The Last Rule

Chapter 21 - Good Morning

Classes officially started and honestly? I can't believe I'm already in my second year as a Psychology student. Parang kahapon lang na nag-fe-freshie walk ako and now here I am, pretending to be a functional adult. The first two weeks weren't hectic at all, kasi kasisimula lang and, as usual, puro program, orientations, and boring-but-mandatory university shenanigans ang ganap kapag first week. 

But I'm actually looking forward to this school year kasi same school na kami ni Cleo, my best friend since forever. I'm a year older, she's first year pa lang, pero magkaiba kami ng department so hindi kami super laging magkasama. Still, the fact na magka-campus kami makes everything feel lighter, like may security blanket ako somewhere.

"Solana, tara sa Power Rock," Sheila tried to invite me. Again. Yes, again dahil lagi niya akong inaaya kung saan-saan but I always decline.

She's my closest classmate, but like... not best friend level. We just hang out during class, minsan lunch, tapos kapag hindi ako nagtatago sa library. She's kind and friendly but too friendly, in my opinion. Lahat ng makasalubong niya, nagiging instant friend. And the problem is... kapag nagyaya siya, do not expect na kayong dalawa lang. Isasama niya lahat ng makakasalubing niya.

So obviously, I declined. Politely naman. I told her may pupuntahan ako.
Which is half-true... half-lie... but still true enough.

We had early dismissal today for some unknown reason. And surprisingly sila Dos din. Perfect timing ba 'to? Coincidence? Destiny? Or low-key conspiracy ng universe? I don't know. But for the past few weeks, si Cleo ang lagi kong ka-sabay umuwi kasi same time kami ng dismissal. But today, may biglaan silang hangout with her classmates, so guess who I'm going home with?

Exactly.

Dos.

We continued chatting as if normal lang. Update here, update there. Honestly, hindi ko na alam kung ano meron sa amin. Is this what they call situationship? I've read enough books to know na kapag nanliligaw daw, may pursuing na nagaganap. And Dos is obviously pursuing me. Except for the family part, which is honestly a relief. I don't need Papa finding out and burying him six feet under.

We call each other almost everyday. We update each other. We go out. We literally act like a couple except may kulang, the label. Sabi ni Tita Den, normal na daw 'yun ngayon. But still, the situationship-ness of it all is giving me mini heart attacks.

"Power Rock?" Dos asked as I hopped onto his Aerox, sideways of course, and holding onto his shoulder. His school is ten minutes away from mine. Third year na siya.

I told him not there kasi andun ang mga classmates ko na tinanggihan ko. 

After namin mag-snack, hinatid niya na ako. Sa tapat mismo ng bahay. Good thing walang tao usually around this hour, and their house is just near ours. If nakatayo ako sa tapat namin, I can see him drive off from afar hanggang sa lumiko siya papasok sa gate nila. So I stayed where I am and watched him drive off hanggang sa nawala siya sa paningin ko, saka ko bubuksan ang gate as if nothing happened.

Pero hindi ako nakaligtas ngayon kasi biglang sumulpot si Cleo sa tabi ko.

"Sumabay ka kay Dos?" she asked like it was nothing. Habang ako?
I SWEAR. I thought my spirit left my body dahil sa gulat. 

Walang nakakaalam ng sa amin ni Dos, kung ano man 'to. As far as I know. Ewan ko kung nagkwento si Dos pero ako? Zero sharing. Not even to Cleo, my best friend.

"I thought makikihang-out ka with your classmates?" I asked, acting as chill as I can kahit ramdam ko yung pawis sa spine ko.

"Pinauwi ako ni Nanay," she shrugged. Normal for her. Her Lola is stricter than my father and that says a LOT.