Take Me Home (City Series #4)

Chapter Forty-Seven

"Congratulations to all the graduates!" the volleyball team all cheered in unison. Our captain, which was also my batchmate, made a small speech which left our younger years all teary-eyed.

Hindi ko alam kung naiiyak sila dahil aalis na kami ng volleyball team, o dahil lasing na silang lahat, pero hindi na ako aangal. Ilang buwan na rin naman naka-lipas since our graduation, pero ngayon lang ulit nag-sama sama kaming teammates.

"Graduate na tayo, sana naman graduate ka na rin sa kupal mong ex, 'no?" tanong sa akin ni Lizzy, 'yung dating libero namin.

I laughed. "Ako na nga nag-bibigay ng advice sa mga lovelife niyo, eh! Graduate na graduate na ako d'yan."

"Uy pero Ate Lia, ano pala balita sa lovelife mo? Wala pa rin talaga?!" tanong naman ni Cass, ang setter namin. "Sa ganda mong 'yan? Bawa't laro nga natin, may panibagong nagkaka-crush sa'yo!"

"Eh paano magkaka-boyfriend 'yan? Halata namang may nag-abangerz d'yan." Tumawa ang captain naming si Alyana. "Ano balita, Lia? Ipag-aantay mo ba talaga na maging residente 'yon?"

Umiling ako at ngumiti.

It's been.. more or less three years now since Z and I broke up, and I'm genuinely, truly at my happiest. With my self, my family, my friends, and..

Zeke knows what he means to me. He knows he's got a spot in my life. We just.. we aren't together. We're friends. We're there for one another whenever we need each other. I'm not stopping him from dating other girls, he's not stopping me from dating other guys, either. He's a really important person in my life who helped me through my dark times. He's the reason I'm so good at giving advice now. All those words of wisdom didn't go in vain.

I just want me to be fully okay once I do get in any kind of relationship. I don't really want to go in half-heartedly. And now, I'm honestly at the point where I'm trying to figure out my next move in life first before I get into anything. But I also do know that I'm almost at the point in my life where maybe.. just maybe.. maybe I'm ready.

The others started reminiscing with everything we went though as a team, especially this past year. It was our last year, so we really wanted to win BBEAL, considering we lost noong 3rd year kami. So each one of us trained harder than we did before.

As they all exchanged stories, I scanned the place and suddenly saw a very familiar face by the bar, sitting all alone, confused and.. lonely, I think.

I excused myself from my teammates and walked towards her. Once I saw her face, I immediately confirmed in my mind that it was indeed Natalia, one of the friends of Raffy and Vale. As far as I know, she's their Churchmate but met her through Claude. I met her through volleyball when I played for SAMCIS noong intrams namin nung first year kami.

"Um, just a glass of—"

"Oh my gosh, Natalia? Hi!"

She seemed surprised by my presence. I gave her a big smile. "Grabe! I didn't think this was your type of crowd!"

Medyo awkward ang tawa niya nung bigla ko nalang siyang niyakap. "It's.. I'm.."

I checked her expression and.. I knew that all too well. Mukhang isang pitik nalang, maiiyak na siya.

"Are you okay?" I asked. "You don't look okay."

Tears started welling up in her eyes and I immediately went in for another hug. Hindi ko man siya gaano ka-close, she's still a friend. And it sucks seeing her upset.

"Hala, okay lang 'yan," I said while patting her back.

I found a stool right beside her and tried to comfort her. It took a few minutes before she opened up, but when she did, it left me in shock. Hindi ko alam na sobrang tagal na pala niyang sinasarili ang mga problema niya at tinatago 'yon sa mundo.