The Spotlight of Destiny (A Lover in Paris 1)

Prologue

A beautiful sundown, fluffy clouds, and a good service makes the whole plane trip so relaxing. I am heading back to the Philippines again after years having a life in France. It was quite good. Everything was back at its pace again noong nandoon ako. Now, I'm going back to where I had everything. Well, almost... a place where I grew up and met the best people. I miss a few and some I am not ready to see.

All lights on me the moment I stepped out from the plane. Cameras clicking everywhere, reporters are on the move, and these heartwarming and welcoming smiles from people who love you. A lot changes... but the memories where I left them are still here. I left my heart here... with him... I traveled so far a lot of times but my heart is still stuck on the same place yet I don't know if we're still on the same spot.

Kasi ako? Kahit saan ako magpunta, pakiramdam ko kasama ko pa rin siya. Matagal na panahon na ang lumipas, masakit, pero nandito pa rin siya. Kahit isang araw man lang na magising ako ay hindi siya nawala. I guess it's just really me who left but my heart didn't. He's still here. He will always be here.

The moment I stepped out from the airport lately, I promised to myself that this will be my new beginning here, again. I've been longing to go home but it looks like I have nowhere to go now. I thought I'd still be driving home to him but I guess I need to bare on how this place screams his name from now on.

When I stepped out from the car, I immediately dialed David's phone number dahil nakarating na ako sa AL Hotel. He's the one who recommended this place for me to stay-in. He even helped me booked too dahil hindi ako magkanda-ugaga sa dami ng gagawin. Mas nauna rin kasi ang flight niya pauwi rito.

Dumiretso rin ako sa front desk para hingin sana ang room keys ko kaya lang abala pa sa telepono 'yong babaeng nagaasikaso. I patiently waited for the lady to be finished and for David who's been taking so long to get here to help me carry some of my stuffs when a kid suddenly bumped his head on one of my luggage.

"Is everything alright, Miss?" Isang pamilyar na boses na nakapagpalingon sa'kin. Agad din akong napatayo at parang halos tumigil ang paghinga ko nang mapantayan ko na ang tingin niya. Hindi ko alam ang uunahin kong sabihin nang magtagpo ulit ang paningin namin.

He looked and talked to me so straight in the eye. Paano niya 'yon nagagawa? He approached me just like a normal stranger. Like nothing happened to us years ago.

Like I didn't happened in his life...

He's so close but still so far to reach for me...

I wish we could share the same smiles again... I wish we could go back when both of us were chasing forever. Like, it's just me and him against everything...

I wish we could be under the same spotlight again, Niel. But I guess it's better off being on the different stage. Seeing you smile like that lately gives me peace even if I'm not the reason behind it anymore. Seeing you being successful like this, it explains that I'm really better off out of your life.

I guess loving you from afar is the only thing and the least I can do. I love you still and always will but I guess being in our separated ways is much better than being together...