Reena's POV
"So mom told me you're going back to the States? And she was happy to hear about it?"
"Yep. Why wouldn't she be happy about it? The only reason why she wanted me back here was because wala pa akong plano sa buhay ko noon. She just wanted be to be stable before she let me out of her leash." I told Kuya. Nandito ako sa bahay ngayon. Not in the condo but in my mom's house. We're in the kitchen having coffee.
"I'm happy na may patutunguhan na yang buhay mo ngayon. But aren't you rushing into it? Nakausap mo na ba si Kevin tungkol dito?"
Here we go.
"Yep,"
"And what did he say?" Kuya asked.
I haven't seen him in days. I've lost count. He hasn't tried to call me or approach me for that matter. So I don't know..
"Let me ask you a question, Kuya. Put yourself in my shoes. Given this big opportunity when you least expect it and you didn't even put an effort into it but it came to you. Call me corny, but I call it destiny. And then your boyfriend wants you to pass it up and for some reason you just can't. Kuya, I want this. I love him but I can't sacrifice again for him." I held my breath for a while and sighed.
"I won't judge you, Ree. Kung yan ang gusto mo then by all means, go for it. Nobody can stop you dahil kahit naman noon pa, hindi ka na nagpapapigil. I just wish you would fix this with Kev. Did you already break up?"
"Yeah. At hindi ko alam kung maaayos pa namin to." It kills me to even say that phrase but it's the truth whether I want it or not.
He just sighed.
"Hey, masyado na atang seryoso usapan niyo ah." Ate Nadine entered the room kasama si Niel.
I just smiled, "akin na nga muna tong pamangkin ko." Sabi ko saka ko binuhat si Niel.
"Did you miss tita, baby?" I kissed him saka ko siya dinala sa garden.
A week later...
"Are all your papers ready? You're prepared to leave?" Andy asked me.
We're skyping at the moment dahil wala na talaga akong iba pang makausap. I can't call Carlo dahil baka magkakasama lang sila nila Kev or I don't know.
"My papers are complete. Ready na ba ako? Maybe. I guess we'll have to see next week." I faked a smile.
"Nagdadalawang isip ka ba?
"I know that I want this. Pero hindi ko mapigilan na hindi siya isipin. Matatawag bang pagdadalawang isip yun?"
"I don't know but if he really loves you, I think he would at least try and understand you." She said in a comforting voice.
"Yeah, well. He wouldn't so there's no point."
She sighed, "just follow you heart and go by what you know is right. Wala namang masama kung iisipin mo rin yung sarili mo paminsan minsan."
I smiled, "thank you for this, Andy."
"You don't need to thank me you brat. We're best friends. Matitiis ba kita?" She smiled at biglang dumating si Mike sa likod niya.
"Hey babe," he kissed Andy on the cheeks at hindi ko maiwasang maiba ng tingin. I'm glad they found a way into each other's hearts.
"Hi Reena! Kumusta na?" Mike asked me.
"I'm great. You?"
"Perfect." Looking adorably at Andy while he said it.
Why can't my life be as simple as that? Haaay.
Biglang nagring yung phone ko, tumatawag si Kuya.
"Guys, I gotta take this. I'll talk to you both again sometime." Paalam ko
"Sure, ree. Bye." They waved their hands.
"Bye, see you soon." I smiled and motioned a flying kiss in the screen of my laptop before closing it.
I answered my phone, "yes kuya?"
"Can you pick up Niel from school today? May meeting pa ako eh. May pinuntahan din ang ate mo."
"Sure kuya. Shouldn't be a problem."
"Thanks, I owe you one."
"No problem kuya. Bye,"
"Bye,"
After talking to Kuya, nagbihis na ako agad. I grabbed my keys and I'm out the door.
Bumaba na ako ng parking lot at nagpunta ng school ni Niel. It's a 20 minute drive. Sana lang walang traffic.
While driving, I played the playlist composing of Little Mix songs on my phone.
Towers is playing nung makarating ako ng school ni Niel. Nagpark ako on the nearest spot sa gate tsaka ako pumasok ng school nila and I spot him right away. Nakaupo lang siya with his bag on his back and his legs swinging.
"Niel," tinawag ko siya saka lumapit.
His face glowed nung makita niya ako, "Hi tita," he greeted me.
"Hiii, how's my baby? Can I have a kiss?" I smiled.
"Mmmmmmmmwaaa," he kissed me agad. I'm gonna miss this kid.
"Mmm, ang sarap naman ng kiss na yan. Do you wanna go home na or should we go to the mall first?" I smiled at him.
"Mall!" He excitedly said.
Kevin's POV
"Sa'n niyo ba gusto? Batangas na lang. Hindi masyadong hassle. Ilang oras lang drive." Suggestion ni Caloy.
Nasa Jollibee kami ngayon dahil tong mga ungas na to natripan kumain dito. We're currently planning a trip out of town. Kahit sa'n game lang kaya hinahayaan ko na lang silang magplano.
"Roadtrip pre. La Union-Baguio." Sabi naman ni JP
"Hassle. Hindi ako pwedeng mawala ng matagal." Sabi ko. Dad just handed me a new project and it should be done in just a month. He's giving me a lot of time, isn't he?
"Why? May mga ibang lakad ba kayo ni Reena?" tanong ni Bry."
"Wala. Marami lang akong tatapusing trabaho." I said in fact. Ayoko ng mapagusapan yung tungkol sa'min ni Reena dahil wala na rin namang point.
"So ano? Batangas na lang?" Tanong ni Bry
"Yeah. More convenient. I can be out for 3 days at most." I said.
"Okay, it's settled then. Batangas tayo bukas. Sino isasama niyo?" tanong ni Caloy.
"Chicks." Ngiti ni Bry.
"Sino magdadala ng auto?" Tanong ni JP.
"Yung van na lang namin. Kasya na tayo dun. Counted na yung mga chicks." -Bry.
Gagong to. Basta sa babae hindi pahuhuli.
"I'll drive my car. Baka malate ako." Sabi ko.
"Alam mo na ba directions papunta do'n?" tanong ni JP.
"Anong silbi ng GPS?"
"Sige. Bahay na lang bukas ah? Mga 9 am. Itawag mo na lang kay Reena, Kev." Sabi ni Bry.
"Kayo na. Sibat na ko. May gagawin pa ako." Sabi ko saka umalis na. I drove my car and went to the office. I might as well start the project that dad gave me.
Hindi ko alam kung nakakahalata ba sila na wala na kami ni Reena. Ayoko na ring magsalita tungkol dun. Malamang hindi na rin naman siya makakapunta bukas dahil marami na siyang aayusin, she's leaving next week already.
She doesn't want to stay and I'm done trying to convince her.
