Losing The Dream

01

"Gaga, wala naman akong chika! Gusto lang naming makipag-bonding sa'yo. Lagi kang busy'ng pumili ng bagong boyfriend." Aniya habang nililitratuhan ang mga pagkaing naka-serve.

"Laro ka, sis. Akala ko pa naman may bagong sagap na!" I rolled my eyes. Kumuha ako ng chopsticks at tinikman ang Original King Ramen nila.

"May rereto ako sa'yo, sis." Pearl giggled.

"Sino?" Mabilis kong tugon.

"Ito oh." Inilabas n'ya ang cellphone n'ya at ipinakita sa amin ang isang lalaking naka Educ uniform.

"Well, guwapo s'ya pero he's not giving. Pero g'wapo s'ya ah. He looks like an Italian." I nodded, impressed.

"Sa NU nag-aaral 'to, beh." Dagdag n'ya pa.

"Set me up, with him. I'll try." Pagkikibit balikat ko at muling kumain. I'm enjoying the food.

Pagkatapos naming kumain ay napagpasyahan naming gumala muna. Pumunta kami sa new spot ni Pearl sa Taft Avenue.

"Hey, Jana! I'm surprised to see you here." Napalingon ako nang may biglang may nagsalita malapit sa amin.

It's a woman who's in a tank top and straight leg jeans. Her hair is in a ponytail. Beside her is a man who's kind of familiar. He's so tall. His eyes are hazel brown, they both look like a chinese descendants. Naka-undercut ang buhok n'ya. His skin is fair and mukhang medyo nag-g-gym s'ya. He's wearing a white shirt and a gray trouser.

"I'm so glad to see you here, Dahlia!" Ayan na si Mayora. We used to tease Jana for being so friendly. Parang kahit saan kami pumunta ay may kakilala s'ya. Minsan kapag lumalabas kami para s'yang nangangandidato.

"Yeah, I'm with my brother. He helped me to inquire here." The girl answered. Kapag ngumingiti s'ya ay nawawala ang mga mata n'ya.

"I can see that. What's up, Sebastian?---" Sebastian? The aspiring doctor? Well, it's not impossible. This is DLSU and the aspirant one is from DLSU, too. "Anyway, these are my friends. She's Pearl, and this is Stella."

Matipid akong ngumiti sa dalawa bago makipagtitigan kay Sebastian. Nang mahuli n'ya akong naka tingin ay pinagtaasan n'ya ako ng kilay. 'Di naman ako nagpatalo at tinaasan ko rin s'ya ng kilay. Hindi ako nag-iwas ng tingin, hinayaan kong s'ya ang mailang, when he did, I feel victorious.

"See you around, guys." Ani Dahlia at muling ngumiti bago umalis.

"What's with her brother?" Wala sa sariling tanong ko. I did not like how he acted!

Jana was quick to look at me. "Bakit?

"Wala lang. Pinagtaasan kasi ako ng kilay." Halos ngumuso ako dahil sa simpleng bagay lang.

"Gano'n talaga 'yon. 'Tsaka masyadong abala sa pag-aaral 'yong si Sebastian. Graduating na s'ya ng nursing this academic year tapos mag-m-med school na." Sinasabi ko na nga ba't s'ya rin yung pinag-uusapan nila Kiana kagabi.

I heard a lot about him last night. I knew how academically good he is. He always aces his exams, kasali sa mga competition na talaga namang nangangailangan ng utak. And I also heard that he's bound to marry the son of Senator Del Rosario.

Days passed and I still can't find a new boyfriend. Wala akong matipuhan sa mga manliligaw ko ngayon. Some of them are young pa while the others are not just my type.

I found myself in front of the mirror preparing for the set up date with the NU guy that Pearl introduced to me last time. I wore a purple ditsy floral cami dress with two thin strings holding it.

Napag-usapan na sa Ninyo Fusion Cuisine kami magkikita. I haven't seen my date in person so this is going to be my first time. As I entered the restaurant, the staffs accommodated me quikly.