Watch my Step (Friend Series #4)

Chapter 1

It was the last month of school year where it all started.

I could still recall in mind the shade of my lipstick I was wearing and how many fucking times I pressed the bottle of my Chloe perfume before shit happened.

I was expecting an ending that day yet I was brought to a new beginning.

A month before school year ends is the time where every student feels the time fleets. It's fine for some students—I mean for the juniors who are looking forward to their summer vacation. But it isn't the case for the seniors who are now like sitting on a ticking time bomb.

Para sa kanila, bawat oras ay mahalaga. Animo'y may taning na ang buhay kaya gustong-gusto nang gawin ang matagal ng gustong mangyari bago pa mahuli ang lahat.

Just like this man in front of me.

"You can't be possibly serious." He said after a long silence between us.

He was still in dazed after I dropped my response to his damn proposal.

Who'd propose to a twenty-year-old woman anyway?

Only this man could do that.

The cold breeze of the wind flew the freed strands of my hair from my tight and high ponytail. Kasabay noon ay ang pagtangay rin ng aking paningin sa gilid. I took a quick glance at what surrounds us.

The vast field of St. Joseph was filled of Josephites. Alas singko ng hapon. Labasan ng mga high school at kolehiyo kaya punong-puno ang bakuran ng unibersidad ng mga papalabas na mga estudyante at sasakyan. Ang ilan ay pinili ang tumambay muna kasama ang mga kaibigan at ginawang parke ang malawak na field.

Sa gitna ng ingay nila ay kaming dalawa ng lalaking nagtagal sa akin ng isang buwan. The longest relationship I've ever have in the making. Napakatagal na ng isang buwan para sa isang Step Saldiviar. Too bad I have to end it now.

"I can be possibly serious, Drei." I said and uncrossed my legs.

Lalo pa't ngayon na nakikita ko na ang mga senyales na kailangan ko na talaga siyang hiwalayan. Una ay aalis na siya. He's a senior student. Buwan na lang ang ilalagi niya sa eskuwelahan. Ano pang silbi ng relasyon kung hindi rin kami magkikita, 'di ba? Pangalawa, he'll get busy chasing his dreams. Ano pang silbi ng relasyon kung wala rin kaming oras para sa isa't isa, 'di ba? At huli ay ito. He's turning into a man I despise the most!

Like what the hell?! We started playing and I was expecting that we'll end it when the game's finally over. I didn't expect that we have to end it like a fucking break up.

"And this is me being possibly serious."

What I said made him livid. I could already trace with my finger the veins on his neck and temples.

Nakatayo siya sa aking harapan habang ako ay komportableng nakaupo sa bench, kalmado. Ibang-iba sa nakikita ko sa kanya ngayon.

He clenched his hand into fist like he was readying himself for a fight.

Sino'ng kalaban niya? Ako?

I looked around, trying to find my rescuer if ever things get worse.

I sighed in relief when I saw Harvey who's standing a few meters away from my location. I'm just readying myself for the worse dahil sa ipinapakita sa aking galit ng kausap ay hindi malabong saktan niya ako ngayon.

Nang ibalik ko ang tingin sa kaharap ay siya naman ang naghahanap sa iba't ibang palumpon ng tao sa aming paligid kung sino ang tiningnan ko.

I made an eye-roll. This is why I wanted an end with this man. He was acting, strange. I mean he's being serious and certain lately. Like how my guy friends act to their girlfriends and that's the least thing I want in a relationship.