7

The power of letting go...

There will be steps and process to let go and it is never easy. The value it holds to your system makes it harder for you to move on and the longer you cling to the past will make the baggage heavier than its actual weight. It is a long cross roads that one needs to conquer to reach the point of actually letting go.

But... once you let go, there will be glimmers of light that will guide you to the path where you belong. There will be hope. There will be another chance to see the part of you that you've lost.

Faith carried the baggages for quite some time now and she is finally ready to let go of the past. In this process, she is slowly looking life a little bit differently.

She is slowly noticing everything around her. The one that has always been there becomes someone that will spark new interest, fun and excitement.

How did I miss it?

"You made a good wish during lantern ceremony?" Faith asked as she sip on her hot coffee.

"Yes." Yoko replied with a smile. "I took a lot of photos too." She added and handed the phone to Faith to show the photos she took from earlier.

Nong is showing slides of her own pictures and selfies, and some are photos of couples holding lanterns...

Then, she saw the photo lantern with writings, "Complete heart for Yoko."

Faith cannot help but to smile upon reading it for no apparent reason. Her just happy to see it. Weird.

"Awww.. hey! You are not supposed to see my wish." Yoko said and quickly hit next.

The actress laughed because it has no use as she already read the lantern's wish. But she did not comment anything to save Nong from embarrassment, she just pretend that she did not saw it.

But then, the camera roll landed to a picture of Faith.

"You took this earlier?" She asked.

Yoko face instantly flushes red.

Cute.

"Yes, but I'm just testing the lightings." She said defensively to which Faith just laugh.

Yoko attempted to grab her phone back but Faith did not let it.

"You took good photos huh." Faith teases as she scroll for more.

Nong side eyed her Phi.

"Stop it." She said it firmly but still Faith did not return her phone.

Phi continues scrolling until there is a message notification that pops up.

It was Yuki.

"Oh! It's Yuki." She said and handed over the phone back to Yoko.

Yoko rolled her eyes and accepted the phone. She opened the message and type something to reply then keep her phone away from her Phi.

Faith has this urge to ask what was the message about and she also wants to tell about Yuki and the other girl ... but she stop herself.

Why are you being nosy?

She kept quiet but her eyes are still in Yoko's phone.

"If you are gonna tease me again, you should stop." Yoko warned her.

"Are you really mad or acting cute?" She asked because she cannot tell herself.

Yoko looked at her in disbelief.

"Eh? Do you think I'm acting cute?" Nong shook her head and made her face a bit fierce than before. "I'm about to get mad so you better behave yourself."

"Okay, I'll behave." Faith nods but still smile at her.

They become silent for few minutes but then Yoko asked, "Is this your last day at the hotel?"

"Yes. I'll probably check out earlier than 10am as I have a schedule shoot tomorrow."

Yoko nods and look at her...with sad smile.

"I saw Kuya Nine in my dream last night. This is the first time ever that he showed up in my dream. He looks so happy, ate." Yoko narrates as she avoids Faith's eyes.

"I think Nine wants us to meet." Phi said with warm tone. "I mean — At least it feels that way for me. my schedule is always packed up but this week has been so easy for me, schedule wise and mental headspace as well."

"It also feels that way to me." Nong agreed as she recalls how the stars align for them to be in the right place at the same time.

Their eyes finally met again.

"Maybe Nine is happy now because two of her favorite girls meet again." Faye commented to which Yoko laugh but did not said anything to add.

"I think we should take a picture, right? It's been nice spending time with you here. I'm glad to have this moment with you." Phi said and took a selfie together.

They both smile in the picture.

Maybe it is a sign... But was it a sign to move on and let go? Or to move on and accept the new chapter of their lives?

***

The next morning, the actress checks out the hotel room before the sunrise and she did not had time to say proper goodbye to her Nong. She feels sad about it that is why she decided to leave a written message to the lobby and a small gift of gratitude to Yoko.

Meanwhile, Yoko stayed up all night. She cannot sleep at all. Something inside her feels broken and lonely of the thought that this will be the last time that they will ever meet again. She waited for her friend from lobby to notify her that P'Faye left the hotel already.

"Yoko... she left a letter and a cute box for you." Said the person from other line of the phone.

"Okay, I will pick it up later. D-Did she left already?"

"Yes, I think so. About 30 minutes ago."

"Ah, I see. Thank you." She said before ending the call.

She look down to her phone and there is a message that she wanted to send but chooses to delete them all together. She did not send it...she just can't do it.

Can we see each other again? Let's meet after your shoot?

Why do I crave to spend time with her now?

She put her phone down and walk towards the window of her room.

She is not a very religious person like her brother but right now she uttered a prayer while watching the sun rise, "Lord, if she is not meant to be in my life and to be with me — please remove her completely to my life. I cannot do this anymore."

She is not yet done with her prayer when she hears a knock on her door.

Room service at this hour?

She walk towards the door and looked at the peephole to check who is knocking at her door. She step back and look again just to make sure she is not dreaming.

It's Faith.

She opened the door and she welcomed by Faith's cheerful voice.

"I cannot just leave without saying good bye." Phi said and instantly hugged her. "Let's not be strangers and keep our lines open, okay?"

"O-of course." Yoko barely response and smile.

Is this destiny messing with me? Or God's humor?

***