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Hi Varlene_13 ! This chapter is dedicated to you. Salamat sa suporta sa thirteen twenty one, eto na yung sequel! Sana magustuhan mo =)
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| Ni |
"Hover, My new teammate is none other than Cai"
"Isn't that suppose to be a good thing? He's your best friend"
"Well he is but unfortunately he also happens to be a part of my past"
"But I thought you said you moved on"
"Oo"
"Eh yun naman pala eh bakit ka affected?"
Hindi naman ako makasagot. He's right bakit nga ba ako affected kung makakatrabaho ko si Cai?
Hover became my crying shoulder those times na nagmomove on ako kay Cai. Don't get the wrong idea, hindi naging kami. But he became an important part of my life, parang kapatid. And for all those who didn't know him niligawan niya ko back in college, that's basically how we got close.
Tumingin siya sa relo niya "8 am na, wala ka bang pasok?"
"Oo nga pala" I said standing up "Thanks for the coffee Hover"
"You're always welcome"
At lumabas na ko sa coffee shop niya. That's the coffee shop where Hover and I first met, but well, that's another story. (*see chapter 6 of thirteen twenty one*)
"Good Morning" bati sakin ni Cai na nakaupo sa table ko.
Tama si Five. He looked so handsome kahit naka white t-shirt lang siya. He changed a lot from the last time I saw him.
"Ikaw daw ang magtetrain sakin?" tanong niya
"Yeah" I answered
"So? What do we do first?"
"L-let me show you around"
Habang naglalakad kami I can't help it but to feel awkward.
"How well have you been these years na wala ako?"
"How did you know I've been well?"
"Bakit hindi ba?"
"You married someone else for crying out loud! How could I be well?" Pero pangarap niyo na lang na sinabi ko yan...
"Okay naman. Walang bago" I answered.
"You look different. That's new"
"Is that a good thing?"
"Ofcourse"
"Did you miss me then?"
Shet! What am I saying?
Before he could answer nakarating na kami sa first destination namin.
"Cai this is Hayley, but you'll call him seventeen"
"Hi!" nakipagshakehands naman si Cai sa kanya.
"From now on Cai, you will be named twelve and you'll call me thirteen at work"
"Don't you find it weird?"
"Ang alin?"
"Calling each other by your locker number"
"Hindi naman"
"I do"
"Para namang may choice ka"
Pumunta na kami sa second destination.
"Eto naman yung pantry, hindi ko na naman siguro dapat iexplain kung ano 'to"
"Yes Ma'am"
"Oh and one morething, pag nag-iwan ka ng pagkain dito lagyan mong pangalan. Madaming matakaw dito, hindi magdadalawang isip kainin" [A/N: Mabisang advise din po ito pagnakatira kayo sa dorm x) ]
"Okay saan ang sunod?"
"Dito" sabi ko habang naglalakad "Dito ang area mo, tawagin mo na lang ako pag may kailangan ka pa. I'm going back to work"
"Teka yun na yun?"
"Ha?"
"Yung training ko. Yun na yun?"
"Kapag may project ka na, saka na lang ulit tayo magkita"
"Ahhh.. Miles?"
"Yes?"
"Do you want to have coffee first?"
"Sorry ah may klase pa kasi ako"
"Nagmamasteral ka?"
"Hinde. I'm working as a part time professor"
"Hatid na kita"
"Hindi na. Tatawagan ko na lang si Hover"
"S-si Hover?"
"Yup. He's also a professor dun sa university na pinapasukan ko. Sige ah. I'll go ahead"
I left him there before he could answer. Nakakainis naman kasi eh. Bigla bigla na lang susulpot sa nananahimik kong buhay.
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[Cai's Point of View]
Si Hover?
Buhay pa pala ang ungas na 'yon. De joke lang. Kasalanan ko naman 'to eh, ako yung unang nag-iwan.
Lumabas na ko ng opisina, wala pa naman akong project kaya magsasayang lang din ako ng oras kung tatambay ako don. Sumakay na ko sa kotse ko at pumunta sa pinakamalapit na flower shop.
"Welcome Back Sir"
"Hi" sabi ko naman
"The usual po?"
"Oo"
"Alam mo sir swerte naman ng girl friend mo noh? linggo linggo s'yang may flowers"
Ngumiti langako bilang response. Regular customer na nila ako kaya alam nila ang gusto ko.
"Eto na po Sir" sabi niya habang inaabot sa 'kin ang bouquet ng flowers
Lumabas na ko dun sa shop at nagdrive. Maya-maya pa nakarating na din ako.
"Hi Ashley" sabi ko habang nakaupo sa tabi niya. "Namiss mo ba 'ko? Sorry ah. Di kita nabisita last week"
Ipinatong ko sa ibabaw ng puntod niya yung bouquet ng bulaklak.
Limang taon na rin mula nung huli kong makita si Ashley. Limang taon na rin akong bumabalik dito.
"Sa tingin mo sila na kaya nng ungas na yun?"
Biglang humangin ng malakas.
"Sayang naman kung gano'n nga. Kung maibabalik ko lang sana ang oras"
Mukha na siguro akong baliw dahil obviously kinakausap ko ang sarili ko, pero okay lang kesa naman may sumagot diba? Mas nakakatakot yun. Tumayo na ko.
"Babye Ashley. Thanks for giving me company. Wag kang malulungkot ha? Kita na lang ulit tayo next week"
At tuluyan ko na siyang nilisan.
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[Back to Miles' Point of View]
Sa wakas natapos na rin ang klase ko. Grabe. Nakakastress maging college teacher, sa totoo lang mas malala ang mga estudyante kapag college kesa nung elementary pa sila. Kung pasaway sila noon mas pasaway sila ngayon.
"Miss heto na po yung milkshake mo" sabi sa 'kin nung crew habang inaabot sa 'kin yung strawberry milkshake na binili ko.
Minasdan ko naman yung paligid habang nakaupo sa gilid ng bench.
"Miles?" sabi ng isang lalaki na nakatingin sakin.
"Cai?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Ayaw mo?"
"Hindi naman"
"Nagpapahinga lang"
"Tired?"
"A little. Ikaw?"
"May binisita lang"
"Ahh... So how's your wife?"
"My wife?" It was awkward asking that but he looked more confused as I am.
"Si Ashley"
"Oh her... She's--- good" Medyo natagalan bago niya ko nasagot, parang nag-iisip pa ng sasabihin.
Napatingin ako sa kamay niya, he's not wearing his wedding ring. Something must have happen.
"Miles?"
"Hmmm?"
"Pano kaya kung tayo ang nagkatuluyan?"
I was caught off guard by his question.
Yung puso ko ramdam ko na naman yung mabilis niyang pagtibok....
PUTEK CAI ANO BA NAMANG KLASENG TANONG YAN??
"H-how should I know?" I answered calmly.
"Diba tinanong mo kung namiss kita? Sobra Miles"
He looked me in the eyes. My stomach fluttered. bwiset na paru-parong yan.
The world around us slowed down as he said that five worded sentence that made me lost my sanity....
"I want you back Miles"