One More Night

Kabanata 24

Steve's PoV

Everything heals in a process,and we're all experiencing it right now.

Hindi pwedeng habang buhay na lamang akong humiga at maglumpasay rito buong maghapon. I need to get up and face the next day na darating sa buhay ko.

And I'm doing it now, even if the pain is still here in my heart.

Nagpaalam ako kay mama na aalis ako. Nanggaling na rin ako kanina sa bahay nina ate Zoe, to pick up their gifts for Lorice.

Nasa ospital na akon ngayon, and I'm here with them now. Ford is there, na ospital kasi si Lorice. And we are here to visit them.

"You're really the man, Fordie! Grabe! I didn't thought na ang pagkuha lang pala namin ng P. A. ang magiging way para magka gf ka."

Hindi ko alam na nag ka girlfriend na pala tong si Fordie. He never told us. Napailing na lang ako.

"Should I call you ate?" tanong ni Kiel, dahilan para matawa ako.

Madi-discharged na pala si Lorice ngayon. Salamat naman at okay na rin siya. Pero mamaya pa sila makakaalis kasi nandito kami ni Kiel.

Kiel brought Fudge here. At ngayon ay kalaro ni Lorice si Fudge. And cute talaga ng asong yon.

"You know, we're also here para ihatid yung luto ni nanang Fe, and that flowers, nanggaling yon kay ate Zoe. She wants to give it to Lorice." sabi ko, and I put all of that on the sofa.

"Talaga? Pakisabi salamat." I nod when she said that.

"Mag aate na lang ako sayo--"

"She's younger than you, Kiel." natawa ako lalo dahil sa narinig ko. 

"Ganon? Sorry, hehe." kiel said.

And we're just laughing. And seeing them still smiling also makes me more strong. Hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan ang nangyari. Pero alam kong maghihilom din ang sugat na nasa puso ko.

"By the way guys, I'm going to Korea next year." hayan. Nasabi ko na sa kanila. Nasabi ko ma rin to kay Drag last time nung nagpa advice ako about my feelings for Ellaine.

"Bakit?" tanong ni Kiel. I didnt tell him about this.

"Military service."

Napalingon si Kiel. "Ha? Military service? Diba half Korean ka? Hindi naman required yon diba--"

"I'm not half. I'm pure korean."

"But... Your surname is Germani. How come?" nagtataka pa rin siya.

Sorry, hindi ko nasabi sayo Kiel. Kaya ipinaliwanag na iyon ni Ford sa kanya. "His real name is Jung Hae Jun. He's from Busan and his name Steven Germani is just another screen name."

"Alam mo yon Fordie?" kiel asked and he nod.

"Sinabi niya sa akin nung kasal nina Drag and ate Zoe."

Bakas pa rin ang pagtataka at gulat sa mukha ni Kiel. Nilapitan ko naman siya. "But I'm not sure if I would do that. Kasi naman, matagal na kaming nakatira rito sa Philippines. And I'm thinking to give up one of my citizenship."

Pinaliwanag ko kay Kiel ang lahat. But I didn't expect the next person who entered the room.

baby Yohan! Kasama siya ni Drag! Pero, sabu ni Yohan, hindi na siya baby. He's now a boy. But still he's a baby for me.

"Uncle Ford!" lumapit siya kay Ford. And he hugged him. I'm sure he missed this kid already.

"Hey! Wala bang hug para sa akin?" natawa si Yohan dahil sa sinabi ni Kiel.

Napatingin si Yohan kay Lorice. "Who is she?" tanong niya. And Ford whispered something to Yohan.

"Really?" I just saw Ford nod when Yohan said that.

"Steve, I heard na mag mimilitary ka na next year. Alam na ba ni Ellaine?" sabi ni Drag.

"Wait, who's Ellaine?" tanong ni Kiel. Hindi rin alam ni Ford kung sino ang tinutukoy niya.

He smiled. "The one Steve likes."

These days, kasabay ng nararamdaman ko sa pagkawala nila ay ang tingin kong lumalagong pagtingin ko kay Ellaine.

Everyday, feeling ko mas lumalala pa ang pagkaka gusto ko sa kanya.

And since Ford is super super busy, kay Dragon ako hihingi ng advice. Tutal, he's the eldest sa aming apat. Maybe he can help me with this.

And after almost an hour of driving dahil medyo traffic ngayong araw, nakarating na rin ako sa building.

Tinanong ko kaagad kung nasa opisina ba si Drag, and gladly that he's here.

Agad akong nagtungo sa office niya. At tumambad sa akin si CEO, Mr. Dragon Rafael Sandoval na busy sa pag pirma. Lalabas na sana ako dahil baka maka istorbo lang ako sa kanya pero pinapasok niya ako.

Kaya naman, I came in.

"Ano namang sadya mo? Do you need anything?" tanong niya.

"Umm, busy ka e."

"You know I stop on working when my brothers need me. What is it? Ano bang maitutulong ko?" tanong niya.

"Drag, my aunt in Korea just texted me, about the Military service, and citizenship." sabi ko, at napatango siya.

I told him about that thing. I need to go to Korea, para ayusin ang mga naiwan kong obligasyon doon.

Military service, and fixing my citizenship. He just nod when I said that. Sabi niya, i update ko na lang siya if kailan ang alis ko.

After I said that, I remembered Ellaine. Hindi pa kami nagkikita hanggang ngayon. And I need to tell her about this. Para hindi siya magtaka.

I just sighed. Beside this thing, parang kailangan ko yata ng advice from him. About this feeling I have for her. Should I tell him?

I'm gonna tell him.

"Drag... I just... need an advice." sabi ko.

And as I look at him, he's serious while staring at me. Handa na siyang makinig sa sasabihin ko. Kaya, sinimulan ko na itong ikwento sa kanya.

"I just got attracted to someone. And I dont know, I think I feel more than this. I think I like her. But, I dont know if how will I say it to her. Kapag kaharap ko kasi siya, nabi-brain freeze ako, o di kaya ay name-mental block." paliwanag ko.

Then he smiled. "I just remembered how I felt when I met my wife. Hindi ko man pinapakita dahil napaka maangas ko dati, I also felt that kind of feeling, Steve."

He tapped my shoulder, then continue to speak after he removed his hands on it. "What I did is that... I straightly said that I like her. Wait, are you starting to like someone?" tanong niya.

Hindi ko alam pero dahil doon ay napangiti ako. Maybe I have to tell him. Sasabihin ko rin to kay Ford.

"Who is she?" tanong nito.

"Ellaine Faraon."

And then I just remembered that I asked some advice to Drag about this feeling I have for Ellaine, so nalaman ito ni Drag.

Pareho silang napatango ni Kiel. Maya maya pa ay nagtawanan na lang kami, without knowing why.

"Let's hang out tomorrow. Let's start this farewell party for Steve. Okay lang ba sayo?" Drag asked Lorice, and she nod.

"Ang advance mo." Ano ba yan. They just laughed. And I saw Yohan, lumapit siya kay Lorice.

"Hi, I'm Yohan. Nice to meet you auntie." auntie? Ayos a. Tanggap agad. Napangiti na lang ako dahil doon.

I hope he'll call Ellaine auntie too if maging kami na. Sure naman akong gagawin niya yun e.

Before I go to Korea, I'll make sure na alam na niya ang nararamdaman ko for her.