And there was you (Invisible Strings #1)

Chapter 1 - Lovelife?

"Next week? Ano bang araw?"

"Around Tuesday yata? Mag pa-off ka na!"

"Wow, akala mo ang dali lang ah." I rolled my eyes at her and sighed. "Susubukan ko, pero hindi pa ako sure."

"Ate ko, please mag punta ka na! Importante ang existence mo ro'n." Her boisterous laughed can be heard despite my low volume. Binigyan ko naman siya ng tingin. Ano bang sinasabi nito?

"Anong importante? Baka nga hindi na ako kilala ng mga iyon." Lalo na't hindi naman ako palakaibigan noong highschool. Madalas kasi tahimik lang ako at walang kibo. Mataray tuloy ang tingin nila palagi sa'kin.

"Basta! Importante ka roon. Kaya huwag na huwag ka mawawala ah!" Kumunot na nang malalim ang noo ko. Bakit ba kung makangiti ang isang ito, parang may isang bagay siyang alam na hindi ko alam?

"Titingnan ko nga! At bakit ba ganyan ka kung makangiti? Para kang tanga."

"Kinikilig kasi ako." Tumawa na siya ng tuluyan na parang kinikiliti. Hala? "My God, this is really so K-drama coded!"

"Ay ewan ko sa'yo, hindi kita ma-gets. Babye na nga!" Tinapos ko na ang tawag bago pa siya makapag salita ulit. I then opened my email app when I noticed a new notification popped up. It was an invitation for the said highschool reunion Grethel just mentioned to me and it was directly send by the president of the student organization from our batch.

You are invited to the 20xx-20xx Highschool Class Reunion Batch 20xx.

Hi, batch mate! Your participation is highly important on our upcoming grand reunion.

When: January 20, 20xx
Where: Fikape Restaurant
Theme: None. Just wear your best dress and you're good to go na po. Kahit naka-pambahay ka, okay na okay lang po. (Pero syempre joke lang iyon, kahit formal man lang mga batch mates.)

Hoping to see you all soon, there. Let's reminisce our high school life together!

I scrolled down further until I read his name at the very end.

Lucas Alejandro Benitez.

Binasa ko muli ang buong email niya, hanggang ngayon pala nandoon pa rin ang pagiging palabiro niya. Lucas was known to be this kind of playful despite him being the president of the whole student organization before. Kasi kahit maloko, responsable naman at maasahan lalo na sa mga school activities. Tanda ko pa na noon, halos lahat ng school clubs na sinalihan niya kabilang na ang sa'kin, siya ang gusto gawing club president. He was that popular among the students and teachers. Para siyang favorite child ng lahat.

Maraming kaibigan. Maraming kakilala. At wala rin akong narinig na kahit minsan ay nakaaway niya. He was just that good with people.  

And looking at it now, I guest he didn't change much except for his looks. I thought as I stared at his profile picture where he was wearing his work uniform. He'd gone to flying school after senior high school in Manila to pursue aeronautical engineering. And last year I heard he passed the board exams! I even saw his post, and the congratulatory message for him from our other classmates. Gusto ko nga rin sana mag comment kaya lang nahiya naman ako kasi hindi naman kami close masyado.

I've talk to him a few times before during a class presentation, and other times when we have club or school activities, but that's just it. I doubt he even remembers me nor my name.

Another sound from my phone brought me back to reality. May nag add pala sa'kin sa isang group chat.

Batch Reunion 20xx