To Have and To Hold

Prologue

To Have and To Hold, 

by itsmefayre

Carrie.

Seesaw. Swings. Benches.

Napaupo ako sa isang malaking puno. Inaalala ang pait na naranasan ko nung kabataan.

"Dito pala kami unang nagkita, ano?" I thought to myself.

Halos hindi ko na mamukhaan ang playground, dahil maraming nagbago sa loob ng labing-limang taon. Maraming nadagdag. May mazes at trampolines, greener grass, at mas marami pang puno.

Noon, kapag malungkot ka, sa playground ka lang pumunta maglaro kasama siya, masaya ka na. Ngayon, kahit ilang beses umiyak at magpakalunod sa kalungkutan, di mo maiibsan.

Kung hindi siguro ako malungkot noong taon na yon, di siguro kami magkikita, ano?

Saan na kaya siya ngayon?

Sana, siya pa rin ang unggoy na bestfriend na kilala ko for almost 10 years.

Habang nag re-reminisce, I decided to stroll once more the playground we used to play together. Isa lang ang naalala ko. Happy thoughts, happy memories. Walang problemang iniisip, puro laro at kaibigan ang nasa laman ng puso at kaluluwa.

"Hoy, bakit mag-isa ka diyan? Okay ka lang?" tanong ng isang boses, batang lalaki, I presume dahil mababa boses niya,

Tumingala ako, at nakita ang isang batang kasing edad ko, maputi, at petite na batang lalaki.

Umupo siya sa tabi ko, at pinagmasdan ang mukha ko. "Ba't ka umiiyak, may nag-away ba sayo? Tara, suntukin natin," matapang na sambat nito.

I shook my head in disbelief. "Hindi, wala na kasi daddy ko. He passed away. Sabi ni mommy, nasa heaven na daw siya with the Lord. Sa tingin mo ba, nandoon siya?" I replied.

"Mabait ba siya habang andito siya sa mundo?" tanong niya.

My brows furrowed. "Anong sabi mo? Mabait si daddy no! He never hurts me and my mom! He works so hard," I courageously replied.

"Edi, nasa heaven siya. Sabi ng mommy ko, basta daw tapos ka na sa mission mo sa mundo, at nagpakabait ka, sa heaven ka papunta." He answered.

I was glad he said that.

"Anong pangalan mo?"

"Carrie. Ikaw, anong name mo?"

He stood up and offered his hand. "Chris. Hmmmm. Carrie, laro tayo sa seesaw!"

"Eh, wala akong gana."

"Ah! Sige na, wala akong kalaro eh."

*phone beeps*

To: Boss

Carrie, please proceed to our meeting. We'll meet our clients there.

Bumalik ako sa huwisyo ko, at pumunta ng opisina upang mag trabaho ulit. It's a walking distance from the playground. I decided to work here kasi besides it's a good company to work with, dito din ang dating neighborhood ko.

Tinapik ng boss ko ang aking balikat saka nagsalita, "Architect Sanchez, you are finally here! Come, the clients are here to meet you."

I felt the butterflies in my stomach. I need to seal this deal for a promotion. If hindi, mahihirapan akong bumawi, and I'll say goodbye to Head Architect Carrie Sanchez of Gonzales + Gonzales Firm.

Huminga ako ng malalim saka pinihit ang doorknob. I greeted the clients, and one of them strike my attention me the most.

He changed, physically. Yung akala kong petite, at napakakulit na unggoy kong bestfriend ay hindi na pala ngayon. He's neat, around 6 feet, mas maaliwalas tignan, at maskulado. I bet he have abs.

"I guess you know him, Architect Sanchez," my boss commented. He was stating the obvious. Di ko na pala namalayan na titig na titig ako sa kanya. I was making sure if he was my bestfriend and playmate. He looked me back, and ang mukha niya ay puno ng pagtataka; as if he doesn't recognize me.

Like, hello? We separated 5 years ago. We changed, not just physically, and alam kong ang pag-uugali din namin. Iba't ibang prinsipyo at opinion ang pinanghahawakan.

"This is Architect Carrie Sanchez, the head architect for this project," my boss politely introduced me to him. His eyes were bloodshot, para siyang may nakakitang multo na di niya alam makikita niya pala ulit after five years. From a complete confused look, his face shifted to a shocked one. "I guess you know her, Engineer Solomon," my boss remarked. Maybe he saw the sudden change of emotion in his eyes. Well, kung ako din naman ang nasa posisyon niya, I would be shocked too.

"and this is Head Engineer Chris Solomon of Mendez Corporation, I guess you know him as well, Architect Sanchez," the client introduced him to me.

Hindi ako makapaniwala. Alam ko, siya rin. Hindi niya siguro ako nakilala because of my drastic changes. Di na ako yung type na nag s-sweat pants with matching skirt pa. I am very feminine, at instead of pants, I wear skirts.

"Hello, Engineer Solomon, nice to meet you. I'm Architect Sanchez," I offered my hand to him.

Keep it formal, Carrie. Ngayon lang, please magpakababae ka.

"Hello, Carrie." He responded as well as his hand.

Well, we shook our hands.

Who would have thought that my bestfriend for 10 years, and my lover for 2 years is here?

"You look better now," I commented.

Jusko, Carrie yung tabas ng bibig mo matalas pa rin!

"You're not wearing your sweatpants, pagong." He shot back. I was completely shocked with his reply. The side of his lips rose up, smirking.

Ano yon, ungkatan ng past? Andaya nun, unggoy!

"It is a formal meeting, Engineer Solomon. Anyone here would dress up," I replied. Di ako magpapatalo, no!

His brows furrowed. "Anyone, huh?" He said.

"What's that supposed to mean? Can I not get dressed up?" I reacted. "or, are you saying that I don't look good on these?"

"Its nothing,"

"Whatever I wear has nothing to do with you, Engineer Solomon."

He smiled. "The same, old Carrie I know."