The Living Fictions

Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

Until the most anticipated day came, it was already exam for first quarter. Yes, fast as that. Parang nung una lang ay kaka-start pa lang ng klase. Nakapag review ako sa subjects ko kagabi kaya hindi na ganoon kahirap lalo na't I and Ryden was reviewing together last night.

“I sent the summaries and the pointers of our lessons to your email, Aye. Sana makatulong,” ani nito.

Nasa notes ko lang ang focus ko at nang sabihin niya iyon sa akin, I diverted my attention towards my laptop. Binuksan ko ang aking email account and saw something there. Isang document tungkol sa subjects na i-exam bukas.

Wow, the notes was so organized, every bit of it has examples pa kaya mas lalong maiintindihan mo talaga.

“Naka-highlight na ang mga topics? Wow! Thanks for this, Ryd.”

“No problem. Uh, ilang lessons na pala ang nareview mo?”

“Half of it pa lang. Nawala kasi ang atensyon ko, goodness.”

“You should drink water and eat chocolate while reviewing, Aye. It could help. Don't be hard on yourself, hmm?”

Hindi ko rin alam bakit biglang naging ganito ang samahan namin ni Ryden at kailan nagsimula. Basta, bigla nalang niyang hiningi ang number ko through Instagram at nag-aya agad ito ng study together. Of course, it makes my heart flutter. Also the things that he's doing to help me reviewing. All this time, he didn't act selfishly. He always drag me with him and both of us striving upwards. And it matters a lot for be because I've
never been in this kind of treatment before.

“Hating-gabi na pala, Aye. We should rest, especially you. Huwag mong i-stress ang sarili mo sa pag-review.”

“Can we stay a little longer?” Hindi ko alam kung saan ko galing ang mga salitang iyon but... I'm just voicing out what's in my mind.

“Of course but... I think we should take a rest from reviewing. Pwede pa naman tayong mag-usap at magkatawag kahit walang nire-review, di'ba?”

I bit my lower lip. I silently thanking all the heavesn kasi hindi niya naisipan mag-video call kami. I swear, hindi ko kakayanin kapag nakita niya ang pulang-pula kong mga pisnge!

“Of course, Ryd. Wala naman akong problema sa ganoon.”

And then, I smiled while looking at the screen on my phone.

I can say that parang naka-close ko na si Ryden ngayon. Though, hindi kasing close kina Ashton but our conversation is improving! Pero hindi ko alam kung saan ito hahantong, but all I could say is, I like him being like this for me... I like us for what we are today. Hindi na siya ganoong rude sa'kin at hindi na rin sumasakit ang ulo ko sa kaniya. Buti naman!

Napabalik ako sa aking diwa. I almost scold myself kasi sa mismong araw ng exam, ang kapal-kapal ng mukha kong isipin si Ryden imbes itong solutions sa GenMath ang aking poproblemahin.

However, after taking the exam and our scores were revealed, para akong sinasayaw sa ulap habang nakatingin sa test paper ko sa GenMath.

45/50. Wow, samantalang dati ay hirap na hirap akong tungtungin ang 30+ na scores sa math. But now, it seems easy. Thanks a lot to Ryden.

Maagang natapos ang klase namin pagdating ng hapon kaya ngayon, kasama ko si Arin na naglibot-libot sa field. Kanina pa ako nagpaalam kay Ryden and I told him na bukas nalang muna kami magsabay kasi Arin wants to go home with me.

"Ang tahimik mo ngayon ah.” Iyon ang napansin ko kay Arin ngayon. Palagi lang siyang nakayuko na parang batang pinagalitan ng Nanay. She even looks so gloomy and I noticed that for the whole day.