Three Years Later
Noelle sits by herself at Jollibee and smiles as she recalls that conversation she had with her friends in Sing when they gamely chose to meet here at this fastfood. How time flies. She couldn’t believe it has been three years since. She couldn’t believe how her life has changed greatly.
After finishing her studies abroad, she came back to start her own pre-school with her friend Kara. The idea came when Denise was complaining how she can’t find a good pre-school for her two toddlers. They started small with less than 20 students, children of friends and family members. At present time, only after a year of operation, their students more than doubled.
You can say 2010 was a great year for Noelle and Kara because that was when they started their pre-school, “God’s Little Angels.” It was also the year when Noelle finished her MBA and finally came back to Manila for good.
Kara finished hers in 2009 and came back home. After a year, Jason couldn’t bear being away from her anymore, so he came home for good and they became Mr. & Mrs. Rivera. Their wedding was held at their favorite beach, Boracay, where only their closest friends and family members were invited. It was a beautiful intimate wedding under the setting sun.
Anton and Frances are still based in Singapore but are planning to come back home for good when their eldest, pretty little Clara, who is now two years old, starts school. More than anything, Frances misses her family and her best friends. She is now pregnant with her second baby. The couple is excited and hoping for a boy this time.
The city is all dressed up with lights and tinsel to welcome Christmas and this fastfood is not spared. There’s a Christmas tree decorated with toys and candies and more gifts on its foot. The mood is festive. But these are the times she becomes the loneliest. It was nearly Christmas some three years ago when her life took a topsy-turvy turn. It was when she first went abroad for studies and her beloved David proposed to her. They made a lovely plan together. After she finishes her studies, they will get married and right away they will have beautiful kids. But they didn’t agree on the number. Noelle wanted four, David just two. But fate was not on their side. Who would have thought, that their love story would end so suddenly and tragically?
Noelle will not forget that fateful day Eric calls to say David met an accident. That day, her brain seemed to stop functioning. She could not process the news. She becomes teary-eyed remembering these as she plays with her engagement ring. Three years doesn’t seem a long time, she thinks. It was like just yesterday.
“Ninang Noelle!” Clara calls her and her thoughts are back to present time. The little girl runs to her followed by Frances and Anton. Soon, Kara, who is pregnant, walks in hand in hand with Jason.
“Where is David?” they all ask.
As soon as he heard his name, a 2-year old boy who was at the playhouse runs to Noelle and cries, ”Mommy!”
“There he is,” Noelle beams with pride at David Jr. “Say hello to everyone.”
He mimics his mom and says, “hello to everyone!” They laugh at him and he laughs as well.
He takes the grown-ups’ hands for a blessing. They all marvel at how smart he is and how he looks much like his dad. Too bad, David did not see his boy growing up. But Noelle thinks he is always taking a peep from Heaven to watch over them.
