Life Changing Memories

I

"BABE. . ." napaangat ako ng tingin." . . .kanina ka pa ba?" as he pulled the chair across and settle himself comfortably.

"No, just ten minutes ago." I said, gently close my laptop; then put it in the side. Having lunch together, dapat nga ay susunduin niya ako sa opisina. I declined, knowing that his busy. Plus, the fact na nasa meeting siya at napaaga naman ang lunch break ko. Isa pa, malapit lang naman ang café from my office, five blocks away.

"Sorry for making you wait." He apologized, being an architect and CEO in their family business – architectural firm does give him a hard time. When we graduated in college, we got our dream job the latter months at naging busy na rin kami sa kanya-kanyang buhay. But aside of that, we still found time to be with each other and our friends. We managed to pull out some strings, kaya naman hindi naging mahirap magkaroon ng oras – to spend time together.

"No worries. I already order for both of us." I order our usual meal. Knowing him, mahuhuli siya obviously with his hectic schedules. "kamusta pala ang project?" pangungumusta ko sa kanya, the current project his working.

"Okay naman, its getting tougher but we manage to handle it. Masyadong mapili ang client in terms of the designs kaya kailangang baguhin ang blueprint." Litanya naman niya.

Napatango naman ako, understandable na nga ata iyon lalo na sa career niya. "A certain, Romel G. Ramirez is your client right?" kunot noon ko namang tanong sa kanya.

"Nakilala ko siya sa isang event na pinuntahan namin ni Selma noong nakaraang buwan." Ika ko naman. "he said he happened to be your client."

"He is. So far, it's the biggest project of the year."

But then, before I could utter something. Dumating na ang waitress, dala-dala ang order inorder ko kanina.

"Here's your order ma'am, sir." Magalang na sambit niya habang inilapag ang pagkain sa mesa.

I give her a beam and said, "Thank you, miss." She curtly nods in acknowledgement.

"Enjoy your meals ma'am, sir." Usal niya at umalis na leaving the two of us.

We eat silently. After a while, he said, "Susunduin kita mamaya sa office niyo. Derecho na tayo sa tasting." Breaking the comfortable silence between us. I nodded in response.

~*~*~

When Things Started to Turn in Sixty Degrees

You don't know what will you become, if you don't try.

When did all started? During my junior year in college. And that very time, hindi ko inaakala na simula na pala ng salitang pagbabago – no, rather say the key to made my life turn into sixty degrees. How could a lifeless soul can turn into a lively one? Aaminin ko na hanggang ngayon ay palaisipan parin naman sa akin ang mga bagay na iyon. If there's one thing I realized in those things that is who I am. Perception nor the simple life you have. Who knows what tomorrows brings to you? Not even me nor you. A mystery wherein finding an answer are not applicable.

Saan at paano nga ba nagsimula? I was in my junior year when I met them. Yes, them. The people who contribute change in my being as a whole. Merely a lone university club or what we know as an organization, which you must participate for extracurricular purposes. And this so-called organization must have six to eight members. In my case, I'm focused with my studies and being an Accountancy student doesn't help a lot. I would rather have focused in academic than to be involve with some curricular activities.

"Sophia, you should try. Wala namang masama hindi ba?" and there my best friend Lia keeps on nagging me. About a certain organization na kumbinsido siyang makakapasok ako. With my criteria and such, it will be not surprising if I am accepted.

"Lia, stop it okay. I will not. Just finish your meal." I firmly said, not wanting to complicate my life more. Iyan lang ang nasa isip ko – to abscond from possible complications that it could give me.

"Why don't you give a try? It is all about writing lang naman. Alam ko kung gaano mo kahilig ang pagsusulat." Litanya niya sakin, actually declining was not an easy issue. Lia was so persistent, pero alam ko noong mga panahong iyon – things would simply become tougher. At wala talaga akong balak na sumali, na seryosohin ang sinabi niya. My stubborn self doesn't accept the tempting possibilities. I hate having more responsibilities, because I bear too much.

"Lia." I said sternly, she is a hard headed person. Hindi siya basta titigil lalo na kung alam niyang na may malaking possibility.

"Sophia, just this time." Kita ko sa mga mata niya ang determinasyon na mapapayag ako. Yet being me, matigas din ang ulo ko – I say no.

And even though I say no, hindi niya parin ako tinigilan. I lost count how many arguments we both have about that topic. Ni hindi talaga niya pinapalipas ang araw na hindi niya banggitin ang tungkol doon. Kahit ano man ang gawin ko, no use at all. Being her determined, she set things without my prior notice.

Nakisama din si panahon. I see myself being surprised with the invitation I unearthed in my locker. Walang kahit na anong nakasulat sa labas but my name, sa totoo lang napakagandang font ang ginamit nila. Na magdadalawang-isip kang buksan iyon. As I opened it, I don't know what reaction should I feel. My emotions were void; I don't even know how to cater myself.

Ink Heart Organization is inviting you Miss Sophia Blaire Imperial for the orientation this coming Friday at exactly nine o'clock in the morning. It will be held in Levi University Stadium.

Unspoken words which bound to write.

See you there!

Ink Heart Organization

That was the statement written inside. How do in earth happened? Ni hindi ko maalala na nagpasa ako ng application. Iisang tao lang ang pwedeng gumawa niyon – no other than my friend Lia.

How could a simple invitation have changed your entire being? Writing? I doubted, I love writing yet not enough to pursued it. I'm too busy with my priorities, includes my studies and such. That was my perception. WAS, I looked things according to what society viewed.

I even confronted Lia, after I received the letter. The usual thing happened, just keep on insisting. I quit arguing with her. In short I was forced to do something again – not entirely this time.

Friday came too fast, and there was no way for me to turn back. Now or never, to choices which startled me. Frankly speaking, I can choose to not to come yet I don't know why I chose to. Precisely saying, ending up with a decision to give a try.

Might be that's an indent of what we called a destiny. There's no way, we could argue in everything that happens in our life. Determined and unknown, that is how our life revolve. We can't blame God either, He has planned everything for our good. Nasa atin na iyon kung paano natin makikita ang blessings niya. Yet one thing for sure, hindi iyon mangyayari na walang dahilan. A lesson and meaningful resemblance of the reality – our past and present which will enlighten our future.

- Sophia Blaire Imperial –