Misguided Stars

Chapter 37

8 years later…

"Dr. De Leon?"

"Yes Miss?" our admin head called me kaya pinuntahan ko siya

"Your clearance has been approved..."

Napatalon naman ako bigla

"Really? Oh my gosh thank you so much Miss!" ngumiti siya sa'kin and inabot yung signed clearance

"I've also contacted our laboratory in the Philippines, and they are willing to take you anytime you want…" I tilted my head and she laughed a little

"You're one of the best medical researcher here in the States, Beatriz. You've developed many cures and vaccines over the past years that you worked here. You're a big asset so we will be welcoming you with open arms anytime..." natouch naman ako kaya I hugged her

"Being here with y'all feels fantastic. I'll keep in touch with the company. But for now, I just want to go home…" she nodded

"We're gonna miss you, Beatriz! Take care of yourself…" she smiled and made her way out of the laboratory

"Bea!" I turned around and saw my friend here, Pauline

"Pau!"

"What did Miss Jones say?" she asked. I lift the paper up in her face and she reads it intently

"OMG you're really going home!" I nodded and then we silently screamed (if that makes sense)

"I'm so happy for you Bei… wait, how about Kevin?" I sighed and placed my clearance inside my folder

"I already told him that someone's waiting for me in the Philippines, and he stepped back immediately…" I explained

"Is there really though?"

"What do you mean?" she sat in the chair in front of me and faced me

"Bea, it's been 8 years with completely no communication or even updates about that guy. Do you really think he hasn't met a girl yet?" I paused and let that sink in.

"I hope so. I'm still holding on to our promise, and if he doesn't show up, then it's time for me to move forward…" she shrugged

"Whatever you say. By the way, I'll stop by your apartment later to help you pack up…"

She stood up and bumalik na sa station niya… Oo nga 'no? Paano kung meron nang iba. I shook my head and tried to remove that thought…

Pagkatapos ng shift ko, nagpaalam na ako sa mga staff ng laboratory. Some were sad to see me go pero yung iba naman they just gave their best wishes. Nagresign na ako months ago and they all knew naman na this is my last day at work that's why they've been giving me gifts na for the past month. I took a glance at the institute one last time and headed out

While I was walking sa central park, I just cherished the view of the newly-bloomed flowers and leaves. It's been years na nawiwitness ko yung changes in this place but I'll never get tired of it. I'll surely miss the fall here

It was a long way across but I still managed to reach my apartment without getting muscle cramps...

Pag-open ko ng door ko, I saw an almost empty apartment. I will be selling this na rin naman so the furnitures were all covered in white sheets na and yung clothes ko lang yung all over the place

Magkasama kami ni Ice rito before but he left din after Masters. Nagbreak kasi sila ni Denice 3 months before graduation namin kaya nagmadali ring umuwi. Paano nagselos kay Pauline. Tawa nga ako nang tawa kay Ice nun kasi hindi niya alam gagawin niya... Wala naman talagang namamagitan kay Ice and Pauline kaso lagi kasing nandito sa unit tapos medyo makulit and liberated pa kaya ayun… Nagkabalikan naman din sila after a year of suyuan at ligawan ulit…

Ako naman, naofferan ako ng scholarship for PhD after graduating my Masters as a Magna Cum Laude. Hindi ko na pinalagpas dahil sabi nga ni Thirdy, grab every opportunity, and that opened a lot of doors for me

While taking my PhD, nagkaroon din ako ng opportunity to work sa Institute for Chemistry and Biotechnology here sa New York, published many studies, discovered a cure for several diseases, nagturo rin ako sa NYU for one semester…

All in all, I had a great time here. I achieved many things while I'm away. But those achievements are empty pala kapag you don't have the most important people to celebrate with you. Binibisita naman ako nila Mom and Dad here pero iba pa rin kapag kasama sila sa Pilipinas… tsaka kapag kasama siya..

8 years… Kumusta na kaya siya? Ano na kayang pinagkakaabalahan niya sa buhay? Hays masyado kasing cooperative friends and family ko ehhh. Talagang walang update about him. Pero mabuti na rin siguro yun, para walang attachments, para walang expectations..

Pumunta muna ako sa room and packed some of my little stuffs. Yung mga books ko naman pinaship ko na so I don't have to carry them 'cause they're so heavy. I'll leave some of my clothes na lang din here kasi I have plenty pa naman sa Philippines

Habang pinipilian ko yung mga damit ko, may nagdoorbell. I bet si Pauline na yun kaya pinuntahan ko na agad and pinagbuksan ko na. Pag open ko, nakatayo siya dun while may hawak na flowers

"You're so pretty ey? I saw this bouquet of tulips here in your doorstep…"

Inabot niya sakin yung bouquet tapos pumasok na. This suddenly reminded me of Thirdy. Hays Thirdy ka na naman nang Thirdy. Sinarado ko na yung door and I saw that she's already making herself comfortable sa bean bag ko

"Check the card Bei…"

I checked the flowers and meron ngang nakaipit sa mga stem. I grabbed it and placed the flowers sa couch. When I opened it, I immediate saw a stick man and stick woman holding hands with a heart in the middle

Spero di vedervi presto

- ♡

"Spero di vedervi presto..." I read out loud

"Oooohh Italian. But that's it? That's so meh. He didn't even mentioned his name…"

Typewritten yung message kaya hindi ko rin madecipher sa handwriting. Baka si Kevin lang ulit 'to kasi nagtake ng Italian classes yun before. I just shrugged it off. Binaba ko na lang muna yung flowers sa couch and nagproceed na ako sa pagpapack ng mga damit ko

---

"I'm gonna miss you Beaaaa!"

Nasa airport na kami and Pau hired herself to drove me papunta rito..

"I'll miss you too Pau! I'll call you once I arrived…"

"Well you better call or I'll be so damn mad…" tinawanan ko lang siya and niyakap

"Thank you so much for everything. Take care! Come visit me soon!" humiwalay na siya ng yakap then pumasok na siya sa car niya. I waved at her as she made her way out of the airport

Tumalikod na ako and I breathe the New York air one last time

'I'm coming home…' I said to myself before entering the airport