The one

3. My Shining Star

"Tumakbo ako..." 

Aiko was talking to herself again in front of the mirror the morning after the Revery Records' party. She sighed. Ang dami-daming gulong nangyari nang gabing iyon. Ang inaakala niyang simpleng proposal party para kay Jenny ay naging isang magulong boxing show. 

Yes, that night turned out to be a boxing show when his ex-boyfriend - Calen Ronaldo and his twin brother Cale Ronaldo got physical. She couldn't belive how damaged the other twin was. She sighed ang hindi niya lang kasi maintindihan ay kung bakit nangyari iyon? After that - after Calen - the gray eyed brother left - Caleb turned to her. Hindi niya alam kung anong naramdman niya ng mga sandaling iyon. Nanunumbat ang mga mata ni Caleb sa kanya at nagtataka siya sa bagay na iyon. Bakit magagalit ito sa kanya? She was the one who was supposed to be mad, niloko siya nito - we'll technically, he didn't cheat on her - break na sila noon so there was no cheating that occured but she was really hoping he'll stay true to his words, pero nagpakasal ito sa iba... 

She hated him - until now, she hated him for that. Ilang baldeng luha ang iniiyak niya para dito, ilang gabi siyang hindi makatulog thinking about him and the new life he had with that woman he chose to marry. Masakit sa parte niya dahil umasa siya sa pangakong nito pero alam rin niyang may kasalanan siya. Kung hindi sana niya iniwan si Caleb noon marahil ay masaya pa sila. 

Kung sabagay ay hindi rin niya masasabi ang mangyayari, all she knew was that Caleb married another woman and that pained her like hell. 

She was still looking at the mirror when she realized that her tears were falling, she smiled sadly. Seven years pero hindi nagamot ang sakit. She sighed again while wiping her tears. Binuksan niya ang gripo at saka naghugas ng kamay, after that, lumabas na siya ng rest room at muling naglakad sa university. She was feeling so hollow. 

"Aiko!" Napatigil siya sa paglalakad, when she turned her head she saw Rafael Alvarez running towards her. 

"Mr. Alvarez." she smiled. 

"Miss. Nakashima." wika nito sabay tumawa. She smiled too. "Oo nga pala, gusto mong lumabas mamaya?" 

"Monday night ah, bakit lalabas ka?" Tanong niya. 

"Prelims week na sa Wednesday, baka gusto mo munang mag-unwind."

"Unahin ang unwinding sa stress? That's a good idea!" she said. 

"So you're in?" He asked. 

"Sure... Pick me up at seven? Alam mo iyong bahay ko diba?" 

"Yup! I'll see you..." wika nito sabay umalis. She was still smiling, may date siya mamaya kay Rafael alvarez - the hottest Biology Professor in the University. 

Oo nga at broken hearted siya - for almost seven years - pero hindi masama kung mag-mo-move on na siya hindi ba? It's time to let go of Caleb's memories. Hindi naman niya pwedeng panghawakan ang bagay na iyon dahil lang sa pangakong binitiwan nito na hindi naman natupad. Hindi niya ikukulong ang sarili niya sa isang bagay na wala na. Kailangan naman niya sigurong mag-move on. Wala naman na sila ni  Caleb, matagal na so what's the point of waiting?

Wala... 

So that evening she got dressed - hindi naman bongga - iyong tama lang. She wore her best jeans and her good looking yellow lacey sleeveless bluouse with matching white cardigan. She looked at heself and smiled. 

"Ang ganda mo talaga, Aiko!" natatawang sabi niya. 

At exactly seven o'clock, may kumatok sa pinto niya. Nakangiting binuksan niya iyon. Naroon na si Mr. Alvarez at kasama nito si Mr. Sandejas - iyong P.E. teacher sa university nila.