Halfway In Love (Kolehiyala Series #1)

"Epiphany!" I turned around and flashed a smile, the genuine smile I only wear when I'm with Orpheus. Buti na lamang at dumating siya, he saved me from drowning in those painful thoughts. "Please be quiet!" The 'silencer gun' then fired up. Oh, I'm referring to Ms. Cathy, the librarian. I hold my giggle when I saw Orfi smiled awkwardly and gave her a peace sign. I really like how our nicknames are sound alike. As he walks towards me, I get my bag and put my phone inside it. For a second, I look at the scented paper in the table. I crumpled the bright-colored paper with textile like finish and threw it on the nearest trash bin in this library. What a waste. That's fragrant, but it won't matter now for it is already screwed up. Just like me. Hinawakan niya ang aking mga kamay nang makarating siya sa pwesto ko sa bandang likuran. "Bakit kasi may pasigaw sigaw pa? Feeling ka talaga, e." I teased him and glanced at Ms. Cathy who's now busy doing her thing there. I shifted my focus on Orfi who's blushing. Nahiya ata, pinagtinginan kasi ng mga estudyante na abala pa naman sa pagbabasa. "Sorry, Hon. Naexcite lang ako talaga." Sinundan niya ito ng mahinang tawa. As in he even placed his palm to his mouth just to make sure only little sounds of his cute laugh will came out. "Alright, let's go now." I pulled him and we left the library in only a few strides. Excited din ako. It's our fourth anniversary. Siguro we'll spend the night in his unit. Just like our usual dates na magpeprepare siya ng romantic date in the balcony lounge. Alam niyang ayaw ko sa crowded places. That's what I love most about him. He's thoughtful and he always include me in all his decisions. Kahit noong mga bata pa kami, kahit noong mga panahong nawalan ako ng dahilan upang mabuhay. He's always there for me. We are childhood sweethearts and best friends. Nang napadaan kami sa likod ng hagdanan ay nagulat ako nang hilahin niya ako sa isang tabi. Really? Here inside the campus? The next thing I knew is that he's kissing me fervently. I could feel that he really missed me and I missed him, too. I yearn for his kiss, the fluttering of my heart, my accelerated heartbeat and how my knees weaken every time he grazes and locks his lips on mine. Pinalo ko naman siya sa dibdib nang naghiwalay ang mga labi namin. Natawa naman siya at niyakap pa ako. Hinila ko na siya paalis doon at naglakad na ulit. Kapag may nakakita sa amin, malilintikan kami! I glanced at his beautiful face as we walk our way to the gymnasium. His curls had grown long. His light stubbles are becoming visible, too. He's really stressed out final semester na kasi. He's graduating kaya talagang subsob siya sa pag-aaral. "Kung hindi pa ako makarating agad, natunaw ka na doon sa library. " He said with annoyed expression. As if namang kaya niyang mainis sa akin. "Wow grabe. Bakit naman?" I asked with teasing tone. "E, paano kase ang ganda ganda mo nakakairita na din minsan, naha-highblood ako." He even rolled his eyes and his hand gestures made me laugh. He's animating a crown on my head dahil napakaganda ko raw para sa kaniya. "Magdusa ka, you wanted a gorgeous girlfriend, e. So, eto ang consequences." I bragged and he laughed his heart out dahil sa tingin niya overacting ako. "Wow, that's one humble parry. Sige sayo na talaga ang crown." He joked and we laughed even more. Nagpunta muna kami sa cafeteria at umorder siya ng merienda namin. He bought my favorite blueberry cheesecake, muffins, his favorite cannoli and apple juice. We talked about his upcoming final examination and I'm really touched how he still manage to eat with me now kahit napakarami pa niyang gagawin. After that, we headed our way to the gymnasium habang hinihintay niya ang isa niyang kaklase upang ibalik ang hiniram niyang libro dito. Natanaw ko na ang gymnasium. Sa sobrang preoccupied ko nitong mga nakaraang araw hindi ko man lang na-appreciate ang bagong pinta nito. The walls were painted teal and the bleachers were azure. Tamang tama walang tao doon ngayon. May pag-uusapan din sana kaming importante. "Hon, sorry I've been very busy these past days hindi na kita nakakasabay umuwi, so babawi ako ngayon. We'll go wherever you want. We can even go to Tagaytay now sa favorite restaurant natin, what do you think? Wala ka na namang klase 'di ba? Also, tommorow is Sunday naman." Tanong niya pagkaupo namin sa isa sa mga bleachers sa dulo ng gym. I looked at our intertwined hands bago sumagot. "Orfi, I'm sorry can we reschedule our date there? Free pwede naman ako ngayon kahit around here lang. Alam mo namang-" Hindi niya ako pinatapos. I know I ruined the mood again. I know I'm being inconsiderate here, but I can't just disregard my consultation kahit alam kong malaki ang possibility na magdecline ang lawyer na nilapitan ko. "Alright. I get it. You'll consult a lawyer again. Yeah, sure. I know you always put your heart with that case. But, Ephy, that's risky. Palagi ko namang ipinapaalala sa iyo na once na malaman ng matandang iyan kung sino ka manganganib ang buhay mo. Sinasabi ko sa'yo ito dahil nag-aalala ako at dahil mahal kita-" "You don't know how painful it is. I lost them. It's very traumatic for me. I'm that little child who ran for her life, while leaving the blood-soaked bodies of her parents just to survive. Hindi ko siya mapapatawad. I will forever seek justice. Hindi ako titigil, Orfi." This time I'm the one who cut him off. He sighed and looked away. There was a long moment of silence between us. His resigned face tells me that he doesn't want to argue with me anymore. So, when his phone rang, ipinagpasalamat ko iyon secretly. Ayaw ko ng ganitong eksena dahil napapagod na ako na mag-away kami. He fished his phone out of the side pocket of his pants and walked meters away from me to take the call. He glanced at me habang sinasagot ang tawag. After a minute or two at tinapos na din niya iyon. Tumabi ulit siya sa akin, now his dark brown eyes look guilty. "Don't tell me there's another not so good topic we need to talk about? It's our anniversary, pwede naman tayong magcelebrate ngayon. A simple dinner in your unit will do." I convinced him. Medyo kinakabahan na din ako dahil alam kong may gusto siyang sabihin at mukhang hindi ko iyon magugustuhan sa nakikita ko sa mga mata niya. "Ephi, I'm going to take my MBA after college." He breathe in deeply. Alam kong may kasunod pa, but I choose to play dumb first. "Oh that's good. For sure matutuwa ang Daddy mo." I said in low voice, almost unheard. I faked a smile as if I don't know. "I'll be taking my MBA in McGill. Hon, I'm going to Canada after graduation." He hold my hands, hoping for my sympathy. Maybe it's the reason why he's stressed out. "Akala ko ba dito lang. Y-you told me hindi ka lalayo. Kailangan ba talagang sa ibang bansa pa? I mean we have MBA schools here, ayaw din ng mga magulang mo na mapalayo ka. Noong una you also agreed na gusto mo dito mag-aral, right? Unless you want to call it quits?" I know I'm being selfish here, pero ayokong umalis siya. Alam kong hindi siya papayag makipaghiwalay, so I'm laying my last card here. He's the only person I have at natatakot ako na iwan niya din ako. His presence always makes me calm when my past hunts me even in my waking hours. He looked straight into my eyes and pulled his hand away from mine. Kinabahan ako dahil alam kong hindi siya magpapapigil and I know in myself na wala na rin akong lakas na pigilan siya. "It's not just for me, Ephi. It's for us. Babalik din naman ako sa'yo pagkatapos nito. If you want a temporary split up, maiintindihan ko." After he said that, my eyes hurt and a lone tear fell. He remained stoic and that convinced me that he won't take his words back, yet I'm still hoping that he will say that he didn't mean it. "Be it, then. I don't want it temporary, Orpheus. Let's break up permanently. Chase your dream. You don't deserve to be with a devastated person like me. Hihilahin lang kita pababa kung kasama kita. See? I'm even failing my grades, while you're contemplating if you'll tell me that you aced yours just because you don't want to make me feel bad. Kaya siguro tama ngang maghiwalay tayo. I'm sorry that I messed up our anniversary. Good bye, Orfi." Keeping my batshits minimum is the least thing I could do. I stood up with unshed tears on my face. He looked away as if hiding his emotions from me. I bid him goodbye, but I know in myself na hinihintay kong yakapin at pigilan niya akong umalis. Bago ako tumalikod sa kanya at naglakad papalayo ay nakita ko ang sunod-sunod na pagpatak ng luha niya. Natawa ako nang pagak nang umulan pa noong naglalakad na ako sa quadrangle on my way to the gate. Funny how I looked like a lead actress in dramatic break up scene. I think this is a perfect setting for a romantic drama. Cliché it may seem, pero totoong masakit pala. I thought it's going to be a fine day, but it turned out not. I assessed myself if impulsive ba ako o talagang hindi niya lang kayang manatiling kasama ko hanggang sa huli? He knows I need him, that I need his presence to keep me sane, but he chose to let me go. Halos patakbo akong nakalabas ng gate. Kakaunti na ang mga estudyante at ang iba ay sinusundo pa ng mga magulang nila. Ganoon din sana ako if my parents were still alive, na kahit matanda na ako hindi pa rin nila ako papabayaan. They're the best parents in the world, but they're gone early. That madman killed them right in front of my eyes. I will never forget that cold night. Umuulan din noong nawala sila sa akin. Gunshots. No one helped. No one heard it but me, because it's raining and the sounds of gunshots were muffled. Sumilong ako sa waiting shed. My blouse is drenched after being got caught in the rain. I smiled sadly. I'm never lucky in life and I bring no luck to others, too. What a life. Kinaya ko nga na halos mabaliw ako sa sakit noon, ito pa kayang heart break lang? Sinasabi ko ito sa sarili ko while I'm looking at the gate, hoping he'll try to find me. And yes, I'm convincing my pathetic self. Akmang tatayo na ako nang may biglang tumabi sa akin sa makipot na bench. I looked beside me and saw an ethereally beautiful face. Hair damped by the rain, narrow facial shape, and dark heavily structured eyebrows, Misty grayish blue eyes, straight-edged nose, full and symmetrical lips, prominent jaw and broad shoulders. He has a fair complexion at kahit nakaupo siya, masasabi kong matangkad siya. Pamilyar ang mukha niya at alam kong nakita ko na siya kung saan. I stopped checking him out when he flashed his cosmic smile on me. My chest throbbed real good. Nakakahiya pala na mahuling nagdedescribe ka mentally, but he had this devil-may-care aura that I feel comfortable kahit hindi ko siya kilala. He's really good looking. I wonder where I saw him. Is he a model? "Hi!" He chirped. He's still wearing that dashing smile and no doubt he could get a girl effortlessly by just smiling. "Hello." Mabilis akong tumayo at tumalikod dahil medyo tumila na ang ulan nang mamataan ko si Orpheus na palabas ng gate. Hindi ko alam kung nasisiraan na ba ako dahil nang lilingon na siya sa banda namin ay mabilis akong tumalikod ulit making me gasp when I bumped into the guy beside me. I bumped on his mascular chest! He's towering over me like he's 6 footer or taller at ngayon ko lang napansin ang white polo niya with black tie and black slacks, uniform iyon ng senior high school exclusive for boys na malapit sa university namin. But his studies are least of concern now. Masyado kaming magkalapit that I can hear the thumping of his heart. I could feel the heat literally coming from him. Ganoon kami kalapit sa isa't isa. Nagulat ako nang umalis siya sa pwesto, kaya sinundan ko siya ng tingin. Akala ko ay aalis na siya, but he suddenly blocked my view of Orpheus. "Don't worry. It's all good." Ngumiti ako hindi lang dahil sa pagiging mabait niya, kundi pati na rin sa mga sinabi niya. Those are the words I need now and I didn't expect to hear it from a stranger. He glanced at the gate at nakita niyang umalis na si Orfi. I felt my heart clenched. Hinahanap niya kaya ako? But yeah, I think it's better to not cross paths with him again. The young guy smiled and got his black knapsack na nasa bench at paalis na. "Coast clear, Miss." He smiled again and for the first time in my life, I felt like I'm not suffering the misfortunes of life. I was about to go too when I noticed that he left his ID on the left side of the bench. Tatawagin ko na sana siya nang nabasa ko ang pangalan niya sa ID and it shocked the hell out of me. I realized why he's really familiar and I instantly regret knowing him now. Claudio Alejandro Santillian. He's the only child of the cold-blooded criminal who killed my parents. As you sow, so shall your beloved son reap. I will let you taste my vengeance sevenfold and I'll make sure my revenge will be a dish served cold.