ENLIGHTENMENT
“Kristoff,” I called him, breaking the silence enveloping the room. We are in the living room and I am sitting across him.
He looked at me as he drank his coffee. It’s two in the morning and I still got no sleep. We talked about a lot of things already, about our history, how he’s been doing, how his friends are doing, though, I know some because Genevieve tells me sometimes.
This is it. If I am going to give him another shot, at least I have to know the details. If I am going to give him another shot, at least I have to know the truth.
I took a deep breath to prepare myself to talk. “What are you and Bianca?” I questioned. Trust me, I have saved up all my other energy for this question and Kristoff better give me an honest answer.
He gave a look. “What about us?” he asked back.
I didn’t respond. Okay. If he’s not going to talk about this is
THE CALL“Ashanti Michaels!” Genevieve’s voice hollered around my unit.I jolted up from bed and walked to the living room only to see her and the whole gang but Kristoff. I rubbed my eyes to confirm what I was seeing. And yes, they are all here.I walked lazily in my pajamas and sat beside Yeoj.I didn’t go to work today because I was feeling tired and lazy due to too much talking with Kristoff last night. Too much talk and tears, actually.Genevieve narrowed her eyes on me. “When did you start skipping work for sleep?” she asked me in her prima donna tone. Gen will always be Gen.I shut my eyes and rested my head on the couch. “Now,” I replied earning a throw pillow from Gen. It hit my throat! This girl!I glared at Genevieve. “What are you all doing here anyway? It’s what?” I looked at the digital clock by the TV set. “Eight forty-fi
NOT THIS TIMEWe are sitting here, in front of the operating room of Mt. Sinai Hospital. Dad had an ischemic stroke. A clot reached his veins in the brain and blocked the passageway of blood around his brain. He has history of Diabetes and Hypertension, so the doctor said it was likely to happen.I didn’t listen to further details. The good thing is my dad’s survival rate is high. That’s all that matters to me right now.My mom is crying heavily. I tried to console her and tell her that everything will be alright but it was no use. She couldn’t stop bawling.I looked to my right and saw Bianca weeping as well. I was told that she had been doing well on her cancer treatment. I was happy for her. After all, even though she’s a bitch, she’s still family.She looks weak right now. But Kristoff was there for her. He was hugging her and comforting her.I softened at the sight. Sometim
RECONCILIATION“Dad.”I am watching Bianca hug Dad so tightly with tears brimming in her eyes. She was so broken and now she found her strength again.“My dear Bianca,” my dad hushes her as he patted her head.Kristoff came over and comforted her once again. I must admit that I am jealous. Not of Kristoff but of Dad.He looked at her with so much passion and concern. I don’t know what else. He has never looked at me with those eyes ever. Was it because Bianca’s sick? Or was it because I rebelled and I was too stubborn that I defied him because of my childish cries?I don’t know. And now I am standing near the door of his hospital room, numb and dumbfounded. Frozen. Stoned. I can’t move. I don’t know what to tell him.Should I just leave? Would I aggravate his condition when I stay here longer? The last time I talked to him was the day before he was rushe
CHANGE“Are you sure you’ll do this?” Hunter asked me as I am walking to Bianca’s hospital room.It’s been about a month when I last saw her in person. That was when Dad was hospitalized. Now, Dad already recovered. He’s at home and resting like a king.Kristoff and I have been better. He visits me every day in my unit. He’s trying to convince me to move back to our old house but I declined and refused the offer. Somehow, I loved what and where I am now.But what difference did it make? He comes home to me every day. His clothes got piled up in my place and it seems like we are living in one house again.Hunter, well, he is still Hunter Looney, the jerk with the inspirational messages from time to time. Nothing has changed with our relationship. He’s still my closest guy friend. And I am still his hot topic friend. I don’t know. He told me that one time.And no
ASHANTIThey say happy endings don’t just exist in fairy tales. They also exist in reality. One has to be happy and fulfilled to say that it’s the end. So, if one is not yet happy and fulfilled, it’s not yet the end. One has to learn to have faith. Keep the faith, as they say.I had my share of ups and downs. I even think there are more downs than ups. But that’s okay. At least I am happy right now. I am contented.Everything’s back into place. Everything’s going well again.Mom and Dad just celebrated their Pearl Wedding Anniversary, which means they are married for thirty long years. Who would have thought that married couple would reach that, especially nowadays when couples tend to break up? I even laughed at one quote I read that couples of today break up more often that one takes a bath.Is that even serious?Well, my parents are the living proof that marriage can be long-
ASHANTI“What are you cooking, Ashanti?” Genevieve asked me as she leaned on the table while I am cooking something. She sounded really awful though. Oh. I can’t blame her though. I am not a goddess in the kitchen, okay. I acknowledge that.None taken.Instead, I chuckled at her. “I’m cooking something for Kristoff,” I replied as I continued to slice the onions.Genevieve wrinkled her nose. “That? You’re cooking that for your husband?” she asked me as she pointed at the onions.I looked at the onions then blinked at her, nodding. “Why? Is there something wrong?” I asked her.She sighed hard and rolled her eyes on me. Really now, Genevieve? What in the heavens did I do wrong?“Sissy, you won’t make a circle-shaped onion when you cut it that way. Cut it cross-sectional!” she told me.I looked at her confused. “Cro
ASHANTIKristoff walked me inside his office and he led me to his couch. I looked around and wow. His office is really big and neat. It’s not like mine.His office is like those offices I see in dramas. All leather and all made of expensive woods.He let me sit on the couch and he sat beside me. Really, really close. I can feel my heart beating really, really fast.He always had that effect on me. He always had that power in me. He makes my heart beat faster and slower at the same time.“Are you sure you're okay?” he asked me as he looked at me.I smiled and nodded. I can't even talk because I am too nervous I would stutter because of all the feels.I just can't get enough of Kristoff and his grease. He would always make me feel nervous. No matter how long we’d stayed together.He smiled at me and wrapped his arm around me. “I missed you,” he told me as he kissed m
ASHANTI“Please come to the bridal shower party!” Genevieve beamed at me as she just barged into my office like this. It’s her wedding in two weeks. Finally! We worked our butts off for this wedding because Genevieve wanted a different theme. She wanted a horror theme. According to her, marriage is scary. Hence, horror theme.I looked at her. “You know Kristoff won’t approve that kind of idea,” I replied.She pouted then walked to my desk. “Well they have this thing called Bachelor Bash and I think Kristoff told Chester that he would come,” she told me as she sat on the chair in front of my desk.My eyes widened at her. “What?!” I asked in disbelief.Genevieve nodded at me.I shut my eyes and contained my cool. How could he do this? He told me he wouldn’t go because he doesn't want me to go!I sighed hard.Genevieve looked at me. &ldqu