Life After Love

Day 1

“Lu?” My mom knocked on my door. I grabbed my phone to check how I look after crying the whole night just to realize that it’s almost 12noon.

My mom knocked again but I didn’t answer hoping that she’ll stop.

“Lu? I am starting to get worried. I won’t bother you anymore just let me know you’re still alive there.” She then continued to knock. I have no idea but to open my door for her to let her know that I am still breathing.

When I opened the door she looked relieved but instantly replaced by worry. She tried to say something but it looked like she doesn’t know what to say.

I smiled at her. “I know. I’m okay mom. Thanks for checking on me.” I said.

Mom hugged me and I tried my best not to cry.

“Do you need anything?” She asked after the hug. I shook my head. “You sure?”

“Yes.” She was a bit hesitant but she just let me be. Maybe getting the idea that I want to be alone.

“Alright. I’ll be out for the rest of the afternoon as I have to run some errands. Just send me a text or call me if you need anything.” She said and I just nodded. She then hugged me again.

After mom left I tried to look for something to eat. We still have a lot of leftover desserts for our New Year’s Eve celebration just like any typical Filipino family.

I tried to get one of the containers to heat it but I don’t have any appetite to eat anything so I just grabbed a glass of water and went back to my room.

I sat on my bed and check my phone’s notification. I immediately saw my friend group’s messages. Mostly are just teasing each other at how they look wasted by being so drunk on new year. I hopped into the conversation and joined the banter as I also kept photos on my phone that night.

We were throwing friendly shades on each other which kept me distracted. I unknowingly slide back to the list of messages on my phone to enter a certain conversation like I used to but then realized and remember everything again.

My friends still doesn’t know a thing.

I can’t help but cry again and remember how it used to be all peaceful.

9 years ago

“Guess what?” Anj suddenly tapped my shoulder. We’re in the middle of the field trying to review for our exams later in the afternoon.

“What?” I asked without bothering to look at her.

“There’s a guy in your 3 o’clock looking at you since we sat here.” Anj said trying to keep her cool to not let the person she’s talking about know that she’s talking about him.

I tried to lowkey look at the guy he’s talking about and he immediately looked away upon meeting my gaze.

“7.” I said.

“Really?”

“Engineering. You know I don’t play around engineering students anymore.” I said and act as if I am thinking. “Yeah, not anymore. Big red flag.” I continued and Anj just chuckled.

“You know sometimes you have to be careful of what you said, ‘cuz what goes around comes back around.” I shrugged and continued to read my notes.

“Ugh! You’re so boring!” she complained. I then laughed and put away my notes. Who am I kidding anyway. I’ll let the will of the heavenly bodies pass me or not with my exams later.

“Okay fine!” I said while putting away my things.

“We’ve been here for almost an hour but we still don’t see that senior guy you’re talking about.” I said to her.

Anj texted me earlier to come in early so she could take a look at the senior guy she’s been talking about for days.

We only have one class scheduled today and it’s at 5pm but here we are in the middle of the field together with the other students, trying to past time.

When our school athletes does not have any practice they let other students stay or even play on it, so we see a lot of students playing badminton, volleyball without net, some even have they PE class on the other side of the field.

It’s one of the most famous spot to mingle with higher years, or the higher years trying to fish freshmen which by the way is us.

“I know. Maybe he doesn’t have a class today, I don’t see his blockmates either.” Anj said.

“You know his classmates?”

She laughed before answering. “No, stupid. I just assume it’s his blockmates as they are always hanging out together.”

“Let’s ask, maybe some of the students here knows.” I suggested.

“I don’t know his name.” She said.

“Huh? And all these effort just to see him but you don’t even know his name?”

“Okay I’m sorry. I’m shy. I just like to look at him.” I shook my head in disbelief.

“I can’t believe you. I plan on leaving my dorm in about an hour from now but I prepared early just for you to admire him from afar. That’s a disappointment you know.” I joking said and she lightly slap my arms.

“Bad Lulu, bad!” She then crossed her arms in her chest and pretended to be angry.

She was about the say something when I face suddenly lit up.

“Oh my! That him! That’s the guy I was talking about.” She then became so timid and tries to hide her face using her hands on the side if her face.

“Where?” I looked right away at the direction she pouted to.

“Damn you! Don’t be so obvious.”

“Oh him?” I said but in a loud voice. I intend on letting them hear it.

“You like that guy with the navy blue hoodie?”

“That guy over there?” I then even point my finger at the guy she was talking about.

Anj face was so funny as she looks like she wants to disappear right then and there.

The guy’s friend immediately teased him when they realized I was pertaining to their friend.

“What’s her name?” one of his friends shouted back. Anj’s eyes widened and shot me with a glare saying as if don’t you dare. But I then took my phone and went to her ig profile to read out her username.

Anj is now covering her face after I broadcast to all the nearby students her ig username and that she likes that guy in the navy blue hoodie. She got up and grabbed me to get out of that.

“Sorry sorry, she forgot to take her meds.” She said before pulling me away.

“Hey, make sure to hit her up.” I said which makes his friends and him laugh.

Anj’s face was so red and I was just laughing at her the whole time she was pulling me away from the field.

“That was humiliating Lu! My god!” She said then we sat in one of the benches we saw in the corridor beside the building.

Her phone then dinged with a notification and her face became even more red.

“What?” I teasingly asked her.

“He followed me! AAAHH!” she screamed and shake me for a moment but I let go.

“You’re my hero! I love you! Let me treat you anything you want!” she said which made my ears clap.

“Keep it down Anj!” I tried to calm her down and she did.

“Okay, I’ve got my composure again.” We both laughed. Yeah, you’re welcome.

After class we decided to eat out for dinner, our class ended at 8pm so it’s late and we both don’t want to cook back in our dorms anymore. Plus, I reminded her that she said she’ll treat me whatever I want to I get to eat good food tonight. So sick of eating noodles as I am trained for nothing. I don’t know how to cook so eating out is my only option to eat real food aside from going home on weekends.

I met Anj on our move in day together with 3 other girls but I kept in touch with her after we found out that we basically have the same program and classes. It’s really good to have a friend that’ll help you endure college life.

“Oh, this is the guy I told you that was looking at you earlier. He followed me too. Maybe they’re friends.” She said while checking her phone while we’re waiting for our order.

“I see.” I responded as I was busy checking my phone too.

“Stay like that I’m going to post a story and mention you so he’ll know you ig too.” She then took a quick photo of me and in just a few minutes a notification popped up about her story with me on it.

I discarded the notification, first, I am so tired, and I am hungry too.

When I got back to my dorm Anj kept on sending me screenshots of her conversation with Enzo which is the guy she tired me about.

I am happily responding to her messages because I fell giddy too knowing that what I did earlier really worked.

Someone from IG followed me and when I checked it’s the guy that Anj is talking about earlier. The guy who she said was looking at me in the fields.

I accepted his follow request due to my account being on private.

seanarthuro: hi, saw you earlier.

He then messaged me. I mean I’m not that surprise anymore. I am kind of expecting him to message me after accepting his follow request. I didn’t respond right away. I checked his feed first just to check what’s going on with his life, and to also check if he’s really good looking or not.

His account is also private, and I don’t plan on replying to his message right away so I just shrugged it off first. I’ll deal with you tomorrow.