This is the person I’m going to be with for the rest of my life.
How will you know if it’s the right time to express your love to that person? Do you know to yourself if there’s a chance to try? Perhaps it’s just a phase and a messy feeling.
Stella knew better.
Stella is a known–model who carries herself with confidence, exuding an aura of elegance, poise and inner–strength. But who is she behind the spotlight? For her family and friends, she’s a self–sufficient woman who stands on her own feet—someone who doesn’t need a shoulder to lean on because she’s the “shoulder”.
Someone knew her better, because behind the spotlight; there’s someone who looks after her. Behind spotlights, all her struggles, her silent cries, there’s someone who knew her better.
Miozy knew her better, she knew Stella.
Miozy has been Stella’s suitor for almost 3 years. Miozy has her path as a Lawyer. She met Stella 4 years ago and they became friends until she decided to shoot her shot and courted Stella. Miozy is a woman–of–her–words, consistent, transparent, and carefree. She became Stella’s light, a ray of sunshine when the latter was on the verge of storm. She’s the warmth, when Stella needs comfort. She’s the someone when Stella needs a shoulder to lean on and cry. But how long could she hold still and wait?
She knew better. Stella never made her feel like she was a random kid who waited for her ice cream to be ready. Stella never made her feel like she was not worth the risk. They’re there, just waiting for the words to be said, perhaps waiting for the feeling of readiness.
“Zy, you’re here!” Stella greets as she opens the door for Miozy.
“Of course, darling. You told me it’s your rest month.” She planted a peck in Stella’s cheeks which caused the latter to feel a warmth creeping up her cheeks. “I figured I could come and be with you for the rest of your month off, if that’s fine with you? Yeah?”
“Do I have a choice to decline?” Stella chuckled. “Come in. I just finished cooking, let’s eat?”
“Sounds great!” Miozy grinned as she fully entered the latter’s condo.
As they settled at the dining table, Miozy caught the faint bruise on the latter’s forearm.
“Hey, what happened to that?” She asked, pointing to the bruised forearm.
“Oh, this. It’s an accident. Just got hit by something or rather someone holding something. Photoshoot things. Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.” Stella assured her, smiling.
They ate in comfortable silence, stealing glances at each other, giving the silent support and care that they needed.
“So…” Stella started, breaking the silence. “For this month, I’m planning to visit in province. Hang out with my childhood friends and cousins. And visit my parents.” She explained.
“Ooh, adventure time!” Miozy exclaimed, grinning at the woman. “Well, I gotta go after this, so I could pack up for a month of adventure with you.” She added, smirking.
Stella shared some stories about her day, they shared a laugh over dinner. Miozy, on the other hand, was admiring Stella’s eyes and smile while the latter tells a story. Oh, her eyes. I fell in love with those eyes. And that damn smile, that captivates me. She thought.
____________
Morning comes, and a ray of sunlight comes across her room. Gentle, but a reminder of something new, bright and productive day. They’re going to her province. Where her childhood friends and cousins are there, waiting for her to visit them. And, her parents, who are also waiting for her.
As Stella stirred from sleep, she heard a soft knock on her door. She checked the time and thought about who it might be. She stood up and opened the door, she saw a woman standing, holding a bouquet of white roses and pink tulips, and beaming warmly at her.
“Good morning, gorgeous!” Miozy greets her, beaming at her.
Stella rolled her eyes and smiled, gesturing Miozy to enter. “You’re too early, did you even sleep?”
Miozy just smiled at her and said, “Darling, you know I can’t drive without sleep so I took a 3-hour nap.” She explained and planted a peck on her cheeks.
Stella bit back a smile, she reached for the flower and put it down on the counter and faced Miozy again. She beamed as she leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Good morning,” she said as she turned her back and entered her room.
Miozy was left there, standing, she’s as red as a tomato, she’s still processing what had just happened. She heard Stella’s laugh, and she frowned her brows. “What was that, darling?”
Stella chuckled. “Stay there, do whatever you want. I’ll just take a bath and prepare.” She said as she closed her bedroom door.
Miozy wandered around the kitchen and thought about preparing them both a coffee and cooking a meal for their shared breakfast.
“Don’t burn the kitchen!” Stella shouts.
“Hello! I’m good at this.” Miozy fights back.
She started doing their coffee and prepared the eggs and bacon. She flips it in the pan like it is the most normal thing to do every morning.
After what felt like an eternity, the door of Stella’s bedroom clicked open. Revealing the woman wearing an above-the-knee white dress, matching her white button-up polo. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun. Her lashes curved, red lips like a cherry, and her cheeks with faint blush.
“I thought you already slept in the bathtub.” Miozy mocked, eyes sparkling as she glanced at Stella’s perfectly curved body.
Stella raised an eyebrow at her, “And I thought you already burnt this unit.” She said with a smug smile.
Miozy rolled her eyes, “Whatever. Come and sit, princess. Let’s have breakfast before we go.”
They ate in silence, just like the normal shared breakfast together every morning. This has become their routine, Miozy will either cook for her or pick her up so they can have breakfast outside.
“So… whose car will we use?” Stella asked.
“Mine, of course. I won’t let you drive, my princess.” Miozy replied with a smirk.
“You, cheesy cow.” Stella groaned, earning a chuckle from Miozy.
After having breakfast, Miozy stood up and washed the plates they’d used.
Miozy guided Stella towards her car. She put the suitcase that Stella had packed for their trip in the back of her car. After settling their things, Miozy opened the passenger seat for Stella. Stella hop in and let the comforts settle on her. Miozy turned around and went to the driver’s seat. Before she started the engine, she looked at Stella and asked for her hand. Stella reached for it and they both closed their eyes. Before they could even start praying, she felt a gentle touch on the back of her hand. As she opened her eyes, she saw Miozy kissing it and then she looked up at Stella, smiling. They both closed their eyes again and started praying.
“Our dearest Lord, thank you for letting us have this day. Thank you for giving us another day, life; to start—share kindness and love with people around us. Guide us on our trip today, and we look forward to meeting great people during our vacation.” Stella prayed while Miozy looked at her, she then closed her eyes.
“And Lord, thank you for letting me have this girl beside me. Thank you for letting me be the one to look after her, thank you for letting me be the someone who drives for her. My dearest Lord, thank you for giving me Stella. She’s a kind and loving person because You love her. She let me be close to You again because she knew You are the root of love. She let me love her because You love us. Thank you, Lord.” Miozy added while wiping her tears.
Stella, still looking at her, trying to stop her tears from spilling because of the genuineness of Miozy’s prayer. This is the person I’m going to be with for the rest of my life. She thought.
They both looked into each other’s eyes. “In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
“Go and let me hear your playlist, darling. Your device is already connected. You can open the window if you want some fresh air. Sit back and relax. I’ll do the drive here. We can stop by if you wanna have drive-thru meals, just let me know.” Miozy said as she started the engine.
In the middle of the ride, Miozy glances at Stella. Stella fell asleep, she looked peaceful, and the vulnerability was palpable on her figure. And suddenly, the music from the radio starts playing Passenger Seat by Stephen Speaks.
She smiled to herself remembering the first time they met. It was past 3 in the afternoon. She was at the cafeteria and she found a woman crying. She gently placed her handkerchief at the lady’s table and left the cafeteria. As if destiny was testing them, they met again. That time, she was the one crying at the bus stop, while waiting for the rain to stop. And suddenly, a car pulled up and slid down its passenger window. She remembered the woman, who was the same woman whom she handed her handkerchief. The lady invited her to hop in. She hesitated at first but agreed and let the woman—Stella take her home. No one spoke until the radio started playing Passenger Seat by Stephen Speaks. They discovered that that song was their favorite. Its calming melody and the deep lyrics say it all. They jammed through it. When they started to know each other, they became friends, and eventually, she noticed that her feelings for Stella were beyond platonic. She tried to hold it but ended up confessing one time at the park.
After almost 4 hours of drive, they had reached their destination.
As they stepped out of the car they were greeted by the town’s rustic charm and breathtaking scenery. The warmth of the morning sun beat their skin, casting a glow over the hills. Tall trees were giving them a shadow to breathe, to relax their mind for a while.
“Ate Stella!” A girl from behind called out her name.
“Sheila! I missed you!” She ran towards the girl and the latter welcomed her with open arms.
“Ate, I missed you too. Grabe, big time ka na! May sarili ka nang car and house, tapos pinagawa mo pa itong house mo rito kahit kami na lang nina Ate Jeiox at Ate Lylan ang tumitira.” Sheila said, tightening her hug.
“Ang OA sa bigtime! At saka, ano ka ba? Kahit kayo na ang nakatira rito, dapat maayos pa rin. Nasaan nga pala yung dalawa—” before Stella could finish, a tall, short-haired woman appeared in the back of Sheila.
“Bebe, why are taking so long there? Who are you talking to— wait,
Stella?”
“Gelle?”
“What are you doing here?”
“No, what are you doing here in our house?” Stella cut her off.
Miozy, oblivious to the situation, “Stella, where should I put this… Oh, Gelle? You’re here too?”
Before anyone could speak again, Sheila interrupted, “Sandali, sandali! P’wede pumasok muna tayo? Ang init na kaya!”
As they entered the house, they were greeted by the familiar warmth of the place. A cozy yet casual two-storey house. Miozy and Gelle settled in the living area while Stella wandered around the house. She went upstairs to check her old room. A pink door greeted her at the end of the hallway. As she entered her childhood room, she reminisce her past life as a kid; where she slept soundly in the afternoon, played outside with her friends and cousins. When her late mother used to tell her a story until she fell asleep.
As she went downstairs, the tension in the living area was palpable yet comforting, seeing the people she loved the most in one frame. Sheila was awkwardly entertaining Miozy while Gelle being Gelle, sat there quietly.
“Okay, so…?” Stella started,
“So Ate, si Gelle. Girlfriend ko po.” Sheila confessed.
The shock on her face was evident. But she recovered quickly.
“Gaano katagal?” She asked.
“Just a few days ago.” Gelle trailed off.
“No, I mean, gaano ka katagal nanligaw?” She clarified.
“Oh, uh…” Gelle hesitated. “I liked her since freshmen, and after graduating we found out that we’re on the same page… so we started dating until we got officially girlfriends a few days ago.” She explained.
“No courting stage?!”
“Eh, Ate. Para saan pa ang courting stage kung pareho naman kami ng nararamdaman sa isa’t isa.” Sheila interrupted while clinging to Gelle.
“So, siya pala ang pinupuntahan mo whenever you’re making excuses during photoshoots?” Stella asked Gelle.
“Well, yeah.” Gelle simply answered.
Stella nodded, “Nasaan sina Jeiox at Lylan?” She asked Sheila.
“Ah, eh, Ate…” but before she could finish, the door swung open, revealing four women.
Jeiox was the first one to enter, holding hands with a woman who was as tall as she was. The woman has brown wavy hair, and eyes sparkling, she’s peaceful and inviting. Then came the other two, Lylan and Cerdi. Sheila, Jeiox and Lylan are her cousins, while Cerdi is their closest childhood friend.
Jeiox and Lylan are siblings, their parents died in a plane crash together with Stella’s mom and Sheila’s parents. After what happened, Stella took the responsibility of taking care of them. She went to Manila to find a suitable job for her and to achieve her dream of becoming a model. Fortunately, it all went well. But behind those success, her struggles remained unnoticed not until she met Miozy.
“Stella! Nandito ka!? I… namiss kita!” Jeiox greeted, trying to hide her nervousness.
“Uy, Tel! Kailan ka pa nakarating?” Cerdi interjected.
Meanwhile, Lylan ran towards the latter and hugged her tightly. “Tel, namiss kita. Namiss ka namin.”
Stella felt a ssob from Lylan, “Huy! Umiiyak ka ba? Teh, hindi pa naman ako patay!” Stella joked.
“Siya nga pala, Stella, si Aixa. Aixa, si Stella, pinsan namin.” Jeiox introduced the woman.
“Hello po…” the woman greets.
“Naku! ‘Wag ka na mag ‘po’ hindi naman ako matanda. Mag ingat ka riyan kay Jeiox, babaero ‘yan!
Anyway, this is Miozy. My suitor. She will be with me for the rest of my stay. Please, be good to her.”
“Hello! I’m sorry in advance if we can’t fulfill the “be good” because we’re chaotic, I hope Ate Stella had mentioned that.” Lylan greets.
“Uh, well, let’s be chaotic together then?” Miozy said, chuckling.