Laments of Broken Strings (Arte del Amor #1)

Chapter 10

I don't want to be the type of person who solely relies on others for happiness. At least, not anymore... because it does no good to both parties. Masasanay ka nang masasanay na nandiyan sila palagi, tapos kapag nawala ay maiiwan kang ubos na ubos.

So here I am, cooped up in my room all weekend studying for the first semester finals. My bed is occupied by my thick books, modules, and my laptop. My room in general is so messy right now that it's making my head hurt. I'll make sure to clean after the examinations.

For the past days, I haven't been checking any e-mails or messages from anyone. My phone has been turned off for almost four days now and this will be the first time I'll be opening it.

More than half of the messages were just from a group chat with my classmates on Telegram that they use only because I do not have any social media aside from it. At least a thousand messages there were just stickers sent by each of them. Ryna also sent me lots of messages updating me about what she's been up to.

There were several missed calls and text messages from my mother so I decided to call her right away. "Anak!" she exclaimed as soon as she picked up the phone.

"Good morning, mama. How are you?" Inipit ko sa pagitan ng tainga at balikat ko ang phone habang nililigpit kahit papaano ang kalat sa kwarto at inaayos ang dadalhin ko sa araw na 'to.

"We're okay. Kami ang nag-aalala sayo, this is not the first time we weren't able to reach you but we were so close to going there!" sabi niya sa medyo mataas parin na boses.

"It's finals week and I didn't want to get distracted, so..." and with that, I heard her sigh from the other line.

"Oh siya, I won't be bothering you any longer. Make sure to contact me often so I don't get worried, senyorita!" she strictly said.

"I will. I love you."

When I got to school, kaliwa't kanan ang mga nakaupo sa hallway na nakatutok sa mga libro at reviewers. Yung iba ay nakapikit kaya hindi ko masabi kung nagsasaulo ba sila o natutulog na lang.

Pagkarating ko sa harap ng classroom namin ay napatingin ako sa tapat na building kung saan siya... and I only saw Kaius and Vann outside their room.

It's examinations already and I no longer remember when was the last time we had a tutoring session. I wonder how he's doing... you know, in academics, or in general.

"Uy, nandito ka na pala! Pasok ka sa loob, paiyak na sila sa Chem, eh." maligayang sabi ni Jiro na mukhang natatawa pa sa paghihirap ng mga kaklase namin. Nilagpasan niya na ako at pumunta sa kung saan.

Pagkapasok ko ay nasa harapan halos silang lahat, sa may platform habang nakatingala kay Rain na nagtuturo sa whiteboard. Iba't ibang mga tunog ng frustrations ang naririnig ko mula sa mga kaklase ko at tinatawanan naman nila mismo ang sarili nila.

"Itigil na nga natin 'to! Tanggapin na natin, guys!" tumayo si Keann at hinagis ang libro niya sa Chemistry. He picked it up not long after, "Joke, hindi pwede," and continued listening to Rain. Inubos talaga nila ang oras sa umaga sa pag-aaral nito at hindi tumigil hangga't hindi dumadating ang professor.

I myself had a very hard time with it and Rain actually was a lot of help. I think my score would be decent considering how hard I find this subject. Pagkapasa namin ng mga papel ay sumigaw ang isa kong kaklase... I do not know her name. "Grabe, Rain! Hulog ka ng langit!"

"Ryna, anong sagot mo sa pangatlong question sa third page?"

"May third page?"

Magsisimula na ang pagdidiscuss nila ng answers, so before I hear any of it that would make me regret mine, sinuot ko na ang earphones ko.