BCWMH 2019 😍😍😍 – 3

November 12, 2018 by iamgarie 5 Comments

LDR

I am LUKE ANDREW LIM, 23 year old eldest son of Richard, Alexandra and Maya Lim. I graduated two years ago from PUS (Philippine University of Sciences). I am currently working at Lim Aviation Institute. Since I hope to improve my craft further so I can eventually help Dad run both LAS and LAI in the future and upon consultation w Dad, Mom and Joni, I have finally decided to leave home for awhile to enrol in a master’s program in an aviation school in the U.S.– MSc in Aircraft Engineering.

Dec. 6, 2019

Dad just arrived from Singapore last night and as usual we had a dinner feast to welcome him home. Happy as I was to see him back home, I can’t help but ponder on what my life will be like when I leave for the US next month. Kakayanin ko ba to be away from home for one year and a half?

Here am I at the veranda with Dad. We just finished talking about how things are at LAI.

Luke: And Dad, I think I know who can be a possible replacement for me when I take a leave.

Richard: Sino?

Mommy enters the veranda with a tray of cups of coffee and cake slices.

Maya: Ops. Tama na muna yan. Let’s have coffee.

Richard: You’re the boss, sweetheart. Where’s Nikki?

Maya: (Shares a knowing look with Richard.) She offered to put the twins to sleep. Mag storytelling daw sila ni Abby.

Richard: Oh okay. Son, let’s just talk about your temporary replacement on Monday. Tell him to see me on Monday.

Maya: (Notices Luke’s dazed look) Anak, Luke?

Richard: Son?

Luke: Yes, Dad?

Richard: You’re unusually quiet. Kagabi ko pa na notice. Is something wrong?

Luke: Wala naman po.

Maya: Tungkol ba ito sa pagpunta mo ng Amerika, anak?

I nod.

Richard: Son, this will be good for you. This is a very good preparation for the future.

Luke: Sana po kayanin ko. Nasanay po akong kasama ko kayo all my life. Nanjan lang kayo lahat parati to give me advice.

Richard: Even if you’ll be away from us, son, please know that we’re always just a phone call away. There’s FaceTime, Viber and Skype.

Maya: Wag kang mag-alala anak.

Luke: Opo. Thank you, ‘My. Iniisip ko din po si Joni. Pano kung mainip siya at di na niya ko mahintay?

Maya: Okay lang yan. Marami rin akong kakilala na nag work ang LDR sa kanila. Kaya wag ka masyado mag-alala.

Richard: Wait. What do you mean by LDR.

Mom giggles and I soon follow.

Maya: Naku sweetheart. Yan ka na naman. Hindi ka talaga in.

Richard: (Frowns)

Luke: Dad, LDR stands for long distance relationships.

Richard: (Looks at Maya) Sige na. Say it. I’m not cool at all.

Maya: Sweetheart naman eh. Ikaw kaya ang coolest husband.

Richard: Bola!

Maya: Coolest pero hindi in. 😂😂😂

Richard: Etong mommy mo talaga Luke o.

I smile. I always enjoy light moments like this with mom and dad. I’ll surely miss this.

Maya: Anak, naniniwala ako sa pagmamahalan niyo ni Joni. Maniwala ka sa pagmamahalan niyo. At kahit magkalayo kayo, wag niyong kakalimutan na magbigay oras para sa isa’t- isa. Tingnan mo kami ni Kute. Nasa malayo siya pero updated kami parati sa isa’t-isa.

Richard: Your mom is right. Make time and have faith. If you and Joni are truly meant to be, time and distance can’t ever separate you.

Maya: Mahirap mawalay sa pamilya, pero minsan kailangan natin yun para mas mapabuti ang hinaharap.

Richard: Sometimes our dreams entail sacrifices.

Maya: Nakaya kong mawalay kila nanay dati. Maging ang daddy mo, nakaya din niya mawalay sa mga taong mahal niya.

Luke: Really Dad? Kelan po yan?

Richard: When I started working for Papa at Lim’s Rubber and Steel, I knew I wanted the company to soar great heights, and I also knew that I can only do that if I equip myself w proper training and skills. Ganito din yun. I had to leave Mama and Papa and Manang Fe to take further studies in the US. l had to be away from family and from your mom for 2 years.

Luke: Kayo na po ni Mom nun? Ay. Sorry, ‘My.

Maya: Ano ka ba, Luke. Okay lang yan. Gusto ko rin makarinig ng kwento tungkol sa mommy niyo. Parte siya ng buhay niyo. Ayokong nagso-sorry kayo everytime name-mention si Alex.

Richard: (Smiles at Maya.) Yes. She was already my girlfriend for about a year then.

Luke: How did you and mom survive the two years?

Richard: We wrote letters. I called her once a month.

Luke: Once a month?

Richard: Communication at that time wasn’t cheap, son… Thing is, we survived. After I got my masters, I flew back home and she was right there waiting for me.

Luke: Sana ganyan din kami ni Joni.

Richard: Make sure to give each other time. Communication is so much easier and cheaper now, unlike before. Kami ng mom mo nun, we had to do with writing letters. You and Joni can talk w each other constantly.

Luke: Hindi lang naman po si Joni ang mami-miss ko. Siyempre kayo din pong lahat. I’m also afraid that I might be a stranger to Sky, Sunshine and Matty kasi I’ll be away for more or less 18 months.

Maya: Ganun din tayo, anak. Mag-uusap tayo parati. Besides, pag nagpunta dad mo sa US (for a series of seminars) sa May next year, the whole family will join him din. We can all be together. Tapos uuwi ka naman sa Christmas next year, diba?

Richard: Before you know it those 18 months in the US will have passed by like a breeze. Don’t worry, son. Everything will be just fine, as long as you and the people you love continue to make time for each other. Distance lang yan.

Luke: Thank you, Dad. Thank you, ‘My. I needed to hear this.

Richard: So you’re okay now?

Luke: Yes, Dad. May I be excused? I want to give Joni a call.

Maya: Ok, Luke.

Luke: I’ll leave you two to your coffee date. Alam ko naman po pareho niyong na-miss ang isa’t-isa. Alam mo, Dad, feeling ko si Mommy di kayang mawala ka for a year and a half. 10 days is the longest time you’ve been away from each other and you should have seen her…

Maya: Luke!

Richard: Really sweetheart?

Luke: No worries, Dad, ‘My. Wala naman pong reason for the both of you to be away from each other for that long. Mommy won’t allow it, and I’m sure Daddy won’t allow it either.

Richard: 😂😂😂 I guess you’re right.

Luke: Tama kayo our dreams entail sacrifices. I’ll sacrifice now para later on ma-ensure yung stable future namin ni Joni and magiging family namin.

Maya: Pero that family with Joni won’t be happening soon ha. Di pa ready Daddy mo magka apo. 😂😂😂

Richard: Sweetheart!

Luke: 😂😂😂 Ok good night na po talaga. Bye.

Richard: Good night, son.

Maya: Good night, Luke.

*****

As I leave the veranda, I can’t help but stare at Mom and Dad and tell myself— That’s exactly what I want for my future— a happy, caring, and very loving relationship with my wife and kids. As Nikki puts it, #RelationshipGoals talaga sina Mom and Dad.

My promise to myself: I won’t waste this opportunity that Dad is giving me to better my craft. I’ll give my best in my studies in the US so I can come home a better engineer (who’ll help Dad run our two companies), and a better man ready to take on the challenges life will give. I’m certain Joni will understand.

Bring it on, life!!!