𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄 (Completed)

Chapter 5 - Thanks

"Hi." Bati ko sa kanya. Umupo ako sa tabing upuan sa kabilang aisle. I flashed a small smile.

Hinubad niya ang isang earphone at bahagyang humarap sa akin, "Hey! Uh...have we met?" Tanong niya.

"Uh...yeah," Mahina kong sinabi, "We met weeks ago. I was uh...well, if you remember...uh—"

"Oh yeah, natandaan ko na!" Ngumiti siya, "I think you were the one with the stalker issue?"

"Oo, ako yun," Nahihiyang ngumiti ako pabalik, "Sorry pala ah at dinamay pa kita. And salamat na din."

"Buti naman at safe ka na. Sinusundan ka parin ba ng lalaking yun?"

"Hindi ko na siya nakita sa school so most definitely, hindi na niya ako sinusundan."

"That guy's a student?" Tanong niya.

"Yeah, same course pa nga kami eh."

"Damn! I guess stalking cases among college students is still prevalent. It's quite alarming."

It seems that he knows so much about what he's talking about. Tumango lang ako sa sinabi niya.

"By the way, how did you get my name right? I thought you were just gonna call me with a random name you could come up with. I was gonna go along with your plan, either way."

"You were wearing your school ID, nakita ko name mo."

"Ahh ganun pala," Sabi ni Trevor. This time, he completely took off both his earphones, "I was kinda confused 'coz iilan lang ang tumatawag sa akin ng Trevor."

Inangat ko ang aking kilay. Hinintay ko ang kasunod na sasabihin niya.

"People usually just call me TJ. But Trevor's nice too, sounds mature."

"Ako rin, if someone calls me by my first name, it's kinda uncomfortable for me lalo na kapag ka-edad ko lang. It sounds too formal, too mature. I prefer when people call me Van instead of Savannah." I blurted out, hindi ko na napigilan.

"Astig! Van sounds cool. Nice to meet you, Van!" Hindi niya inabot ang kanyang kamay, instead, tumango lang siya sa direksyon ko.

"Trev—I mean, TJ, narinig mo ba ako nung bumulong ako sa'yo nun?"

"Yeah I heard you. I kinda figured it out. Narinig ko din kasi ang pinagtatalunan niyo with that stalker guy."

"Paano 'yun? Eh naka-earphones ka 'nun? At tulog ka pa nun eh."

"Nah, I wasn't really asleep at that time, and I wasn't listening to anything. I just wear earphones so people don't disturb me."

Bahagyang tumalikod ako sa kanya dahil sa hiya, "Sorry, nadisturbo ba kita? I really shouldn't have—"

"No, it's okay. It's nice talking to you. Besides, I also wanted answers that night. Bigla ka nalang kasing umalis."

"Oh my god, I am so sorry! Hindi ko talaga sinadya yun."

"Okay lang, okay lang!" He put up an 'OK' sign.

"I was so scared that night. Umiyak ako once I knew I was safe. Akala ko mapapahamak na ako 'nun. I was lucky I had you that night," Sabi ko sa kanya na medyo paos ang boses, "Thank you talaga!"

"You're welcome. But you should thank yourself too. You came up with the plan, you got yourself together. You were the one who saved yourself." Ngumiti siya sa akin.

I smiled back. That's right, I deserved a pat on the back. 

Huminto ang bus at bumukas ang pinto. Still few more stops bago ako dumating sa bus stop malapit sa amin.

"So Van," Biglang tumayo si TJ, "Mauna na ako."

Tumango ako. "Sige TJ, ingat!" I waved him goodbye. I wanted to talk to him more.