Dinner Dilemma

Last Monday, my dear Nena Ellay, some friends, and I were supposed to go on a dinner at Pan Pacific Hotel. She made a reservation and invited us to celebrate one of our friend's birthday. But unfortunately, the birthday celebrant turned down the invitation, for a very simple reason that he will just go if I will not go. (Hmp! @#$!!) But actually, his reason was he has a lot of things to do. Then, our other friends were also too busy with everything. So it was just Ellay and I who were supposed to go.

Ok, everything was set for our dinner. I just have to attend my student for a tutor for 4 hours from 1pm so that I will be able to make it at 5:30pm at the hotel. But unexpectedly, I got a message that my schedule of tutor will be moved to 7pm since my student hasn't arrived yet, which is conflicting to our supposed dinner. I wanted to go to our dinner but I cannot cancel the tutor because my student has to go to school the following day. I didn't have any choice but to tell Ellay that I can't come. I just asked her if she could just invite her uncle so that the reservation she made will not be useless. In that manner, she can also make up with her short comings to her uncle and her family.

I felt in her voice that she was disappointed with my news. She told me that she'll try to invite her family.

After a while, I got a message from my student's mom, saying that if I could just come by 9pm. Good! I still have time for our dinner. I called up Ellay again to say that I can go with her that night but this time, she was the one who turned me down. Instead, her nanay Adela (grandmother), tatay (grandfather) and uncle will avail the dinner reservation.

I didn't feel sorry when our supposed to be dinner was cancelled. I know that there is a reason why did our plans didn't push through. For my side, I was able to teach my student. Imparting knowledge to a student is far more important than eating in a five star restaurant. I was also able to get to know more about the mom of my student, whom I really look up in all aspects.

For Ellay's side, though she made the reservation, I know that was not meant to spend it with her friends. Because, you see, most of the time we are together - we spend time together, we work together, we eat together, etc. where in sometimes, we already unconsciously get some of her time which were already intended for her loved ones.

I know Ellay would like to spend that evening with her friends. But the reservation was not really meant for us. It was meant for her family, for her to spend her most precious time with them, especially with her Nanay.