Prólogo
If we're going to go back how we used to know each other?
We were childhood sweethearts.
Nagkakilala ang family namin because of my childhood mistake. You know, typical bata na nang away because hindi pinansin.
But hindi ro'n nag end 'yong connection namin ni Eru. Until college students kami, we're still together.
Not as friends but lovers.
We're already on our sixth year relationship and a third year in college.
"How are we going to continue being in a relationship if you keep doing that?" I asked him.
"Aela, you keep on pushing me these past few days? Do you have someone new? Tell me in all honesty." It's not his usual facial expression kapag nagtatalo kami.
Makikita mo na galit siya sa sinabi ko.
"Of course, I don't! You think may makakahigit sa'yo?" Natawa ako sa sarili kong sinabi.
Wala naman talagang makakahigit sa kan'ya because he's my first and last love.
Makikita ko rin naman kahit icompare ko sa ibang karelasyon ng mga kaibigan ko.
Erudian is perfect.
"Then why do you keep on telling me that? What's wrong with you?" Nakakunot na ang noo nito at hindi na katulad ng dati na kapag nagtatalo kami, he will immediately hug me or talk to me in a malumanay voice.
"I don't know, nagbago ka na kasi..." Hindi ko maituloy ang gusto kong sabihin.
He's not this distant, I don't know if ganito ba talaga kapag matagal na?
Like, I'm always be the first one na magreach out. Dati naman, both kaming nag e-effort just to see or have time to each other.
But since nag college kami, no'ng naging busy siya and found his new sets of friends. Iba talaga pinagbago niya.
Hinayaan ko na lang because he also needs na mag enjoy sa sarili niya.
Hindi lang naman sa'kin umiikot ang mundo niya, but to the point na umaabot ng 1 month bago kami magkita? Like updates na lang talaga mayroon between us?
That's not a good thing, so I suspected first na may babae siya. But I was wrong, he just really want to enjoy his college life.
So I let him, even now. But napuno na ako, I love him. I don't want us to slip our way out on this relationship.
Sa thought lang na maghihiwalay kami or may sasabihin akong 'di maganda, bumibigat pakiramdam ko.
"I'm busy. You're also busy. I'm not yet done with the activities and thesis and you're done. Can you please understand me muna?" Hindi ako nakagalaw sa sinabi niya sa'kin.
Hindi siya nakakapagsalita ng ganito sa'kin ever since...
Siguro napuno na talaga siya sa'kin.
Lumapit ako at niyakap siya. 'Yong pagbaba't taas ng dibdib niya is kakaiba.
Meaning, nagtitimpi siya.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to be like this. I just really missed you. Kung hindi pa ako magagalit or what, hindi ka magpapakita sa'kin. I told you na I want to see you kahit saglit lang." Huminga ito ng malalim at niyakap ako pabalik.
Hinalikan nito ang noo ko, ang tungki ng ilong ko and last my lips.
Sinuklian ko ang mga nagbabagang halik niya at ako na mismo ang umatras para makasagap ng hangin.
Natawa ito sa'king ekspresyon.
He's not the manipulative type naman e, pero you know. Kaunting yakap or madikit lang mga balat namin, nawawala na lahat ng tampo ko.
"Good that you're sorry. But I updated you prelims pa lang. Magiging madalang pagkikita natin and baka hindi ko masagot lagi phone calls and even your text messages." Ani niya.
"Yes, sorry po. Hindi na mauulit." Nagpatuloy siya sa pagtitipa sa kan'yang laptop and I stayed beside him, just hugging him.
Hanggang sa matapos ang midterm, we had limited dates and meet ups.
It's fine, I need to be independent unlike before na mga bata pa kami.
---
Then I saw him one time with bunch of boys and girls around him.
Napansin niya ako at ngumiti ito sa'kin.
Kumaway ito kaya't lumapit ako para batiin siya, "Hey, how are you?" Sabay yakap ng mahigpit at gano'n din ito.
"I'm fine love, sorry late kita naitext kanina. But we're going to have a group activity. Mala-late na naman ako ng uwi." He looks very stressed.
Nag alala naman ako sa hitsura nito.
"Please take care, kumain ka ah? Sino kasabay mo umuwi?" Tanong ko, hindi kami gaano naririnig ng mga kasama niya dahil lumayo kami kaunti.
Lumingon siya sa isang mas matangkad na lalaki sa'kin na maputi't and cute. He looks like a girl in a manly way, kaya nginitian ko ito.
Nahihiyang ngumiti ito at lumapit kasi tinawag ni Erudian.
"This is Aela, my girlfriend." Pakilala sa'kin ni Eru.
Nilahad ko ang kamay ko at nakipagkamay rito.
"Benj, nice to meet you." He looks very lovely.
You can tell that he has an asian features unlike sa'min ni Erudian na may Spanish and European features.
I think he's half korean?
"After the group activity, isisingit namin 'yong sa thesis namin. He's one of my groupmates. Hopefully it's finished by 5 PM." Nakatingala ako rito at niyakap ang baywang.
"Yes, you guys can do it!" Napatingin ako sa orasan nito sa left wrist and nagpaalam na.
"As much as I want to talk to you, I really need to go. I also have some activities to finish. Mag ingat kayo ah?" Sabi ko. Hinalikan ko ang kamay nito at nagpaalam na rin kay Benj.
"Take care Benj pag uwi niyo!" Ngumiti ito at tumango.
"You too. Thank you!" Natawa ako rito kasi he's still shy, he's really cute!
No, handsomely cute ba? I don't know how to explain it e.
Then, natapos ang finals ng aming first semester and both kami ni Eru nakapasa.
Didn't expect it, kasi I'm not that smart compared to him.
And about Benj? I don't know, there's something about him, nakikita kita ko siya and nagkakatanguan kami.
Kaso he's with his friends.
I thought he will be friends with Eru, kaso hindi.
And things will get messy starting from this point.
