"She is Her?"
"Nat, come on, wake up!"
"It's Saturday. I want some rest!"
Dinah opens the curtains on my bedroom's window, and then she drags the pillow on my side and my blanket away from me. I blink a little. "What's the matter?"
"Come on, boy. It's already ten in the morning. It's important 'coz you will receive your certificate today at eleven-thirty sharp, remember?"
Certificate?! I look at my clock on my side table. It is already ten in the morning. I stumbled off the bed. "Oh, shit!" I hurried on the bathroom, take a shower and fix myself.
"Why don't you wake me up?!" I ask Dinah by the time I made it to go to the kitchen. Brunch is already done, as usual. It is only chocolate oatmeal and coffee my favorite. I always promote my healthy living and I hate carbs, that's why.
"I wake you, remember?" she smiles. "You got a hang over again boy."
I swallow a spoonful of oatmeal. "Anyway, how did I get here?" I look at her.
"Haven't you remembered anything?" I shook my head. "A concern girl, about your age, brings you home. She said that you're too drunk and your brain is already damaged and you lost your consciousness." Dinah rolls her eyes. "What did you do again boy?"
I tried to reminisce whatever happened last night. I met a girl, dance her and kiss her but she slaps my face. I still manage to study her and smile them blacked out. Arggh, that hurts. Damn alcohol!
"You don't usually drink that much. Did you have a fight with Nadine?"
"Nope."
"I caught her crying yesterday. It's good that I went here to check you. Knows what, she loves you Nat. stupid boy. She only wants to surprise you." Dinah gets something from a drawer. "See this one? Your completion certificate in Med School."
I look at her. "Nadine brought here this one all along. Congratulations! You're now Dr. Nathaniel Chance Villarta, M.D. All you have to do is to pass the board exam on States. Your Dad already had a schedule for you the next week," she smiles. "She will do anything for you because she loves you. Besides, with those few units left, it is already acceptable. You're the outstanding student there ever. You can pass that exam."
"Where is she?" I ask as I finish my meal and wipe my mouth with a table napkin.
"Huh! She's on the airport. She still have so many commitments in school, remember?"
I get the certificate from her hand then hurried outside the house.
"Wait, you still have your completion ceremony on Maritime School at eleven-thirty," Dinah exclaimed but I don't look back.
At my car, I received series of voice messages.
"Hey bro, sorry last night. Call me if you're okay." –Levi.
"Nat, I forgot to tell you, Nadine brought with her your completion certificate on Med School. Call me okay?" –Ryan.
"Nat, Ethan here. You alright?" –Ethan.
"Bro, sorry." –Chris.
"Nat, don't forget the event later." –Michy.
"Hey Nat, I'm so sorry for bothering you. Don't worry, I will never interfere your personal life again. Love you!" –Nadine.
Why is that they are always asking me if I'm doing fine or what? Why is that they keep on reminding me what to do?
I turn off my phone. If I remember, I already dumped it on the waste basket. For sure, Dinah is the one who get it. Huh! I increase the speed of my car until I reach the airport.
Inside, I am being block by securities. "Sir, you can't enter if you're not a passenger."
"I want to talk to someone," I insist.
"Sir, can't"
I roll my eyes as I get my driver���s license. "See, I'm Nathaniel Chance Villarta, the son of your big boss. Now, let me enter."
The other guard whispers something on him then they let me pass.
I go towards the passengers heading on flight for Texas, then I see her. "Nadine!" I called out.
She looks at my direction, smiles, and then waves at me. I feel guilty because even though I never showed her importance, still, she will ends up giving me that smile.
"How you feel 'bout the med certificate? Not everyone can be that lucky."
"Why don't you tell me sooner as possible?"
"It's a surprise," she smiles.
"I'm sorry 'bout yesterday."
"No need. I understand that being Nathaniel Chance Villarta is not that easy."
I kiss her on the forehead. "Have a nice trip then?"
"Sure," she nods then heads off.
"Call me if you're finally there!" I shout then she only waves without turning back. I smile and I am sure that she is also smiling.
Later that afternoon, after my completion ceremony and thanksgiving party with my batch mates in the university, I hang out with band mates on a friend's bistro again, wherein we work as part time performers.
I drink one more shot of tequila.
"So, that's how your night ends?" Levi asks while laughing.
"You're cool bro," Chris insists then he gives me a high five.
"Have you asked her name?" Ethan asks.
I shook my head then smile. "But I assure you that we will see each other again."
"How can you be so sure," Levi asks again.
"Because she sings here in substitute of her friend."
The three of them stares at each other, but I only laugh and drink for another shot.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen."
From my seat, I watch her taking her spot on the stage. I knew it. She is the same girl that I happened to meet last night and the one who accompanied me home. Actually, I really tried my best to track her that's why I asked everyone in the bistro and they told me that she sings here. Yeah, in substitute of her friend who got a sick leave for her mother.
"Nat, are you okay?" Ethan asks as he taps my shoulder.
"'Course," I said as I look at him. "That's her."
"I am Juliana and for a second time around, I'm taking Suzy's place again. Is it okay for you?" she said while smiling.
"Of Course! No problem!" everyone state in chorus.
"Okay." She gets her guitar and starts on strumming. "Come on, for those people who questions their hearts and aches for the one missing, come and sing with me." She smiles then she looks at my direction. I don't know if she really meant it or I'm just only imagining things.
"The first time you come up my way
I was a child
Since then, I can't take off my eyes over you
Till I'd realized
I was so mesmerized in you
I know, most people would not understand
How do I feel?
Maybe it isn't love yet what I feel
But every time, what's inside my mind in you.
Sometimes, I can't understand myself why
Why I'm hoping so much to try
To reach the star beyond the sky
All of my life I'm dreaming of you
Wishing I'll be your princess
And you will be my prince
And all through the night, I'm gazing the stars
Hoping one day, you'll hold my hand
And stay by my side
Yeah, we'll dance in the moonlight.
I thought my feelings will just fade away
But I was wrong
It's getting strong
They say my feelings for you aren't true
And out of the blue
Maybe I'm just attracted to you all the way
But there's something more
I'm afraid I'm in love with you.
Sometimes I'm losing my hope and just cry
But when I see your face and smile
It seems you're here
Though you are in a thousand miles
I loved a man who can't be with me
I know it on the very first place
Wasn't it crazy?
All of my life I'm dreaming of you
Wishing someday our paths will cross the way I want to
And all through the night
I'm gazing the stars
Hoping one day you'll hold my hand
And stay by my side
Yeah, we'll dance in the moonlight."
"Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity," she said. The whole crowd gives her a warm applause.
By the time she heads her way off stage, I change the direction of my eyes smiling. Juliana! Incredible . . . I drink one more shot of tequila, and then I stand up. "Bro, if you may excuse me please. I gonna take the comfort room," I said.
"Take your time bro," the three of them said in chorus then they concentrate again on drinking.
I only laugh as I head off.
At the comfort room, I get my mobile and dialed Alfred's number.
"Men, it's nice that somehow in earth you remember me," he answered.
"Of course, bro."
"Wait, how's the feeling of being Dr. Nathaniel Chance Villarta?"
"Actually, one of these days, I am planning to tell Dad that I'm not interested. Besides, those offers are nothing compared to my opportunity in maritime. Anyway, I'm planning to celebrate there with our friends in med school. Bet?"
"Sure."
"So, see you around on your graduation?"
"'Course. Wait, you're not planning to go on stage to get your diploma, are you?"
"'Course not. I'm not that kind of person. Besides, I'm not deserving enough. What I will gonna do is to check out our professors for the last time and to have a proper closure at the same time, and to thank them for giving me a second chance but it's not for me."
"Fine, I'll wait for you the next week."
"Sure, bye and congratulations!"
I smile as I turn off my phone. I can imagine how dear Alfred jumps on his own feet knowing that I'm not going to take their offer on States. Always being my shadow and the second best, he will benefit the most. But I am happy and proud of him, of course.
Outside, as I head back on our table, somebody calls my name and I recognized her.
"Mr. Nathaniel Chance Villarta?" she said as she approaches me.
I turn to face her then a smile forms on my lips. "Yes?"
She smiles too. She gets a small notebook from her pocket and a ball pen then she hands it to me. "Can I have your sign there? Consider it as an autograph of yours." Her smile never fades. I sign at her notebook then after that, I give it back to her. "You're good at singing, huh? What's your name again? Juliana?"
She laughs so hard that all I can do is to stare at her.
"Certainly, you remember me huh?"
"How can I forget yesterday," I answered.
"Yeah, stolen kiss. . . stolen dance of mine. . . Knows what? I just can't imagine that people still respects you 'coz of what you've done yesterday, to me, you are uneducated and have no manners. No wonder, with your name always the headline of every news, I knew, you're the Villarta's black sheep," she said.
I burst out into laughter.
"You always remind me of someone," I insist.
"Who? A special one?" she said as she looks at me straight in the eye.
"Somehow," I nod.
She smiles. "Good. Fifteen years ago, I also met this boy. He is also interested on ship lines and he's good on verses and he really likes reading."
"Really?"
"Yes, and we are of the same birthdate. The last time I saw him, he gave me a miniature model of a wooden jet plane."