Chapter 12: Chapter 12

One month before the September 17th. Justine went home to her parents and celebrate the birthday of her lovely mother. She buy a cake and a flowers at the store, where she saw her childhood friend Bill. One of her closest friend growing up. Bill knows about Martin and he was really sad about it. Bill was married to our classmates Divine. And Justine attended at their wedding because she was friend with two of them.

“ hi just, long time no see. What are you doing here”? Ask Bill

“ I’m okay, I’m here to celebrate my mom’s birthday. And I was here to buy her a cake and a flowers also.” I said confidently

“ what are you doing here too”? I ask politely

“ buy my wife’s gifts”. He said

“ wow, you’re such a romantic guy, Bill”. I’m sure she will love it.” I said teasing him.

“ by the way about Martin, are you okay now”? He ask in a silent voice

“ yes, of course”. I said with a big smile

“ that’s great, so are you ready to date again. I knew someone”? He ask again.

I didn’t answer him in a word but I did smile to him to let him know that I was so happy right now. I didn’t tell about Andrew because I don’t want him to think that I was so dying to have a relationship right away. I went home after that and my parents was there happy welcoming me us usual. My mom cook me my favorite foods Mac and cheese with chicken for our dinner.

“ so, how’s your work”? Mom ask.

“ it’s fine, I was doing good, I guess”.

Mom wants me to resign in my job because of Martin. She wants me to go away so I wouldn’t get hurt every time I saw Martin and Lucy in the company.

“ I told you before find another job, away from Martin.” She said

“ I’m okay now mom, I’m really okay”. I love my job and I love where I am now. Don’t worry about me, I’m old now.” I said

“ well, I’m just worried to you, my lovely daughter”. Mom said with a kiss on my cheeks.

“ when will you get back at work”? Dad ask.

“ Monday morning”.

I was planning to tell to my parents about Andrew and I think this is the right time. After the dinner I talk to both of them seriously.

“ mom, dad. There’s something I want to tell. I said nervously

“ back to my vacation in the Philippines a couple of months ago. I met a guy. And we had a great time together and we spend the whole week together but not really together. He was on the other hotel, two kilometers away from my hotel. And he takes good care of me when I was there and we had a great talks about everything. And we both agreed to meet again after three months which will be on September. “ I said fastly.

“ so, do you like him”? Ask dad.

“ I think so, he was a very nice guy.”

“ is this a reason why you haven’t care about Martin anymore”? Mom ask

“ he let me forgive of my past and he let me continue my present”. I said with a smile.

“ oh my lovely Justine”. Mom said. I knew it, that there’s something on you since you came back.

“ so, what’s his name”. Dad ask again.

“ Andrew”.

“ just Andrew”? Dad ask again for the third time.

“ well, we both agree that we never give our full names and contacts together until when we see each other again on September.” I said.

I was so happy that night. I was happy because my parents understand me and Andrew. I fall asleep in my room and I had a great dreams that night.

Next day. I wake up early and I decided to clean my room. I saw my things before when I was a kid. My favorite doll that my dad buy me. My dairy book that I almost forget to have one, and I started to read to what I wrote.

I want to become a doctor when I grow up. I want to go somewhere where the sun is so beautiful. I want to dance with my dad again. I want to marry a man who will love me for what I am. I want to build my house near the ocean and waiting for the sun to set. I want to travel the world.

I had so many dreams when I was a kid. And I realized I never make all of it to happen now that I was old enough. And I was so sad, but when I reread again I realized that there’s one thing that still can be happen.

“ I want to marry a man who will love me for what I am”.

After lunch with my parents, I decided to visit my mom’s garden. It was so beautiful. She had so many flowers and their fragrance was so sweet I can smell it. I spend the afternoon in the garden and thinking what Andrew might be doing at this moment. I tried to search him in the internet but there’s so many people named like him. It’s so impossible to find him without his last name. I was dying to hear his voice again. And I was dying to wait. I brought wilo and I hug him so tight the way Andrew hugged me before I left. Before I went to sleep I pray to God to take care of Andrew and to let both of us to meet again.

September 16th , Philippine time. Andrew pack his things. He bid goodbye to his mom and Kate.

“ bye mom. I’ll see guys soon.” Andrew said

“ bye son, take care of yourself”. Mom reply

“ bye big bro, Go and get her”. Kate said with a smile.

And he went away. He arrive at Mactan airport around 4 in the afternoon and he spend the his time in the same hotel last time he was here. While he couldn’t sleep for tomorrow, he got an idea. He went to the Justine’s hotel and ask the staff about some Justine’s information but sadly the hotel had a strict protocol about they’re guests privacy. Andrew went back in his hotel without anything he get. But still his excited because tomorrow is the day that he’s been dreaming of for the last three months. He clean his camera for tomorrow because he don’t want to miss the best moment of his life. He sleep quarter to twelve and he set his alarm clock and he close his eyes picturing the place where they meet again. He imagine Justine’s dress like she dress in small island back where he met her.

“ tomorrow I will finally see her again”. He said while his eyes is close.

In Oregon, Justine was too busy in her job. She meet some clients in the morning and had a meeting with her boss in the afternoon and at night she make some plans about her next project. September 15th American time she meet a clients outside of Oregon and she travel alone. She make a big deal and her boss was so happy. In her way back to the office she saw Lucy and Martin her ex boyfriend and they had a small talk until her boss arrive to congratulate her for a job well done.

“ Justine, congratulations you make it, you made Mr. Brown a done deal”.

“ I know sir, I just did what I have to do”. I said politely

“ well, how about a dinner with us”. He ask

“ thank you sir, but I have so many things to do. I had a lot of papers to take care of”. I said

“ well, then. Congratulations again, Justine”.

“ sir I have something to ask if I may”? I ask

“ what is it”?

“ sir if I can have a vacation for a week this coming Wednesday”?

“ why. Where are you going”?

“ I’m just going to meet my friend that I never seen for a while and this week I will finally see her again after a long years”.

“ well, you’re done great this past months and I think you deserve some vacation”. Boss said

“ thank you sir so much”. I said with tears

“ well, see you in a week”.

“ okay sir, thank you again.”

I know I shouldn’t lie about meeting an old friend but I think it’s the best way to make a leave at this moment and in fact I think they will not understand me also about meeting this guy that I just met in a week. I think they will just laugh at me if I say the truth. I said goodbye to Martin and Lucy as well. I was on my way outside of the office when my mom called.

“ hey honey,”

“ hi mom, what are you doing”? Are guys okay?

“ we’re okay, I just called because I just want to know when are you going to meet this guy named Andrew”?

“ okay, I will check. Today is 15 and were gonna meet up on 17 so by tomorrow I will fly to the Philippines and meet him there”. I said excitedly

“ so you cannot come by here before you leave”? Mom ask sadly.

“ I’m sorry mom but after this I will definitely go there, I promise”.

“ okay then, see you soon. Take care of yourself”.

“ thanks mom. I love you both”. I said

I went back to her apartment to have some rest and check my calendar. And I hug wilo.

“ two more days wilo and I will see him again. Are you excited wilo because I was so excited.”

I watch again the picture collage that Andrew made and I was so in love again. I decided to book my ticket and starts to pack my stuff to bring. I called Melissa that night to tell my plan to meet Andrew again. And she was so supportive about my plan and she was so happy for me. I fall asleep immediately and I sleep hugging wilo again.

Next day, September 17th , Philippine time. Andrew wake up before the sun rise and he take a picture of the sun rising in a beautiful beach of Cebu. He take a picture of a dog walking with his owner. A man riding his bike with a sun flowers in his paper bag. A old couple walking together while holding each others hand. He likes it. He likes taking pictures of everything and print it and display in his photo album. He was a collector of everyone’s happiness. He went back to his hotel and getting ready for Justine’s arrival later. He went to take a lunch near the hotel and he immediately went to the church. He buy flowers and a water, he knows it’s gonna be a long afternoon. He went inside of the church and lit a candle just like he did when he met Justine. He attended the mass while waiting and after the mass he starts to wait outside. 4 of the afternoon and the sun is nearly set but he never saw Justine. He wait again and think she might be stuck in airport. Thirty minutes gone by people pass by and he never saw Justine’s face. His flowers are getting weathered and his getting sweat. He started to feel the nervous of his heart. The sun was set and he still standing in front of the church and he never saw Justine. He started to cry. He started to ask “ what if Justine never came back”?. What if she found another guy and they’re married now? What if they’re not meant for each other? He waited until 10 in the evening but he waited for nothing. He went back to his hotel and he called his mom. He told her that Justine never make her promise and he starts to cry. He tried to sleep but he couldn’t. He was thinking about her. He was thinking what happened. He called his friend asking for a help. But they couldn’t find her. There’s a lot of woman named Justine in America and they have no idea what Justine look might. Andrew give to Justine all the pictures of hers including the original copy because it’s for her. Andrew had no idea what to do. He don’t want to leave Cebu without seeing Justine.