How did I get to this point in my life? The part where I am content, purpose-filled and happy?

I know the answer--in an elevator.

What began as something ordinary changed my life in a big way.

Sino ba ang magsasabi na a brief encounter would open new doors to a life na hindi ko man lang na-imagine?

But my not knowing didn't stop me from letting love in.

I gave myself the chance to experience something new at kahit hindi madali ang naging karanasan ko, I chose to fight dahil I found a love that was meant for me.

Ganoon naman kasi dapat di ba?

Kapag mahal mo ang isang tao at mahal ka din niya, that love is motivation enough to keep going.

Trials are there not to bring you down or keep you apart but to build your character and prove your worth.

If I gave up with the first glimpse of hardship, which was the struggle to identify if what I felt for Liz was right we wouldn't be here right now-- sa international airport, waiting to board the plane for our trip to Tito Eddie's wedding.

On the day I was scheduled to meet with HR, tumawag siya sa akin.

He was his jovial self and after kong magtanong kung bakit siya tumawag, he told me not to worry.

"You didn't do anything wrong," sabi niya.

"I don't understand,"

"Arthur told me about what happened with HR,"

Hindi ako nakapagsalita.

Not only because naunahan ako ni Arthur na magsabi kay Tito Eddie kundi dahil sa I wasn't expecting his support.

Well, I was hoping he would understand pero iba pa din na diretsahan kong marinig sa kanya ang mga salita na magbibigay sa akin ng peace of mind.

Consistent si Tito Eddie noon pa man.

Mula ng maliit pa ako, ang suportang binibigay niya sa akin ay nagpatuloy hanggang sa magtrabaho na ako sa company niya.

Minsan nga, siya ang kakuntsaba ko sa mga gimik lalo pa at mahigpit si Mommy at Daddy noong mga bata pa kami.

With what happened sa HR, I thought he wouldn't understand.

The truth was, I expected the worst.

Kahit alam kong open minded siya sa mga ganitong bagay, hinanda ko ang sarili ko kung sakaling magalit siya sa akin lalo pa at sa third party nanggaling ang information.

Pero ng marinig ko na I have his unwavering support, nabunutan ako ng tinik.

Kabado ako ng humarap sa HR pero ang sinabi lang nila sa akin was the investigation will be closed, that there was no point in pursuing the case.

Ano pa nga ba ang iimbestigahan nila since nagresign na si Liz at nakahanap ng trabaho sa accounting department sa isang warehouse malapit sa office ko sa Laguna?

She was renting her own place at ang bahay niya ay nasa pangangalaga ni Yaya Flora.

Doon pa din nakatira sina Renee at Robbie at okay naman ang set-up naming lahat.

I'm not bothered by their presence dahil sa hindi na threat si Renee sa relationship namin.

On the contrary, naging magkaibigan kami.

Isa pa, it's good na buo ang support system ni Liz.

Alam kong nalulungkot pa din siya and it would take a long time for her to heal.

But Liz's decision to move closer to me was a good idea.

I know that a change of environment helps at mukhang effective naman ito sa kanya.

She was excited when she moved to her own apartment and I helped her decorate para maging cozy ang bago niyang tirahan.

I began spending more time with her kesa sa bahay ni Tito Eddie at kulang na lang ay lumipat ako ng tuluyan sa bahay ni Liz.

It happened a few months later.

We were lying in bed one night ng tanungin niya ako if I would like to move in.

"My place is smaller than your Tito's house at walang katulong dito so I'll understand if hindi ka pumayag,"

"Yes," sagot ko.

Tumagilid si Liz at humarap sa akin.

"Yes?" tanong niya ulit.

Tumango ako.

Tumagilid siya at may kinuha mula sa nightstand.

"For you," inabot niya sa akin ang isang susi.

Napangiti ako at nakita ang kinang sa mata niya.

"Girl scout," panunukso ko.

"I know that sooner or later magsasama din tayo," sabi niya.

"What if hindi pa ako ready to give up my independence?"

"That's okay. Handa naman akong maghintay para sa'yo, Shirley."

***

Hindi naman malaking adjustment ang paglipat ko dahil before I formally move in sa apartment niya, lagi kaming magkasama.

After work, bago umuwi sa bahay ni Tito Eddie, I would spend the night with Liz.

We would have dinner then watched TV.

She would drive me back sa bahay and then we would so the same thing the next day.

Obviously, may mga bagay na mas naging noticeable ng magsama na kami.

The most common was the issue of cleanliness.

Organized si Liz compared sa pagiging makalat ko.

Hindi ko naman sinasadya pero nakalimutan ko na wala nga pala kaming katulong.

During the first few weeks, she would pick up my clothes na lagi kong nakakalimutang ilagay sa labahan.

Pero it came to a point na she had to tell me to do it myself.

"There's only the two of us now, S."

"Yes mam," iyon lang ang nasabi ko.

In fairness naman sa akin, I make up for my being messy sa pamamagitan ng pagluluto ko at pagmamasahe lalo na kapag pagod siya galing sa trabaho.

Bago siya umuwi, I make sure na nakahanda na ang hapunan niya.

Sa pagiging maasikaso ko, nakakabawi ako.

Isang bagay na hindi naman nakalampas sa atensiyon ni Liz.

Lagi niya akong pinasasalamatan sa pag-aalagang binibigay ko sa kanya.

Malaya na ding nakakadalaw si Liz sa bahay namin kapag lumuluwas kami during weekends.

Pinagluluto siya ni Mommy kung ano ang gusto niyang kainin at sa part naman niya, lagi siyang may dalang pasalubong para sa parents ko.

Very thoughtful siya at pansin ko na natutuwa ang mommy at daddy ko sa ugali niyang ito.

Siyempre pa, hindi kumpleto ang pagbisita namin ng hindi dumadalaw kay Yaya Flora at Renee.

Napromote bilang supervisor si Renee at lumabas kaming lahat to celebrate.

She also started dating a guy who manages a fast food place sa mall at pinakilala niya kami.

Mukha namang mabait ang lalake bukod pa sa single ito.

"Masyado pang maaga kaya ini-enjoy ko lang ang moment," paliwanag ni Renee ng tanungin siya ni Liz kung seryoso ba ang lalake.

***

Kapag pumupunta ako sa head office, I make sure na puntahan si Nella and we go to the cafeteria para magkwentuhan.

Not surprisingly, may mga nangungumusta kay Liz sa akin.

Word gets around in our company at alam kong they know the real score between us.

Just the same, masaya ako dahil sa hindi nila nakalimutan ang dati nilang kasama sa trabaho.

Umuwi na ang boyfriend ni Nella at engaged na din sila.

She invited Liz and I to the wedding and we couldn't be happy for her dahil alam naming matagal niya ng hinihintay ang time na ito.

Bago umalis si Ryan for his trip to Taiwan,tumawag siya sa akin to apologize about what happened.

I was hesitant to answer dahil akala ko, our meeting at the restaurant was the last time I'll hear from her.

Nang sinagot ko ang telepono, he was more apologetic.

He wanted to make amends bago siya umalis.

***

Being in a relationship isn't easy lalo na sa tulad namin ni Liz.

We still get stared at kapag nasa mall kami at naglalakad ng magkahawak kamay pero it doesn't bother me nor her.

"We are what matters," lagi niyang sinasabi sa akin.

Aside from our gender, we are just like everybody else who goes through the ups and downs of being in a relationship.

We have fights and we try to resolve them.

Nagkakasakit din kami and get stressed over our jobs.

Nag-alala kami kapag may nangyayari sa loved ones namin tulad na lang ng magkaroon ng health scare si Daddy.

Akala ko, inatake na naman siya sa puso.

Good thing it was a heartburn na madali namang naagapan.

Liz and I are ordinary people just like everyone else.

"S, we have to go." Narinig ko ang boses niya.

Nakatayo na si Liz at nakasukbit na sa balikat niya ang backpack na naglalaman ng mga gadgets na bitbit namin.

Nakahanda na din sina Mommy at Kuya Michael.

I looked at all of them and smiled.

We have come a long way.

Ang takot na naramdaman ko the first time I realized na I was in love with a woman seemed like a long time ago and I am happy with the progress we made not just with ourselves but within our family as well.

But I know there's still a lot to do.

The incident with HR awakened something in me.

Liz and I decided to be more.

We donated to organizations that are actively involved in LGBTQ2S groups.

We marched in Pride and join discussions on how to make our lives better, fair and equal.

I blogged about issues concerning the community and I have a few followers who shares their stories not just with me but the other people who reads the blog as well.

There's a long way to go but change won't happen if we just wish for it to be so.

I learned that once you're out of the closet, you go all the way.

***

Mainit ang panahon sa California ng magtouchdown ang eroplano.

We were picked up by a shuttle na maghahatid sa amin sa isang airport sa downtown San Francisco.

Pagdating namin sa hotel, nasa lobby na si Ate Joan at Trish.

They both looked very happy.

Their own wedding was set for fall kaya naman babalik kaming lahat sa US but this time, we are all going to New York.

On the day of the wedding, pinakilala ko si Liz kay Tito Eddie.

"So you're the troublemaker?" nakangiting sabi sa kanya ni Tito habang kinakamayan niya si Liz.

Namula ang mukha ni Liz.

"I'm just kidding," bawi ni Tito at natawa ako sa sinabi niya.

Hindi sanay si Liz sa humor ni Tito so I reassured her na nagbibiro lang ito.

Pagkatapos nitong makipagkwentuhan, nagpaalam na siya sa amin.

"I have to attend to the other guests,"

Bago siya tuluyang umalis, tumingin ito ulit kay Liz.

"Take care of Shirley, okay?" seryoso ang expression ni Tito.

"Yes sir," sagot ni Liz.

***

There was dancing during the reception and everywhere I looked, all I see is happiness.

Obviously, ang pinakamasaya sa lahat was the bride and groom.

Kita ko sa mukha ni Tito Eddie ang pride.

Monica, on the other hand, was very affectionate towards him and I was thankful na sa wakas, he found someone to be with.

Nakatayo ako sa bar at pinagmamasdan ang mga taong nagsasayaw sa dance floor ng lumapit sa akin si Liz.

"I believe I owe you a dance,"

Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang sinasabi niya.

"We were supposed to go dancing the first time we went out remember?" paalala niya.

Natawa ako.

Hindi natuloy ang balak naming pumunta sa club dahil sa we had to go to the hospital to be with Tita Magda.

Inabot ni Liz ang kamay niya sa akin.

Pinatong ko ang hawak kong baso ng margarita sa ibabaw ng counter at hinawakan ko ang kamay niya.

The DJ was playing a song from the 80's--So in love by OMD.

In the company of all the other guests, Liz and I danced for the first time, oblivious.

I listened to the music and looked in her eyes.

She was all I see and nothing else matters.

THE END

Author's Note:

Endings are difficult.

You are left with the next question which is, what's next?

You ponder, you pray, you think of your next move.

But endings are also good because it opens doors to something new.

I am thankful to all of you for taking the ride with me in my first venture to my original story.

You inspired me to keep going.

You waited for updates, gave feedbacks, voted, and made the journey worthwhile.

I will take a break on Wattpad because another adventure beckons so I will indulge it.

Once again, thank you so much.

Endings are also beginnings.

Love,

LCCervantes