Chapter 1: Introduction
Part II- Usap
KAZUHA
Parang kanina lang ay nagmumukha akong isip bata habang nakikipaglaro sa old friends ko. Hindi ko naman lubos akalain na magshishift ako bigla into a hopeless romantic mode after.
Aeri went to the nearest bathroom after we finally escaped the traffic. We were in a fastfood restaurant parking while waiting for her to get back.
Bumaba muna ako ng van para makapag-stretching din ng kaunti, at isa pa ay bigla akong nahiya sa seatmate ko after the minor skinships that had happened. I'm trying to clear my mind pero binabagabag pa rin ako ng mga tanong sa utak ko.
When I was about to take a seat sa sidewalk, I heard someone open the van door and called my name.
"Zuha..." it was my van seatmate. I know her voice, ofcourse "Can we talk?"
"About what, Jen?" I asked back bago tuluyang lumupagi sa sidewalk
3 years ago, our last conversation started with a "can we talk?" too. This time, hindi ko na alam kung ano pang matatapos at mawawala.
"Zuha, I missed you" I looked up and stared at her with tiredness from the trip written allover my face. Pagod ako on the outside pero deep inside me, sobrang confused ko.
"Go ahead, I'm listening" sabi ko bago itungo muli ang ulo ko.
"Thank you. I really just want to tell you what happened after we cut off our communications"
Sa totoo lang ay gusto ko rin namang malaman, hindi lang ako makahabol dahil bukod sa pagod, ay bakit kailangang dito kami mag-usap?
"I don't know when will we ever meet again so I'll take advantage of this opportunity of meeting you here"
"Are you dating someone right now?" I curiously asked. What she did in the van were questionable if ever she's with someone na pala.
"Never had any after you" she quickly answered
"We never dated"
"Yeah that sucks" she said as she sat beside me "Ever since we stopped talking, I kept on asking myself why didn't I take the risk and try to move forward with you"
"I told you, I myself don't have any plans" I quietly said. I don't know how to say it in a friendlier way kaya lalo lang akong nilamon ng konsensya.
"Right" I can hear the disappointment in her voice
"I guess all I have to do this time is to thank you." When I looked up at her again, I saw a bittersweet smile. "No one ever stayed up until 3AM listening to my rants and tries to relate to me. I was in the US, you are here. We literally has 12-hour time difference but you never missed a call with me every night and your free times in the morning. I was too afraid that you'd lose yourself or get sick because of trying to keep up with me. I felt like I don't deserve all your time and effort" she explains
"We exchanged reflective conversations in every call, that itself is a worthy reason to stay with you. I told you I am more fond of simple things" paliwanag ko, "Regardless, I also want to thank you for appreciating the only effort I can give."
Actually, napakalakas na ng kabog ng puso ko.
"What would happen if you couldn't meet me here?" Tanong ko
"I'd still be longing for you, that's for sure" hirit pa rin niya.
"Pass," I said jokingly, "Did no one listen to you back home that you had me as your standard for your listener?"
"Can't you just be thankful that I am comfortable with your presence?" She asked, fake annoyed. "I'd rather talk to you than sniff the flowers I received from the guy who shall not be recognized"
"Sorry if I didn't try to win you" napatungo kong sabi. Sinulit ko na rin magconfess kasi baka last na 'to.
"You already won, hindi mo lang kine-claim yung prize"
***
Aeri decided to treat us for dinner in the fastfood resto where she had her bathroom break para raw may oras na rin makapahinga at makapagrecharge ang mga pasahero niya.
Jen and I had a meaningful conversation once again just like the old times pero pareho kaming walang planong magpakita ng change in interactions sa harap ng pamilya niya at sa mga kakilala ko.
Pero yung tatlo ay nakangisi na agad sa akin bago pa man ako makalapit sa table nila.
"Akala n'yo ba madilim kanina para di na namin kayo makitang naglalandian sa harap?" Unang bati na narinig ko mula kay Chaewon pagkaupo ko sa tabi n'ya. They are still waiting for the food to be served.
"Ate wala pa pong sunset kanina, kitang-kita po namin kayo. Pati po parents n'ya kita kayo" Eunchae adds
"Oy matinik ka nga pala talaga? Binibiro lang kita dati na mahinhin pero mabangis, di ko naman alam na totoo 'yon" Sakura commented
Instead of denying and defending myself, nginitian ko silang tatlo. Sasakyan ko lang ang trip nila para bumaba yung level ng pang-aasar.
We sat in a long table, nasa magkabilang dulo kami at ang family ni Jen habang nasa gitna namin sina Aeri at ang driving alalay niya na hindi ko maalala ang pangalan. Kahit Englishin pa ko ng mga ito ay malabong makarating sa pwesto ni Jen ang boses nila.
"Anong ginawa n'yo pagbaba ng van? Bakit sabi ni Chaew— anuba?" Sakura was stopped by a piece of fries na ipinipilit ilagay ni Chaewon sa bibig n'ya.
"Nag-usap lang kami."
"Tungkol sa...?" Tanong pa rin ni Sakura.
"Hiningi mo number?" Chaewon asked.
"May number na sila ng isa't isa" singit ni Aeri without looking at our side.
"Hala homaygad! Girlfriend n'yo po ba s'ya? Kaya po ba pinatabi kayo ni Ma'am sa kanya sa van?" Gulat na tanong ni Eunchae.
Good Lord!
"Hindi. Nagkita na kami non dati sa party sa bahay nila sa US. Invited si Aeri and last minute nagkaron ng emergency yung plus one sana niya kaya ako nalang ang isinama" paliwanag ko. I can clearly remember how stressed I was dahil ang paalam ko lang sa magulang ko ay kape with her kaya ako humiwalay sa family travel.
"Ah kaya pala comfy na po siya sumandal sa balikat n'yo"
I don't know if Eunchae's clueless enough to say that o nang-aasar nalang talaga siya dahil tawang-tawa yung dalawa pa naming kasama.
"Legal naman po pala"
*HSH*
YOU ARE READING
Hanggang sa Huli | Shinez AU
FanfictionJennifer and Kazuha used to have a who-knows-how-you-call-it relationship in the past. Zuha promised to give Jen a break whenever she asks her to. One day, Jen asked for some space, Zuha never had any second thoughts and immediately stopped talking...
