changing lanes

"hi M, you doing anything tonight?" she said over the phone.

"no, not really... you wanna go out?" M answered.

"very. i have something i want to tell and i want to tell you first," she said. "what time do we meet?" she continued.

"i can be there at 7, same place," M said.

"ok, see you," she said.

she sat on a bench facing the dancing fountain, looking at the lights as they changed colors. the breeze from the sea was making her yawn. she cast her eyes around. it seemed like a gathering of sorts--young couples walking hand-in-hand... old couples sitting on benches... children running, their squeeking voices blending with the sound of the water from fountain... foreigners taking pictures... vendors selling whatever. she rummaged through her bag for her cellphone--7:05. she never liked watches and this cellphone thing all the more justified not having to wear one.

she looked around and saw M coming towards her, half smiling, browse furrowed. she smiled back.

"what?!? what's that face? what's up?" M said as she sat down beside her.

"in a while... first let's get something to drink. i haven't had lunch but i'm not hungry," she said.

they picked a table just beside the promenade right next to the bay. M got herself a hot choco while she ordered strawberries and creme frappuccino.

"so," M continued, "do you want to sing after eating?"

"anytime now," she answered, "let's go."

she loves music and can actually give a decent rendition, but M's voice is, well, great. that was one thing she loved about her.

"when will you stop singing those kind of songs?" she asked.

"what? what songs?" M answered.

"love moves in mysterious ways... i know i need to be in love... those songs," she said.

M smiled and said, "well, what's up? tell me."

she slowly faced M and said, "umm... i'm getting married, that's what."

M stared for an instant, mouth half open.

"you'll let the flies in," she said.

"you're not!" M exclaimed. "when? to whom?"

"oh, some guy..." she said laughing. "i'll get you to meet him next time, just wanted to tell you first."

M sat quietly, looking out to the horizon.

"M... you okay? aren't you happy for me?" she said.

"i am..." M started, "it's just, i don't know..."

"hey, if i can be happy again, so will you!" she said, taking M's hand.

M sat motionless, staring ahead.

she met M six years ago, in megamall. coming out of carl's when who walks by but her husband, his arms around M. unable to control herself, she followed and confronted her husband. "now you tell me that it was not another woman. that you left because things weren't working out between us and you wanted to be alone to think!"

M on the other hand was standing from a distance, saying nasty things to her. she gracefully went up to her and said loudly, "i am the wife, remember? and that is my husband you're with."

the sound of M's incoming message alert brought her back. funny how some things turn out, she thought. she lost her husband to M. her husband had their marriage annulled because M wanted to get married. she could've given her hell, but they instead ended up as friends. loved the same man, maybe? shared pain, probably.

"it would seem the annulment was really meant for you..." M suddenly said.

"maybe..." she said, "but i went through hell!" she continued, laughing.

"i'm really sorry for all the hurt i've caused you. maybe this is what i deserve for breaking up a home," M said softly.

"sshhh... it's all in the past," she said, "it was not entirely your fault. i had mine. and i could not make him stay if he wants to leave."

"did you already have plans of getting married when i gave you the court decision?" M asked. she had been asking her ex-husband for a copy of her freedom papers. after over a year of trying, she finally decided to call M instead and ask if she might have it. she did. her ex-husband left it along with most of his clothes when he in turn, left M.

"no. i just wanted to change my name. i didn't know i was getting married till four days ago and i wanted to tell you before i tell anybody else," she answered.

"i am happy, really i am. you deserve to have a second chance," M smiled.

"it will come for you too, trust me," she told M.

"did you know that after your annulment decision came out, he became different? turned out he had no intentions of marrying me at all," M said.

"his loss, not yours," she said.

it was already half past eleven. "come on M, let's walk," she said, taking M's arm.

her hand still in M's arm, they walked on silently along the promenade, passing the videoke machines along the way. suddenly, a familiar song lingered in the air.

the hardest thing I've ever done is keep believing
there's someone in this crazy world for me
the way that people come and go through temporary lives
my chance could come and I might never know

I used to say "no promises, let's keep it simple"
but freedom only helps you say goodbye
it took a while for me to learn that nothing comes for free
the price I paid is high enough for me

i know i need to be in love
i know i've wasted too much time
i know i ask perfection of a quite imperfect world
and fool enough to think that's what i'll find

so here i am with pockets full of good intentions
but none of them will comfort me tonight
i'm wide awake at 4 a.m. without a friend in sight
hanging on a hope but i'm all right...

"hey M..." she said.

"...what?" M answered.

"somebody's singing your song..." she said.