the THIRD: memories fade & life goes on
Memories Fade, Life Goes On
If you can't solve it, it isn't a problem - it's reality.
And sometimes reality is the hardest thing to understand and the thing
that takes the longest to realize.
But once it hits you in the face you'll never forget it.
It will always be there in your memories and
sometimes that is the best way to look at it.
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It's been two years since that concert in Manila. I never went looking for her, because I would only make her life so much harder. Through the years I became a hitmaker, a host, an actor, an international teenage heartthrob. But I tried not to let it take over my life.
Sometimes it's like I see her. In my dreams, in my mind, in the crowd at a mall show. It's been two years, I haven't heard from her since that day. Within the true meanings of all the songs I've written was longing and curiousity about the girl that I never got the chance to get to know. But that's life. You meet people, and they may not stay in your life. It's God's way of telling you that if it's fate, they will come back - either in a few days, in months, in weeks, in years ...
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Nicole had continued on her life happily, with her thoughts of Robi turning into mere memories, seen rarely in her mind.
“Nikki, have you thought about what college you're going to attend?” her mother asked her one day.
“I'm not really sure yet. I want to stay close to home, here in Manila. I've gotten four or five scholarships, but not to the school that I've always wanted to attend.” she explained.
She mother looked at her thoughtfully before replying.
“Nikki, you've grown so much. I can't believe you're going off to college soon. You've mentioned a few schools that are interested in you, but which ones have you applied for?”
After hearing her mom, she takes out a folder and lays out 4 different piles of sheets, each titled with a name of a University near Manila.
“Okay well, I want to take a career in health sciences. But I want to go to a school that I can be proud to say I attend, one that has excellence in tradition. At first I wanted to go to one in the States - like University of North Carolina or UCLA, but then I thought it would be too far from home” she explained.
She points at the first pile, which has “University of Philippines, Manila Campus” neatly written on it.
“U of P has everything I need there. It's number one in the Philippines and number forty-eight in Asia. This school is known for their education of health sciences. But it's not at the top of my list” she said.
Her mother merely nodded, and waited for her to explain more.
Nikki pointed at the next pile, with “Manila Central” written on it.
“Although Manila Central isn't the most known school, it has some of my second choice careers there. If ever I decide to change my mind, I can take my second and third courses - medicine and optometry” she explained.
At this moment, Sandy Mendoza realized that her eldest daughter truly was growing up.
“De La Salle has the strongest education in science, which is the basic reason that it's here in the pile” she said.
Her mother looked at her and smiled, with only one word to say.
“Ateneo, right?”
Nicole takes out the thickest pile and shows it to her mom.
“150 years of excellence as tradition. 150 years of students graduation and making an impact on the history of the Philippines itself, Mom. Jose Rizal, Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, Joseph Estrada. If not for them, the Philippines would not be as it is at this very moment. Ateneo de Manila has been a dream for me since I was a little girl. Mom, I'm going to apply there. That's where I really want to go, nowhere else” she said.
With tears dripping through her eyes, Sandy Mendoza was glowing with pride.
“Ateneo it is then, Nicole”.
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Robi was with his brother Maro, when his parents called him to come home.
“Hello? Mom? Yeah, does it have to be now? Are you sure? Okay then, we'll be home soon. OK, bye mom. Love you too”.
Maro, not one to be excluded, asked what she said.
“I'm not sure, but we have to go home. OK, so go through the back so that nobody sees me”.
Five seconds later, screams and giggles were all that you could hear.
“OH MY F!*%ING GOSH, IT'S ROBI DE LEON!”
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As Robi and Maro were driving home, the guard at the door stopped them.
“Sir Robi, you have a guest inside”, he spoke calmly.
“Oh, that's probably why we had to come home. Do you know who it is?” he asked.
“No sir, but I'll let you in now” he said, while opening the gate.
Robi got out of the car and right before he opened the door, his dad came outside.
“Dad? Who's here?” he asked, confused.
“Grrrrr. It's her. She's back. Robi, I thought she wasn't come back!” he exclaimed, obviously annoyed.
Robi was about to say 'who' but then a part of his past came running at him and suffocated him a a huge hug.
“ROBERTOWW! I can't believe you're here. I mean, I haven't seen you since I left! I've been in Canada for a year. Oh my gosh, I missed you so much” she said, while tightening her grasp on him so much more.
He looked to his side, and Maro looked like he's seen a ghost.
Robi gently unwrapped her arms while asking, “Abigail, why are you here?”
She looked at him, and then spoke.
“I need you, Robi de Leon. I made a mistake” she said sadly.