Until the Last Memory's Afterglow

Chapter 06

Chapter 06 - New York

"Babe, you don't need to stress about it. Ako na ang bahala sa hotel, promise."

Zayn already assured me lots of times, pero gusto ko rin na may share ako sa hotel! Sapat naman ang savings ko! We are planning to stay at a 5 star hotel that's worth our money.

Pupunta kami ng States next week to attend my grandmother's birthday party. Hindi naman p'wede na siya ang lumuwas dito dahil nga may edad na siya at may complications na sa health niya, so kami na lang ang pupunta roon!

My parents agreed to take Zayn with us. Sa sobrang excitement ay nag-prepare na ako kaagad ng mga dadalhin next week. Naka-handa na rin ang mga papeles na kakailanganin namin para maka-lipad sa U.S.

We will be staying there for a week habang bakasyon dahil may holiday sa school namin.

Pinayagan din kami nila Dad na magstay sa isang hotel room! Alone!

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko para mapalapit ako sa kaniya. I sat on his lap while his arms encircled my waist.

"I love you," he whispered. I smiled and kissed the tip of his nose.

He was not pressuring me to feel or say the same. Sinisigurado ko muna na totoo at sigurado ang feelings ko para sa kaniya bago ko sabihin 'yon pabalik sa kan'ya. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali. Marami pang panahon.

For me, it wasn't just a word. It was something more. Something deeper.

"Friendship!" napalingon ako kay Ruth nang i-sigaw n'ya ang pangalan ko.

"Bakit?!" sigaw ko pabalik.

Hingal s'yang lumapit sa 'kin at pinakita ang cellphone n'ya. Kumunot ang noo ko at pinakatitigan 'yon. Binasa ko iyon nang maigi para malaman kung tama ba ang nakita ko. List iyon ng mga students na nakapasok sa isang prestigious university na in-applyan naming dalawa last week.

"Jeong..." Bulong ko habang binabasa ang pangalan ko na nasa list. Dahan-dahan akong napanganga habang nakatingin sa cellphone. "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" I covered my mouth and stood up.

Nakapasok ako! Nakapasok kami!

Sabay kaming sumigaw at tumalon-talon sa tuwa. Naghampasan pa kami sa sobrang saya. A lot of people were already staring, but we did not care. We got in!

"What's with the happy face, love?" he gave me an amused look and chuckled. I glared at him before smiling.

"I got in!" I excitedly said and smiled more widely. He already knew what that meant dahil last week pa ako nagpapanic na baka hindi ako makapasok. Dream university with my dream course!

His reaction was funny, parang gulat na masaya. Mas gulat pa siya kaysa sa akin! He hugged me and kissed the top of my head out of joy.

"You did it, baby!" he proudly said and clapped.

Nilabas ko ang polaroid camera na binigay n'ya sa 'kin no'ng birthday ko at nag-picture. He rested his arm above my shoulder while his other hand was pinching my cheek as a pose. We both smiled widely. Sa pangalawang picture naman ay parehas kaming naka-tingin sa isa't isa nang naka-ngiti.

He smirked when he saw the photo. It was the first ever picture of us as a couple!

Nilibre niya ako after class sa isang restaurant na malapit sa school. Habang naghihintay ng order ay napansin kong hindi maganda ang timpla niya. Even though he smiled, I still sensed that something was wrong.

"Zayn, okay ka lang ba?" Tanong ko. He looked at me and gave me an assuring smile.

"Of course..."

I did not ask anymore dahil baka makulitan lang siya sa 'kin. Days passed and we became busy. Naghahanda na kami para sa graduation, habang siya naman sa finals nila. Last semester na lang bago siya maging intern sa isang kumpanya.