Hang In There, Althea!

30

"Althea, pwede mo ba akong samahan mamaya?" Tanong saakin ni Kean pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko ng classroom namin. Tumingin muna ako sakanya at tumango.

"Sure."

Napaisip ako, habang naglalakad patungo sa aking silya at pag-upo. Simula nang makita ko muli si Roswell ay hindi ko na masyadong nakakasalamuha sila Kean, Albie maging ang kapatid ko. I was so focused on spending my days with him that I forgot that I still have them. My family.

Lalo na si Kean.

He helped me the most. He gave me advices and food for thoughts that made me open up.

Maybe I was wrong.

Siguro hindi lamang si Roswell ang valid reason ko. Si Kean din. Ang kapatid ko at si Albie.

"A penny for your thought?" Nabalik ako sa reyalidad nang mayroong humawak sa balikat ko at nagsalita. It was Albie.

Ah, magkatabi nga pala kami ng upuan. Nginitian ko siya at binati.

"Good morning."

"Good morning to you too." He replied and pat my head. Jen's resentment towards me, or my closeness with his fiance has toned down a bit. Maybe its because of what happened during the birthday of Albie's mother. Or she finally had some sense. Either way, I'm relieved. 

Iginala ko ang paningin para hanapin si Kean. Ah, palabas nga pala siya kanina nang pumasok ako. Tatanungin ko sana kung saan kami pupunta mamaya. Well, that can wait.

For the nth time, Kean made me realize things. Naintindihan ko na rin si Roswell. My heart hurt a little. We could be selfish, but he chose not to.

Papalapit na ang graduation namin, tapos na ang finals kung kaya't wala na kaming ginagawa. Pumapasok na lamang kami para mag practice.

Memories came flashing through me ever since my attempt on killing myself had happened. I felt a lump in my throat because of it.

Ang daming nangyari. It was a roller coaster ride. I thought everything will still be the same, or even worse. But it didn't. It's as if the world had given me a second chance to let me experience why life is worthy.

Was it a change of heart?

A new found hope?

Or faith in life?

I don't know.

All I know is that I'm thankful to the people who were brave enough to reach for me while I was drifting away. More importantly, I was brave enough to reach for their hands, it may took me quite a while, but I still did. I reached and swam to the surface where there is light and warmth.

Nang mabalik ako sa reyalidad ay nasa classroom nang muli si Kean at nahuli ko siyang nakatitig saakin. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil doon ngunit nginitian rin siya. Ngunit hindi niya ibinalik iyon. Doon ko napagtanto na nakatulala siya kung kaya't pumalakpak ako sa harap ng mukha niya at tama naga ang hula ko dahil nagulat siya. 

"Sorry, what?" Tanong niya. Napabungingis ako dahil doon. Narinig ko ang pagtawa ni Albie sa gilid ko. Napansin niya pala iyong ginawa ko.

"Lalim ng iniisip natin ah?" Tanong ko kay Kean. Napakamot siya sa kanyang batok dahil sa sinabi ko at umiling na lamang.

Nang pumatak ang tamang oras ay bumaba na kaming lahat patungo sa quadrangle upang maumpisahan na ang practice. Hindi ganoong kainit ang panahon kung kaya't hindi malagkit sa pakiramdam magpractice. Somehow, everything today feels perfect. I looked up to the sky and smiled.

Naging mabilis ang oras at kahit na ramdam ko ang irita ng mga kapwa ko estudyante dahil paulit-ulit ang ginagawa namin ay hindi ako naapektuhan no'n.