When Jesse found the note she called me several times that day asking what she did wrong.

I told her it was better if we move on with our lives.

But she still wouldn't give up.

There was a point where she kept calling and begging me to give her another chance.

Hindi naman ako masamang tao o pusong bato.

Pumayag ako na gawan namin nang paraan.

Kaya lang hindi ko maiwasan ang magselos.

When that happened, I'd call it quits again.

Hanggang umabot sa punto na ako na ang nagdesisyon.

I told Jesse I met someone new.

That I don't love her anymore.

One of it was untrue.

The first time I met Destiny was a month after Jesse and I broke up.

We had sex.

Afterwards she drove back to Radium Springs where she works at a resort.

In a strange turn of events, we kept in touch.

Actually, she texted first.

Ang akala ko, after our one-night stand, that was it.

I would not hear from her and she did not need to hear from me.

Pero hindi naman ako rude kaya ng magmessage siya, I replied.

Back and forth ang kumustahan at polite questions like how are you hanggang sa mapapakuwento siya or ako.

Our conversations via text were never ending.

Bigla na lang kasi siyang hindi sasagot.

O di kaya ako naman ang hindi magrereply hanggang sa umabot nang araw or buwan na wala kaming communication.

Noong una, there was this feeling of being bitin.

But eventually, I got use to it.

Kapag may biglang pumasok na text galing sa kanya, we would catch up and then one of us will stop responding and that's that.

The cycle repeats.

That was our thing.

Now, she's here standing at the front door wearing a mask.

Kahit hindi nakikita ang lips niya, I knew she was smiling underneath the surgical mask na suot niya.

Her eyes always gave her away.

It was warm and glowing.

Not like a cat but more out of mirth.

"What are you doing here?" I stood in the middle of the door blocking her entrance.

"Can I come in?" Tinanggal niya ang mask.

There was a red lipstick smudge on the white side.

I wanted to say no.

She said please.

I stepped aside at pagpasok niya, binagsak niya ang bitbit na overnight bag sa sahig.

Napatalon si Ralph sa gulat.

"Hey, pussy." Excited na lumapit siya sa sofa at kinarga ito.

Inangat nito ang isang paw at hinimas ang pisngi ni Destiny.

Traitor.

"What are you doing here?" Sinara ko ang pinto at pinihit ang lock.

"Brenda told me what happened to Kate." She rubbed the black spot under his chin.

He purred.

Of course.

Sino pa ba ang magiging source niya kundi si Brenda?

They met at the same party at nagkasundo silang dalawa.

Umupo ako sa tabi niya.

"Look," Hinalikan niya si Ralph sa ilong bago binaba sa sofa.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry but she brought it to herself."

Inangat niya ang binti at pinatong sa hita ko.

"I mean, really? We have a pandemic and you still live your life as if it's not happening." Ang taas nang boses niya.

"I saw her pictures. Walking around without a mask, spending time with her friends and all of them were unmasked. What a bunch of idiots."

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya.

"Why are you really here? You never cared about Kate."

"It's not that I don't care about her. I don't like her."

"Then why are you here?"

"I figured you need the company."
Inalis niya ang ponytail sa braso at tinali ang buhok.

She tied it loosely at naglaglagan ang light brown ringlets sa balikat niya.

"I have Ralph. I'm okay." Tinulak ko ang binti niya.

"That's not what you told me the last time I was here." Umisod siya palapit sa puwesto ko then slowly caress the side of my cheek.

Her touch was strange and yet very familiar.

I did not like how I swallowed and betrayed myself.

"That was from a very different time."

Kapag nagkikita kami we always end up in bed.

There was nothing between us other than a sexual connection.

At least iyan ang alam ko.

Destiny is hot.

Aside from her pretty face, she has those tiny waist and big butt.

When I first saw her, she wore those soft pink hoodie na crop top that exposed her washboard abs.

She had this feline grace about her that made her look seductive.

I thought she was a dancer.

We were introduced by my coworker and then we started talking.

She ended in my place that night.

Destiny was funny and irreverent.

Hindi uso sa kanya ang propriety.

She almost made me spill my drink when she interrupted this guy who was talking about his big collection of Air Jordan's.

She remarked about guys with big shoes.

There was an uneasy laugh among the guests on the table.

I thought she was going to say something about the male genitalia.

They were all red faced when Destiny said big feet.

She looked at me across the table and winked.

When she came back to Calgary, she texted if I wanted to go out for coffee.

I was feeling sorry for myself and I don't want to be around people but she begged.

Gusto niya daw ako makita.

I asked why.

She said please.

I said yes.

We met at a coffee shop and decided to go back to my place.

I could sing a Britney Spears song to explain what happened after.

To be fair, it was not always about sex kapag nagkikita kami.

Destiny and I talked about things.

Isang topic na mauuwi sa kung anu-anong usapan.

Mga bagay na bigla na lang lumalabas sa bibig ko.

Mga sagot sa mga tanong niya na hindi ko alam kung saan niya hinuhugot.

She's a good listener.

I never felt judged when I told her about what happened between Jesse and I.

She comforted me and made me forget my problems.

What I like about us was the no strings attached silent agreement.

Umpisa pa lang sinabi ko na I wasn't looking for a relationship since I just got out of one.

She was cool with it.

Hindi din daw siya naghahanap nang kung ano.

If fun was what I needed, that's what I'll get.

"You smelled like smoke. Where have you been?" I sniffed the hood of her purple windbreaker.

"Camping." Kinuha niya ang bowl nang noodles nang hindi man lang nagpapaalam.

"Hmmm." She closed her eyes after the first bite.

"These are so good. I haven't had this in a while."

"Feel free to eat my food."

"No problem." She smiled and I just shook my head.

Kahit alam niya na it annoyed me na bigla na lang siyang sumusulpot, I actually like her company.

Just like now.

Pinapanood ko lang siya kumain.

Mukhang gutom na gutom siya.

She also looked like she needed a shower.

Parang ang lagkit nang buhok niya.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She was about to put the spoon back in her mouth but she stopped.

"You could use a nice, long bath."

Nilingon niya ako.

"Wanna join me?" There was that naughty glint in her eyes.

A look I know so well.

"Finish your food."

"I like when you're demanding."

She drank the soup straight from the bowl.

Destiny knew about the breakup with Kate because I texted her about it.

I also told her about the drama involving Ralph.

She called during her break and listened to my tales of woe.

"Jack, if she can't accept you for who you are then that's a big red flag."

"I know that now. But there was a part of me that was hoping she'd love me. Warts and all."
"Sorry to say but people are stupid."

I laughed and cried at the same time.

Namiss ko tuloy siya.

Sadly, she had to cut off our conversation because her break was over.

With the pandemic, marami sa katrabaho niya ang nawalan nang trabaho.

The tourism industry, like every other sector, was hit hard by the crisis.

Buti na lang at matagal na siyang nagwowork sa resort kaya naretain siya.

She did say na kung siya ang papipiliin, she would rather be laid off.

Pagod na daw siya and a break would be nice.

Nang maubos niya ang pagkain, she almost dragged me to the bathroom.

Standing behind her in the shower, I rubbed her tight shoulders and slowly ran my hands down to her back, her waist until I found the spot between her legs.

Destiny moaned then turned around.

She covered my mouth in hers and I let myself drown.

"What are you going to do now?" She lay at the crook of my neck, her hazel eyes bright and warm.

We were on the bed, naked and wet.

"I'm trying to pick up the pieces and move on."

"I'm not talking that." She bop my nose with a forefinger.

"I was asking about you."

"Ah. You mean, am I going to transition?"

"Yes. You finally have the answer to your question. Aren't you excited?"

"I am excited. But with the break up, I never really had time to focus on those things."

Destiny propped herself up on one elbow.

"It's about time you do. Look," She placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Your whole life, you were questioning. You felt that your body betrayed you in so many ways but you never understood why. You were searching for the answers and it eluded you for a long time. But now, you know. It's time to embrace who you are." She gently pressed her finger on my chest.

This is one more thing I missed about Destiny.

She's a great cheerleader.

But despite her motivations, there was something that was bothering me.

"What's on your mind, Jack?" Tanong niya nang hindi ako agad nagsalita.

"There is one other thing I have to do."
"What is it?"

"I want to legally change my name."

"Cool. Do it." She lay down on the bed.

"You know it's not that easy."

"Why not?"

"I have to tell my father."