11 PM

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Nagising na lang ako kinaumagahan, I do not know kung anong oras kami nakauwi. I’m still wearing the clothes na suot ko kagabi. I check my phone to see kung anong oras na and it’s already past nine na ng umaga and my phone has a lot of notifications mostly are from Mika, but I’m not in the mood to deal with him ngayong umaga.

Dahil na rin siguro sa pagod kagabi at sa pag-iyak ko kaya nagtuloy-tuloy na ang tulog ko. Sobrang maga tuloy ng mata ko ngayon. Hindi ko na naman alam kung ano ang idadahilan ko kila Dad kapag nakita nilang ganito ang istura ko.

Kumuha ako ng damit para makaligo na. Sinilip ko si Cathy sa kanyang higaan but she’s not there anymore. Buti na lang at weekends pa rin ngayon dahil gusto ko na lang matulog maghapon ulit.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto namin dala ang mga damit na isusuot ko. Napatingin naman agad sa akin ang dalawa, they are having their breakfast.

“How’s your sleep” tanong agad sa akin ni Cathy while she’s tapping the seat beside her.

Dumeretso naman ako sa tabi niya, their eyes are watching every move that I’ll make.

“Good, pero I feel so tired pa rin” kinuha ko ang fork ni Cathy saka kinain ang itlog na nasa pinggan niya. “Gusto ko na lang matulog maghapon” Dale is brushing my hair and Cathy is still looking at me with her eyes full of worries.

“Don’t worry, I’m okay” tumayo na ako para makaligo dahil I feel so stink about myself, saka ako ngumiti sa kanila.

My eyes are so tired from crying yesterday. But I need to fix myself first if I want to look fine.

Cathy and Dale are still so worried about me. Pero masyado akong pagod to tell them what exactly happened probably bukas na lang siguro gusto ko na lang makauwi sa amin ngayon, I miss Mom. And in that I forgot to text them pala kagabi kaya lumabas ako ng banyo to ask Cathy if she does.

“CATHY!” they both startled ng sumigaw ako. I laughed with their faces dahil sa istura nila.

“For pete's sake Daniel!” ang tahimik kasi ng bahay and wala naman sumisigaw sa amin.

Tumawa muna ako bago magsabi kung ano ba dapat ang dahilan ng pagsigaw ko “Did you messaged Mom and Dad kagabi?” dahil kung hindi niya nagawa I’m so dead right now, I forgot to update them kagabi because of what happened.

“Yeah, don’t worry” sagot naman niya. “sabi ko masyado kang nag-enjoy at nakalimutan mo sila tawagan kauwi” phew buti na lang.

“Okay thanks,” saka na ulit ako pumunta sa banyo para ituloy ang pag-ligo.

Dad will pick me up here sa boarding house so I better hurry para maayos ko pa ang namumugtong mga mata ko and to think some excuses na sasabihin ko.

Inaayos ko ang gamit ko ngayon lahat ng pwedeng iuwi ay iuuwi ko na para hindi na masyadong nakakalat pa dito sa boarding house namin.

“Dan, Tito’s here na” kinatok naman ako ni Dale, naglagay ako ng yelo kanina sa mga mata ko para mabawasan ang pagka-swollen nito effective naman, Dad won’t be suspicious about this siguro.

I saw Cathy and Dale talking to Dad, tinanong ko si Cathy kung ayaw pa ba niya sumabay but she refuses. Tita trusted Cathy so much na pinapayagan niya itong once a month lang umuuwi.

I hug Dad nang makalapit ako sa kanya. Kinuha naman niya ang bag ko dahil medyo mabigat ito para siya na ang magdala.

“Are you sure Dale na hindi ka sasabay?” ilang beses ko na siyang tinanong dahil uuwi rin daw siya.

“Hindi na, may dadaanan pa ako eh,” sabi naman niya.

“Okay,” niyakap ko pa silang dalawa to bid them a goodbye.

“Chat me,” bilin naman sa akin ni Cathy at tumango lang ako sa kanya.

“Ingat!” habang kumakaway sa amin.

I can’t wait to come home. Mika is still texting me sa lahat ata ng social media na friend’s kami he already leaves a message. But I don’t really want to talk to him sa ngayon, so he better stop messaging me muna, because I don’t think I can deal with him.

“You look exhausted” I know Dad notice something.

I smiled at him naman to assure na ayos lang ako. “I’m just tired lang Dad kagabi” he gazes at me and smile. Ipinikit ko ang mata ko to take a nap also to avoid overthinking things. I had so much kagabi sobrang nakakapagod.

Mom asked me to make some kwento about what happened last night, at para hindi na rin sila masyadong mag-alala I told them how every moment that happened last night was so enchanted. Because they know kung gaano ako ka-excited para sa concert. So, I should act that even though I’m exhausted enthusiast ako magkwento para hindi sila makahalata na something is wrong.

“She’s so very beautiful Mom!” I said while my eyes are sparkling, “ang galing niyang kumanta, I can’t believe I saw her na” naiiyak ko pang sabi. Though all these things that I’m saying are my true feelings.

This is what I truly want right? Ang maka-attend sa concert ng favorite artist ko I should be feeling satisfied now but why can’t I?

I spend my day sleeping in my room, I also gave them the rosaries that we bought sa Monasterio they are asking pa nga kung sino kasama namin pumunta, sinabi ko naman yung totoo na sila Mika ang kasama and he’s the one ang nagbenta sa akin ng ticket.

I posted some of my videos and pictures to my SNS for memories I avoid posting some pictures na kasama si Mika. I don’t want to be involved with him anymore. Siguro friends na lang or a schoolmate. Imagine how tired I am dealing with him. Pero halos ata sa mga videos ko nasa tabi ko siya so much hate.

We back on a normal day now as a student. Halos sa mga students na makakasalubong mo sa hallway are all reviewing because this week is a hell week for us engineering students. It’s midterm week kaya masyadong kami focus sa pag-rereview.

“What was our first schedule?” we came back from launch ni Cathy. Kung sa iba nag-eexam na, kami ay nagququiz pa lang. tambak kami ng gagawin ngayon.

“Differential equation quiz” sabi ko habang hawak ang isang reviewer kinakabisado ko ang process ng pag-sosolve.

“Damn this week” she let out a heavy sigh.

Mika stops texting me simula noong Sunday, which I am grateful for. Napagod siguro or he’s busy dealing with his exams or whatever it doesn’t concern me anymore. Sila Dawn and Viel na lang ang nakakasama namin every launch no one dares to ask or mention about Mika naman everytime na magkakasama kami.

Hindi ko alam kung alam na ba nila ang nangyari that night pero hanggang ngayon wala pa akong nakukwento kahit kila Cathy and Dale hindi naman nila kinulit. I know they are waiting na ako mismo ang magkwento sa kanila.

“Just endure it, foundation week na rin after this” pampapalubag ko naman ng loob niya. she just frowned lang naman.

We took our quiz and thankfully I did great naman satisfied naman ako sa mga sagot ko and ganoon din si Cathy.

“Nasagot nyo lahat?” inaayos namin ang gamit ngayon nang bigla lang sumulpot si Jae sa gilid ko out of nowhere.

“Yup! pero di ko sure kung tama ba” natatawang sagot ko, sumulyap ako kay Cathy and she just there with her normal expression. “ikaw ba?’ she doesn’t have any feelings from Jae anymore ha? Ngayong may Dawn na siya.

He just shrugged at us. “Tara City walk my treat” aya naman niya sa amin. nagtinginan kami ni Cathy at nagkibit balikat lang siya “Sure let’s go” sabay sabi niya at naunang lumabas sa amin.

I don’t know what’s going on but lately, Jae recently chatted me unusual maybe ganoon lang talaga siya? Or is he hitting on me? but I just told him na Cathy has crush on him na parang wala na ngayon?

Naguguluhan man ay binalewala ko na lang ito. He treated us milktea sa bagong bukas na shop dito sa City walk. We are casually talking. Cathy is also talking to him na parang normal ang lahat ako lang ang naawkward sa situation namin.

Catherine grab the opportunity na magpaturo sa isang subject namin luckily Jae knows the topic kaya it’s a big help for us. Atleast ngayon alam na namin. We stayed there for more than 2 hours hindi namin namalayan ang oras.

Nasa harapan na kami ng university ngayon nag hihintay ng jeep para makauwi.

“Pagabi na pala” sagot ko habang nakatanaw sa langit. Dale chatted us kanina na nasa bahay na siya he’s asking kung anong gusto naming ulam.

“Thanks, Jae for today!” saka ako lumingon sa kanya na nasa gilid ko ngayon. He’s just there with his hand on his pocket pero ang lakas ng dating niya sa akin.

“True! thank you so much mas gets na namin ngayon” sabi naman ni Cathy as she slurps the milktea that she bought nakadalawa at siya.

“No worries,” with his manly smile. Nagpaalam na kami sa kanya. And he demanded pa na i-chat ko daw siya kapag nakauwi kami. Gagawin ko naman because I also said that to him.

Inantay niya kaming makasakay bago naglakad papunta sa paradahan ng jeep na kanyang sasakyan din.

“Mabait naman pala siya eh” lumingon ako kay Cathy nagulat sa kanyang sinabi. Is she serious?

“Naging crush mo nga siya Catherine,” paala ko pa sa kanya

“Ay! oo ng apala,” she giggled after that and nag-focus na siya sa phone niya probably she’s chatting with Dawn nanaman. Ang bilis maka-move on sa isa.

We got home, ate our dinner that Dale’s had prepared for us, nagreview kami after non dahil simula na talaga ang exam tomorrow. Gusto ko na lang maglaho at mabuhay next week kung kalian foundation week.

“Ilan exam nyo bukas?” we are busy reviewing right now may kape din na nakahanda sa tabi namin. Dale asked.

“Dalawa” as Cathy yawned past 12 na kasi and still we are here studying.

“Dalawa ‘rin sa akin” sabi ni Dale. Damn this week matapos lang talaga ito at magsasaya na ako.

Nagpatuloy kami sa pag-aaral mga bandang 2 na ata kami natapos. 9 pa naman ang starts ng exam namin kaya makakatulog pa kami. Bumangon ako and I saw Dale already making breakfast. I checked my phone and I saw Mika’s message saying good luck to me. I ignored it, not now I have exam. Naligo na ako and I wake up Cathy’s para makapag prepare na rin for school.

“God bless to us” sabi ko sakanila as we separated ways from Dale.

The exam has started and all the things na riniew ko ay nasa exam naman it’s really a good thing for me of course, l keep telling myself not think anything aside from the exam to avoid distraction.

The exam finished and tomorrow is another day but at least we survived for today. Nag-aya si Jae na kumain kasama ang mga kaibigan niya. if Dale is with us we won’t probably go with them pero dahil magkakaiba kami ng schedule sa exams because we have different major sumama na kami kila Jae.

Cathy also said na hindi rin makakasabay sila Dawn and Viel because they are still taking their exams.

“Yeah sure” saka kami sumabay sa paglakad sa kanila. Ngayon lang ata kami nakisabay sa pagkain with our classmates. We are friends with them pero ngayon lang talaga may nagaya sa amin.

We are here in Greenwich now. Jae ordered for us. We talked about the exam and about the lesson na kasama bukas sa exam it’s enjoying naman at least after tomorrow tapos na lahat.

As we are waiting for our foods I saw a familiar face entering the fast food chain that we are right now. Mika is with Trinity. Umiwas na ako ng tingin bago pa nila ako mapansin na nakatingin sa kanila. Itinuro ko sila kay Cathy, and I know she became uncomfortable too. Para akong matatae sa kaba hopefully they won’t notice oh my Lord. I can’t face Mika now.

I felt Jae hands on my shoulder. “Hey are you okay?” I startled nang marinig ko siyang magsalita.

I look at him “Yeah of course” bakit parang biglang uminit sa lugar na’to ang hina ata ng aircon.

Ang tagal ng foods namin, I’m still not doing anything natatakot akong gumalaw dahil baka makita ako ni Trinity she probably doesn’t have idea of what happened but ayaw kong maging awkward humarap sa kanya.

Jae's hands are still on my shoulder gently brushing it. Na parang pinapakalma niya ako and it’s effective. I’d calm down.