Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Early morning, Andrew take a jog around the village before buying dried mango for Justine while taking a short break, he notice his old friend Carlo who’s living in the same village with him. It’s been a long time since he talks with Carlo after he break up with Diana, his first girlfriend and Carlo’s cousin.

“ Hi Andrew, how are you man? Carlo approached him

“ I’m okay man. How are you? It’s been a long time.”

“ I’m good man. I never heard anything from you since your break up with Diana”.

“ I’m just busy with my work as photographer and I’m busy taking care of my family.”

“ I see. How’s your family? He ask. “ You look happy today, are you dating anyone”?

“My family are okay, better than okay”. He said happily.

Andrew wants to tell about Justine but he’s afraid to say, he decided to lie to Carlo and let him think about it.

“ Diana is pregnant now and will marry to Steven this coming week. Are you coming in her wedding? I’m sure she likes you to be there”.

“ I’m happy for her but I have vacation plan with my family and tomorrow is our flight. Can you send my gratitude to her”. He humbly said

“ Of course I will. We’re friends. I have to go now Drew and I’m happy to see you.”

“ Thanks man. I’m happy to see you too”.

Andrew walk back to his house and he see his mom and Kate baking again the cookies that Kate loves to eat and right after he arrive the oven buzz signaling that it’s finish and Kate excitedly get the cookies that she baked with her mom and ask Andrew to taste it. It’s a great day to Andrew seeing his mom very happy and his sister enjoying her baking skills with mom and to him it is the moment that he wants everyday and even if he’s getting married to Justine he still wants to spend the days with his family which he think is not possible because Justine’s family is also a great family to spend the days and still depends to Justine’s decision where to live after they get married but for him whenever Justine wants to live, he will support her wholeheartedly. That afternoon, Andrew invite his mom and Kate to buy dried mango for Justine and some products to give to Justine’s family and friends. They go to the mall after lunch and start to buy some foods, he let his mom to buy and he just pay for it while Kate is walking with him holding her hands.

“ Mom, buy Justine a dried mangoes”. He said for a thousand times

“ How many”?

“ I think 5 packs and add more 5 packs for her friends and her parents also”. He explain

“ Okay, what else”?

“ What do you think we can give to Justine’s parents”? He ask thinking some best idea.

“ What do you think they like? Something they love to eat or things they like”?

“ I’m sure but her dad likes to play Chess and her mom likes to cook”.

“ Let’s see what we can buy for them”.

She said while walking around the supermarket and try to look something while Andrew pushing the cart and Kate is walking with them quietly and suddenly his mom stop for a moment and try to look for a Chess board that locally made from the Philippines and it look like made from the very good wood and can bring anywhere in the world.

“ I think we can give it to her dad and it looks like great and it was made from here. What do you think”? She ask Andrew and he agreed.

“ Okay”. He said smiling and he immediately put it in their cart and they continue to walk around.

“ What about some things to cook”? She suggest

“ Justine already gave something like that when she came here”. He said

“ So what are we going to buy”? She ask him but he couldn’t think anything

“ What about some bag, mom”. Kate suggest and the two of them think about it.

“ What do you think, Andrew? Did she like bags”?

“ I don’t know mom but I think she did”. He said. “ did all mother likes bag”?

“ Yeah I think so but what kind of bags”?

“ Bags that locally made from here, I’m sure she will like it because it’s unique and beautiful”. Kate excitedly said.

“ Yeah that’s true. Let’s go find some bags”. She said excitedly and they go around and look for a locally made bags. They go upstairs of the mall and walk around but they couldn’t find anything that locally made, they go upstairs again but they didn’t see anything. His mom decide to ask the security guard about some stores near the mall that selling locally made products and they’re very happy to hear that there is one store near the mall and they immediately run to it after the guard pointed the direction.

His mom go first inside of the store while Andrew put the things that they buy inside of the car and he go inside after while Kate is inside with his mom looking for bag that they will give to Justine’s mom. He go inside and see his mom wearing a summer dress with a summer cap in her head.

“ What are you doing mom? I thought we will buy some bag”?

“ Son, I think it’s better if we buy them some summer outfit so that when they come here they don’t need to buy for them and it’s locally made also”. She explain and Kate agree with her.

“ Yes big brother I think mom is right. We are best in beach and it’s better if we give them summer outfit”. She added.

“ Okay”. He said agreeing with them.

“ What do you think”? His mom modeling the dress, she spin around and walk like a beauty queen.

“ It’s too sexy for her”. He said. “ but it looks great”.

“ Do you think it will fit to her”?

“ Yeah I think so. She’s not skinny but not fat, just a medium size”. He explain

“ Okay I think it’s better”. She showing a blue summer dress. “ What about the color”.

“ I think the pink one will be better for her “. He said.

“ This one”. She ask while picking the pink color

“ Yes mom, that one with the Philippines written on it”. He assure her

“ What about the summer cap. I think this one will be better for the pink color”.

“ Wear it mom and we will see”. Kate suggest while sitting beside the mirror.

“ Great idea, my princess”.

His mom go out wearing the pink color summer dress and put the summer cap on her head and walk inside of the store and pretend she is walking at the beach.

“ What do you think Andrew”? She ask

“ Beautiful”. He said

“ Yes mom, it’s really beautiful and I’m sure she will like it”. Kate said.

“ Okay but what about her father, let’s buy him also”. She suggest

“ Okay you pick mom”. He said and he go to the small sizes and look something that will fit to Justine. He see a beautiful summer dress, it’s color red. A dark red and he think it will fit to Justine and the color is fascinating for her beautiful skin and he go to his mom and say it’s for Justine.

“ What about a cap for Justine”? She ask and Andrew pick the most beautiful one for her woman and he pay for all of it.

After the very long shopping time, Kate said that she is very hungry and his mom agreed and they go back inside of the mall and eat inside of the restaurant. After eating, they got home and his mom immediately wrap the summer dress that they buy and the cap as a gift for them and Andrew text Justine right away and Justine immediately call him back.

“ Hey beautiful”—he greet him smiling on his face

“ Hey handsome. You sound happy today. What happened”?

“ Nothing. I just buy you your favorite dried mango and I buy your friend and your parents too because I want to taste them the most delicious dried mango in the whole universe”. He said proudly.

“ Okay. What time is your flight”?

“ It’s Thursday night here and I think Friday afternoon is my arrival”.

“ Okay, I plan to leave early and catch you at the airport right away.” She said.

“ Okay that’s great. How’s the plan in your mom’s birthday”?

“ I think mom just want to have a dinner at the house with you and dad”. She said in a lower voice.

“ You don’t like it”?

“ No. I like it but mom is not usually like that. She likes to invite everyone and cook her favorite foods but this time she just want to have dinner”.

“ Well maybe your mom think that it’s better to have dinner with us as family”. He explain. “ Don’t worry about your mom, I know she is happy this coming birthday of her because of people who matters to her are there”.

“ Okay, you said it.” She said

“ I miss you”. Andrew said seriously

“ I miss you more and I’m excited that you will coming again. Can’t wait for you to come”.

“ I couldn’t wait to see you too. I have to go now, I will pack my stuff for tomorrow”.

“ Okay. Don’t forget your passport and your phone”. She said reminding him

“ Yes ma’am, don’t worry I put it on my luggage”. He said surely

“ Good. See you soon. Bye”.

“ Bye. See you. Love you”.

“ Love you more”. She said before the call ended.

Andrew check his things that he will bring and it seems everything is finish. He check the engagement ring and it’s still there, his camera and his shoes to wear in engagement. He never bring suite because he asked Justine’s dad before he went away, his suit and tie and he allow him to borrow it. Andrew then remind his mom and his sister to never forget the dress that they will wear at the engagement party and both of them assure him that it’s already at the luggage and he is very happy knowing that. And his mom hug him for a long minute of time and she narrates her wedding day.

“ It was Sunday morning”—she said opening her storyline and Andrew and Kate are all seriously listening to her. “ 9 o’clock in the morning when I arrive at the church but the wedding will start at 10 but that time I don’t really care about the time because I was excited to get married to your father and I wait inside of the car almost an hour but time really flies that time. My make up never fade away while waiting for the time and the bouquet of flowers that I am holding is never withered and I felt that time that it’s the perfect time to get married. After of how many minutes I waited inside of the car to turned 10 o’clock finally it’s happening”—she excitedly said smiling to Andrew and Kate. “ The church bell rang and everyone including you father is inside waiting for me to come and I slowly walked outside of the car and my father is waiting at the church door and he hugged me before the door open. He told me that he’s very happy seeing me getting married to the man I really loved and my tears start to fall before I can even walk but my father wipes my tears and the door open and everyone is standing and looking at me and my father walked with me to the aisle while your father is waiting in front of the altar but I walked slowly and before my hands put on your father’s hand, my father hugged me again for the last time before I get married and he talked to your father and asked him to take care of me from now on and your father smilingly assures that I am in the right hand and my father let go of my hands to him.”

“ What happened next, mom”? Kate excitedly ask

“ He walked with me to the altar where the priest is waiting and the wedding is started. I was very happy that time because I was married to the right man and to the man I really loved. I couldn’t remember the exact words that your father said in his vows but I do remember his tears is falling down while saying it but he still manage to say everything without a single mistake in his speaking”.

“ But what did you say to your vows mom? Did you still remember it”? Andrew curiously ask.

“ Of course I did. I said”.

“ To the man I really loved, thank you that we made it here. When I first met you, I didn’t know that I will fall in love with you because you looked very serious but the next day you smile at me and you do the same the next day. I didn’t know that you like me until you walked with me towards to my house and admitted nervously your feelings to me. I was very happy that night and I can’t wait to have a date with you but you never asked so I make a move. I asked you to buy me hamburger but I secretly follow you and asked you to eat with me and we ate together one hamburger and I admit I was very full that time even though I only eat ¼ of it. And our love story continue to grow and today we will make a promise together in front of our families and friends and to God that tomorrow you and I, will be loving each other in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in happiness, till death do us part. Thank you for loving me everyday and I promise to love you more every minute of every time. And your father put the ring on my finger and the priest declare that we are husband and wife”.

“ Wow, that is very romantic mom”. Andrew said

“ I know. Love is very romantic and it will push you to be more romantic that you could ever imagine. So Andrew remember, Love Justine every day and when you are in quarrel with her apologize first immediately that’s how it works”.

“ Yes mom. I will remember and thank you”. Andrew hug his mom and Kate run to hug them both.

That night, Andrew decide to watch his favorite movie of all time. It’s a story of everlasting love of two different persons, it’s very beautiful story but the ending is not happily ever after. The woman that he loved died in a tragic accident the night before they get married. It’s a tragic story but the way they met and the way they spend together is very romantic. Andrew inspire by the movie to love more than everything and to never waste of time in hurting the people you love while you still have time. He seen the movie 10 times and every time he watch it again the feeling of love and pain in the end is still makes him cry again over and over again. It’s an old movie but for Andrew it’s the best movie that he ever watch in his life and no other can beat it for him.

At exactly 5 o’clock in the afternoon of Thursday, Andrew and his mom and his sister arrive at the Manila International Airport and wait for their flight schedule.

“ Is everything okay”. His mom ask him while waiting. “ the ring did you bring it”?

“ Yes mom, it’s on my luggage. What about our gift, did you bring it”?

“ Yes, it’s on my luggage”.

While waiting, Andrew suddenly receive a call from Justine and he immediately answer it.

“ Hey handsome. How are you”?

“ Hey beautiful, I’m okay”, he said and he try to silence his mom and Kate so she wouldn’t hear them. “ I’m at the airport right now and waiting for my flight. How are you”?

“ I’m at the break from work and I remember it’s your flight so I called you”.

“ That’s great. I’m excited to see you”. He said trying to hide his smile

“ I’m excited to see you too. How is your mom and Kate”? She ask and Andrew almost say that he’s with him but he manage to find a way to cover himself nervously and Justine never notice it.

“ They’re fine. They want to come but they couldn’t because Kate is still in school. Don’t worry about them”. He said trying to sit alone watching some people coming and he imagine his arrival in Justine’s place and surprise her with his mom and Kate.

“ I miss them”. She said

“ They’re miss you too. Don’t worry next time I will bring them for you”. He said to comfort her.

“ Okay. I have to go now. I have so many things to do. See you tomorrow”.

“ Okay. See you tomorrow. Love you more”. He said

“ Bye. Love you too”. She replied.

30 minutes before 7, the exact departure time. Andrew and his family go to the airplane that will fly them to Oregon, USA. He is nervous and excited to see Justine again and her family, he sit beside his mom and his sister Kate is on the window side of the airplane and the plane starts to move and suddenly flying away from the Philippines and Andrew text Justine to tell that he’s on his way. It’s a long flight and Andrew couldn’t sleep because he’s thinking of his proposal while his mom and Kate are all sleeping quietly at their own chair. He then decide to open his phone and start to listen in his playlist song and open his favorite book and re-read it again. After a read finally he fall asleep on his own with a pillow on his neck, he sleep silently while his mom wake up and run to the rest room and his sister is still asleep with the headset on her ears and his mom come back from rest room and sit back to her seat and ask the stewardess some water to drink. Meanwhile Justine is still at the office and still trying to finish her work early because she needs to catch up Andrew to the airport and she’s lucky that she finish it right on time. She talk to Melissa and tell her that Andrew is coming and she needs to go to the airport right away because he’s coming any minute now. Melissa understand the excitement of Justine to meet Andrew and she immediately let her go and Justine run straight forward to her car and drive fastly to the airport.