Could Have Been Better (Crush Series #2)

Chapter 30

"Yes, anak. I'm not entirely knowledgeable about the business that he's into right now but I know that it's successful. Marami rin ang humanga sa Tito Enrico mo at sa dedikasyon niya. There are a lot of investors. Actually, I am one of them," paliwanang niya at nahimigan ko ang pagmamalaki.

"Naalala ko pa kasi noon nung sobrang frustrated si Tito Enrico," napapangiti ako habang sinasabi ang mga bagay na naalala ko mula sa nakaraan.

Nakakatuwang hindi lang sakit ang dulot nito ngunit may mga masasaya rin pala. A lot of things have changed. Karamihan siguro ng mga pagbabago ay para sa ikabubuti ng lahat.

We talked more about our plans. Mom said that I should fix everything that I will be leaving here. My job at the bookstore and my friends were just some of the things that I have to settle. Mahirap iwan ang nakasanayan lalo na at naging parte ito ng aking buhay ng mga lumipas na taon.

Kumalembang ang maliit na bell ng bookstore nang pumasok ako rito. This bookstore was the one who helped me financially when I was struggling to finish college. Yes, I had the help of my parents but I didn't want to ask all my needs to them. I also want to learn how to earn my own money that time that's why I continued working here even when I started studying.

Nakakalungkot dahil isa ito sa mga maiiwan ko.

But leaving wasn't really hard. Agad na pumayag ang aking amo na si Mrs. Jones sa pag-alis ko. She said she was already expecting that I will leave one I graduated. Nagtaka nga siya ngunit nagpasalamat din dahil nanatili ako kahit nakapagtapos na ako. She wished me luck and happiness. Iyon rin sana ang nais ko para sa aking sarili.

I was really sad but happy at the same time when I left the bookstore. Mrs. Jones even gave me a limited edition classic book as a gift. Ipinangako ko sa kaniya na isasama ko ito sa aking pag-uwi at habang buhay na aalagaan.

"Where are you?" Rhyna asked me when I called her.

I told her that I have something important to tell her and she insisted to see me instead of me going to her.

"I just got out of the bookstore," I answered while walking down the street.

"Just go to the nearest coffee shop," she said. "I just need to settle some documents for my boss and then I'll meet you. I'll be there in thirty minutes," she mumbled and ended the call.

Malapit lang naman ang workplace ni Rhyna rito sa bookstore kung saan siya ay nagpa-part time din.

Sinunod ko ang kaniyang gusto. Pumunta ako sa malapit na coffee shop na madalas naming puntahan noong sabay pa kaming umuuwi galing sa bookstore. This was just one of my favorite places to go to here in the city. Isa ito sa mga comfort zone ko noon. Sometimes, I go straight here with a book that I borrowed from our bookstore and read it while drinking a plain black coffee. Nakasanayan ko nang gawin iyon mula nang ituro iyon sa akin ni Rhyna. She said it was always nice to read a book with a coffee beside you. And after I did that for the first time, it became my habit.

Habang hinihintay si Rhyna ay pinag-iisipan ko naman kung paano ko ito sasabihin kay Kavan. He was also special to me. He was my only guy friend here in the states but he managed to be one of the most important people to me. Kahit na nahirapan akong pakisamahan siya sa mga lumipas na buwan dahil sa kaniyang pag-amin ng nararamdaman sa akin ay espesyal pa rin siya sa puso ko.

It was funny that I have to do it again. Ang mang-iwan ng mga kaibigan. But this one was different because they will know about it and I will be able to say my farewell to them. Iyon ang bagay na ipinagdamot ko noon at ayoko nang ulitin ngayon.

With that thought, I decided to just simply text Kavan. Just like what I said to Rhyna, I told him to meet me tonight because I have something important to tell him. Hindi pa lumilipas ang isang minuto ay may sagot na siya sa mensahe ko.