My bitter sweet Valentine

My bitter sweet Valentine

We all know that Valentine’s Day is the time wherein couples celebrate their love for one another. It is a day filled with happy memories, romantic songs fly through our ears, chocolates and roses fill our hands and love occupies our hearts. Nothing is sweeter than celebrating Valentine’s Day with the love of your life while you hold hands and stroll the evening park as stars are the only spectators of your everlasting love for each other but every chocolate coated candy has its bitter filling inside. Nothing lasts for a life time but every memory lingers in your heart and soul, that makes true love unique and incomparable. What if the happiest moment of your life turned into one your worst nightmare?

It was the start of a new year for Caleb. 2010 was very generous to him as he got promoted as supervisor; he won a car during an event in a mall and bought a new pent house at the heart of the city. Truly it was a very fruitful year and 2011 is no different than that for he already planned out the things he had to accomplish. He was a single man that is addicted to success and never really cared about settling down with a family of his own. One day as he was walking across a street he bumped into a lady wearing a red scarf. It was that very moment when he realized how empty his heart was because as the lady glanced into his eyes as it was like saying something so passionate to him that he felt a tingling feeling in his chest and that made him stop in the middle of the street. The lady then ran across the street as if she was going something important.

Everyday and every night he kept on dreaming about those hazel brown eyes that made him realize that success is nothing if you cannot share it with one you love. So he went searching for the lady wearing the red scarf. He looked everywhere, in every alley in every street in every house he could see but no luck so he decided to take a break in a small coffee shop that says “Amère Douce”. He went inside and ordered black coffee and the moment he looked at the waitress he was instantly shocked and at the same time relieved for he now found the girl in the red scarf. He then went to that coffee shop everyday for the past couple of days. He got to know her and soon became friends. They hang out a lot and at the month of February they soon started dating. Caleb was in cloud nine because his career was on top and his love life is on the peak, there was nothing more he could ask for.

A week before Valentine’s Day he prepared a gorgeous ring, it was not an engagement ring but a promise ring that he will never leave Leila. It was his first time proposing to a girl and was very nervous about it so he always carries the ring with him in his left pocket. He wanted to propose on Valentine’s Day and he already planned a romantic dinner for the two of them. Days passed and the moment of truth had arrived, he asked Leila to wear the red scarf he saw during their first encounter in the streets. During the dessert course of the meal, while eating red velvet cake, Leila was startled to find a gorgeous white gold ring inside the cake covered with icing. She started to cry and the moment Caleb proposed to her she hugged him and kissed him passionately. It was the start of a new beginning for the both of them.

Unforgettable and happy months passed, the two of them were inseparable. They were both floating in the ocean of love. They never knew that life can be so perfect. During Christmas day, Leila wanted to tell Caleb something really important. So she asked him to meet at the coffee shop. As Caleb anxiously walked inside, he saw Leila holding a small box with a big smile on her face. Caleb said “What is this, honey? It is not our monthsary or did I get promoted? What is this for?” Leila then spoke “Gifts should not only be given if there is an occasion. I just want you to have this. It is something you will never forget. Hope you like it, daddy” As the word daddy entered Caleb’s ear his eyes started to fill up with tears and as he opened the box, it was a pair of yellow baby booties. He instantly hugged and kissed Leila. They celebrated that night with Cake and Tea. It was surely a night they won’t forget.

February approached the couple in hurry. It was Valentine’s Day and the two were happily preparing for the decorations in the coffee shop. Leila was about to pick up the flowers in the flower shop when Caleb arrived with a box of chocolates. He gave it to Leila and kissed her sweetly. She then took a bite on one of the assorted chocolates and said “Amère Douce”. Caleb forgot to ask Leila about what it means. She whispered to his ear “Bitter sweet” and pecked his cheeks and happily went outside to get the flowers. As she glanced at Caleb with those sweet Hazel brown eyes he felt sad and wanted her to stay. He felt a sharp pain in his chest that made him worry. He then continued decorating the coffee shop when, suddenly he heard a crash outside in the streets. He remembers hearing someone scream and people loudly sighing to the incident.

He rushed outside and to his fear, it was Leila! He ran as fast as he can towards the accident but police stopped him. He cried and shouted at the top of his lungs. He wanted her to be safe. He wanted THEM to be safe. As she was wheeled into the hospital he kept on praying and hoping that her two sweet angels would be fine but as the doctor went outside and told the good and bad news. He really did not know what to feel nor to say. Leila was now in stable condition but the baby did not survive.

That night as Caleb kissed Leila as she was sleeping; he went to “Amère Douce” and planted a small flower at the side of the shop. He placed the small booties that Leila gave to him and prayed for her little angel’s journey to heaven. Every February 14, the couple would always visit and pray in front of the flower reminding both of them about their precious little angel. They both wish that someday when God would grant them with another child, they would have the same baby, the baby that made their Valentine’s Day, bitter sweet.

The End

Sipol

“Sipol”

Ang ating buhay ay puno ng iba’t ibang misteryo. Lahat tayo ay nakakaranas ng iba’t ibang pangyayari na humuhubog sa ating katauhan. Minsan tayo’y nilulubog sa problema, minsan tayo’y pinasusuko ng paghihirap, pero sa bawat dusa na ating natitikman merong mga bagay na nagbibigay sa atin ng lakas ng loob para bumangon at simulan ang bukas ng may ngiti sa ating labi at kagalakan sa ating mga puso. Naranasan mo na bang magkaroon ng isang kaibigan na sa bawat hakbang mo sa iyong buhay ay nandiyan para ikaw ay alalayan pero naputol ang lahat dahil sa pinaghiwalay kayo ng tadhana? Ito ang kwento ng magkaibigang Karen at Mae.

Isang malamig na umaga ang bumungad kay Karen, isang estudyante sa isang pribadong eskwelahan. Si Karen ay kumukuha ng kursong nursing at siya ang nagkakaisa isang anak nila Ginoong Delos Santos at Ginang Delos Santos. Maaga siyang pumunta sa kanyang unang klase dahil sa araw na iyon meron silang gagawing activity.

Kung iyong titingnan, ang buhay ni Karen ay hindi pangkaraniwan. Sa bawat araw na siya ay umaalis sa kanyang bahay, may isang bagay ang gumugulo sa kanyang isipan. Isang bagay na tanging siya lamang ang nakakaalam. Hindi niya ito sinasabi sa kahit na sino.

Isang araw habang si Karen ay gumagawa ng isang pagsasanay tunkol sa CPR, bigla na lang itong nanlamig at namutla. Nagtaka ang kanyang mga kaklase pati na din ang kanyang guro. Nang tinawag na si Karen para mag “demo” dahan dahan itong tumayo at naglakad papunta sa manikin. Habang hinahawakan ni Karen ang ulo ng manikin bigla itong naiyak at kumaripas ng takbo papalayo sa kanyang klase. Simula noong araw na iyon sinubukang kausapin ng mga kaibigan niyang sina Tina at Carmen itong si Karen pero wala pa din silang nakuhang kahit na anong impormasyon tunkol sa inasal ni Karen nung araw na iyon.

Sa tuwing nalulungkot at naalala ni Karen ang bagay na gumugulo sa kanyang isipan, palagi na lang niyang tinitingnan ang larawan na kanyang pinagka-ingat ingatan ng matagal na panahon. Ang larawan ng kanyang matalik na kaibigan na si Mae. Nawala ito noong sila ay nasa ika-limang baitang pa lamang. Sa bawat oras na naalala niya si Mae, sumisipol siya. Noong unang beses na nagkita sina Mae at Karen, naglalaro sila noon sa loob ng kanilang silid aralan. Hindi pinapansin ni Mae itong si Karen dahil ayaw nito sa kanya. Isang beses habang naglalaro si Mae at ang iba nitong kaklase, pinag-tutukso nila si Mae na dikit ang labi dahil hindi ito marunong sumipol. Nang nalaman ito ni Karen pinagtanggol niya kaagad ito. Pagkatapos ng kanilang klase habang naghihintay sila ng sundo nila, tinuruan ni Karen si Mae na sumipol. At doon gumaan ang loob ng isa’t isa at nagsimulang maging magkaibigan.

Isang araw habang galing sa eskwelahan itong si Karen, nakita niyang may mga taong naglilipat ng gamit sa isang bahay malapit sa kanila. Ang sabi ng mga tao doon, may mga lumipat daw na galing sa kabilang ibayo. Dahil na din sa pagiging usosera, tiningnan na din ni Karen ang kanyang mga bagong kapitbahay. Nilapitan siya ng isang batang lalake at tilang tuwang tuwa sa kanya. Ngitian ito ni Karen sabay alis. Habang siya ay umaalis, may napansin siyang isang babaeng nakadungaw sa bintana at tila pinagmamasdan siya. Hindi niya ito pinansin at umuwi na lamang siya sa kanila.

Ilang linggo na ang lumipas simula ng lumipat ang pamilya malapit sa bahay nila Karen, hindi pa din niya nakikilala ang panganay na anak ng mag asawang lumipat dito. Sabi nila, nahihiya daw ito sa tao dahil nga sa mga peklat nito sa mukha.

Gabi na ng nakauwi si Karen sa kanila, isang gabi. Habang tumatakbo ito papunta sa kanila, napatigil siya sa tapat ng bahay ng pamilya Santos. Doon niya nakita ang panganay na anak nila na nakatayo sa tapat ng pintuan at may hawak na payong. Nagmamadali itong nilapitan si Karen sabay sukob sa kanya. Nagtaka si Karen pero nagpasalamat din pagkatapos. Simula nung gabing iyon, nakilala niyang Jenny pala ang pangalan nito. Inampon siya ng pamilya Santos noong siya ay bata pa lamang. Nabanggit din ni Jenny na kaya madami siyang peklat sa mukha dahil naaksidente daw siya nung maliit palamang ito. Nalaman niya din na papasok si Jenny sa eskwelahang pinapasukan ni Karen.

Naging magkaibigan ang dalawa simula noon, palagi silang sabay umuwi at sabay kumain ng tanghalian. Nagtutulungan sila sa bawat project at activity sa kanilang school. Napapansin na din ng iba na hindi na palagi nalulungkot itong si Karen. Tuwang tuwa si Karen at nakilala niya itong si Jenny dahil alam niyang mapagkakatiwalaan, mabait, at hindi nagsisinungaling itong si Jenny sa kanya.

Isang beses habang sila ay nasa library, kumuha si Jenny ng isang libro mula at bigla itong sumipol. Nagulat si Karen dahil ang sinisipol ni Jenny and tinuro niyang sipol kay Mae noong sila ay bata palamang. Nilapitan niya si Jenny na tila ba naluluha at kinakabahan sa katotohanan na kanyang malalaman. Hinawakan nito ang kanyang braso at sabay sabi “Mae?” Ngumiti si Jenny at niyakap niya ng mahigpit si Karen. “Mae! Ikaw ba talaga iyan?” banggit ni Karen habang umiiyak. “Oo, ako ito. Matagal kong hinintay ang pagkakataong ito Karen. Matagal kitang hinanap.” Bulong ni Mae habang nakayakap kay Karen. “Patawarin mo ako kung hindi kita mailigtas! Patawarin mo ko kung hindi kita nagawang tulungan! Kasalanan ko ang lahat at sana mapatawad mo ako.” “Hindi mo hawak ang tadhana, Karen. Alam kong ginawa mo ang lahat at masaya na ako doon. Yaong araw na iyon, napatunayan kong ako na ang pinakaswerteng tao dahil may kaibigan akong katulad mo.”

Pagkatapos ng araw na iyon, lumabas na ang tinatagong lihim ni Karen at Mae. Noong sila ay nasa ika-limang baitang palamang, naglaro malapit sa ilog sina Mae at Karen. Nagkataong nadulas itong si Mae sa lumot at tumilapon sa ilog. Pinilit ni Karen na hilahin si Mae pero masyadong malakas ang agos nito dahil sa papalapit na bagyo. Sa di inaasahang pangyayari, nadala din si Karen sa agos at sa mabuting palad ay nakaligtas ito. Si Mae naman ay inanod hanggang sa kabilang ibayo at kinupkop ng pamilya Santos. Ilang lingo pagkatapos ng pagkawala ni Mae, namatay ang kanyang ina at ama dahil sa isang pagsabog na naganap sa pinagtratrabahuhan nito. Simula noon wala ng nagtangkang magahanap sa kanya dahil na din sa inaakalang namatay na ito. Nagkanda sugat sugat ang mukha ni Mae dahil na din sa pagkakahampas ng mukha niya sa batuhan.

Simula noong nailabas na ang lahat ng sikreto. Namuhay na ng payapa sina Mae at Karen. Hindi nagbago ang lahat sa kanila kundi, lalo pang nagging matibay ang kanilang pagkakaibigan. Tunay nga na hindi natin hawak ang tadhana, tanging ang Diyos Ama lamang ang makakapag-sabi kung kelan ang tamang panahon para sa bawat isa sa atin.

THE END