VENICE’S POV
It has been one week since I saw that shadow. A few times, I dreamed about myself crying, and there were only four people. I prayed for the meaning of those dreams, but the only thing I received was to ready my heart.
*** Tok, tok, tok ***
I came back to my senses when someone knocked on my bedroom door. I immediately fix myself before opening the door. As I opened my door, I saw Grace and Monica.
“ What happened to you two? Why your eyes looked like that?” I confusedly and worriedly asked Monica.
“ Ven,” Monica called my name, hugged me and cried on my shoulders. Grace supported Monica until they fully entered my room. She also helped me to help Monica sit on my bed.
“ What happened?” I asked confusedly to Grace.
“ Bryan is leaving,” Grace answered straightforwardly. I heard Monica cry loudly, but I was too stunned to comfort her. I felt like my body had become weak all of a sudden.
“ W-what?” I asked Grace in awe. I also hoped that I heard what she said wrong.
“ Bryan is leaving. That is what Monica told me when I went to her house. She was actually crying during that time on her room,” Grace explained.
“ Is that true, Mon?” I unbelievably asked Monica, still praying that it was not.
Monica gently nodded while crying. My tears started falling down my cheeks. I also felt my body become numb because of what I know. Is that the meaning of my dreams? Plus, the shadows I saw and our pastor’s preaching?!
“ Ven,” Grace worriedly called my name.
When I heard Grace call my name, I came back to my senses and immediately wiped the tears from my eyes. Gosh, I should be comforting Monica.
“ Hush now, Mon, everything will be a-alright, “ I tried to encourage Monica even if my voice was cracking.
Grace hugged the both of us, and we cried in each other’s arms. We really have that special bond with Bryan. We only stopped crying when our phones beeped simultaneously. Grace was the one who checked the message on her phone.
“ Guys, go here in the church, now. Sent by Axcel,” Grace read the message.
We looked into each other’s eyes because of that. It seemed like we would say farewell to Bryan too soon. Grace, Monica, and I decided to wash our faces to hide our swollen eyes. We also retouched to hide the sadness we are feeling right now. I looked at my reflection before we decided to go to the church. When we arrived, we could feel how the atmosphere changed from the feeling we used to feel here. We immediately saw Axcel.
“ What took you so long,” Axcel protested.
“ What is it?” Grace innocently asked.
“ It is Bryan. He was currently talking with our pastor and the division head pastor. I heard that Bryan will be sent to a mission in another country,” Axcel explained in detail. Grace, Monica, and I looked at each other because we did not know who among us would tell Axcel the truth.
“ Did I miss something?” Axcel asked in wonder.
“ Brother Bryan is leaving,” Monica weakly replied. A few minutes had passed since Axcel stared nowhere because of what Monica had said. Later...
“ What?!” Axcel unbelievably exclaimed.
“ Aish, lower your voice. You seemed more like girl than us,” Grace commented.
“ So, is it really his calling?” Axcel asked for confirmation.
“ Yes, actually, he was praying for it for a long time. However, even if I want to be happy for him, the sadness I am feeling right now surpasses that,” Monica sadly admitted. I hugged Monica tightly while maintaining my composure and hiding signs of sadness within me. I know Monica needs my comfort more now.
“ Let us take a seat and wait for Bryan to explain himself,” I suggested and supported Monica to sit down on the bench.
When we sat down, no one dared to speak even one word in the midst of us. The only sound you could hear was Monica’s sobs where we at. I massaged Monica’s back to stop her from crying.
“ I will just get some water inside,” Axcel said. We just nodded, so he stood up and walked towards the church.
BRYAN’S POV
“ We will be leaving tomorrow. You should make sure that you have already packed your things, and you already said farewell to your family and friends,” These words are the last words I heard from our head pastor before I left the pastor’s office.
I let out a heavy sigh. How could I tell those four that I was leaving? I decided to go home when I saw Axcel holding a tray containing four glasses of water.
“ Bro, what is that for?” I asked him in wonder when I went closer to him.
“ Hey, bro, you already finished your business here. This? It is for the three girls,” Axcel answered after he regained himself from shock.
“ Do you mean Monica and the others? Why are they here?” I asked him in confusion.
“ I called them when I heard the news,” Axcel seriously replied.
“ What news?” I asked again.
“ We knew already, Bryan,” Axcel responded, which made my mouth open.
“ If you want to explain yourself, maybe they should also hear it, so you will only explain once,” Axcel added.
Axcel started walking after saying those words, so I silently followed him. When we reached one of the benches, I saw Venice comforting Monica. Maybe, when they felt my and Axcel’s presence, they looked in our direction. Monica ran towards me and hugged me tightly while crying.
“ B-brother,” she called me between her sobs.
“ If your spiritual children saw you right now, they might think that you are more childish than them,” I jokingly told Monica to lighten our atmosphere.
I think I successfully did it because I felt Monica weakly punch me. I could not help but be sad because I knew I would miss these four people when I left. I supported Monica until we reached where the others at. I also helped her sit before I sat next to her.
“ When I went outside pastor’s office, I deeply think of a way how to tell you this, but you already knew,” I said.
“ I want you to know that before I came here in the church, God already told me I will be sent to a mission in another country. The Lord let me passed through here first, but I will eventually leave. Now, I prayed that the Lord would allow me to come back here,” I sincerely told them.
VENICE’S POV
“ It is hard for me to leave you b---”
“ Follow God’s instruction,” I seriously said out of nowhere. The four of them looked at me with surprised faces.
“ It is not I want you to leave, but if it is the Lord’s instruction, who are we to hinder you, right?” I added. I saw Monica, Grace, and Axcel nod, which means they agreed too.
“ Do not worry because even if how long it takes, I will come back,” Bryan assuredly told us, but his eyes were on me.
“ It is just hard to let you go, brother,” Monica childishly said.
“ If growth requires growing apart, let thy will be done. “ I repeated what our pastor said last Sunday.
“ Why is that seeming familiar?” Grace asked.
“ That was the rhema word last Sunday,” I answered, then laughed.
I think I can be an artist because even if my heart hurt so much, and I want to cry right now, I chose to be strong to avoid adding some agony to Bryan.
“ When are you leaving?” Axcel asked.
“ Tomorrow,” Bryan replied.
Tomorrow! One word but break my heart into small pieces.
“ That is too fast,” Grace commented.
“ It was delayed actually. We should leave before team building, but I asked our pastor to let me joined first the team building, so I can have memories with you guys before I left,” Bryan explained.
“ Excuse me for a while. I just go to the restroom,” I excused myself because I felt like my tears would start falling at any moment.
I did not wait for them to answer and immediately ran towards the restroom. As I closed the restroom door, I cried severely. It hurts knowing your friend is leaving, but it is more painful because I know what I feel towards him was beyond a friend.
‘ Lord help me endure this one. May your will be done for everyone. Heal my heart, IN JESUS NAME, AMEN!”
I prayed first before deciding to go back with them. When I arrived, I only saw Bryan there. I encouraged myself to be strong and went closer to him.
“ Where are they?” I asked before sitting on my chair.
“ They will just buy some snacks. They want to throw a farewell party for me,” Bryan casually replied.
“ Ahh,” I said shortly.
“ Ven,” I heard Bryan call my name.
“Hmmm ? “I asked.
“Take care of yourself, especially your heart, okay?” Bryan seriously told me.
“What is that? A farewell message?” I asked and showed him a fake smile.
“Kind of. I already told my message to them, so I will tell yours too,” Bryan calmly explained.
“Take care of your heart. Please do not give it to someone easily. It would be best if you also took care of yourself. Be extra careful, too since you are clumsy. Be mindful while stretching your arms to avoid revealing your skin. Be confident to the Lord, and always remember that whatever you do, do it for God’s glory alone,” Bryan sincerely said, which made tears flow down my cheeks. When Bryan noticed my tears, he immediately got up.
“Ven --- “
“I a-am f-fine, I a-am j-just s-sad,” I assured him between my sobs.
“Remember what the word of God said? The pain we are feeling will not be compared to the joy coming,” He said to encourage me.
“I will claim that,” I said while wiping my tears.
“Plus, if someone tried to court you, make sure that he asked Axcel first. I already leave instructions to him if ever someone tried to court our three princess, he must guard you all,” Bryan told me, then laughed.
‘That is impossible. It is hard to find someone better than you,’ I want to tell him these words, but I know I cannot and should not. And even if there is a possibility that I would not be able to say to him ever, I want to trust in God’s plan.
“That will be a long time, maybe you are here already before it could happen,” I replied, so we both laughed.
“Ow, you two looks so happy,” Axcel commented and put down one plastic. Grace and Monica also arrived with plastics in their hands.
“You did not tell us that you would buy the whole store,” Bryan commented, which made everyone laugh.
After a while, Monica suggested we take some pictures and print them out. We will give it to Bryan as a souvenir before he leaves tomorrow.
***
BRYAN'S POV
Before I entered the departure area, I looked at the waiting station hoping she would arrive, but she did not. I continued walking towards the airplane. I hope that even with how long it takes, if it is the right time, I wish I still be the right one. For now, I will still hold on to this.
"Waiting is worth it. I will wait for that girl who is worth the wait. "
VENICE'S POV
I did not join the others in sending Bryan off to the airport because I was afraid I could cry hard there. I opened the window of my room and looked at the skies. I did not know if it was a coincidence that I saw an airplane. I smiled bitterly, realizing that I would continue to trust Him even if I did not understand God's plan.
"Loving you cause me pain, but I am still secretly into you and keep praying for you."
Until we met again. I glanced at the sky for the last time before lying in my bed and crying so bad that day.
TO BE CONTINUED