, di ko lang alam kung nagbibiro pero sabi niya ay para daw sa kanya at sa mapapangasawa niya." Stab. Stab. Stab. Sana sinaksak na lang ako diba.

"Baka naman ho nagbibiro lamang. " Umalis na ako don at di ko na kaya mag fake smile.

I'm in pain. Gusto kong masapak muna si Khail bago siya ikasal.

"Inay Berin, kausap ko lang si Khail kanina. Abay nasa manila na pala ho, hindi nag sasabi. " Napalingon ang karamihan kay Dran, ate ni Khail.

"Hahaha sabay pang nag uwi ah?" Narinig ko ang mapanuksong boses ni Yuri. Ang puso ko, ang puso ko!!!

Lumipas ang maghapon, nag si uwian na ang mga bisita. Naririnig ko lamang kila Dran na bukas pa tuluyang uuwi dito si Khail.

Nakatulog na lamang ako sa kakaisip. Hinayaan ako ng magulang ko na matulog as long as I want. Pahinga ko din daw.

Nang magising ako ay hapon na. Paalis sila mama.

"Saan kayo punta?" tanong ko habang nag hahanap ng makakain sa cup board.

"Kila Khail, bibisita . Sumama ka, binisita ka kahapon nila Inay Berin kaya dapat ikaw din. " Napatigil ako sa ginagawa ko. Naalalang umuwi si Khail, ha! Kahit di moko ayain ma sasama ako.

Nag sabi akong maliligo lamang ako.

Ilang sandali pa, habang naglalakad paparon ay kinakabahan ako. Pano kung kasama niya ang mapapangasawa niya?

Nang malapit na kami ay mismong bahay ni Khail nag diretso sila mama. Nakita ko to kahapon pero di ko akalain na kay Khail pala ang bahay.

Sa pagpasok namin sa loob ay naroon ang mga taong bumisita din saken kahapon. Hindi pa nahahagip ng mga mata ko si Khail. Kada segundong lumilipas ay kinakabahan ako. Bumibilis ang t***k ng puso ko.

Sa pag upo namin nila mama ay lumabas si Khail sa isa mga silid ng bahay.

Ang puso ko..

Ang gwapo pa rin niya. Mas nag mature ang mukha niya pero mas lalong gumwapo. Saakin agad dumako ang mata niya saka siya ngumiti. Kaagad din naman niyang winaglit iyon at bumati sa mga bisita niya.

Mga ilang oras ang lumipas at hindi naman niya ako pinapansin. Maybe i was right? Baka nga hindi na ako.

Bumulong ako kay mama na mauuna na ako. She agreed and told me na susunod na lang daw sila pauwi. Nagpaalam na rin ako mga pastor na naroon at kila Yuri.

Paglabas ko ng bahay, hindi pa ako nakakalayo ay may humawak sa mga braso ko. It was him.

"Uuwi ka na agad? Without us talking?" Napakurap ako ng ilang beses. Kinuha ko ang mga braso kong hawak niya.

Ngumiti ako. Sincere smile.

Masaya ako na nasa harap ko siya ngayon.

"That last conversation we had sa Revival Camp. Tell me, inopen mo ba yon kase aalis ka na?" he smiles too after hearing my question. At syempre sa pag ngiti niya ang ang paglabas ng dimples niya.

Ibinaling ko ang tingin ko sa harap ng bahay niya. Mukhang busy sa paguusap ang mga tao sa loob at wala ng nakapansin na nasa labas si Khail.

"Oo, gusto ko kase sa pagbalik ko ako pa rin.. nagulat ako na aalis ka din pala that time. But unlike you na working contract ang meron need ko lang bumalik ulit sa Canada. Umuwi lang ako kase umuwi ka." Sinabi niya ang mga iyon na para bang alam niya na siya pa rin.

"So ano? Shall we get married?" He seriously ask. Nag jo joke siya hindi ba? After 2 years na walang communication?

"Nga pala, nag pa gawa na ako ng bahay natin para hindi ka na makakapagdahilan na mag ipon muna tayo para sa bahay. I mean nabanggit mo yon saken 8 years ago na kung magpapakasal tayo bahay muna before wedding. " This time hindi ko alam kung iiyak ako. Gusto ko maiyak.

How could you possibly love someone that long? Ni wala pa kaming communication for 2 years.

"Jane, let's get married." After he says that nilabas niya ang singsing na nasa bulsa niya. Ayaw ko sanang sirain ang moment na yon pero nilabas ko din ang singsing na dinala ko to propose to him. Dinala ko lang just in case , di ko akalain na magagamit ko talaga.

"Naunahan mo lang ako. " Tears flow on my cheeks. Sumisingjot singhot pa ako nung sinabi kong sure.

"Wag muna natin sabihin, maybe tomorrow? Sabihin natin both sides?" He laugh and hugs me. A very warm hug, i had this 8 ? 9 years ago?

I hug him back.

"Let's love each other without doubt Jane. I believe this is the right time? "

"Yeah, maybe you are right about us loving each other too early that cause us pain."

I am certain, Khail is the right one. We just had the wrong timing.