Hello! Because of boredom, I've got to revise this story. I don't know if there are still people out there na nag-iintay ng update nito. I'm so sorry for the delay, I'm trying my best to bring back the fire in my writing. But anyway, here it is! Keep safe everyone. Stay at home if you can.
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Chapter 4: Flowers
Ally's POV:
It was two weeks since we have reconciled. I know get it, though. We were immature back then. And I was so consumed by my hate the moment I saw and recognized who he was.
It was a downright humiliating past yes, but I'm now slowly accepting where he's coming from. He must've been pressured. Yeah, it isn't still the right thing to do even when you're in immense pressure but I'm glad that he owned up his mistakes and say sorry. And I also felt his sincerity in it. It's hard to open up a sensitive topic but he wholeheartedly shared it with me. Pakiramdam ko, mapagkakatiwalaan akong tao. And it's a first, na may nag-open up sa'kin. Not even Stephany, Rene, Mai-Mai and Patrick who's been my buds since elementary.
For that two weeks, Adrian proved that he's changed and he's determined to bring back our friendship. Sabay kaming naglu-lunch at nilalaan namin 'yung free time para mag-aral sa iba't-ibang subjects namin. Magkasama kaming nag-aaral sa library. Busy na agad kahit na bago palang nagbukas ang school year. It's indeed true, na level up na nga sa college. Palagi nalang kaming naglo-long quiz and sometimes surprise quizzes pa na 'yung coverage parang kalahati na ng libro. And oh god, ang hirap ng majors namin! Buti nalang talaga at study buddy ko si Adrian na s'yang nag-e-explain sa'kin kung may hindi ako maintindihan.
And it wasn't just one time our classmates teased us being in a relationship. Pinabuluanan naman namin 'yun at natatawa nalang. Sabi nila kasi ang close-close daw namin given the length of time we just met at kung nanliligaw na ba daw si Adrian. Sabay naman kaming natatawa nalang and say that we're just really friends.
It's now Monday at nagmamadali ako papuntang university. Hindi pa naman ako late pero gusto ko kasing mag-aral pa bago sasabak sa isa na namang long quiz. I studied last night though pero iba pa rin 'yung mag-exchange ng ideas sa mga kaklase ko para maliwanagan naman ako sa parts na hindi ko maintindihan. It's a minor subject, Filipino, pero hindi ako magpakampante dahil I don't want to have a failing grades this college. I chatted Adrian that I will be early and he just said na susunod lang s'ya. Kahit pa naman hindi s'ya mag-aral I know he'd ace the quizzes. Ang talino n'ya kaya!
Gaya nang inaasahan, nakarating nga ako sa room namin one hour before the quiz. Mga ilan-ilan palang 'yung classmates ko na naroroon, lahat nakatuon na sa kanilang mga libro. Sayang! May gusto pa naman sana akong itanong. Kaya agad ko na ring napagdesisyunan na kunin na ang libro sa bag ko at magsimula nang mag-aral mag-isa. I started comprehending what I am reading and memorize some important points nang bigla akong kalabitin ng kung sino. Napaangat ako nang tingin.
"Huy Ally! Snack muna tayo." si Jander.
Itong babaeng 'to talaga. Puro pagkain lang ang inaatubag at ni hindi man lang kinakabahan sa quiz. But I just smiled, "Ah... you see, nag-aaral pa kasi ako."
"Duh! Alam ko namang mapi-perfect mo pa rin 'yan! 'Di mo na 'yan need."
Funny how people really think that way. Hindi naman sa gano'n lagi. You need to really work hard 'yung walang mintas for you to earn it.
"Grabe! 'di 'no! Kailangan ko talagang mag-aral pa Jander kasi hindi ako confident sa naaral ko na."
Napakamot nalang si Jander ng ulo, mukhang dismayado pero natawa nalang ako.
"Aish! Sige na nga! Makapag-aral na rin nga lang."
I laugh because I didn't see it coming. Akala ko tutungo na talaga siya ng canteen atsaka kakain o pipilitin pa n'ya ako until my limits. Now I appreciate her. Kahit naman talaga medyo childish 'to si Jander pero naintindihan ko rin s'ya because she's the only child. I was also raised only by my mom. Bata palang ako s'ya na rin 'yung nagtataguyod sa'kin because my father was an asshole. Never ko pa s'yang nakita at hindi na rin naman ako nangangarap na makita pa siya. So ayun nga, kapag kasi ikaw lang 'yung anak, parang na sa'yo 'yung lahat ng atensyon. Of course, you'll be somewhat spoiled thus, Jander's childish attitute.
Nagbukas na nga ng libro si Jander at tinuon na ang pansin do'n. Nagpatuloy naman ako sa pag-aaral. Hindi ko na namalayan ang oras nang pumasok na si Sir para sa quiz. Pinasadahan ko nang tingin ang classroom at nandito na nga rin 'yung mga kaklase ko. Napansin ko na walang tao sa katabi kong upuan. Nasa'n si Adrian? Magsta-start na ang quiz! I was about to chat him pero ilang sandali pa't nakita ko na s'yang papasok. He was all smiles. Like the usual.
"Saan ka galing?!" I whispered annoyingly. Bakit ngayon palang s'ya na alam niyang may quiz kami?! Paano kung hindi s'ya nakaabot?
"Why are you now being so interested in me." He winked. Binatukan ko pa.
Napadiin naman siya sa sakit. Serves him right.
"Kupal! 'di pwedeng concerned lang—"
"Uy, concerned daw. Ikaw Ally ha," He said it playfully but I just death glared at him. Ang kapal talaga!
"Excuse me? 'di pwedeng I'm just worried because that might be a reason you'll be stripped down your honors dahil d'yan sa kabalastugan mo?"
But he just shrugged and chuckled at it. Ghad, he's unbelievable.
"One half lengthwise, please." Napatuwid ako ng upo nang nagsalita si Sir. He immediately gave his instruction sa quiz. Mataman naman akong nakikinig but the sight from my peripheral vision was a distraction: Adrian who's smiling crazily. Nakakabit pa 'yung G-tech sa bibig n'ya. Oh my god, what the hell is his problem? I rolled my eyes at nagconcentrate nalang sa quiz.
The quiz lasted for an hour. May mga items na hindi ako sigurado pero confident naman ako na mangilanngilan lang 'yun kaya okay na rin. Our instructor dismissed us immediately. At ang bukambibig agad ng klase ay 'yung recent quiz. Umalis na ako sa classroom kasi ayaw ko nang makinig, dahil mafufrustrate lang ako 'pag malaman ko if may mali pala ako. Narinig ko ang tawag na naman ni Jander but I just acted as if I didn't hear it. Pagkain na naman daw. Hay naku. Narinig ko rin ang tawag ni Adrian.
"Saan ka?!" anito, sa labas na ng classroom namin.
"Ah, may kukunin lang ako sa locker. I'll be back."
"Sabay tayo lunch!"
"Okay... sa karen?" Karen means karenderiya.
He nodded, "Yeah, the usual."
That was it before I left at nagtungo na nga sa may locker. Kukunin ko kasi 'yung libro sa Anatomy para makapag-advance study na rin. Ang hirap kasi ng subject that it needs intensive studying. At dapat ready ka for possible recits.
When I opened my locker, I was surprised noong may nakita akong bouquet of roses. My forehead creased. Saan 'to galing?! Could this be from a possible admirer? No no, not now. I'm not up for it. Now I'm being delusional. Baka napagkamalan lang. Kawawa naman 'yung bibigyan sana. Noong nakita kong may card ito, agad kong binasa kung kanino galing.
Rene.
Napaawang ang bibig ko. At bakit naman magbibigay 'yung mokong ng bulaklak, eh nasa Cebu sila ni Stephany?!
"Hi," a lowly voice interrupted dahilan para mapatalon ako sa gulat.
Napaangat agad ako ng tingin and in flesh, is the dashing Renatus Luminarias.
Because of my excitement, napayakap ako agad sa kanya.
"Rene?!" I exclaimed but my mind is still confused kasi 'di ba... start na ng class nila sa CDU? Bakit nandito 'tong mokong na 'to?
"Surprise!"
"Anong surprise surprise ka d'yan?! Bakit ka nga nandito? The semester's just starting in Cebu Doctors. Ano 'yun? Vacation mo?!"
"Woah, easy easy..."
"Ano nga?!" I can't hide my excitement... So it means, magwawarla na naman kami nina Stephany? At oo nga, nandito rin ba si Stephany? Sana makauwi rin sina Mai at Patrick.
"I transferred." he just simply said.
Ano? Ano kamo? Pero bakit?
"Huh? Transferred mo mukha mo batukan kita d'yan eh!"
"Oo nga," seryoso talaga 'yung mukha n'ya, walang halong pagbibiro.
"Pero... bakit?"
Napakibit-balikat s'ya, "Eh sa hindi ko talaga feel do'n. I realized na baka mababaliw ako kaka-aral do'n. I don't have time for myself anymore. Pati pagkain, nako-compromise ko na. Kaya sabi ko kina Dad na hindi ko na tatapusin at magta-transfer nalang ako."
"So... dito?"
He nodded. "Yes, same course. Napaki-usapan na ni Dad si Chancellor at 'yung dean at sabing okay paman daw since bago palang nagsisimula 'yung sem and I can still catch up from my subjects."
Woah, I still... can't believe it.
So magiging schoolmate na naman kami! Akala ko talaga tutuloy na s'ya sa Cebu!
"Then, that's good to hear though! Oh my god, I can't believe it! Teka wait, si Stephany ba? Iniwan mo do'n?!"
"Uhh, ayun, on the process na rin... " So that means... Hala, ang saya! "Actually, hindi kami bati kasi naiwan ko." Ha?!
"A-anong ginawa mo kay Stephany?!" Sinimangutan ko s'ya.
"Amin na 'yun..." Napakamot s'ya ng ulo and he smiled fakely.
"Humanda ka talaga sa'king mokong ka kapag may nangyaring hindi maganda do'n! Sinasabi ko sa'yo Renatus!"
Natawa lang ang mokong.
"U-huh, at 'yang flowers..." Upon him mentioning it, saka ko lang naalala ulit.
"Para kay tita 'yan. 'Di sa'yo 'no!" Humalpak s'ya nang tawa. "Sige na, una na ako Ally. Hinihintay ko pa kasi 'yung ibang papers para makapasok na ako bukas!" He waved and left.
Padabog ko namang binalik 'yung bouquet sa locker. Argh! Sabi ko na nga ba eh! Somehow, I felt a sting on my insides and a... hurt. Ewan ko, in the first place hindi na nga sana ako umasa pa! Maybe, I just missed being on someone's care. But I'd rather not than be hurt again. Simula kasi no'n, I swear I'll guard myself. Pinagsabihan na rin ako ng barkada na h'wag nga ibuhos ang lahat. Kasi 'pag ako daw magmahal, it's all or nothing which shouldn't be like it.
I closed my locker at babalik na sana sa classroom nang mapatalon na naman ako sa gulat dahil nandito na si Adrian sa harapan ko.
Problema ng mga 'to?! Bakit bigla-bigla nalang silang sumusulpot?
Makahulugan ang tingin n'ya sakin at pinanliitan ako ng mata.
"Sino yun?"
"Boyfriend mo?"
Tuloy-tuloy n'yang tanong.
Problema nito?! Tingnan mo nga 'to. Nagpapatawa yata.
I coughed dramatically and laughed. Pero seryoso ang tingin n'ya sa'kin.
"Wala akong boyfriend 'no!"
Matagal bago s'ya nakasagot.
"Mabuti naman." I saw a glimpse of hope in his eyes. And a ghost of a smile crept on his lips.
"Kasi hindi ka pa puwedeng magboyfriend." dagdag n'ya pa. Parang nangangaral.
"Huh? What is it for you? Pake mo if I'll date someone?"
Natigilan siya saglit. Napakurap-kurap.
"Uh... kasi... ano---"
"Anong ano?"
"Uh... kasi 'di ba... kakagaling mo pa lang sa break-up?" Natigilan ako. Oo nga naman, I just thought about it earlier. Wait, bakit n'ya alam 'to? Is it really that widespread na nakarating rin sa lugar nila? Pero I don't have the urge to ask kaya hindi ko na tinanong.
"You're still in the process of you know... healing... and it doesn't happen overnight. Kaya, kapag tatanggap ka ng manliligaw mas gugulo lang 'yang isipan mo." He said as if he's somewhat a love guru.
"Sabi mo eh!" And we both laughed awkwardly. I don't know why he's saying to me these things.
"Hindi mo pa rin sinasagot ang tanong ko."
"Ano?!
"So, manliligaw mo 'yun?" Napaubo na naman ako ng wala sa oras. Oh my god, si Rene?! To hell with that! Ridiculous.
"Kaibigan ko 'yun 'no! He just transferred from CDU for a span of two weeks kasi hindi n'ya daw talaga feel do'n. Napi-pressure talaga ata."
"Ahh..." He responded parang nabuhayan ang loob.
"Yea, kaya baka magschoolmates tayo. MedTech rin kasi kinuha no'n."
Napatango si Adrian. I felt like marami pa s'yang tanong sa isip niya pero hindi na niya isinatinig ang mga iyon. Weird.
"Tara na nga! Kumain na tayo!"
"Hindi ba sasabay 'yung 'friend' mo?" Makahulugan 'yung pagkasabi no'n.
"May paa 'yun at kamay, kaya na n'yang mag-isa! And why are you being so nosy now?"
"Wala... just wanna make sure," Hinarap niya ako at ngumiti ulit.
"Ewan ko sa'yo."
I rolled eyes at him that made him chuckle.
***