*reprint from Mod Magazine, 2011
Kara is alone tonight. Her roommate is out with David the whole day for a tour at Sentosa. So she thought of seeing Martin. It’s been awhile since she saw him last. He’s been asking her out but because of her promise to her friends, she has been avoiding him. But the next thing she knew she was dialing Martin’s office number and asking for him. But somebody else answered the phone.
“Kara, what are you doing calling up Martin?”
“Jason?” Apparently, she dialed Jason’s local number.
“You didn’t answer my question.” She was caught redhanded and felt so embarrassed.
“How about we go out for dinner tonight or drinks? Whichever you like,” Jason offers instead.
So the two met at Zouk’s The Wine Bar.
“What’s up with everybody getting engaged? First, Mark and Sophie, now Noelle and David.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing, just a very keen observation. You think, the universe is telling us something?”
Kara could not help but laugh. “You are probably just envious,” she kids him. He shakes his head.
“Aren’t you afraid? Are you sure we will find ourselves great partners?” She was surprised Jason thinks about things like this.
“I used to ask God that before. But I am wiser now. To answer your question, yes, I think he’ll find me!” Kara felt good when Jason asked her out and is feeling better now that they’re together .
“Wow, you sound so sure of that, huh. Do you really believe it? Is that just some positive thinking stuff?”
“I think everything has a purpose. My being single has a purpose. If I were not single now, I wouldn’t have thought of taking up my MBA and here, abroad. My being single pushed me and gave me the chance spend time with myself, to improve myself intellectually thereby increasing my worth in my career life and internationally at that. Socially, I learned to make friends with people who are not from my side of the fence. I gained new friends both Filipinos and non-Filipinos. Living here, away from my family, taught me to cook, wash my own clothes... I learned to be more patient, humble, loving…” She pauses to check if Jason gets it.
He was quiet as though trying to absorb it all.
Later she adds, “oh, you probably don’t understand. Never mind.”
“Of course, I get it. Am I not single?”
Kara was chuckling, “Jason, you’ve grown up!”
“Why do you treat me like a baby? Just because I am younger than you does not mean…”
“Why are you so sensitive?”
Jason ignores her question and narrates,” I used to be selfish. I only thought of myself. What I can get from other people. In a way, our regular meet-ups helped me to become a more giving person. I can see now how blessed I am. I now think of other people, and of what I can give. Not just of what I can take. It’s good to be friends with you guys.”
Kara pretends she doesn’t get what he’s saying.
“If Andrea and I got married back then, we would have been in trouble by now.” He shakes his head. “But now, I feel like I am more open to…you know…” Wait, was that message for her?
“Wait, so Andrea did come after all?”
“Yeah, she came here with friends for vacation. We met for lunch. She said she wanted to see me in person to find out if I still have a place in her heart. And for me to find out the same.”
“And?” Kara was curious.
He shakes his head and adds, ”I just see her as a friend...a sister.”
“Like me to you,” she finishes for him. But he laughs and feels uncomfortable, runs his hand on his hair and takes a swig of his beer.
“That is what you told me after our date,” Kara reminds him.
“I told you that?” Jason was kind of embarrassed, then asks, as if fishing,” why? What did you want me to say?”
“That I was beautiful, smart, charming, with a good heart.”
“You are all that,” he said as he looked her in the eyes.
“Thank you.” Kara felt his sincerity. What did he actually mean? She was wondering to herself.
Jason continues, “lately, my fear is that maybe, it’s too late for me,” then sighs. “What if the one for me has found another?” He cannot believe he is being this open to Kara.
She, on the other hand, is beginning to think that he is telling her something. But she couldn’t be sure. She heard herself say, “no, you’re not late.”
That is all he wanted to hear. They both smile and take a sip at their drinks.
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