“Policapia wake up! Policarpia wake up!”
It was my alarm clock. It was five o’clock in the morning and I spent my time working all night. I did not feel sleepy or tired as I work in front of my laptop.
“What a mess!” My everyday expression on how I see my room.
I finished early and I still have time to clear my room’s dearest companions. I stood up and tried to pick up every mess I made: my scattered books, research printouts, used and unused clothes and stuff toys whom I talk to when I get bored or sad. I sweep all the dusk, crumbs and scratch papers I used weeks and weeks. I started clearing my corkboard with all the tasks I finished the whole night. I disposed my mountain of trash. All these became my assistants and its time to fire them. I fixed our family picture, as it hung with dust, just like how they turned into it.
My family: my father I idolized, my mother I adored, and my brother I cherished. Looking at this frame brought back my misery, their unwanted death which was caused by my carelessness. I was a princess turned witch as I made a fire killing my loved ones. If only I did it and not asking someone else to do it for me, they should have lived. If only…
I sat down and opened my blog. It was my journal of all my pains and miseries. After all, I only have one follower for my personal blog named Mar, who never tired of commenting and viewing every post I had.
And I posted:
How Many years should I wait?
I crash though I soar.
I smile as I tear blood.
I am remembered forgotten.
Suddenly, my cellular phone vibrated, it was my nagging editor. I told her lots of times already that I am not into writing if it was all about show business, the world of lies and mediocrity
“Hello.” I answered with my voice, lifeless. “I know it’s all about the band interview.”
“Yes, we need it as…”
“I’ll do it!” I cut her long line short. “I will be there at the office before lunch. Bye.”
Time to dress up with my same old clothes. What’s glamour for someone like me? I stayed 24 hours working here in my room and seldom went out.
This old pair of jeans and a striped collared shirt, put on few powder and ready to go as I wore my thick eyeglasses: my best friend day and night, especially with my work. Were these eyeglasses my only best friend? Yes, I also had a best friend named Mar. My best friend… The only guy I trust…
It was summer when I carelessly lost my wallet in the terminal. He tried to help me and accompanied me as we walked our way home. We laughed with his silly jokes and even shared stupid stories. He did it though he can ride his way home, but he did not. There started a good friendship.
“Pia!” Martin yelled at me as I walk so fast and he tried to catch up. “Let’s go home together.”
“Okay! “ I answered him with a smile.
Everyday, we were always together. We were classmates, seatmates, and best friends. My four years in high school became different since I met him.
When we were in college, we went in the same university but with different courses. He took up BS Architecture; while I took AB English, but this event in our life strengthen our friendship. Now, our hearts started to beat unusually. We even became honest about our feelings. I graduated ahead of him but nothing changed. Until one day, that I hated all my life happened.
“I need to go…” Martin said with his voice trembling.
“But why?” My tears fell down. “Mar, I love you! You know that and I feel you also do.”
“My mom,” Finally, he broke down. “I love you so much but my mom needs me there.”
“When will you come back?” I asked him and tears fell down.
“I don’t know…” He answered back and hugged me with my surprise. “But please wait for me…”
“I will…” I hugged him tightly, if only I can never stop hugging him. I will hold on to his promises with all my heart.
High school reunion after seven years was organized and I attended it feeling excited that Martin might be back and attend, too. I even bought a simple violet dress with a touch of elegance, but it was a mournful event.
“Rachel and Martin got married.” Joy said with a smile. “That’s what I thought that they were meant for each other.”
“Poor Pia!” Jane exclaimed, my dearest friend. “She was fooled by Martin and that’s what she needs to learn her real lesson. Hahaha!”
Fake! Liars! Tears were uncontrollable and as the moment I stand, I ran as fast as I can, seeing no one. I broke down and seated on the sidewalk. After a few drop, I started living the life I have in present.
Martin… Why can’t I erase you from this mind? I said to myself.
I rode on a bus to Manila to finish my task at the publishing house. I needed to catch up with the band to have my interview.
“Finally! You’re here.” My nagging editor greeted me.
“Where are they?” I asked her with a smirk.
“They were waiting for you at the lounge.”
I rushed to the lounge, where visitors and guest stay. The band members were all dressed up with black. Three of them have long hair and the one has a clean cut hair. I remembered someone as I stared by him. But as the neat looking rock star turn around, it was…
Martin… I was shocked.
“Pia! He seemed going to approach me but he did not.
“Good morning!” I greeted them and trying not to look at him. “I am Policarpia Garcia, I am the one assigned to write and feature you in our next issue.”
“Oh, great!” Kevin, a band member, exclaimed. “By the way I am Kevin, the Lead Vocalist.”
“Nice meeting you.” I answered with a smile. “Can you introduce me to the other band members?”
“My pleasure… Here is Alvin on Guitar, Nathan on Bass and Mar on Drums. I think you both know each other.”
I just smile.
The interview only took few minutes. After that, I saw Martin approaching my table as I work on the article about the interview.
“Yes? Any problem, Mr. Martin Ferrer? Want to add some more?” I asked him without looking at him.
“Pia,” Martin uttered with his manly voice. “Call me Mar just like the way you call me before.”
“But were professionals, right? And it is my job to address you properly.” I answered without glancing him.
He was gone from my sight, again. After that short talk, I feel tiresome.
No! Our love was spoiled when he got married. And I forgot to ask him about their relationship. Was I only forgetful or I just done not asked to arm myself from getting hurt? I said to myself.
It was raining when I went home. I was soaked as I always leave my umbrella somewhere in our house, that my Lola forgot to remind me, too. I sat down, turned on my laptop and start blogging. I posted:
Words of reminisce
Dancing freely.
With a tune of tango
Yet not in tune,
Still a beautiful art
I wished forgotten.
Looking at my past, staring at it that took me million seconds if only mu cellular phone did not disturbed my reminiscing.
“Hello…” I answered as I read my friend’s name, my business partner. “Do I have any projects?”
“Yes!” Her voice was so glad. “The furniture designer needs our service to advertise his designs. And also the realtor asked me if we can make them flyers for their newly design houses.
“Okay, Anne! I’ll be there in the studio tomorrow as early as I can and go to the site in the afternoon.”
“See you!” She ended our short informal business conversation.
It was a good start and I came and finished early taking pictures of the furniture’s advertisement. It was time to visit the site. As I walked along the hallway, a man bumped me and my folders fell as I tried to protect my camera.
“Oopps!” A familiar voice said. “I’ll help you…”
“Thanks!” I answered without looking at him and ran away.
I came early at the site to look at the model house. It looked familiar. The developer said it was the architect’s best design because it was made for someone he loves. I found myself comfortable inside. I liked it and if ever I can buy this house, I will. I waited inside for the architect because Anne called to tell me to wait for him even I finished all the shots I needed.
Seconds, minutes and hours, I stood up after a long rest and decided to leave the house. But it rained, I was soaked again. A car stopped and opened its door.
“Hop in!” it was Martin waving his hand to tell me to enter his car.
“But…” My heart again dashed to the endless race. The same beat I felt when I knew I loved him.
“Look at yourself;” He went out with his umbrella, “you’re soaked!”
I rode in his car with my great protest on why I did it. Was it my fear to get soaked? Or was it my dashing heart who wanted to rest beside him?
“I’ll bring you home.” He said with a sweet authority. “I can manage.” I answered him back without glancing at him. “Let’s sop at the nearest bus stop.”
“No! I insist.” He said with his hand holding my hand. “Here, wear my jacket. You’re cold. Where do you stay?”
“In my grandmother’s house.”
“Oh! I still remember the days we spent time in there.”
Oh Mar… You touches my heart as I real our stories that you still remember. I said to myself and look at him.
“Pia, I have something to tell you.” He said to me as hold my hand.
“What is it?” I looked at him deeply and waited for his words.
“I’ll tell you that I bumped into you this morning. That the house you visited is the design I made for you. I am the furniture designer you’re working on.”
“All this time I thought you’re not around but I never imagined it will be like this.” I said with my surprise. “When did you know all this things? That I am behind these.”
“Just this morning, even though I started asking for your company’s service for three years now.”
“You’re with me all along…”
“And I am Mar, your blog follower.”
Silence followed that moment. It touched my heart. All the incidents was it all accidents? My house was near and the love ride was about to end, until he broke the silence…
“I love you Pia…” He grasped my hand. “I came back to make my promise…”
“You’re married! Stop fooling around cause I won’t be another woman for you for the absence of your wife.”
“Pia, listen…”
“No! Stop the car…” I insisted. I went down as he stopped the car. “Goodbye!”
Two months passed by, so fast that I did not notice how these 60 days existed. And at the 61st day, our publishing company would have its quarterly party for the victory of the latest released magazine where I wrote about the band where Martin was a band member.
“Pia! Sing! Sing!” All my friends turned into my enemies tonight.
I stood up, go to the stage. My knees shook. My voice trembled. This will be the worst day. And from the back, a man stood up, walked nearer and nearer the stage. It was Martin.
“Let’s sing together.” He said and held my hand near his heart. “Pia, I love you!”
“But how about Rachel?” I asked him not waiting for his answer.
“I am divorced. I marry her because my mother insisted me to do so. But I had my divorced after my mother’s death and knowing we do not work out as a god couple.”
“Sing! Sing! Sing!” the crowd roar.
“Let’s sing…” Martin asked me.
“Let’s sing our favorite song…”
And we sung the song “where are you.”
