𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 // 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗 𝚍𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚜

xvii. thesis, training... you

La Salle GreenHills, 2017.

“Maaga ka nanaman aalis, Kie? Hindi ka na sumasama sa'min gumala ah,” one of my college friends said.

“Oo nga, saan ka ba pumupunta at lagi kang nawawala?”

“Sorry, I'll make it up to you, guys. I promise,” I apologized as I rose from my seat, slipped my sling bag over my shoulder, and grabbed my portfolio on my desk, hugging it into my arms, ready to leave.

“Nagtatanong pa kayo? Nangingibang campus kasi 'yan si Kie e,” one of my blockmates commented.

Here we go again. I just shakes my head at what they're implying. Justin and I both have half-day Saturday classes, but he texted me earlier that he'll pick me up here in LSGH in which I was confused at first 'cause we didn't discuss other plans last night after our Fridate at Timezone because, apparently, he lost his arcade mood the instant Daniel approached us. The phone call, however, was Ate Xi asking him pick her and their other Arts Club members at the gym.

“Nangingibang campus? Ah! Sa St. Benilde nga pala no! 'Di ko na nga nakikita si Justin na pumupunta rito, break na ba kayo, Kie?”

“Hala! Bakit? Sayang naman.”

“Bakit kayo nag-break? Mukha pa naman green flag 'yung guy.”

I rolled my eyes at their words then jokingly glared at them. “Hoy! Ang i-issue niyo talaga. Busy kasi si Jah sa thesis niya tsaka sa training kaya ako na lang pumupunta sa kanila. At tsaka walang nag-break... kasi wala namang kami.”

“Bakit mag-jowa lang ba nagbi-break, ha, Kiera?”

I blinked a couple of times as I thought about what my friends said and quickly brushed off the comment. “Ayy... 'di niyo kasi nililinaw maigi. Oh sya, friends pa rin kami pero busy si Jah. Happy?”

“Sure ba kayong friends lang kayo, asking for a friend?” they skeptically asked.

Here we go again. I know some of my blockmates likes Justin kasi mukha raw Koreano at tsaka ang bait daw tas rich kid pa. Sobrang gwapo rin daw talaga. Totoo naman kaya 'di na ako magtataka. Baka Justin De Dios 'yan.

“Bakit liligawan mo ba?” I asked, jokingly.

“Oo!” one of them quickly answered without hesitation. “Ako na lang mag-first move sa'ming dalawa.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Bawal, baby pa si Jah.”

“Baby mo? Yiieeee Kiera ha.”

I snorted, my brows furrowed. “Alam niyo, ewan ko sa inyo. Mauna na nga ako. Bye!”

I made a promised to myself that I would never fall for my best friend because I'm scared of ruining things between us—especially between Justin and me. Plus, it's not like Justin will look at me that way, though, I know his ideal type, and the only girl I know who can pass that is... Miss Marlene. Like short hair, mala-Maria Clara ang dating gano'n.

But as I walked out of the room with my blockmates taunting me about Justin, even though it was their normal questions and what they thought about us—that we're dating, which we aren't—I couldn't help but wonder... what if one of them would really take the first move on pursuing Justin, what will he do?

I can already picture him becoming shy and simply smiling about it. Cute. But what if he pursued someone I know, or even Marlene…? Can I… Of course, I can, why wouldn't I? Best friend lang naman ako, so kailangan supportive ako.

As I got closer to the gate, I noticed a familiar tall figure dressed with St. Benilde uniform while standing aside the gate of our campus.

My one and only best friend, Justin.