LOVE University

PART V: "Illuminating Affection"

"Oo nga ano..." sagot naman ng isa.

JUSTIN: "Excuse me... is Ella here?" lumapit siya nang marahan sa mga ito. Pinilit parin niyang tanungin iyon kahit na kita niya mula sa labas na nakapatay na ang mga ilaw sa loob.

"Naku... kanina pa siya umalis kasama ng ibang girls. Pero babalik din daw sila"

"Kaso baka mamaya pa 'yon... Nanunuod sila ng performance sa gymnasium..."

JUSTIN: "Ganoon ba... Pasensiya na..." pinakita niya sa mga ito ang ticket na inabot ni Ken kanina "...na-late ako ng sobra... kasi ano..."

"Oh! Hindi ka pa nakapasok sa loob?" turo nang isa nang makita ang hawak niya.

"Pre, late ka na. Kanina pa kami nagsara ng mga ilaw. Kita mo naman oh..."

JUSTIN: "Pasensiya na uli... may ginawa lang kasi kanina. Kung pwede, kahit 'yung mga picutes lang ni Ella 'yung makita ko? Kahit hindi niyo na buksan mga ilaw. I have flashlight sa cellphone naman..."

Nagtinginan ang dalawang lalaki. Tumango lang ito sa suhestiyon niya at ginaya siya nang isa papasok sa loob at naiwan ang isa sa labas.

"Ayan pre..." tinuro nito ang isang malaking board sa kaliwang sulok ng silid malapit sa dulo. Ngumiti ito sa kaniya ng may halong pananabik saka sinabi "Galing niya diyan pre, hulinh-huli kagwapuhan mo..."

Napakunot siya ng noo sa sinabi nito nang iwan siyang mag-isa. Ihinarap niya ang ilaw na nanggagaling sa telepono at nakita ang mga naka-dikit sa pisara.

JUSTIN: "What...?"

++++++++++++++++++++

Ella realized she forgot her phone nang tatawagan dapat ang magulang. She was going to tell them she'll be home late, kaya naman mabilis niyang tinakbo pabalik ito sa gallery room nila. Buti nalang at naroon pa ang ka iskwela na naiwan kanina.

But as she walk closer, it wasn't one of the guys they left behind.

Justin's figure illuminates from the school's lighting seating on the long bench in front of the entrance door.

Napatingala ito sa kaniya nang marinig ang mga paa niyang umapak sa mga tuyong halamang nakakalat sa paligid.

JUSTIN: "Hey..." he slowly stood up nang lumapit pa siya dito.

ELLA: "Hey..." naiilang siyang napatingin dito sabay binawi iyon "What are you doing here? I thought you were on a date or something..."

JUSTIN: "Oh that" mapakla itong natawa "That ended early. Unfortunately, I found out that Aly's going out with me because of some lame bet..."

ELLA: "Ha?"

JUSTIN: "Yeah... funny huh?" he kicked a piece of stone on the ground making a grunt noise.

ELLA: "Ahhh..."

JUSTIN: "Also I ran into Ken after that. He gave me something..." he showed her a piece of their exhibit ticket "...he said I should check it out..."

ELLA: "Pumasok ka sa loob?" dinig niya ang pagkabog ng dibdib nang tumango si Justin. She turned her head away from him to hide her blushing face.

JUSTIN: "Those are really good shots of me..." he smiled.

ELLA: "Thanks..."

JUSTIN: "Also I don't remember when you take them?" he laughed this time.

ELLA: "They we're candid shots..."

JUSTIN: "Ha ha! I know. I was just messing with you..." she can sense he's also uneasy with their situation. He seemed troubled about something "I'm sorry, Ella. For the way I treated you. For the way I disregard your efforts on this... for everything..." he said in a firm speed.

ELLA: "It's okay... I'm just glad you're here..."

JUSTIN: "Hindi. Hindi 'yon okay. Kung naintindihan ko kung ganno ka importante 'to'ng araw na 'to para sa'yo..."

ELLA: "I like you, Justin..." she said out of nowhere. She's as surprised as Justin after that. For some reason she's proud. It's a feeling she's never accomplished even to herself. Saying it out loud in front of him, made it more special.

ELLA: "I did all this because I like you..."

JUSTIN: "Ella..."

ELLA: "I know you don't see me the same way. But... I need to say it... I need to take my chance... So I'd know to move on or what..."

JUSTIN: "Wait! Anong move on agad?! I haven't even told you how I feel?"

ELLA: "What do you feel then?" her question made him paused for a while. Nang maubusan siya ng pasensiya ay akma siyang papasok sa loob.

JUSTIN: "Why can't we just get back to how things were before?" he reached for her arm.

ELLA: "I already confessed to you, Justin! It's not the same anyomore. I can't that back either!"

JUSTIN: "Well I don't know..." he sigh deeply "...I was just... my heart was just broken today. And the only person I want to see to forget about was you..." Justin slowly made loose of her hands but remained next to her.

ELLA: "So that's how things are going to be? You only look at me when you get dumped?"

JUSTIN: "No! If anything getting dumped is all I needed to see you... clearly... more than how I used to...." He kept on catching her eyes. Pero hindi niya alam kung anong mangyayari kung hindi siya umiwas roon.

She don't know what to do. Masaya siya at nakausap niya muli si Justin makaraan ang ilang linggo'ng walang balita rito. She felt safe again. He's back. She regretted saying her feelings. She would have continue to be his friend kung hindi lang niya iyon nasabi.

She kinda get him in that sense. She only made it worst.

ELLA: "I left my phone inside..." sabi niya at nilagpasan ito "...if you could wait for me. Let's go get some ice cream after. Sabay na tayo'ng umuw kung gusto mo..."

Justin smiled. Tumango lang ito at wala nang sinabi pa.

He waited for her. Went to the nearest store, then straight home. No words were said on their walk sa kalsada palapit sa bahay nila.

Ella opened the gate of their house. Glared at Justin one more time. Ngumiti lang ito ulit sa kaniya.

JUSTIN: "I've missed you..." he stared in sincerity after his words "Goodnight..."

--- END OF PART 5: Illuminating Affection ---