Healed Story by Jay Bartholome

Chapter 19: Is This Mr. Jake Lee?

ETHAN

09********6
iMessage
-20:19-

Me
| Hi, good evening, is this Mr. Jake Lee?

Unknown Number
| hello, who is this?

Me
| Ethan, how have you been?

Unknown Number
| good. where did you get my number?

Me
| Mr. Sunghoon gave me your number.

Unknown Number
| ah. what do you need Mr. Maxwell?

Me
| Nothing, I wanted to thank you. When are you free? my treat!

Unknown Number
| not sure, I just got into college.

Me
| Oh yeah, Mr. Sunghoon told me that. Where do you study?

Unknown Number
| Isn't that too personal?

Me
| My bad. Since I can't treat you in the meantime,

| I want to say thank you, thank you for saving me earlier!

Unknown Number
| Arison. Arison University. how about you?

Me
| That's too personal. Bawal.

Unknown Number
| Oh, okay. Anyways, if you have anything to say, say it right now. I have to move my things for my dorm.

Me
| Next school year pa ako magko-college. For now nagiipon at pinagiisipan ko pa yung kukunin kong course.

| And yes, may sasabihin pa ako.

| Sorry for my behavior dati, sorry for everything.
I hope to meet you soon!

Unknown Number
| Didn't you read my letter on the bouquet? Anyways. I got to go, I might not open my phone. Save my number if you want.

Me
| Wait I'll check that later. I hid it somewhere but wasn't able to read it. I forgot hehe. Thank you sa time, and for the life you saved.

Unknown Number
| Okay. Bye.

That's interesting. Arison is a prestigious university, rich people only go there. Umaabot din ng daang libo ang tuition doon. I don't plan to go there anyway.

Hinanap ko ulit yung letter na kasama nung bouquet na binigay ni Jake. I don't really remember where I hid it.

Mahigit isang oras din akong naghalungkat sa cabinet ko. I found a small box full of paper. There was also a dry rose and a folded card attached to it. Maybe this is the one.

"Hi Ethan, sorry for my behavior lately. It is hard to lose  someone you love more than anything. I'm not blaming you for what those hooligans did to me that day. I understand you. I also forgive you so free to talk to me whenever you see me in the future. Happy Completion Day!"

~ Your Friend, Jake

Water droplets started to fall down on my face. Watery eyes and a genuine smile. I thought Jake would never forgive me. I had the answer all along. Wait I gotta thank him.

Jake Lee
iMessage
-23:58-

Me
| Hi, I found the letter. Thank you Jake

Jake
| Great.

Me
| Bakit gising ka pa?

Jake
| Unpacking my stuff, what about you?

Me
| Hinanap ko yung letter mo hehe. nag linis din kami ng kwarto kanina dahil nung sunog. Buti walang ibang damage, yung shower ko lang. Matutulog na din ako. Thank you ulit Jake. Goodnight!

Jake
| Goodnight.

I closed my phone and closed the light. A lot of things happened today. I deserve to rest. I can't believe I met my old friend, kind of. Still, he saved me.

WAIT! Did he carry me buttnaked? F*ck! Nakakahiya! Did he also saw my banana? T*ngina mo Ethan, tanga kaba? Kaya ka nga may damit kanina eh. So he touched me? AHHHHH!

I blushed and jumped on my bed because of embarrassment. Walang katapusang kahihiyaan for Ethan.

AUTHOR
Hi, this is a warning... I don't know any college terminologies for I am still a high schooler. Thank you.

~ 1 year later

ETHAN

   It has been a year since I last got in contact with Jake. He's indeed really busy. Imagine managing to study in college along with his Medical School, and two other courses. It is said that he didn't have to take pre-med courses due to his advanced knowledge. He's very famous in Arison for being an advanced student, I see him throughout the media. He even got an offer to Harvard but declined it. IDK why~

  I have thought carefully. I ended up applying to Arison. Lumipat na din ako sa Manila and rented a hotel temporarily because I was accepted. I chose BS Pharmacy. Medyo na-delay yung notice kaya 1 week akong late. Tomorrow na daw ang orientation so I have to be ready. I still don't have supplies yet. I'll go shopping later.

  Nakarating na ako Robinsons at nakita ko kung saan ako nag birthday dati, I miss those times. I went to the national bookstore to look for some binders and other supplies.

  Nasa tapat ako ng Tom's World, pinagmamasdan ko yung mga batang naglalaro sa loob nito. Ang saya-saya nila. Paalis na ako ng may lalaking bumunggo sakin. Mukhang nagmamadali siya kaya malakas ang pagkabunggo sa akin.

  "Sorry sorry" Pagkakasabi habang pinupulot namin yung nahulog kong gamit.

  "It's okay" Sabi ko naman at tinignan ko siya, he's wearing a mask and a turtle neck sweater. His eyes looked familiar. Although the brunette hair is confusing me.

  "Here, I'm sorry ulit, bye" Tumakbo siya. Pamilyar din yung boses pero di ko malaman kung sino... he's really has a vibe of Jake. Kinuha ko yung kamay niya at napatigil siya.

  "Are you... Perhaps... Jake? I'm sorry for being rude. You have a resemblance to my old friend" Pagtataka kong tanong. I know it's rude but I want to see him.

  "Wrong person sir. I'm sorry, I'm really in a hurry" Sabi niya habang nakatingin sakin. Tumakbo na siya. I really felt Jake's presence. Could it be?

  "Jake..." Napatigil siya sa paglakad nang ilang segundo at tumakbo na muli.

  Since tapos na ako mag shopping, why not follow that person. He's really oddly familiar. I started running too. I'm scanning the crowd. He was really fast. Nasa labas na agad siya. Hingal ako noong paglabas ko, I saw him once again. Sumakay siya sa Audi na white... Strange. I'll text Jake, I'll ask him a question

  Hindi ko na siya naabutan at umuwi na lamang ako. Inayos ko na isusuot ko pati mga gamit ko para bukas. Pag dating ko daw bukas ay may magto-tour sakin na senior at siya magbibigay ng ID and other stuff ko. Here we go!

Jake
iMessage
-15:30-

Ethan
| Hi Jake, did you change your hair color???

-16:05-

Jake
| No. Still black.