Chapter 15 | Possible

I had a quite long free time. I tried feeding my curiosity by searching Lukan's family on the internet. Luckily, I saw a summary of their history after a lengthy scrolling.

The Fortelleza was known and respected for their famous and successful hospitals around the world. Nabalita noon na nalugi na lamang ito dahil wala ng natirang Fortelleza para i-manage.

Impossible. Mayroon pang natirang Fortelleza! Si Lukan at ang kanyang ina, hindi ba?

The article I read didn't help and instead, it made me question more of Lukan's family and life.

Kung mayaman naman pala ang ina ni Lukan, bakit ito nagsisilbi bilang kasambahay sa mga Entel? Kung mayaman ang Fortelleza, bakit lumaki si Lukan sa ampunan? Kung may natitira pang Fortelleza, bakit hindi nila inaasikaso ang mga hospital upang muling lumago?

I saw other related articles stating rich doctors wanted to buy the Fortelleza hospitals to operate again. Pinag-aagawan pa rin ng ibang mga hospital ang Fortelleza hospitals upang bilhin ngunit hindi ito mabili sapagkat hindi ito binibenta o mapantayan ng kahit gaano kalaking salapi.

Lastly, kung half-brother ni Eros si Lukan, bakit hindi pinalitan ang last name ni Lukan ng Entel? I know my questions were too personal but I couldn't stop thinking.

Maybe I should stop asking and overthinking by myself again. The last time I asked myself, I judged someone. So, yes, maybe I should stop. Wala rin naman ako sa posisyon para makialam sa buhay nila.

I busied myself by helping others, halos hindi ko naramdaman ang pagod sa kagustuhang ilayo ang isipan. I participated on activities and played with the children.

When it was my turn for the story telling, I grabbed a fantasy book for kids. The story had an English narration and a Filipino translation. I explained every scenes for the kids to enjoy and understand the story.

My story telling ended and it was lunch. They offered me foods yet I politely declined because I wasn't hungry.

I roamed my eyes around the place as I realized I didn't see Lukan for the whole morning after the mass. He said he'd participate yet he wasn't present earlier.

I wanted to assume that maybe he had some important errands to prioritize. I saw a nun walking towards my place so, I decided to ask her about Lukan.

She smiled at me and instead of a clear answer, she gave me a piece of square paper, then immediately walked away me.

I looked at the paper and there I saw a neat hand writing.

Akala ko hindi ka magtatanong kung na saan ako. First step, success! Kinabahan ako. Anyway, please go to the bell tower, princess.

He didn't need to write clues about his identity, nakilala ko agad. Lukan and his cheesy way of showing things to me, talagang hindi nagpatalo. I went to the bell tower as he said. I had no idea what to see for the next steps yet I wanted to know what Lukan prepared.

Mula sa labas ay may hagdan patungo sa itaas. I took the stairs to climb at the top. I wasn't a hard walk anyway. Sa mismong bell, may nakadikit muling note. Agad kong kinuha at binasa.

Sarap mag-exercise tuwing tanghali, ano? Haha, just kidding. Thank you for doing what I said. Now, I want you to look at the view for a minute, then pick the next note inside the bell.

Natatawa kong sinunod ang kanyang sinulat.

I looked at the view and I didn't expect it would be this aesthetic. I could almost feel the vibrant green grasses rejoicing as the sun shared its light on them. The setting of the church and the orphanage made me think I was in the 1900s. The sight satisfied my effort and I would love to stay for a while yet Lukan's last command came across my mind.

I gently went inside the bell to get the next note. Napatalon ako nang na-ring ko ito nang wala sa oras at hindi sinadya. The loud rang spread at the place. Napapikit ako sapagkat dito ang pinakamalakas nitong tunog. I was careful for nothing.

Nang kumalma na ang bell ay binasa ko ang note ni Lukan.

You rang it! Haha! Got you. Anyway, please exit using the left stairs. Thank you.

Talagang natuwa pa siyang na-ring ko ang bell. Paano niya naman nalamang magagalaw ko iyon? He done it before? What a weird royal seaweed.

Pagbaba ko ay na sa gilid na ako ng simbahan. May note agad akong nakitang nakadikit sa pader. I came near it to get and read.

Thank God at nakaabot ka rito. Last step, princess. Go at the back of the church.

I immediately went at the back of the church when I knew it was the last task. I looked like a kid following a couple of clues to find the treasure chest... and it felt nostalgic. I appreciated Lukan's cheesiness because it felt old fashioned.

I saw Lukan smiling widely as usual as he waited for me to come near. Napa-iling na lamang ako at ito pala ang inabala niya buong umaga.

Nilibot ko ang aking paningin sa lugar. Sa likod niya ay may lamesa at mga upuang pang-dalawahan. May mga pagkain roon at kung bibigyan ko ng kahulugan, para akong na sa isang... date.

"Buti naman at nahanap mo ako," he happily said.

"Ano na naman 'tong pasabog mo?" I asked, tinatago ang tuwa.

"I want to explain myself," he answered.

Seriously, he only wanted to explain me things yet he made this effort for it. Most of the boys these days would tell you things over the phone for an easier way of communication yet Lukan, right here, made me like an adventurer to only listen for his explanation.

"Hindi ko agad sinagot ang tinanong mo sa akin kagabi dahil nahihiya akong umamin," kanyang panimula.

"Parang ewan lang, 'no? Kasasabi ko lang na ayaw kong matorpe pero hindi ko naman agad nasabi sa 'yo ang sagot sa iyong katanungan," he continued.

He said, "My past with girls doesn't fully define who I am. I wanted to at least experience the normal life so, I decided to explore before. I won't say any excuses because I know how to responsible of my doings."

I didn't say anything and I let him continue. I understood his point and I liked that he was aware of his actions.

"Sinadya kong si Mother Teresa ang makikita mong madre kanina dahil siya lang ang madre'ng may alam na gusto kita mula noon," nakangiti niyang sabi.

"Pinapunta kita sa bell tower kasi..." he sighed for a pause, "nandoon ako noong una kitang nakita," dagdag niya.

I noticed his ear getting red. I chuckled as I observed him.

"Nagtatago ako noon sa mga madre dahil may mga dadating daw na mga tao. I was an anti-social kid when I was young so, I hid myself at the tower the day you and your family first visited," natatawa niyang kuwento.

"Sa pagkatulala ko sa 'yo, nakita ako ng isang madre sa open window, doon sa pinagtinginan mo kanina ng view. Pumasok ako sa loob ng bell at hindi ko sinasadyang napatunog iyon."

His story made me look back at our first visit. I remembered that day. Tama nga siya! Unang bisita namin noon ay tumunog ang kampana nang wala rin sa oras. Siya pala iyon!

And he was staring at me. He was staring at the old me.

"I saw the old you, Mia. Until now, nakikita ko pa rin ang dating ikaw dahil para sa akin hindi ka naman nagbago. Para sa akin, wala kang pinagbago. You are still the young pretty girl," he confessed.

Lukan continued, "Nakipagkaibigan ako sa ate mo noon dahil nahihiya akong dumirekta sa 'yo. We became close until grade eight. Totoong niligawan ko siya ngunit dare iyon ng mga kaibigan ko at alam ni Serin iyon. I ended our friendship dahil nalaman ko ang pagtrato niya sa 'yo."

"I said these things para aware ka. Gusto ko lang sabihin sa 'yo ang dati ko pang nararamdaman dahil ayaw ko ngang matorpe. Kung sa palagay mo ay masyado itong mabilis, naiintindihan ko. If you want to take this slow, then we will. Kung kailangan ko pa munang ma-friendzone sa 'yo bago mo ako bigyan ng pagkakataong manligaw, e di sige friendzoned muna ako," sabi niya nang nakangiti.

"And you deserved to know these things. I don't want to confuse you with anything," habol niya.

"I waited for this moment to come... so, miss Thera Mia Zorron, my princess for short, will you be my date for this lunch?" he asked and chuckled.

I couldn't help but to also chuckle.

"Of course, Lukan," kabado kong sagot.

"Yes!" napatalon pa siya sa tuwa.

Sa likod namin ay ang kanyang mga kaibigan na nagsipalakpakan. Kailan pa sila dumating?

"Akala ko tatangi," si Lukan na parang nanalo sa lottery.

"Tol, binata ka na!" si Gierro na parang ama ni Lukan sa pagka-proud.

"How to be you, po? Lodi!" si Olivver na parang number one fan ni Lukan.

"Ako ang nag-diliver ng pagkain ninyo," si Fred na dilivery boy nga ni Lukan.

"Oo na! Makakaalis na kayo. Salamat! Layas na!" utos ni Lukan sa kanila.

Nagkakamot sila ng batok habang papaalis. Nang naka-alis na sila ay na-upo na kami ni Lukan.

The setting was relaxing, eating lunch near a sacred place with the person who could make you happy and feel a lot of emotions at a time.

Alam kong kinilig na ako sa ibang lalaki noon ngunit ito... iba ito. Halong saya at kaba ang aking naramdaman... I knew for myself that I was nervous about the possible emotions that were forming in my heart... na para lamang kay Lukan at iyon ay ang pagkagusto.