Fallen game

Chapter 16: Pain and sorrow

"Study date?"

Nilingon ko si Caya. Kakatapos lang ng class namin sa Blood bank. Hindi ko maiwasan na mapuna ang stress sa mukha niya. Sympre, kahit gusto mo ang kursong kinuha, hindi mo maiiwasan na mahirapan. Or maybe, she's just pressured.

"Sure," I replied

Wala naman akong gagawin ngayon. Bukas pa kami magkikita ni Kier dahil meron pa siyang emergency meeting sa kompanya nila. Lumapit siya saka ako mahigpit na niyakap so I hugged her back.

When Caya heaved a loud breath, I tapped her in the shoulder.

"Just breathe..." I gently said

Kumalas siya saka ako hinarap. She smiled. "Just breathe..." ulit niya

Last year in college is a mixed emotion. Parang kahapon lang, we were just freshmen who have no idea of what is ahead of us. It feels like it was just yesterday when we were sitting at the auditorium together with other freshmen. And I couldn't forget how amaze I was, looking at our seniors and kept on wondering how they managed to survive each year.

And now...here we are. Almost at the end.

Ate Xianna, Kuya Xian, Izaac, Storm and Mikael graduated last week. Caya's boyfriend too. Time flies so fast, indeed. Kakagraduate lang nila pero pare-parehong busy dahil sa mga review.

"Pizza?" I asked her.

Minsan na lang kasi kami mag-bonding. I know, kahit hindi man niya sabihin, she's also struggling. Kaya ganoon nga ang nangyari. We went to our favorite pizza shop and spent our afternoon catching up.

"Where's your boyfriend?" I asked after finishing my glass of iced tea.

"He's busy."

Caya went missing after our cousin's graduation. It was a mess. Nag-away ang parents niya kaya pati siya ay apektado. I'm just thankful that she was brought home safe.

"Magkikita kayo mamaya?"

"I don't know...siguro?"

"Nag-away na naman ba kayo?"

"Hindi ah. Talagang busy lang kami."

I looked at her with doubt in my eyes. I knew her.

Parang kahapon lang nang nahuli niya akong inihatid ni Kier sa school. Hindi naman sa ikinahihiya ko si Kier...it's just that I wanted to keep everything at slow pace. Ayokong magmadali.

"I'm so fucking tired," Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan niya. Seeing the tiredness within her eyes clenched my heart. And I do have an idea that this is not just about her acads. Hindi ito ang Caya na kilala ko. Siguarado ako.

"Inom tayo?"

She timidly smile and shook her head. "I'll just...go home. And rest."

"Okay, but if you want to drink, just tell me. I'm free. Or if you want to chill and go somewhere, I'm free too."

She nodded.

After that, palagi kong napapansin ang pagiging tahimik niya. Hindi rin siya nagsasabi sa akin kung ano man ang nasa isip niya. I badly want to ask tita pero hindi ko siya maabutan sa kanilang bahay. I also could not text her because she might ask Caya or maybe Caya haven't told her a thing or two.

"How was it?"

Napabalik ako sa realidad nang marinig ko ang boses ni Kier. I blinked twice before I could respond.

"I love it!" I told him honestly. We're at his condo right now. Kakatapos lang ng duty ko at sinundo niya ako. Dito kami dumiretso dahil nagsabi siya na ipagluluto niya ako ng dinner.