Moonlight Over Paris

Leap of Faith

Den and Gretch are at the Old John's right now kasi nga nangungulit si Gretch dahil di siya sinama ni Den nung birthday nito kaya naman kinukulit niya ito na ilibre siya at para na rin makapag catch up sila kahit sandali lang kasi Gretch is a busy person din.

"Gretch, I need to tell you something..." Den said then took a sip of her iced coffee.

"Shoot it." sagot nito.

Nagsimulang magsalita si Den nang derederetso at napakabilis. She's obviously tensed. She's even sweating the hell out kahit ang lamig kaya hindi masyadong nakapagfocus si Gretch sa mga sinasabi niyadahil sa mga ito.

"Wait, wait!" sabi ni Gretch habang nakataas ang mga kamay para huminto si Den sa pagsasalita. "Den pwede ba kumalma ka? Di na kita naiintindihan. You can tell me everything pero hinay hinay okay?"

Hindi naman makapaniwala ang kaibigan sa mga naririnig mula sa kanya.

"So you mean, you want to stay here? for good?" di makapaniwalang sabi ni Gretch sa kaibigan. "How about Paris? Alam ba ito ng Tito at Tita mo?"

"No." mahinang sagot ni Den. "I'll just let them know when everything's okay na. I don't want them to worry about me."

After the death of Den's parents kasi, kinupkop na siya ng kapatid ng tatay niya. Mababait naman ang mga ito at malapit din si Den sa kanila at sa mga pinsan niya. Tinuri na nilang sariling anak si Den nang tumira ito doon sa kanila. Thankful naman siya sa kanila kahit di niya ito masyadong pinaakita. Hindi pa rin maalis ang pangungulila nito sa mga napayapang magulang. She suffered from depression and it lasted for almost 2 years. Noong medyo nagiging okay na siya, pinayagan na siyang gawin ang gusto niya as long as she won't harm herself. They just wanted her to be happy again and bring back the cheerful Dennise and somehow they did naman.

"Don't you think they deserve to know your plans? I mean, Den, they love you, they care about you, alam mo yan... Magaalala at magaalala ang mga yon sa iyo." seryosong sabi ni Gretch. "Just... Just don't be unfair to them anymore."

Medyo nalungkot naman si Den nang maalala niya ang mga ito. She loves them too, no doubt. Hindi niya man naipapakita sa mga ito, she knows in her heart na mahal niya nag mga ito.

"What's your plan?" tanong ni Gretch.

"I want to apply for a green card." Den answered. "Help me. PLEASE."

Gretch sighed. She can't believe that her friend is really serious about it.

"But Den, it's a long process and kinda complicated unless you have a close family here... or you're married to a citizen here." she looked at Den, "Come on, Den... Why? Why all of a sudden? Is there something else?"

"I just want to live here, nothing else." Den answered but Gretch doesn't seem to believe her. "I-I w-want to save myself, Gretch... I don't want it there anymore. Para akong pinapatay araw araw doon... akala ko okay na ako but damn, Gretch, masakit pa rin." pagpapaliwanag nito sa kaibigan at unti unti nang naiiyak.

Gretchen's expression softened because of what she heard and what she's seeing.

"Den, kailan mo ba tatanggapin at sasabihin diyan sa sarili mo that's it's not your fault? It was never your falut that they're gone?... Come on, Den, hindi sa minamadali kita, you have all the time in your life... but you have to start accepting things..." Halos maiyak na rin ito para sa kaibigan. "Den, stop crying, please? maiiyak na rin ako kapag di ka pa tumigil." pagpapatahan nito sa kaibigan and in an instant, natawa naman si Den sa sinabi nito. "But seriously, remember that I'm always here for you like how you were always there for me back in Paris, okay? I'll help you whatever this is. We'll figure this out together."