A Love To Remember

1.

Audrey's Pov

As I was making my way inside the school, I could hear everyone's voice. Each steps, my heart keeps beating so fast. This is the place where it all started and how I met her. I feel like the past is still fresh in my mind as if it just happened yesterday.

“Si Audrey yun 'diba? Grabe mas lalo siyang gumanda.” rinig kong bulungan nila at hindi ko na lang sila pinansin. Mas minabuti kong hanapin yung table namin.

“Hi Audrey!” as I was busy looking for our table, someone called me.

“Hi.” I greeted back and smiled.

Bakit naman kasi kailangan pang magreunion? I mean okay ako sa class reunion pero iba kasi 'to huhu mga highschool batchmate ko kaya sobrang ingay talaga at ang hirap hanapin ng table namin.

“Halatang napipikon kana kakahanap ah.” someone spoke behind me so I turned around and a smile crept on my lips.

“Laine!!!” tumakbo ako palapit sakanya at mahigpit siyang niyakap.

“Kalma oy! nasasakal mo na ako.” natatawang sabi niya at niyakap din ako pabalik.

Good thing nakita ko siya at parehas hinanap yung table namin. After a moment we finally found our table. Once they saw us approaching our spot, their faces lit up and excitedly gave us a room.

“Late na ba kami?” pabirong tanong ni Laine at umupo sa tabi ko.

“Nope. Si Bada na lang kulang.” sagot ni Drew sakanya na ikinatahimik ko.

“Confirm ba na pupunta siya? Ang alam ko busy yun eh.”

“She texted me last night and yeah she's coming.”

“Oh okay.”

Ramdam ko yung awkwardness sa table namin after that conversation. They tried to brighten up the mood by changing the topic. I also noticed na yung ibang classmates ko, hindi pumunta and for sure busy na sa buhay buhay nila.

“Ayos ka lang?” bulong ni Laine saakin dahilan para mapatingin ako sakanya. I nodded and gave her a smile.

“I'm fine.” I responded.

“Audrey, how's life? Balita ko parehas kayo ni Bada ah.” Josh asked me and that caught me off guard.

“Parehas na alin?”

“Pinupursue na career. I heard she's doing great right now so how about you? Are you happy?” He asked me again.

“I am very happy.” matipid kong sagot sakanya sabay inom ng tubig.

“So are we going to see a collab between the two of you?” bigla akong nabulunan sa tanong niya kaya lahat ng kaklase ko napatingin sa gawi ko.

“Shut up Josh.” Laine warned her and I immediately held her hand under the table, asking her to calm down.

“It's fine.” I assured her and stared at Josh.

“If she's open with that idea, I'd would love to work with her.” I answered him. Sana naman matahimik na siya lol.

“That's interesting.” the only thing he could say.

—

Dalawa na lang kami ni Laine na nasa table habang yung iba, nasa crowd at sumasayaw. I've also met our teachers and I felt so emotional. They are getting older but still teaching. Haaay ang dami naming memories sa school na 'to and I will always cherish it.

“Hindi na siguro makakapunta si Bada.” sabi ni Laine.

“Sa tingin mo?”

“Not really sure. Feel ko lang naman.” She smiled at me.

“Anyway, how are you, Laine? Ang tagal nating hindi nagkita and I missed you a lot.” I changed our topic. I and Laine are friends, close friends!!! We're highschool besties but when we graduated, nagkahiwalay kami tapos ayun we failed to keep in touch.

“I'm doing good also I have a business and it's doing pretty good.”

“What's your business?”

“A restaurant.”

“Restaurant?!”

“Yes.”

Shit!!! She really built her own restaurant!!!! Naaalala ko dati nagbibigay pa ako ng mga idea para sa future restaurant niya. I didn't know she made it.

“Congrats!!! Kapag hindi ako busy, I'll visit your restaurant.” I promised and she smiled at me.

“I'll wait for you then.”

“Hoy anong meron ha? Bakit ngiting ngiti kayo?” biglang nagsulputan mga kaklase namin at bumalik sa mga pwesto nila.

“We're just catching up.” we both replied.

The time has passed, yung mga teachers namin before nagsi-uwian na and they let us stay para magsaya pa since may mga bantay naman. Per table, by section kaya halos lahat kami may kanya kanyang ganap at eto kami ngayon, umiinom. Don't worry we've had their permission and they allowed us to drink.

“Sino nga ba yung hindi umattend ng prom kasi hindi inaya ng crush niya?” natatawang tanong ni Jewel kaya lahat kami natawa rin kahit alam naman talaga niya kung sino yun.

“Edi si Audrey.”

Yep, It's me.

“Bakit nga ba hindi ka pumunta ha? Ikaw lang absent nun eh tapos tinawagan kapa ni Mrs. Salvador that night.”

“Malamang hindi inaya ni Bada kaya brokenhearted siya that time.” sagot ni Hanna while yung iba walang idea sa mga pinagsasasabi nila.

I expected too much and ended up hurting myself. I was so fucked up during my highschool days and some of my classmates knew that. They witnessed everything.

“Hoy wag niyo na ipaalala baka umiyak ulit 'yan.” at ayan na nga, nagsimula na silang asarin ako.

“Are you uncomfortable? Should I-” I cut Laine off.

“It's fine and matagal na rin naman yun. I already moved on.” sagot ko sakanya.

“Hoy before yun! nakamove on na kaya ako.” pagbalin ako ng atensyon sakanila at naghiyawan ang mga baliw.

“Sigurado ka? Fyi naaalala ko pa mga pinagsasasabi mo noon! Panay ang reto namin sayo sa kabilang section tapos ano? ayaw mo kasi si Bada lang gusto mo.” ganyan sila, magaling halungkatin ang nakaraan.

Kapag talaga ako naiyak...

“Akala nga namin you both felt the same way kasi lagi kayong magkasama tapos hahahaha friend lang pala tingin sayo.” tanginang 'yan!!! sige ipaalala niyo pa.

It's true. I and Bada were also friends back then. We were always together as if we were glued to each other. I fell, I had a crush on her but she only saw me as a friend. I was so desperate that time so I did everything even though she kept avoiding my feelings.

I did so many things for her na minsan natatawa na lang ako and naaawa sa sarili ko at the same time. At first I thought gusto niya rin ako but no, she didn't see me the way I see her. You know what was funny? I didn't stop and that was my fault.

“Pero huwag ka kasi matiyaga 'yan si Audrey at naghintay kaso wala talaga. Bada didn't feel the same way.” and now I just want to leave this place.

“Can we stop talking about this? Everything is in the past so mas mabuti siguro kung wag na nating balikan yung mga yun.” I softly said and finally managed to speak up.

Yung mga nakaupo in front of me, nakatitig lang kung saan at natahimik bigla. Aba bakit? Bawal ba akong magsalita ha?

“Anong meron-” my words trailed off when I felt someone's hands on my shoulders.

“Hi.” someone whispered in my ear and I could feel her heavy and hot breath against my skin.

I know whose voice it is. I missed that voice and it's been so long since the last time I heard her voice.

“Bada.”