Stef's POV
It's been days mula nang magkita ulit kami ni Lorence pero hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin siya tumatawag. Mukhang nakalimot na nga talaga siya. These past few years na nasa States ako, tuwing may okasyon lang siya tumatawag. Birthday, Christmas... Ni hindi ko nga alam na wala na si Tita. The way I see it, ang laki na talaga ng pinagbago. May girlfriend na siya... Mukhang nakapagmove-on na nga talaga siya... Wala na nga talaga ako siguro para sa kanya.
I'm now here with my High School friends, reunion daw kasi. Hindi nakapunta si Lorence. Ang sabi nila, kasama raw si Cheska. I was quite surprised na kilala nila si Cheska. Oo nga pala, sila na. At first, I was excited to see everyone since 3 years na rin mula nang huli kaming nagkita-kita. Kaya lang, parang kulang talaga. I was kind of "Out of Place" since hindi ako maka-relate sa mga pinag-uusapan nila. They kept on asking me things, sumasagot naman ako kaya lang, medyo nakakaramdam ako ng awkwardness. I felt like I don't belong anymore.
Then I sensed someone arriving... Someone familiar... Someone who used to be the greatest part of my life... Someone who used to be my life...
Aaron: Am I late?
Dina: Aaron!
George: Bakit ngayon ka lang?! Kanina ka pa namin hinihintay!
Aaron: Hahaha! Pasensya na, na-traffic ako eh.
As he greeted everyone, our eyes met. Bigla akong kinabahan... His eyes... Ganun na ganun pa rin ang mga mata niya.
Aaron: Stef...
I gave him a smile. I was trying to avoid his gaze but the more na iniiwasan ko, the more na napapatingin ako sa kanya. We haven't seen each other for 3 years ever since we broke up. No closure, no goodbyes... nothing at all. Then all of the sudden, magkikita kami in an unexpected event. Hindi ko inakalang darating siya. I felt that all eyes are on me. Nararamdaman siguro nila na lalo akong nailang mula nang dumating si Aaron.
This is the most uncomfortable moment of my life. Hindi ako makakilos. Hindi ako makapagsalita. All these conscious feeling of mine are holding me back. Aaron is somehow happy chatting with his close friends. Ako? I was left here with no one to talk to. Actually, meron naman akong pwedeng kausapin... But I don't have the guts to open to anyone. I badly needed Lorence right at this moment. Siya lang ang nalalapitan ko sa mga ganitong sitwasyon... Siya lang ang nakakaintindi sa akin.
End of Stef's POV
Aaron's POV
I'm having these second thoughts kung pupunta ba ako o hindi sa reunion. I just received a message from one of my High School friends na hindi makakapunta si Lorence. That may be a sign. Maybe I must go to the reunion. Pagdating ko sa venue, I saw these faces. I can't imagine na marami pala ang nagpunta. Iba talaga ang High School barkada. I greeted them one by one... until I saw her...
Aaron: Stef...
She gave me a smile. An awkward one. It's been 3 years... 3 hard and long years. Kahit na alam kong nakauwi na siya from States dahil nakita ko siya sa restaurant, I never knew that she'll come. It's been awkward. I know. I just pretend that I'm enjoying while having these chats with few friends. I kept on looking at her. Sobrang tahimik niya. Nag-flashback tuloy 'yung mga memories namin dati. Tuwing galaan ng barkada, isa siya sa pinakamaingay at pinakamakulit. Sa'kin lang naman siya sweet eh kasi alam niyang malakas ako magselos.
Tony: Oh, anong nginingiti-ngiti mo dyan?
Aaron: H-Ha? Ahh... Wala. Hahaha.
Nomer: Kamusta na pala kayo ni Lorence? Nag-uusap na ba kayo?
I noticed na narinig kami ni Stef. Napalingon siya sa'min.
Aaron: 'Yun? Ahh... Hindi pa rin eh.
