Chasing Love (Sequel to Hopeless Love)

CHAPTER 20

Nang buklatin ko sa unang page ang notebook na ibinigay sa akin ni Demi ay agad bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil sa mga nakasulat dito.

Aaliyah Mae Ramosa | Private Writings | Started: March 4, 2012

Bigla kong isinara ito at inilagay sa loob ng bag ko.

March 4, 2012 was the day I left for Singapore. The day I left for Nelle’s operation. The day I left Aaliyah. The day I left my heart to where it had always belonged to. That was the day when I had to take a million miles away from her, not even trying to chase her.

Nagpa-tuloy ang araw ko sa Harrison nang iniisip kung ano ang laman at nakasulat sa notebook na iyon. I couldn’t bring myself to read it today maybe because I was too afraid of what was written in there – afraid to know what Aaliyah have written on it.

Nang matapos ang klase ko ay nakatanggap ako ng text mula kay Ate Camille na magkakaroon daw kami ng meeting at 5:00P.M.

Mabilis naman akong nag-tungo sa HA Office dahil saktong 5:00P.M na kami pinalabas ng Professor namin. Ako na lang ang kulang nang makarating ako. Isang upuan na lang din ang bakante at iyon ay sa tapat pa ni Aaliyah. I had no choice but to sit down there.

I told them my apologies for being late and they said it was okay since my class ended a little late.

Hindi ko maituon ang atensyon ko sa kung anuman ang pinag-uusapan nila. Mula pagpasok ko pa lang ng office ay kay Aaliyah na nakatuon ang buong atensyon at pag-iisip ko.

I knew she noticed me staring at her the whole time. I knew it brought her an uncomfortable feeling but I couldn’t help myself not to look at her and to think of what happened to us now.

Really, Aaliyah. What happened to us? What did I do that turned every little right thing between us go wrong? Could this be a sign that there will never be an us?

Questions. Too many questions flew back and forth inside my head. There were no answers. I couldn’t think of answers.

“Paul?”

I heard a whisper.

“Paul? Are you with us?”

Natauhan akong bigla nang lumakas ang tinig na naririnig ko. Awtomatikong napatingin ako kay Ate Camille. Napakamot ako sa ulo ko at saka humingi ng paumanhin sa kanilang lahat.

Tungkol pala sa Convention sa December ang meeting namin. Ngayon ko lang napag-tanto na kaming dalawa pala dapat ni Aaliyah ang higit na nagbibigay ng pansin sa meeting na iyon. And I’m guilty I haven’t been paying attention to the subject the entire time.

“So, Mr. Sy will provide a waiver for the both of you to be signed by your parents. Kailangan na ‘yon as early as next week dahil i-susubmit pa natin ang mga files niyo sa Internation Writers, Photographers, and Speakers Committee,” paliwanag ni Ate Camille sa aming dalawa ni Aaliyah, specifically.

She then turned to Aaliyah. “Ali, kailangan niyo nang pumunta ni Paul ngayon sa Office of the Secretary to get your waivers.”

Tumango naman si Aaliyah as a response.

Ate Camille then turned to all of us in the room. “Meeting is adjourned. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

Mabilis kaming tumayo lahat at ako naman ay nag-hintay na lang kay Aaliyah sa labas ng HA Office. Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay lumabas na siya. She didn’t say a word to me and walked straight ahead instead. I wasn’t at all surprised by that. She has all the acceptable reasons to do that, anyway.

Mabilis lang naming nakuha ang waivers namin. Naunang lumabas ng Office si Aaliyah pero hindi rin naman nag-tagal ay sumunod na ako. Saktong paglabas ko ng pinto ay hindi ko inaasahan na maaabutan ko pa si Aaliyah roon. But what I didn’t expect the most was seeing her with a guy. Not just a random guy but it was Aaron.