Chapter 28
"Tapos ka na bang mag-aral para sa recitation bukas?" I asked Dave.
[Oo.]
"Busy ka ba?"
[Hindi naman. Why?]
"Gala tayo. Sobrang boring dito sa unit ko at tinatamad akong mag-aral."
[Sa'n naman?]
"Mall?" I suggested.
['Ge, ligo lang ako at dadaanan kita diyan sa unit mo.]
"Okay!"
I then ended the call. Tinawagan ko na sina Stacey at Kate kaso nag-aaral raw sila. Si Yaell naman may lakad kasama ang pamilya niya tsaka awkward siguro kung siya 'yong kasama ko. None of us would dare to talk.
Nagbihis ako. I just wore something simple. Crop top, jeans, and white shoes. I then braided my hair and applied a little bit of lipstick and blush. I don't even know kung ano 'yong gagawin ko do'n, I just don't feel like staying here in my unit.
It's still three in the afternoon so I have a lot of time to spare. Linggo naman bukas, I just need to review what I studied and do some advance reading.
After minutes of waiting, I heard a knock. Agad kong sinuot ang sling bag ko at pumunta sa pintuan. I opened it and saw Dave standing. I smiled at him. I locked my unit first before we left.
Sumakay na kami sa sasakyan niya at nagmaneho na siya. We talked about what we studied and questioned each other. So far so good, nakakasagot naman kami sa mga tanong na binabato namin sa isa't-isa.
He parked the car. Sabay kaming bumaba at pumasok ng mall.
"Punta muna tayo sa food court, bili tayo ng ice cream." I said.
He agreed with me.
Papa sent me money last week. He's doing well at his job. He works at the DENR since he finished a bachelor's degree that is BS in Environmental Science. Mama is at home doing well with her small business. She's selling scented candles because that's her hobby ever since then. My brothers can handle themselves already so Mama decided to have a small business for extra income.
"Kakapagod pala, 'no?" I said after we settle down at this ice cream store's little tables.
"There's no easy way if you want great outcomes." he said.
We're only second year law students but it's already stressing us out. Sabay-sabay kaming umiiyak mga girls while Dave and Yaell are always there to cheer us up. The boys are awful on showing their feelings. Kitang-kita naman na nahihirapan din sila pero hindi lang umaabot na punto na umiiyak na sila, unlike us.
"I know. I kind of getting the hang of it now that we're already on our second year." I said.
It was pretty hard during our first year. Madami sa batch namin ang nag-quit. Paunti-unti kaming nababawasan at sa tingin ko'y higit kalahati lang ata sa batch namin ang nagpatuloy sa second year. It's important to have someone to cheer you up when you're in the verge of giving up.
You can't have things the way you wanted. It takes time, determination, and the spirit to get up after failing.
"I think it's better if I had time to have a part-time job. Daming gastusin, nahihiya na ako kay Papa at sa mga kapatid ko." sabi ni Dave.
"Oo nga. Buti nalang nakakuha ng scholarship ang isa kong kapatid so in that way, I can feel less guilt for my parents."
"That's nice for your brother. Why are you guilty? Napag-usapan niyo naman ng mga magulang mo na mag-aaral ka ng law at pumayag naman sila, diba?" he asked.
"Oo nga, kaso... hindi kasi kami katulad niyo. Siguro barya lang ni Tito 'yang pinapa-aral niya sa'yo." I said.
We talked about stuffs. We roamed around relaxing ourself. We stayed at the mall's garden up until the sun set. Dave offered me a dinner but I humbly declined him. May pagkain pa kasi sa unit at ayaw kong masayang 'yon.
He sent me to my unit. I bid my farewell to him before he left. Pumasok na ako sa unit ko at nagbihis. I did my usual night routine. Dinner, shower, study, and then went to bed.
Binagsak ko ang sarili ko sa aking kama.
"What a day!" I said.
Kinuha ko muna ang phone ko at para tingnan kung may nangyayari ba sa paligid ko. From our group chat is where I get the latest chismis.
Attorneys
Stacey:
Group study tayo tomorrow. Wala akong natutunan dito sa bahay namin.
Yaell:
I'm in, pauwi na kami ng family ko.
Kate:
Ako rin.
Stacey:
Sa'n tayo?
Yaell:
Our house isn't available. May relatives kaming kasama at sa bahay sila mags-stay.
Stacey:
Not our house, boring dito.
Jenim:
Not my unit kung ayaw niyong magsiksikan.
I joined them.
Kate:
That leaves us to Dave, boring din dito sa unit ko, eh.
Dave's house is a bad idea. Kate's parents bought her a unit because their house is far from the school.
Stacey:
Sige ba. Nasa bahay niyo ba 'yong kapatid mong artista?
Dave:
I'll ask Papa first.
Tangina.
Kate:
Bilisan mo. Magpapa-picture kami sa kapatid mo.
The squad knows that Dave is Mazro's brother.
Dave:
Pwede daw.
Kate:
'Yun, oh!
"Nandito ba 'yong kapatid mo?" tanong ni Kate pagkapasok namin sa gate nina Dave.
"Wala." Dave answered.
I released a sigh. It'll be a chaotic if he's here.
"Ah! Sayang naman!" Stacey this time.
Tahimik ang bahay nila ngayon. May nakahandang lamesa at mga upuan sa garden area nila. This is where we study if the weather is nice, like today. Nagsi-upuan na kami at nilabas ang kanya-kanyang gamit. Dave, Kate, and I are reading silently while Stacey and Yaell are throwing questions at each other.
I need my Revised Penal Code book. I checked my bag and it's not around. Shit! I think I forgot it. Stupid, Jenim! Amongst all books, how could you forget RPC?
"Do you have your RPC book with you?" I asked Dave.
"Nasa kwarto ko ata. Bakit?"
"I forgot mine. Pwede pahiram?"
"Sure. Nasa table lang do'n sa kwarto ko, alam mo na siguro kung saan."
"Yeah! Thanks." I said and left.
Pumasok ako sa bahay nila at nakasalubong ang isang made na may dalang meryenda. I smiled at her and continued walking to Dave's room. Agad akong pumasok at hinanap ang libro. I found it right away since his room is organized. I immediately took my exit.
Napahinto ako sa harap ng pintuan ng katabing kwarto ni Dave. This room sure is filled with a lot of memories. It's where everything ended.
I startled when it opened and revealed him. We are standing so close and my feet are like glued to the floor. I can't move.
"What are you doing in front of my room?" he asked.
It's him.
^_^
