By Rex Catubig

 

SHE was the love of his life — for Adams Ryan Evaristo, an amiable young man who who worked as a waiter in a casual diner, aside from doing other odd jobs, while waiting for the opportune moment.

The apple of his eye, the joy of his heart, was Lyka Radia Naga, fair and pretty, who chose to work in the big city. A move not only to advance her personal goal but to build the foundation of the future they were forging together.

They had met seven years earlier on a blind date, on a Valentine’s day, Feb. 14, 2011 as he distinctly recalled it. And of all places at the St John Cathedral grounds. You might say it was heaven-sent, cupid conceived, but you could not really call it love at first sight; although, the first sight led to a second, and a third until they became inseparable.

Later, Lyka decided to look for another job that separated them. But the challenge of being apart, of a long distance relationship did not faze them as both found ways to be together–and ways to keep their love aflame and exciting.

Tender and caring, she had always been the doting affectionate type. And one of the many ways she would show her affection was to throw him occasional surprises, as during one of their so-called monthsaries. Working with her friends, she set up and decorated a room. Blindfolded, Adams was led to the location–and once the blindfold was removed, the sight of the Happy Monthsary foil letters on the wall jumped at him and melted his heart.

She had been sickly all this while, in fact, she had been sick earlier, but nothing serious, or she thought, as well as he, that would prevent them from being together.

When Adams was due to leave for the States for a J1 internship, he asked her to come home but she told him she would not be able to make it. With her fragile health, he understood. Clueless, little did he know that she was in cahoots with his mom, and she was coming for another round of surprise.

It was his 21st birthday that June and was leaving in a couple of days. On that day, his mom asked him to come with her to a restaurant for a simple intimate blow-out. But she took him to a nice hotel, and that loving motherly gesture made him smile. They walked to one of the smaller function rooms, and when he casually opened the door to enter–his heart dropped then jumped–the sight of the mylar balloons and the inflated foil letters that said “Happy Birthday” brightened the small room. But the sight of his beloved Lyka with her sweetest smile ignited his heart and made it shine the brightest.

Unknown to both, it was the last of the happy surprises. What followed next could have been just a bittersweet send off for Adams–made easier for them to accept by the promise of the better future in store for them.

But in less than three months, came the last surprise– sudden, cruel, and totally unexpected. Her surprise turned his world upside down. Death had whisked Lyka away, without her able to say neither I love you nor goodbye, and never to return–cutting short what could have been a fairy tale romance. Leukemia had sapped her of her life, their life.

It was such a blow. He was miles away working as a cook in a big hotel resort and he couldn’t be home to embrace and kiss her. She would be buried without him to see her off, to see her face for the last time. He might have struggled with what if’s and why’s. And it is sad that he couldn’t even cry to grieve.

The month of June had been Valentine month for them, but that September had brought inexplicable pain, hurt, and sadness. But bleak as the following days were, there was hope that in the midst of the impending cold winter, love would blossom again, and bless them both with the comforting memories of the heartwarming surprises of their beautiful romance.

Lyka now rests in the company of fellow angels. While Adams hangs on to steadfast faith–that all will be well again, in God’s time.

God in his infinite mercy, might spring yet the best and biggest surprise.

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