Chapter 15: Chapter 15

And the time has come, I was going away again. Andrew put his jacket on me so I wouldn’t feel cold and he wants me to hug the jacket if I miss him and he stand there watching me to go and I can see him even in far away that he was crying and it breaks my heart seeing him like that but I keep going. I was inside of the airplane waiting for it to fly then I receive a call from Andrew. He was calling at my international number.

“ hey handsome, I greet him.

“ hey beautiful, he said. I miss you. I’m still here at the airport waiting for you to take off”, he added.

“ I miss you too, I said in cranky voice.

“ have a safe flight, okay and call me when you arrive at Oregon”, he said.

“ okay, I will”.

“ and I’m…. I Love you and take care”. And the call was ended.

At exactly 10 am, we take off and I left the Philippines again for the second time around. I hug his jacket while holding on my phone and see my pictures with him. I fall asleep longing for Andrew, I never noticed the time passes by. All I remember was the stewardess said

“ in about 30 minutes, we are all arrive at Oregon international airport”.

And I woke up in my beautiful dream with him and I went out of the airplane and ride a taxi to proceed to my apartment. It was almost 9 o’clock of the evening when I arrive at my apartment and decided to go home to my parents to tell them excitedly about my journey finding Andrew again. I called my mom about going home and they both like my idea. I drive faster than my normal speed of driving because I can’t wait to see my parents and tell them about Andrew. It’s quarter before ten when I reach my home and my parents never take a sleep and excitedly waiting for me to come. Just after I close my car door, I saw my mom smiling in front of the door waiting for me. She hug me immediately after I just take my last step towards her. I saw my dad coming and he immediately ask me about my flight but before I said anything they let me in first and serve me some food to eat. My mom couldn’t hide her excitement about my story, she sits besides me and waiting for me to say anything.

“ Mom, dad” I said sadly to tease them. And I open my phone and look for my pictures with Andrew. I don’t know how to say it them but I show to them my pictures with Andrew.

“ Did you see each other”. My mom ask surprisingly and I nod to her after she said it. My mom grab my phone and seriously analyze Andrew’s face.

“ he’s a good man, I can tell”. She said after she saw his pictures.

“ so when did he come here”. My dad excitedly asking me.

“ he said, he will have a appointment at US embassy next week. There’s still no exact date when he will come here”. And my mom hug me after and ask me if I’m ready to be with him seriously.

“ I love him, mom”. I said without hesitation and they hug me after.

I go to my room after I take my late dinner and I called Melissa to tell her that I was back from the Philippines and to tell that tomorrow, we need a long break because I have so many things to tell to her. And I went to sleep feeling happy and in love.

Next morning, I woke up early and give my parents the things that Andrew’s mom wants to give. They both love the Philippine made mug that has written on the side. “ see you in the Philippines” with a big heart shape. I bid goodbye to my parents after we had breakfast and I drive back to Oregon, back to my company. I saw Melissa at her desk but she sign on my desk. I wait her while thinking of exact words to say to her but I couldn’t find anything. After 15 minutes of waiting, she arrive with serious face but after she was sited on the chair she smile at me.

“ Tell me everything” she excitedly said while changing her position.

“ I arrived September 22nd and I went to see if he was there but I never saw him” I seriously said and I saw her face turns sad.

“ so, you never saw him”

“ I never saw him until the morning” and she look at me surprisingly. I continue speaking but she interrupt me.

“ did you see him, yes or no” she ask with the big mouth like she wants to eat me alive.

“ I saw him” and she shouted to what I said and everyone look in both of us. She hug me happily and we both jump in happiness until we both get tired.

We’re back at our work happily and she set a lunch with me to continue the story. She waited on my door to have a lunch and we go to our favorite restaurant near the office. She ask me right before we reach the table and I show to her the picture of Andrew.

“ wow, he’s handsome guy” her first impression. And she was quite for a bit looking in the picture.

“ are you okay. Lis” I ask her trying to wake her up.

“ you both are perfect for each other” she confidently said but I refuse

“ What are you saying” I humbly said and I get back my phone.

“ do you have pictures with each other” she ask before we start to eat.

I give her my phone to show our pictures together. It was taken the day we head back to Manila to meet his family. Andrew took that picture and he send it to me that night with the caption. “ together again”.

Melissa amaze in our picture and she excitedly ask me when will be Andrew coming because she was excited to meet him.

“ no exact date but he told me that he will visit US embassy next week” and she ask me if I have his phone number and I nodded and she ask if we can call him at this moment.

“ I’m not sure, if we can talk to him right now” i said but Melissa dial his number and it was ringing.

“ maybe he’s sleeping” I said while waiting for him to answer. After a couple of ringing, he pick it up and Melissa hand over the phone to me.

“ Hi handsome, I’m sorry if I disturb you. I just want to say, I arrived safely yesterday” and Melissa was listening.

“ How’s the flight” he ask and Melissa lift her hand to say continue.

“ It was great flight. I slept the whole time”

“ Did you use the medicine that I buy”

“ No, I don’t.” I shortly say because Melissa was still listening.

“ I saw your recording at my camera” he said and I felt shy about it.

“ thank you for coming back and for not giving up on us” he seriously said.

“ I just did what I love to “ I said smiling over the phone and I feel he was smiling too.

He said “ I love you more” right after I drop the call and Melissa teasing me after.

She was very happy more than me but I surely know, she was happy for me. We go back at the office and I go back to my work. I work happy and inspired because I talked to Andrew and I hear his voice again. Before I went to my apartment after work, I saw my boss on the way out and he ask me about the friend that I should meet. It was the reason I make to allow me having a vacation for a week again. I lied again and said that my friend was dying and I saw his eyes turned sad and I bid goodbye right away because I don’t want to add more sins from lying because I can’t tell the truth right now. I pray that god can forgive me this time. I went to my apartment and continue my work, I have so many things to do because of days that I missed. I was in the middle of reading of some marketing analysis when I heard my phone ringing. I saw Andrew’s name and I answer it happily.

“ Hey beautiful” his first greetings

“ Hey handsome” and I turn around and lay down on my bed and hug wilo.

“ I was wondering, what are you doing right now”?

“ I was in my computer and working but right now, I was laying on my bed and hugging wilo”

“ I miss wilo, can you hug him for me”

“ I was hugging him and I think he likes it” I said smiling.

“ I miss you, my beautiful angel” he calmly said. And I heard his voice very sad.

“ I miss you too, my handsome angel” and we both laugh.

“ I saw the stars tonight” I make a new topic

“ I saw the sun, shining brightly”.

And he said goodbye after And I sleep that night happy and satisfied because I was able to hear his voice. The next day I receive a call from Melissa. The board meeting is happening this morning and everyone of us are getting ready for the new changes that will happen. Martin was elected as the vice president of marketing department. He will be my new boss, that’s crazy isn’t it? My ex boyfriend are now my boss in the company, Melissa and I are in shock hearing the news but we accept it because we are just a normal employee and for the record Martin and I are all over now. While I was having a lunch with Melissa, I receive a text from Andrew. He was asking me if I was taking my lunch and he ask me about my work and I replied him,

“currently having my lunch with Melissa and about my work, it’s fine. Talk to you later, my handsome guy.” And he reply me with a big heart emoji’s.

After the work, Melissa invited me to have a drink with some other co-workers. When we arrive at the bar we saw Martin and Lucy with some executives having a party on their own. We want to change the place but Martin saw us and he invite us to have drinks with them but before we go inside I talk to Melissa to never tell anything about Andrew to anyone especially Martin. We are in different table and Melissa was telling me a story and we both laughing and suddenly Lucy came and have a drink with us. She suddenly apologizing to me.

“ I think I owe you an apology” she said. “ I’m really sorry we cheated on you. I hope you can forgive us to what we did to you”. And Melissa and I, meet our eyes and couldn’t believe to what we heard.

“ it’s okay, I already move on”. And I give her a smile accepting her forgiveness. “ apology accepted”. I continue.

Lucy order another drink and Melissa go to rest room and a minute later, Martin approach me and sit beside me.

“ Thank you for forgiving me and Lucy”, he immediately said after he sits. “ and I’m sorry for hurting you so bad”.

“ it’s okay now, I already forgiven both of you”. And I smile to show that I was really forgiven both of them.

And I open my phone and see pictures of Andrew and I, and I think Martin saw it.

“ so, you met someone now”, he ask but I didn’t say anything.

“ I can see in your eyes, you are happy with him”, he continue. “ I’m happy for you Justine, you deserve to be happy”. And I smile again.

“ I did”, I said happily. And he said goodbye after he hug me. Melissa came and she invite me to play bowling for a change. I never played bowling before but Melissa teach me how to play it. First try I didn’t hit anything but on my second try I finally find my stroke. Back to back I strike down and Melissa was in disbelief because it was my first time. We are in the middle of the game when I receive a call from Andrew and I immediately pick it up.

“ hi beautiful,” he greet me. “ how is your day”?

“ I was playing bowling with Melissa and I was playing great”, I told him and he was in disbelief

“ I didn’t know you can play bowling”,

“ Melissa teach me and after I try it, I finally got the perfect stroke”. I said excitedly. “ how are you”.

“ I’m okay, I went to church this morning with my mom, he said. Mom said she miss you”, and he smile.

“ I miss your mom too, give her a kiss for me”

“ okay, I will. Can’t wait to see you again”

“ I can’t wait to see you too”, I said and I saw Martin looking at me but I turn around.

“ Take care of yourself, okay” he said very careful. “ And don’t over work yourself, take a break sometimes and eat more okay”.

“ yes sir, I will do that for you”. I humbly said. “ take care of yourself too and I will see you soon”.

“ Okay, good night to you my beautiful angel”, he said smiling and I smile at him too.

“ well, good morning to you there my handsome angel”. And we end the call.

I go to Melissa and she smile at me. She knows whom I talking to so she never asked about it.

“ You’re okay” I said looking at her

“ yeah, I think I was just drunk”, she said while blinking her both eyes. “ Will and I, are in bad relationship right now. We had a fight earlier and he never texted me after”. And she was starting to cry

“ what happened”, I ask curiously

“ We’re both busy in our own life. He’s busy with his work and I was busy with my work and we never have time with each other. It’s hard to balance the work time and the love time”. And she still continue drinking, I want to stop her but I think she need it right now.

Everyone is leaving and I left with Melissa. She couldn’t walk by herself because of getting drunk. I get her phone and call Will to help me send Melissa home.

“ hi will, it’s Justine Melissa's friend. She’s very drunk right now and I couldn’t bring her home, can you help me”.

“ okay, where are you”. And I wait for a couple of minutes until I saw Will.

“ hi, long time no see, she’s inside and very drunk. This is her phone and her bag”. I said

“ Thank you so much for taking care of her”, he stated and he get Melissa to his car.

After they leave I decided to talk to Will as a friend of Melissa.

“ Melissa said you had a fight with her, I seriously said. I know things are complicated but I think you both know the answer. Take care of my friend will, and I know she love you more than anything in this world”.

“ thank you, this past days are really not good situation for both of us but we are trying,” he said sadly. “but I will never give up on her, she is my everything”.

And I let them go. I walk to get home because I want to think more between me and Andrew. Our situation is not easy but we are trying. I know we are just getting started and we are coming in a long way but it’s better if you think about it now. I get my phone on my pocket and I try to text something to Andrew but I don’t know what to say. I have so many words on my mind but I couldn’t start anything to say until I reach my apartment, I never write anything at all.