At What Price (Completed)

XXV

#AtWhatPrice25

"What you truly love, you will make time for now. You know from your past that you only ever really succeed at something if your heart is all in."

•••

Last night was wonderful, minus meeting someone from the past. Hadwin's friends were the one who took care of him. I nodded at Cyrus when he assured me he will take him home as we were leaving as well. Margot and Nailea were hammered that night.

The morning after, I decided to check on him.

Good morning. 

Nasa school ka na?

We're on the library.

Eat on time. Rest when you need it, okay?

Not a thing from him that day.

At first, I thought he was busy. 

Pero... hindi siya nagparamdam ng three days.

And then I saw him at the train.

Instead of going near me, he went on a completely different direction. 

The train's door closed and I couldn't f-cking believe what I saw.

That was just... cruel.

Did our friendship meant nothing now?

•••

It was like a deja vu.

This is a Cyrus spiel all over again. Only time this, it hurts more 'cause we bonded. He's a precious friend I'm really hellbent on keeping, and I don't make friends that easily. Ang sakit lang.

And... I have no f-cking clue why.

Napansin din iyon nina Nailea at Margot. Hindi lang nila kayang sugurin dahil sa tambak kami ng gawain lalo't finals week na.

Ramdam nila na wala akong gana. They were enraged. They couldn't believe that he's avoiding us - especially me, when we were all partying with our life on that night.

I'm sure they'll demand for a reason why - and as much as I want to confront him, him turning back to me and leaving me there... hindi ko makalimutan.

I can't face him, no, not with this pain. 

Maybe I'm prolonging my agony but... studies first. I need to secure my spot in this course before I can secure my feelings.

"Claudia, antayin mo 'ko." Nailea whisper-shouted to me. She's seated beside me, and I'm going to turn in my papers now. We're taking the most important quiz of our major subject just before we can dive into the finals.

I gave her a nod, telling I'll wait for her outside. I heaved out a sigh as I stepped out into the exam room. I saw how the rain started to pour. Great. More reasons to feel sad.

I flipped my index cards that was binded by binder rings and sat down at the lobby seat. Buti na lang may lounging place sa dulo ng bawat wing ng building. 

"Process costing is the cost accumulation procedure is most applicable in continuous mass-production manufacturing environments," I read softly. 

I huffed in frustration, because I couldn't help it. Madali sana... kung hindi kami minamadali. This school is cruel. I can learn it, yes, but I cannot master it in a day. It's impossible. Lalo pa sa course na 'to, laging may proseso.