Come On, Collide

[3] The One With The Meet Cute

Happy 3rd anniversay, The Spaces in Between! Happy 3rd anniversary sa first meeting nina Andreau and Zade! <3

Awow, two updates this week. Parang himala ata 'to lol. Anyway, ito ang POV ni Andreau ng first meeting nila ni Zade (aka TSIB Chapters 1 & 3). Awkward Andreau ulit lmao

If you're on Twitter, use the hashtag #Thing2Ch3 para mabasa ko ang reactions niyo yay!

Enjoy reading! <3 <3 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Sana makatanggap kayo ng book-quet huhu

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The One With The Meet Cute

Twelve years ago

February 14

If people could see Andreau Cortez now, aakalain siguro nila na sinagot ito ng nililigawan niya dahil sa nakakabulag at abot-tengang ngiti nito. It wasn't even his annoying artista smile (shows off too much teeth and super bright that it can blind you with its fake-ness) Mars sometimes complained about during his interviews with the press. Nilalabas lang niya 'yon kapag medyo uncomfortable na siya sa mga tanong ng reporters. As if they would notice the difference.

But the smile was sporting as he got off his car, though? Para sa mga espesyal na tao lang niya pinapakita 'yon.

Espesyal, katulad ng kikitain niya ngayong tanghali.

He's not meeting up with his secret girlfriend (or boyfriend), and of course, definitely not with Sarah. (Although she texted him thrice earlier. He never replied sa takot niyia kina Anya at Mars.) Nakareserve lagi ang February 14 para sa kanyang "original dates".

His parents. He never failed to visit his parents' graves kahit busy siya sa trabaho o school.

Full disclosure: Andreau Cortez loves Valentine's Day. He loves this cliched day not because of its commercialized grandeur (he totally hated it kahit may dalawang Valentine's Day movie na siya) and sometimes unrealistic notions.

But because...it's his parents' anniversary.

Too bad they weren't here to celebrate this day with him. He'd lost them to a fatal car crash almost nine years ago, an event that changed him forever. Hindi pa rin siya tuluyang nakakarecover hanggang ngayon. (Mukhang mahihirapan ata siyang makarecover. It still hurts every single day.)

"Hello, Mom, Pa," he greeted as he went inside his parents' mausoleum. Nilapag niya ang isang bouquet ng tulips, his mom's favorite, bago umupo sa harap ng mga puntod. "Sorry if I haven't visited in awhile. I'm busy with...things. Work stuff. Acads stuff. God, I hate adulting."

With a shake of his head, he continued, smiling brightly, "Happy anniversary to the best parents in this world. I hope you enjoy your time up there. Pa, don't forget Mom's favorite wine. She hates it when you get the wrong one. Did I ever tell you that time where she threw that cheap-ass wine you bought her? Dinilig niya do'n sa tanim mong oregano ata 'yon. She killed your plant, Pa. Not me.

"Mom, make sure Pa won't eat too much chocolate. Shit, ako pala dapat paalalahanan no'n. I secretly ate half of Tristan's chocolates earlier. Of course, you already knew that. Don't worry, ngayong araw lang naman ang chocolate binge ko. I deserve that after the stress I've been through lately.

"God, I'm so tired. Bone deep tired. Sabi nga ni Mars magquit na raw ako habang maaga pa at kaya ko pang umalis. Easier said than done. Gusto ko na ngang magquit at magfocus na lang sa studies. I really want to but...I can't let this go. Why the hell did I sign that stupid contract anyway? 'Yon talaga ang pahirap sa 'kin ngayon. The things I sacrifice for my studies. Sana pala nakinig na lang ako kay Marisse dati pa. Bakit ko ba kasi pinipilit grumaduate next next year? Sana pala tinapos ko na lang muna ang contract ko then doon na lang ako nag-aral ulit. Hindi 'yong... sorry for ranting about this, Mom. Pa. Kayo lang talaga ang napagsasabihan ko nito.