"Ah good nandito na kayong lahat" Mr. Gallego our dean said.
"As you know, its our school's 57th anniversary. Dahil diyan the president of this school gave us the opportunity to held a gala in honor of the anniversary" He explained which made the other professors squeal in delight.
"Furthermore i want all of your help, most especial the liberal art students and professors. You will guide your students on how to design the gymnasium into an outstanding place" He said and us liberal art professors nodded.
"Other professors with their own talents will be needed kung saan kailangan ang kakayahan nila. Please also guide your students. This gala has to be perfect, we have a special guest coming" He smiled encouraging us to use our talents to the fullest.
Tsk who is this 'special guest' na kailangan pa talagang paghandaan?
I rolled my eyes before speaking.
"Is that all? I have many paper works to get to" I asked with the most uninterested voice.
"Professor Granade i assure you. You will flip when you see who our special guest is" Brian butted in.
"Ugh shut up" I rolled my eyes again. Kahit queen pa yan ng spain i couldn't care less.
Yes Brian. I don't know how or why did he decide to become a professor here but he did.
"Ikaw ha palagi mo akong tinatarayan tirisin ko yang mata mo eh!" Sumbat nito na ikinatawa ko.
He and i have become great friends through the years.
"Quiet you too. Palagi nalang kayong ganyan" Pag awat ni Caitlyn saamin.
Yes, she's also a professor here. I don't know and i don't care. Maybe it's a miracle that she became this professional.
"Shut it Caitlyn hindi ka kasali rito" Pag tataray ni Brian sa kanya.
"Parang mga bata talaga kayo" Natawa si Mr. Gallego saamin. He's sanay na, na ganito kami sa loob ng meeting room pano ba naman? Palagi kaming nag aaway dito.
"Again, is that all Mr. Gallego?" I asked.
He heaved a sigh and looked at us with a smile.
"Yes, that is all. Maghanda na kayo, next week na ang gala and you only have four days to prepare" Tumango naman kami at isa isa nang lumabas.
Nakabuntot ang dalawa sakin. Alam ko naman na magkatapat lang ang office namin pero dapat ba nila akong buntutan araw araw? For the past 7 years ganito ang ginagawa nila nakakarindi na.
But i must admit. Masaya silang kasama. Hell I won't say that to them though.
"Uzon sama ka samin cafeteria tayo" Aya ni Brian pero inirapan ko lang siya.
Patuloy ang paglalakad ko ng bigla akong nakarinig ng nagtitilian.
Agad akong pumunta sa mga istudyante na nagpupulrong at agad naman akong napatigil sa aking nakita.
"Students no hoarding in the hallway! Go back to your rooms!" Sigaw ko at agad naman nilang sinunod.
"Aya is that really you?!" Confused ako na tumingin kay Brian dahil sa sabi niya.
"Brian!!!! Omg ang ganda mo!" Agad naman na tili ng babae at kumaripas ng lakad papunta sa direksiyon namin.
Agad akong napasinghap ng bigla akong tingnan nito. Bakit parang masama ang tingin sakin?
"I missed you!!" Mangiyak ngiyak na saad ni Brian at kinulong sa kayap ang babae.
"Ah? Care you introduce us Brian?" Awkward na saad ni Caitlyn. Buti naman hindi lang ako.
"Oh sorry!" Kumawala ito sa yakap at tiningnan kami.
"Antaneia this is Caitlyn and you know...Uzon" He introduced us. Pero ano daw? 'you know?'
Does this girl know me?
"Hi! I'm Antaneia— Antaneia Quel Funtamuerte" Binalingan niya ako ng saglit na tingin sa pagsabi niya ng Funtamuerte.
"Funtamuerte?" Patanong na saad ni Caitlyn.
"Do you by chance know—"
"Yes, Lili is my sister" Agad na kumalabog ang puso ko sa sabi niya.
S-she's Ylliana's sister? My Ylliana?
I feel like tearing up right now. I haven't heard her name or even know where she is.
What happened in the company..
I regretted that as soon as i said what i said.
Gosh the look of hurt on her face that day. It's still so clear in my memory..
"..zon"
Gosh i miss her!
"Uzon"
Her smile, her voice, her eyes that holds so much emotions. How it lights up when she sees me.
I can't even imagine how much she hates me right now.
I guess i deserved it. I hurt her. I denied her in front of her parents.
"Uzon!!"
"Ah- huh— ha??" Tila nabuhayan kong saad nung narinig kong sigaw ni Caitlyn ang pangalan ko.
"Nako! You've been spacing out so much lately, anyways tinatanong kita kung sasama ka ba sa amin sa cafeteria" Saad nito.
"Ah no. May baon ako" I politely declined.
"Ganon ba? Sige mauna na kami, kailangan din kasing makita ni Aya yung gym" Saad ni Brian.
"Gym? Siya ba ang special guest?" Tanong ko.
"I'm the organizer" Malamig nitong sagot saakin.
Tumango ako at nagpaalam na sa kanila.
* * *
The lump in my throat didn't disappear. After hours and hours of overthinking. Bakit nandito ang kapatid niya?? Anong ginagawa niya rito??
Did gene tell her about me? About what i did? Is that why she's looking at me like that?
Arghh! My mind is loaded with endless questions.
Many emotions are spiraling in my heart.
I don't know what to feel.
But there is one thing that I'm sure of.
I'm still in love with the girl after all these years. And that will never fade away. Never in my life I'll find another just because she's gone.
"Why did you go gene?''
'"Why didn't you let me explain?''
'Bat mo pa ba tinatanong yan?'
"I'm not talking to you"
"Ako lang ang makakausap mo sa mga bagay nato kaya wag ka ng mag maldita jan"
I heaved a sigh.
''I don't understand. After that day, naglaho nalang siya. Hinanap ko siya everywhere pero hindi ko siya makita kita. Sana naman pinakinggan niya lang ako"
'Alam mo ang bobo mo! Umalis yung tao kase nireject mo sa tapat pa mismo ng pamilya niyong dalawa! What do you think she'll do after that? Run back to you like nothing happened?! She loved you, you know that? She loved us! '
"I know! But still—"
'Still what huh?! Abigail, Julia, Mitchell, Richelle, Maia, they hate you! And we both know that there's still a tint of hatred and disappoinment in Brian and Caitlyn'
"Will you just shut up?! I know i messed up i know it's my fault. I know what i did was wrong, i know i shouldn't have rejected her, i have been regretting what i did for almost a decade now!"
'To hell you come Uzon'
"Whatever Alissa"
A/n
Revised