Becoming The Man (COMPLETED)

Epilogue (Part 2)

Epilogue (Part 2 of 2)

Debbie and I barely see each other nowadays.

Pareho kaming busy dahil graduating na kami—and we're not trying to slack off dahil ayaw naming ma-delay. I had to quit my job in the coffee shop to focus on my studies. It was finals week kaya wala nang gaanong iniisip bukod sa exams.

"Bakit hindi na colorful 'yung notes mo?" tanong ko sabay kuha ng isang notes niya.

She rolled her eyes. "With the time I have, sa tingin mo maiisip ko pa mag-design ng notes? What's important is I make it work!"

I chuckled. "Whatever you say," I said and went back to reviewing on my own. Nasa coffee shop kami ngayon dahil gusto daw niyang ma-pressure sa ibang mga nag-aaral.

Nag-aral lang kami ni Debbie buong araw. Tumayo ako nung nakaramdam ako ng gutom at bumili ng ensaymada para sa aming dalawa. Nilagay ko sa table 'yung pagkain at bumalik sa pag-aaral. But a few minutes passed, pero hindi pa rin niya ginagalaw.

"Kain ka muna," I urged her.

"Wait lang, bub," she said habang naka-hawak sa sentido. Oh, shoot. Nagme-memorize pala ng mnemonics.

I shrugged and went back to studying. Nakita ko siyang kumagat ng ensaymada, but her eyes were still glued to the textbook. Napa-ngisi ako bago ilabas ang phone ko at kuhanan siya ng picture.

I posted it on my story and mentioned her. 'Sipag.'

Nag-ligpit na ako ng mga gamit ko nang sabihan kami ng waiter na magsa-sara na daw 'yung coffee shop. Ayaw pang papigil ni Debbie pero ako na ang nag-ligpit para sa kanya.

"Where do you want to eat dinner?" I asked while driving us out of the parking lot. She basically taught me how to drive her car and when she's out of her element, ako ang nagda-drive sa amin.

"Anywhere, bub..." she said while scrolling in her phone.

"Saan 'yung anywhere?" Debbie rolled her eyes kaya natawa ako. "Pad thai, you want?" I asked her and tumango lang siya. Nag-drive ako papunta sa nearest pad thai resto. Pumasok na si Debbie para mag-order habang naghahanap ako ng parking space.

"Bailey!"

Lumapit ako para makita 'yung tumawag sa akin. Lumalabo na 'yung mata ko kakaaral—tigil na 'yan. Este, dapat magpa-salamin na siguro ako!

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "Claudia?" di makapaniwala kong tanong. Napadpad ang tingin ko sa lalaking lumabas ng rest room at lumapit kay Claudia. "...Nate? Magkasama kayo?"

"Bub," rinig kong tawag ni Debbie kaya hinawakan ko ang kamay niya.

We haven't spoken to Claudia since we transferred to UP. Hindi ko na rin kailangan ng scholarship ng tatay niya dahil nag-offer si Tito Damian na pag-aralin ako. After all, he had a position to grant me a scholarship. Simula noon, we fully cut ties with her.

Pero ang pinagtataka ko ay kung bakit magkasama sila ni Nate.

"Ah, yeah," sabi ni Claudia bago siya akbayan ni Nate. "Magdi-dinner rin ba kayo? Why don't we share a table?"

Tumingin agad ako kay Debbie. "You okay with that, bub?"

She shrugged. "Ikaw... is it fine with you?"

I cleared my throat and looked at them. "Alright. Treat na namin ni Debbie. Hanap na tayo ng mauupuan natin."

Claudia nodded and took Nate with her. Sumunod kami ni Debbie sa kanila. We were walking when I noticed that she looked worried.