Between Numbers and Compassion (On-Going)

CHAPTER 2

See you when I see you

Months have passed and I haven't seen him again. I was so busy with my acads that I didn't have time to think about him. I knew that I like Peter, but I also knew what I felt for him since the first year of college was infatuated. I just like having a crush because it's boring if it's all about academics. I also knew that my mother won't agree if I have a boyfriend while finishing my bachelor's degree. Papauwiin talaga ako.

"Ready na mga dadalhin mo pauwi sa Davao? We'll go after our lunch." Rhialla informed me.

"Yup, I'll bring my maleta." I know I'll only spend 20 days sa Davao kasi babalik din kami agad for enrollment.

"Bakit maleta? Feel na feel mo talaga na uuwi na parang galing abroad ah?" She teased me.

"Feel ko lang may hahatak hatakin eh." I used a luggage because I brought all the dresses I love. Alam ko na marami kaming pupuntahan na lugar for this Christmas breaks. I don't want to wear plain shirts and all kapag aalis. Dapat maganda ootd ko sa lahat ng gala.

"Gaga ka! Ang hirap kaya kapag may dalang maleta sa bus!" Umirap siya sa akin.

"Kung makapagsalita ka parang hindi din luggage dadalhin mo ah?" Mapanuksong tanong ko. I saw her luggage downstair. Tumawa lang siya.

Kami nalang ni Rhialla ang natira dahil ang ibang friends namin ay umuwi na kahapon.

After eating our lunch, we headed to CMU main gate. Doon kami sa labas maghihintay ng bus. Ang daming students na naghihintay dahil Christmas break na.

Ang hirap makasakay! Para kaming mga zombies na tatakbo sa bus na hihinto upang makipag-unahan. Tangina, sana magkajowa na si Rhialla ng may sasakyan. Ang hirap naman nito. Pwede naman kaming pagpasundo sa mga parents namin pero pinapanindigan kasi namin pagiging independent namin. This is the life that I want.

When we finally settle down sa bus, we paid for our pamasahe. I put my earphones and listened to my favorite music. I can easily sleep as long as may music.

I felt someone poking me. I open my eyes and remove my earphones. I looked outside and saw that we were still in Quezon. When I saw Rhialla, parang bad mood siya.

"What?" I asked her kasi dapat tulog din to. She usually sets her alarm for 3 hours in order for us to sleep and hindi lumagpas sa mga bababaan namin.

"Malas, nasiraan ang bus na sinasakyan natin. Kailangan natin bumaba." Fuck? Ang hirap na ngang makasakay kanina, tapos nasiraan pa?

"Anong mangyayari sa atin? Should we just call nalang para magpasundo?" I asked her. I know ayaw niya din magpasundo dahil she asked for this. Hindi din sana siya papayagan na sa University na ito din siya mag aral dahil gusto ng magulang niya na sa Ateneo nalang siya mag aral. But, she wanted to experience what her mother experience. Dito nagtapos ang mommy niya sa University na ito.

"Ayoko, alam mo naman na sa oras na pinili ko na sa school na ito, ako na lahat." Sabi niya at umirap.

Tita Melly provided what Rhialla need such as money and all. Pero sabi niya hindi siya susunduin kapag uuwi.

" I don't want to call for help, also." When I chose this University, I wanted to prove to mama and papa na I can do this. I can go home without them fetching me. I love the independence I have been experiencing.

We went to the driver of the bus and asked him what's going to happen next. They said na may papuntang bus na galing Maramag and hindi marami daw bababa sa Quezon.

While waiting sa gilid ng daan, may huminto na sasakyan sa harapan namin. When the car window rolled down, I saw him. I haven't seen him for 4 months!

"Hi, Derchey! Why are you here?" Masayang tanong niya. Fuck! He remembers me!