Find me in your pages | THE WATTYS 2023

Chapter 27:

The weekend came. The weather was clear, the skies were clear, and I have all my letters for her. Mga sinulat ko yon while I'm slowly recovering. Umaga pa lang so I went on a little walk with Maze sa may park. It's not that far from my apartment at walking distance lang naman.

I sat on a bench after a while, feeding maze a slice of banana habang nandoon kami. "Xerena! Gago bakit ka nandito?" Bati ni Tres sa akin, he's also with Syg and Lucas, nandoon sila sa may malayo pa, nagwawater break. "Sino to? Alaga mo?"

"Ay hindi Tres. Hindi ko alaga yan, amo ko yan." Biro ko pa dito. "This is Maze. My bunny..."

"Ay alam mo ba, Maze dati ang tawag namin kay—"

"Idiot. You didn't have to say that." Puna ni Syg sa kanya. "Good morning, Xerena. What's up?"

"Ayos lang, just thinking about some things...Busy rin reviewing for the exams. Next next week na kasi eh." Sagot ko kay Syg. Buti ba lang talaga may natututunan ako sa mga nilelesson nang prof namin. "Kayo ba?"

"Still studying law. I still need a few more years before I graduate. Lucas went to art school, one of the top students in the entire school. He studies now in De La Salle's Design and Arts campus in Malate. I'm proud of him." Wow.

Art school can be so fucking expensive. At sa La Salle pa talaga sya nagaral? But good thing he's doing so well in everything. "He really loves art that much." Bulong ko.

"Kamusta na kayo ni Cleo?"

"We stopped talking, obviously." Maguusap din naman kami mamaya. But they didn't need to know that. "I plan to talk to her soon but not now." I lied again. I'm just hoping for Syg to not see through my lies.

"Uy, Xerena is here pala! Namiss kita tol!" Lucas greeted bago nya akbayan yung dalawa. "It's been a while din...Busy tayo parehas."

"Yeah...You did great on pursuing your passion, Lu. Wag mo akong kalimutan ha?" Biro ko sa kanya. He just laughed at me while Syg...Was giving me the stares. "What?"

"Nothing. Just thought you two talked a while ago." He catches up fast. Hindi ko inexpect na malalaman nya kaagad. Or maybe he was bluffing. "If you don't mind, Xerena. You live here, right? We need a water refill."

"Yep malapit lang. Tara?" Aya ko sa kanilang tatlo bago ko nilapag ulit si Maze, still holding his leash.

Dumiretso kami papunta sa apartment ko, it was just a ten minute walk and mukhang hingal na agad si Lucas. "Tangina ang bilis nyo naman maglakad! Pwede bang bagalan nyo man lang nang konti?"

"This is why you need exercise, Lucas. You look like a dried leaf."

"Luh epal. Porket may six pack ka lang at girlfriend ganyan ka na?" Biro ni Lucas.

Pumasok naman sila kaagad pagkatapos ko sila pagbuksan, agad naman silang dumiretso except for Syg. "Oh, bakit hindi ka sumasama sa kanila?"

"I'd leave in a bit. I need to get ready to get to my office. I just needed a fill." Tipid nya na sagot sa akin. "Actually...They can refill my bottle, can I talk to you in private?"

"Oo naman..." Lumabas muna kaming dalawa. I was nervous, he was so fucking tall and intimidating too. May ginawa ba akong mali? Oh god. Am I gonna die? "Bakit?"

"Cleo was ranting to me the past few weeks. She said that it's her fault. When do you plan on talking to her? I hate seeing her like this." Oh. That.

I parted my lips so I can talk and explain to Syg. "I'm planning to talk to her soon...Later. This afternoon actually. I have to let her go. And it's for the both of us too."