Hate The Game (COMPLETED)

Epilogue (Part 2)

The day went well—as well as it could be. I attended my class. I put my phone on DND. Hindi pa ako nagsasabi sa kanila na hindi ako aattend sa ini. Kapag nagsabi ako nang maaga, hahanap sila ng paraan para mapa-punta ako roon. I figured I'd just tell them the very last minute. Malalaki na sila. Kaya na nila 'yon.

"Di ka ba talaga pupunta?" Iñigo asked nang makasalubong ko siya sa hallway.

"Pupunta," I said, lying.

Tumingin lang siya sa akin na para bang alam niya na nagsisinungaling ako. "Paano kapag maraming umattend na alumni?"

"Wala. Busy daw sila."

"Paano nga kapag?"

Hindi ako nakasagot agad. A part of me wanted to go... because I was actually terrified of what could happen kapag wala kami nila Lui para pigilin iyong mga alumni kapag sumusobra na sila. Pero bakit palagi na lang kami? Hindi lang naman kami iyong member ng frat.

"Kaya niyo na 'yan," I just said and then tapped him on the shoulder.

I tried to get the initiation rites out of my mind. I needed to focus on my girlfriend. Birthday niya ngayon. I wanted to give all my attention on her because she deserved that and so much more for sticking around even when it was so hard to be with me.

I didn't want her to think that being with me is a sacrifice... I promised myself that I'd do better. I'd go inactive sa frat. I'd just focus on acads. I'd do well on the BAR. I'd find a great job. I'd marry her someday and then eventually start a family with her.

That's the plan.

And it starts with me letting go of the frat.

Pagdating namin sa restaurant, nakita ko kung gaano kasaya si Deanne. I knew that the past weeks... or maybe months have been hard. Gusto ko lang naman siya pasayahin. Kagaya nung dati. Kasi alam ko na masaya naman kami dati. Kaya naman sigurong ibalik.

Ayokong sumuko.

Ayokong sukuan kami.

"Para na akong puputok sa suot ko," sabi niya.

"Ayaw mo ng kumain?" I asked dahil may dessert pa kami.

"Gusto ko pa... pero ang laki na ng tiyan ko," she said and the pointed at her stomach. She was wearing a fitted dress. She looked... wow.

I see Deanne everyday—I mean, I try to see her every day. Sanay ako na makita siya sa kahit anong itsura niya. Madalas, simple lang iyong suot niya lalo na kapag sa school kami. Kapag hell week, nakikita ko kung gaano kagulo iyong buhok niya pati iyong eyebags niya. Kapag nasa mood siya, nakikita ko na puno ng makeup iyong mukha niya.

Honestly? I love all versions.

Kasi kahit ano naman itsura niya sa panlabas, I fell in love with what's on the inside. Kaya kahit ano man ang itsura niya, gugustuhin ko pa rin siya nang paulit-ulit.

"You look fine."

She wrinkled her nose. "Kasi in love ka sa akin."

Humalakhak ako. "That, yes," I said, "But honestly, you look great to me. But if you feel uncomfortable, may coat ako sa sasakyan," I told her. "Kunin ko tapos pwede mong isuot."

She nodded and then I told the waiter na pwede ng i-serve iyong sa dessert. While waiting, we were talking about random things. I love talking with her—hindi kami nauubusan ng pag-uusapan. And even when we don't have anything to talk about or we're not in the mood or we just didn't have energy to talk, okay na kami basta magkasama kami.

I just didn't want to let her go.

And couldn't even if I wanted to.

I went on for years searching for someone like her... and now that I finally found her, I just couldn't let her go just like that.