#Wattys2023 Winner: Best Characters Award
❝This was probably what people meant when they said they disappeared into a moment.❞
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College exes Laurine Antoinette "Laurie" Navarro and Simeon Lee Aguirre didn't really expect to meet again. But with...
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❝Gone was the paralyzing fear of losing her.❞
— ❁ —
"GRABE, MAHAL na mahal kita, Lee!"
Lee hasn't heard his name that loud in a while. Kahit tatlong linggo lang siyang nawala at nagpahinga, kakaiba iyong kilig nang magsalubong ang tingin nila ng sumigaw. Nakangiti niyang itong kinawayan.
As he walked to the bar, his eyes searched for Charlotte. Nakaestasyon ito sa bandang pintuan, kasama si Sandro. He waved at them. Charlotte only raised her brows in response. Napaismid si Lee. Alam naman niyang siya ang may kasalanan.
Gayunpaman, hindi ibig sabihin niyon ay hindi na siya nakararamdam ng kirot sa tuwing iiwasan siya ni Charlotte. Others noticed it, too. Nagtataka na sina Jegs kung bakit nabawasan ang kadaldalan ni Charlotte.
"Isa nga pong baso ng beer." Sinenyasan ni Lee ang bartender. His phone vibrated. Upon checking the notification, his brows furrowed. Pangalan kasi ni Laurie ang bumungad sa kanya.
Habang binabasa ang text message, sumimsim siya ng beer.
Laurie: I apologize for messaging you this late but I jut wanted to clarify the details for tomorrow? Are we going to meet at the uni? Also, I hope you dont take it personally but I ned to leave early. Di ako pwedeng abutin ng 1 AM like before. May lakad kami ni Mal ng 9 AM so I have to be home around 12 MN. Laurie: *just Laurie: **don't Laurie: ***need
"Pucha, ang cute talaga." Kinailangang ibaba ni Lee ang basong muntik niyang matapon. Sighing, he hovered his finger on the conversation. He glanced at the time. Mag-aalas-dos na rin ng umaga.
Nangingiti niyang pinindot ang "call" button sa tabi ng pangalan ni Laurie. "Hi, sorry napatawag ako. Medyo nakainom na kasi ako. Baka puro typos ma-send ko. Lau, nand'yan ka pa ba?"
Laurie cleared her throat. "Right, sorry, I'm here. It's fine. Hindi pa naman ako inaantok."
"About pala sa gig bukas, 11 PM 'yong set ko kaya sure na 'di tayo aabutin ng 12 AM. Okay lang din kung gusto mong umuwi nang mas maaga."
"No, it's okay," mabilis nitong sabi sa kabilang linya. "Gusto kitang panoorin. Uh, so should we meet there? I'll probably leave the café around 7 PM. That way, may oras pa tayong maglibot."
Confusion would be an understatement to describe what he was feeling. Laurie was rambling. Rinig niya ang bawat katiting na pag-aalinlangan sa boses nito. Sa kabila ng pagkalito, hindi niya mapigilang matuwa. Lumalabas kasi ang pagiging metikuloso nito.
Back then, she would plan their important dates religiously. She felt frustrated whenever her plans would go awry, too.
Lee wanted to comment but he decided not to. Pagkatapos kasi noong nangyari sa birthday dinner nito, lumala ang pagkailang ni Laurie. Kada dadaan sila ni Theo sa café ay parang maiiyak ito. Malie told him not to worry anyway. He decided to heed that advice.
