Distance Is Just A Number [Taglish]

Chapter 7

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CHAPTER 7

Everywhere I went, I felt people's eyes watching me.

Okay lang sana yun eh. Lagi naman kaming pinagtitinginan ng mga kaibigan ko dahil sa family namin. One wrong move at malalagay kami sa mga gossip magazines or worse—tabloids. So I was used to it.

Pero iba yung ngayon kasi pagkatapos ng tinginan, may kasama pang bulungan. Sobrang nakakairita yung ganun kasi wala man lang effort maging discreet. So I just held my chin higher and continued walking. Ayokong magmukhang kawawa. Ayokong maging api katulad ng mga sa telenovela. Ayoko din bigyan ang mga chismosa ng bagong bala. Tama na yung sa break-up namin ni Mike na I'm sure iba't ibang version na ng story ang kumakalat ngayon.

I passed by a mirror and took a second to glance at my reflection.

Mukhang okay naman. Nag-effort kasi ako sa pagmake-up. Halos maubos yung tube ng concealer ko kakalagay sa paligid ng mata ko para hindi halata yung pamamaga. Besides, chinita naman ako at talagang maliit na yung mata ko.

Also, I took extra care with my appearance today. Sinuot ko yung black skater skirt ko which reached halfway down my thighs. I also wore my white polka-dot top and black leather bolero with metal studs. I also wore high-heels today instead of my usual boots.

Ewan ko kung bakit pero there's something about wearing heels that boosts my confidence. Sabi nila nakakaimprove kasi ng posture ang heels at nakakahaba tignan ng legs. Pero it does so much more than that for me.

Did I wear this to show Mike what he threw away? Actually, no. I wore this for me. Nice clothes are a woman's armor. It gives a woman confidence and strength to take on anything life can throw at us. And right now, I really needed this.

I heard someone whistle and I turned around.

I smiled when I saw Ellie. "Wow. Nakakatibo naman," Ellie shouted. Then, she laughed and natawa na din ako. "Sorry, I don't swing that way," sagot ko. She laughed harder as she leaned against her locker. "So happy to hear you laughing again. Iiyak ng dugo si Mike pag nakita ka nun. This is the Drei I knew before."

I gave her my sweetest smile. "Bahala siya sa buhay niya. Wala na kong pakialam. Magpakasaya siya kay Valerie."

Biglang dumating si Aubrey. "Bat narinig ko yung pangalan ni Valerie? Sabunutan na ba? Ready na ko."

I rolled my eyes. "I won't stoop down to their level. Hindi ako palengkera. Bahala sila sa buhay nila. They can kiss on every backstage Mike's band goes to and I won't care," sagot ko.

Actually, that was pride talking. Syempre masakit pa kapag nakakita ako ng pictures or makita ko silang magkasama. Tulad nga ng sinabi ng friends ko, parang si Mike yung first love ko. Oo, may mga naging boyfriend ako from before pero si Mike yung unang naging seryoso. Siya lang yung sobrang minahal ko.

Sabi nga nila, first love never dies. I don't think that's right. Love fades. It's the memories of that first love that's never going to fade. Pero yung love and the pain that comes with losing that first love? It would fade. Everything changes and that goes for feelings as well. The love you felt, along with the pain, will fade in time. And speaking of time, tama yung sabi nila na it heals all wounds.

"Kaya mo na bang pumasok ngayon? Will you be okay?" MC asked. Kakadating lang niya and she asked this as she was opening her locker.

"Kaya yan!" I shouted, giving myself an inner pep-talk.