***

I woke up hearing David's voice, not so far away. Maaga pa ngunit abala na siya. He was working in three time zones for tonight's event. It was just eight in the morning, but it was 8:00 PM in New York and 2:00 AM in Spain.

Gusto niyang masiguro na okay na ang lahat para mamaya. Based on his exchange of words, he was double checking our security.

At 8:07 AM, I sent an email to Rome. I told him what I would wear after the stylists decided on the dress that would suit me for the announcement later.

The plan was to meet with Rome and head straight to the venue. It was easy. Everything just needed to go according to plan.

Pagsapit ng tanghali, nagsimula na kaming mag-ayos ni David. Bumalik na ang mga stylist upang ayusan kami. Pero mas maayos na sila. 

Lumingon ako sa aking isusuot na bestida. It was a white dress which will reach my knees and covering my upper body modestly, embroidered with white roses and lilacs with Swarovki crystals. It was Si David ang pumili ng isusuot ko nang hindi nagkasundo ang dalawang stylist. 

I reached for my phone and sent an email to Rome.

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

I'll see you later, Rome. I'll be in a white dress :)

***

I hinted it to him already, para makita na niya ako agad mamaya. It .ade me giggle a bit when I remembered that previously, I also told him I was wearing white.

David went to the bedroom to take another call. It could have been to check the hotel management or for business. Napakabusy ni David ngunit narito siya na parang nagbabakasyon lang. Nasisiguro ko na pagbalik namin sa Espanya, maraming trabaho na sasalubong sa kaniya. But this simple trip suddenly turned out big when I announced my existence and marriage.

***

From: Rome
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Hey, Juliette. I'll take note of that.

I don't know what I would wear, but I'll be there. Promise!

Rome :)

***

Natawa ako sa sagot niya at nag-okay na lang.

Tinawag na ako ng stylist at sinimula na nilang ayusin ang buhok at makeup ko.

In fairness to them, they were good with their hands. Malinis silang gumawa. Down side lang 'yong matagal nilang diskusyon tungkol sa isusuot ko . . . na si David na ang pumili.

Nang matapos na ang lahat ng preparasyon at nakakain na rin kami ni David, umalis na kami ng hotel. May kalayuan din kasi ang hotel namin sa pagtatagpuan namin ni Rome at maging sa events hall.

Paglabas din namin ng hotel, doon ko napagtanto kung gaano karami ang nagbabantay sa amin. May apat na itim na sasakyan—dalawa sa harap at dalawa sa likod ng itim din na sasakyan namin ni David.

Pinagtitinginan kami ng mga staff at guest ng hotel pero hindi ko na lang iyon pinansin. Mas nakapokus ang atensiyon ko sa suot kong sapatos na medyo may kataasan.

Ang alam ko ay ito lang ang bumagay talaga sa suot kong damit kaya hinayaan ko na lang. David was earnestly escorting me with every step I took. At kahit mataas na ang takong ko, mas matangak pa rin siya.

Nakarating kami sa unibersidad at iilan na lang ang mga estudyante na naroroon. David escorted me out of the car and told the security to wait for us there. May ilan na lumabas at nakatanaw sa amin.

It was weird returning to the university. Naligaw lang naman ako at biglang nagkaroon nang ganito. I realized that I need to let Kate know as well na I'm pulling out of the project. I do wish her the succesd in her project.

Naupo kami ni David at nag-send ako ng email kay Rome na nakarating na ako roon. I didn't want to make it look like I was too excited to see him, but I was and we were also running out of time.

It was already 4:13 PM, and Rome had not appeared. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero pinanghihinaan ako ng loob. Parang katulad ni Mamá, pakiramdam ko ay hindi magiging maganda ang mangyayari rito.

I decided to email him. 

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Rome, I'm here already. Nasaan ka na?

***

Matapos ang ilang minuto, muli ko siyang pinadalhan ng email.

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Rome?

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

On the way ka na ba? Na-traffic ka ba? Ang lakas na ng ulan. Please reply naman. :(

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Sobrang lakas na ng ulan. Nakasilong ako pero basa na 'ko. Hindi na puti yung suot ko HAHA! Magpakita ka na. Hindi na 'ko galit? xD

***

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko pa nagawang magbiro. Kinakabahan na ako. Talagang gisto nang magwala ng puso ko.

Napahinto ako sa pagtitipa sa aking smartphone nang mapansin ang sapatos ni David malapit sa paa ko. Napatingla ako kay David at agad kong napansin ang malungkot niyang mga mata.

"Have you heard from him?"

Umiling ako. "I . . . I'm sure he's just running late." I tried to smile, but my guts told me he knew of the facade I had built.

"Okay," he whispered before sitting beside me.

Binalik kong muli ang aking tingin sa aking smartphone. Wala pa ring email mula kay Rome at lalong bumibigat ang pakiramdam ko at nangingilid na ang luha ko.

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Uy Rome? Kung hindi ka sisipot, please let me know :(

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Rome? :(

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Hey, I won't be here for long na. Male-late na 'ko sa event namin pero I really want to meet you in person, Rome. Hindi ka ba talaga darating?

***

"Mi princesa . . . " Hinarap ko si David at nag-aalala na talaga siya.

I wonder if it was still the gloomy weather caused by the weather or because of the restlessness and anxiety I was feeling.

"Why?"

"It's almost time to go . . . " he weakly added.

Dumungaw ako sa direksiyon ng security at napansin ko na nag-uusap na nga rin sila at ilang beses dumudungaw sa kanilang mga relos at inaayos ang kanilang mga ear piece.

I bit my lip and turned my sight back to my smartphone.

***

To: Rome <[email protected]>
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Hey Rome, I have to go now. I'm sorry hindi na kita nahintay... at hindi na mahihintay pa. I wanted to tell you things in person pero mukhang hindi ko na magagawa pa.

First of all, I want to say sorry sa 'yo. I'm actually not a student of KBU. It was just pure chance that I got to your university that day that Kate got me into this project. There are a lot of things that I can't tell you about myself for your safety and mine, but I promise you that almost everything I shared with you was real. I really valued the time I spent chatting with you.

I'm grateful for all the time we spent on this project. I will treasure the memories I could share with you, no matter how short they were. For now, I will fulfil the duties I can never escape from.

Ngayon pa lang, gusto na kitang i-congratulate kasi alam ko at naniniwala ako na you will achieve all your dreams.

Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for everything, Rome. I will miss you.

~ LCLC

***

I sniffed as I sent that email. I turned to David who was just silently waiting for me.

"Let's go . . . " I whispered.

Tumayo si David at tinulungan akong tumayo at bumalik na kami sa sasakyan. I gave the university one last look before I returned my gaze back to the road ahead of us.

Sayang.

It was time for me to return to my role.

After another 10 minutes, my phone vibrated, and I saw Rome's name pop up. I opened his email and could feel my eyes heating up.

***

From: Rome
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

Juliette! I'm here!

I'm sorry if I took so long. . . Can you come back, please? I'm here. . .

***

Hindi ko napigilan ang pagtulo ng luha ko. May bahagi sa akin na gustong bumalik ngunit mas malaki ang parte na humihindi.

***

From: Rome
Subject: Project CommuniKATE 1

I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to stand you up. I'll be honest, I forgot about this day. . . But I just want to let know that I had a great time with my family.

I wish I was able to catch you up, but still, it was my fault. . . I may not know who you are, but I hope you do great in life. . . This won't be the last time we'll agree to see each other again, right? Would there be more next time?

I hope so. . .

See you around, Juliette.

Rome :)

***

Pinili kong hindi na sumagot sa emails niya nang huminto na rin kami sa harap ng events hall. My hands shook as I clicked on the settings of my email and I decided to delete my email.

It was abrupt, but this was for the better. Rome and Juliette were not meant to see each other in person. I thought I would even meet Rome, my friend. But having nice dreams always comes to an end . . . it was time for me to wake up to reality.

Juliette was no more but a chapter in my life. Hanggang doon na lang.

I continued wiping my tears as I slowly turned towards David. He offered his hand, and I no longer hesitated to put my hand above his.

Humakbang siya papalapit at nanatili kaming magkaharap at magkalingkis ang kanang kamay ko at kaliwang kamay niya.

Nakita ko ang pagkinang ng singsing ko nang tumama ang ilaw mula sa chandelier.

"Are you sure you want to go ahead with this?" pabulong niyang tanong habang marahan na pinupunasan ang mga luha sa pisngi ko. His hands were warms since I could remember. "You know I would do everything to—"

Tumango ako at hindi na siya hinayaan pang magsalita.

"Just as you gave me your word, I gave you mine, David."

***

JO ELLE

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