Leaving it to chance [ Serendipity Series #01 ]

XXV: kinaiya

Kinaiya— (n.) attribute, trait, a distinguishing feature of your personal nature.[ bisaya/cebuano ]

* should there be any bisaya words used throughout the chapter, translations will be provided.

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Cebu felt like a dream. Bakit ba kasi ang bilis ng panahon? Isang idlip ko lang, nasa Manila na naman ako, sa loob ng condo ko, nag-aayos ng mga gamit ko kasi kararating ko lang galing Cebu. Si Mikie ang nag-volunteer na kumuha sa akin sa airport. Hindi ko rin naman siya tinanggihan kasi, hello, na miss ko 'yong jowabels, eh. Walang aangal! Ano ba! Kinikilig lola n'yo. Pero hindi nga lang siya nagtagal sa condo kasi mag-uumpisa na 'yong classes niya kinabukasan.

Both of us started getting busier when the second semester came around as we were graduating students. I was focused on my senior project and him on his classes. Nakaka-sad nga, e. The closer we got to graduating, the less time we spent with each other. It was a crucial time for both of us and we both understood naman. Though there were days where I wished we were back in Cebu, the worries of school and stress so far away.

Sinubukan naman naming magkita kapag may free time, kaso hindi naman madalas. And if ever magkikita kami, super bilis lang. We'd go on video call every so often to study together, but even then, hindi kami masyadong nag-uusap kasi inaatupag namin ang backlogs and school works.

Never once did I feel threatened or insecure, nor did I feel the need to demand time from Mikie. Ni kumain, walang halos oras iyong tao which kind of worried me. One time, tinawagan ko siya at kagigising lang niya. Apparently, nakatulog siya habang nag-aaral. Mind you, mga 10 p.m. na 'yon and his last meal was around 3 p.m.

Being the self proclaimed good girlfriend that I was, I decided to cook for him. Well, meal preps to be exact. It was a spur of the moment idea during my free day from school. I didn't know, sometimes spontaneity kicks in. I knew Mikie would be studying with Emman today at some café nearby his condo. Hindi raw siya magiging productive if nasa condo lang siya and may ipatuturo daw siya kay Emman. It was perfect since it meant I had time to use his kitchen without me bothering him.

I got changed, grabbed my bag and keys, before bolting out the door. On my way to the grocery, I thought of the menu I could cook for Mikie since finals were coming up and I knew he would bury himself in school work again. Alam kong hindi siya mahilig kumain sa labas, at least with the meal preps, hindi na siya mag-aabalang mag-order or magluto ng pagkain. It would also give me comfort knowing food was on hand for him.

Mabuti at hindi masyadong maraming tao sa grocery noong dumating ako. I quickly scanned through the aisles, grabbing everything I needed or well, I thought I needed. Nang makumpleto ko na lahat, dumiretso na ako sa counter at pumila para magbayad. Sana hindi ko maabutan si Mikie para may element of surprise pa.

I scrolled through my phone habang hinihintay turno ko sa checkout counter, leaning against my cart.

"Nina, right?" someone asked.

Napatingin ako bigla kung saan galing ang boses na iyon. I was shocked to find a familiar petite lady smiling softly from the line across me.

"Uhm, yes. Hi." Honestly, hindi talaga ako sure kung sino siya.

"Sorry, hi. Val. I'm Valerie. We met at Oliver's party?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko and nodded. "Right, hi! We did."

Mikie's ex-girlfriend.

"'Di ba, you're from Katipunan? Ang layo ng pinag-grocery-han mo, ah," she said, glancing at my cart.