Umaasa (Ba Sa Wala?)

chapter x i v : butterflies

[★★★]

Monday.

After two long and painfully longing days, Monday na din sa wakas..

I can't believe I'm actually saying these words right now, pero for the first time in my whole life, I was actually more than excited na mag-Monday na nga ulit.

Why Monday, you might ask?

Because Monday would be the day na magkikita na ulit kami--- Monday would be the day na makakasama ko na ulit si Vaughnn..

Vaughnn, he had been away from Manila during these past two days, dahil na nga din sa family gathering na nagkaroon nga sila.

That Friday night na pinatawag siya ng Mommy niya, plano na pala ng pamilya niya na magkita-kita at lumipad papuntang Bangui bilang selebrasyon sa pag-uwi ng Lola niya dito sa Pilipinas.

No lie, namimiss ko na siya. Masisi niya ba ako? Halos oras-oras, minu-minuto, o segu-segundo, tawag siya ng tawag sa akin. Paulit-ulit na nangungulit na namimiss niya daw umuwi ng Manila, o kaya naman ang makasama ulit ako.

I mean, how can you not miss such someone when almost every hour of the two days na nagkawalay nga kami, he would consistently update me with random texts, pictures and late night calls, constantly reminding me how much he already misses me?

I can't help myself. It feels like bawat update na ibinibigay niya sa akin, lalo lang akong nahuhulog--- pushing me to miss him even more.

As someone who, from time to time, suffers with overthinking even with the smallest fine print, na-appreciate ko sa kaniya 'yung consistency niya with assuring me that things would just be fine..

Way before ma-realize ko nga na nagugustuhan ko na naman siya, he never fails to give me those assurances I had always, and desperately needed.

With him, the constant anxiety I have within my mind that I already grew up with, slowly heals as he continues to give me his unending assurance..

Alas 5 na nga ng madaling araw noon, at kaunting ayos na nga lang ang ginagawa ko sa sarili ko bago bumaba ng sala at pumasok na sa school.

For the first time in my life, inaral ko talaga kahit kaunti kung paano gumamit at magsuot ng make-up..

Kaunting blush dito, kaunting liptint doon, I wanted to still look natural while also looking beautiful para sa muling pagkikita namin ni Vaughnn.

"My gosh.. Can't believe I'm actually doing all of this just for a man.."

Asar ko sa aking sarili habang tinititigan ang aking pigura nang panghuling beses sa harapan ng aking salamin, smiling as I was finally contented with the way I had looked.

..Magustuhan niya kaya 'tong side ng Yurii na 'to?

Heading downstairs, I was surprised to see Vaughnn, already sitting sa isa sa mga upuan sa aming hapagkainan, just casually talking to my Lola as they seem to have a serious discussion of their own.

..I thought sa school pa kami magkikita nito?

"Ohh! Yurii! Kanina ka pa hinihintay nito ni Vaughnn!"

"Bakit ba ang tagal mong magbihis, babae ka?"

Sigaw sa akin ng aking Lola matapos akong mapansing bumababa ng hagdan, Vaughnn's head immediately turning towards my direction matapos banggitin ni Lola ang pangalan ko.

"..Teka."

"Parang may iba yata sa mukha mo ngayon.."

"Make-up ba yang nasa mukha mo?"