Catching Ashes (Dream #1)

Chapter 33

Shaine:
ready na cramming ko, ngayon palang ako magri-review

Me:
(2) ang aga ng 6AM bukas baka 'di ako magising ng maaga huhu

Jastine:
goodluck sa inyo gurls, hwaiting!

Sa aming lima, si Jastine lang ang hindi nag-apply. Mag-a-abroad naman daw siya kaya hindi na niya kailangan.

I was about to continue reviewing nang pumasok si Mama sa kwarto, may dala-dalang meryenda.

She often does this, and I genuinely appreciate it. I might not express my feelings overtly, but deep down, I know and feel how much they love me.

"Goodluck sa exam bukas Mazie," tugon niya.

Ngumiti ako. "Salamat Ma, sana nga makapasa."

"Ipagdasal natin 'yan."

Tuluyan na siyang lumabas ng kwarto. Habang nakatingin ako sa likod niya. Biglang bumalik ang alaala no'ng mga panahong nagkasakit ako.

She took care of me. During that time, I felt the nurturing care of a mother. Even when I wanted to be angry with them because they couldn't understand me, I realized, like me, they couldn't express their true emotions.

I know they also struggle seeing me overwhelmed with stress and sadness.

Family doesn't need to be perfect.

I finally realized that along the way.

Tomorrow comes at sobrang kabado ako ngayon. Buti nalang at maaga akong nagising kaya alas-singko y media palang ay nasa venue na ako.

Bawal akong ma-late, hindi ko pa alam ang magiging room ko.

"Excuse me, pwede magtanong?"

Natigil ako sa biglaang lumapit. Hindi ko kasama ang tatlo ngayon dahil iba iba kami ng apelyido at by alphabet ang mga rooms.

She's tall. May pagka-morena ang beauty niya. She's charismatic, I can say.

"I'm Yna, tatanong ko lang sana if saan ang room ng mga 'H' na apelyido?"

We have the same surname initial.

I smiled at her. "Iyan din ang hindi ko alam," tugon ko halatang nagbibiro.

Napatawa naman siya.

"Tara sabay na tayong maghanap?" biglaang aya niya.

Napatango naman agad ako dahil mas mabuti ng may kasama. We talked a little. Nalaman kong Engineering din pala siya at irregular din. Magkaiba lang kami ng subject na binabalikan.

Magkaiba lang pala kami ng section dati kaya hindi ko siya masyado nakikita at nagka-pandemic pa.

Magaan ang loob ko sa kanya at agad din kaming nagkasundo. I'm surprised, she's into k-pop and she used to read books. Mostly, wattpad books.

May binabasa nga siyang story ngayon at sobrang nagustuhan raw niya. Hindi niya akalaing sa story na 'yon ay mabibigyan ng hustisya ang second lead.

I feel like reopening the Wattpad app. I uninstalled it to stay focused, but maybe after I finish this exam, I'll reinstall it.

I was about to ask for the title of that story when the exam started.

The test papers were promptly distributed, each with separate shaded papers for us to complete.

I focused on it, prioritizing the categories I was more confident in. In the last hour, I hurriedly shaded some without much thought.

I can say I answered many, but I'm unsure about some.

I just hope I passed.

I bid farewell to Yna nang makita ang tatlo.

"Kamusta gurls? Tingin n'yo maipapasa n'yo?" bungad ni Freza.

Nina shrugged. "Maybe yes maybe no. Tamang hula lang ako e. Huwag na nga natin pag-usapan. Hintay nalang tayo ng resulta. Gutom na'ko."

We all agreed; I was hungry too. We chose to eat at Jollibee to reward ourselves for taking the exam.

In my mind, I also wanted to bring my family here if I pass. I want to celebrate with them. It's too sad to think that they haven't been to this fast-food place yet, and I want to be the first person to treat them here.

It will take a few more months before the results are out, and I'm just waiting while being busy with reviewing again.

The second semester has started, and the remaining subjects are a bit challenging. Only three left, but they have hefty units.

Sana kayanin ko 'to.

Konti nalang. Konting-konti nalang.

Then suddenly, I remember Yna and the Wattpad thing. I immediately install the app and open my long-forgotten account.

But upon opening it, I take back what I said about it being neglected.

'Cause it blooms.

2 million notifications.

How on earth did that happen?

I stare at the profile section in a panicked frenzy, making sure I've really opened my own account.

And it is. It really is.

I'm almost out of breath just going through the section.

Maze
@mazerilingisip
works | reading lists | followers
1 | 0 | 1.1M

I rush to my story and freeze as I see the number of reads. How did they discover my story? I can't believe this is happening.

5.8M reads.