All the Love that Stayed

Chapter 3 - Spaces between Waiting

It's sports day.

I line up at the starting line, my heart racing-not with fear, but with excitement. The whistle blows, and I sprint. My legs pump faster than I thought possible. The wind whips past my face. I hear the cheers of the kids and teachers around me

I cross the finish line first. I'm winning. My chest heaves, but my smile stretches wide and unstoppable.

Nakita ko si Aster. Nanonood pala siya kasama ang iba pang student teachers sa secondary. Ang puso ko biglang kumalog nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin.

Ngumiti siya sa akin, at pumapalakpak.

I grin back at her, feeling that familiar warmth spread through my chest.

May usapan kami na kakain sa labas after ng klase.

"Okay lang ba kung karinderya muna tayo?" tanong niya, hawak ang menu ng isang maliit na tindahan sa kanto. "Bawi ako next time."

Sa loob-loob ko, this is enough. It doesn't need to be fancy. Just her, this table, this moment.

The space is small, intimate. The scent of grilled food and fried snacks drifts in the air. I slide into the chair, feeling a flutter of anticipation as she sits across from me.

"Kumusta araw mo?" tanong niya habang hinihila ang maliit na baso ng malamig na inumin papalapit sa akin.

"Ayos lang... medyo nakakapagod, pero okay," sagot ko, ngumingiti.

"So, anong pinagkakaabalahan mo bukod sa pag-aaral? Are you working?" tanong ko.

Ngumiti siya, medyo nahihiya. "Ah, oo... sumasideline ako sa burger stand sa kanto. Tinutulungan ko sila magluto at mag-serve ng orders," paliwanag niya.

Burger stand? that's actually kind of cute.

"Ah ganun pala... ang galing mo naman,"

"Ok na rin. Nakakabawi rin sa extra expenses, tsaka natututo rin ako habang ginagawa," she adds, shrugging casually.

"Wow... I respect that. At least, while waiting to graduate, I know you're surviving and thriving," sabay ngiti ko.

"Ikaw ba?" balik niyang tanong sa akin, curious.

"Wala pa... I don't work yet," sagot ko. "Being a teacher has always been a dream of mine. I want to give everything to it first, before anything else."

She nods, eyes bright with interest. "Ahhh, ganun pala... so this is really what you want to do."

"Yeah," I add, my fingers tracing the edge of my plate. "It feels like my purpose, like I'm finally doing something that really matters to me. And... I hope one day, I can make a difference the way I always imagined."

She smiles, genuinely. "That's amazing. I like that you know what you want. Not everyone does."

"Thanks... it means a lot," I whisper, almost shyly.

From that day on, we gradually start eating together during lunch breaks.

It starts casually-sometimes she's waiting outside the classroom, sometimes I catch her near the canteen. A shared table becomes our little ritual.

Little by little, it stops feeling like just lunch. It feels like ours-a small corner of the day where nothing else matters but her, me, and these simple moments.

Sumahod siya noon, at binilhan niya ako ng bouquet. Maliit lang, pero parang nagdala ng liwanag sa buong araw ko.

"Hindi ka na dapat nag-abala pa," sabi ko, bahagyang naiilang habang hawak ang mga bulaklak.

Ngumiti siya, medyo nahihiya. "Gusto ko lang... I saw it and naisip kita," she says softly.

Her thoughtfulness... it's overwhelming in the sweetest way.

"Thank you... talaga. Sobrang na-touch ako," I admit, my voice soft.

She shrugs lightly, looking away, pretending it's casual, but I see the warmth in her eyes. I wish I could freeze this moment...

Naging busy kami pero naglalaan kami ng time para sa isa't isa. Kahit simpleng lunch breaks, o mga maiikling kwentuhan pagkatapos ng klase, pinapahalagahan namin ang bawat sandali. And slowly, those small moments started meaning more than I ever expected.

After a few casual dates finally, she looks at me one afternoon, her eyes serious but soft.

"Gusto mo ba... mag date tayo officially?" she asks, biting her lip nervously.

My heart stops for a second. Officially? Like, this is really happening?

"Of course," I reply, unable to hide the smile spreading across my face.

I've been waiting for this without even knowing it. Just her asking makes everything feel... right.

She grins, relief flashing in her eyes. "Okay, good. I was hoping you'd say yes."

And just like that, what started as casual, simple moments grew into something real. Something that felt like the beginning of us, officially.