Labo: Silent Mode

The Question

Rosena's POV

Pagkatapos namin magsimba hinatid na kami nina Adrie sa apartment ko. Napaupo na lang ako kakaisip kung ano na ba talaga kami ni Adrie. Nakatingin naman sa akin sina Adie at Roie na nakasuot pa ng matching clothes na dark blue na may mga drawing na Gumamela. Nadistract ako sa ka-cutan nila.

Thesis defense na namin bukas, kung pwede lang na magdala na lang ng espada at shield para ipaglaban ang thesis namin, ginawa ko na. Pang-HR pa 'yong thesis namin kahit na Marketing kami ni Shine kasi gragraduate na si Nicole. Ang problema e sobrang tahimik nilang dalawa. Natulog na ako para kahit hindi man namin ma-defend ang thesis namin, fresh pa rin ako.

Adrie's POV

After we dropped Ros at her apartment, I asked Kuya Pancho to bring me to the jewelry store. I walked into the jewelry store with a drawing of the ring I designed for Ros - a custom gold sunflower ring with engravings that would serve as a promise ring. With a mix of excitement and nervousness, I approached the jeweler and explained my idea. I described how the sunflower symbolized loyalty and adoration, making it the perfect representation of my feelings toward Ros. The jeweler listened intently, taking notes and asking questions to ensure every detail was captured. We discussed design options, materials, and engravings until we had created the perfect ring that would convey my promise. As I left the store, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation, knowing that soon I would be presenting this beautiful, personalized ring as a symbol of my commitment and love to Ros.

But when I got home, I kept on thinking about how Ros would react to me going to the US for a long period of time. As I prepare to leave the Philippines, my heart is heavy with mixed emotions towards Ros. The distance between us will only grow as I attend to my father's needs and work tirelessly in the US. I am torn between longing to stay by her side and fulfilling my responsibilities that call me away. Every moment spent together feels fleeting, as the reality of our separation looms over me.

The next morning...

Rosena's POV

Ngayon na ang defense namin, ngayon na ba talaga? Pwedeng bukas na lang kasi I said so?

Nag-almusal na ako habang nakatulala, hindi ako nag-review o nagbasa kahit kaunti, tumulala na lang ako habang umiinom ng creamer. Naglinis na ako tapos naligo na at nagbihis.

Nagsuot ako ng red, hindi para sa swerte, kundi para ano, STOP. Stop asking questions ganon.

Paalis na ako ng apartment ko nang madapa ako. May naglapag kasi ng bouquet sa tapat ng pinto ko. Roses galing kay Van.

Walangyang Van 'to ginawa akong grotto.

Binasa ko ang note na nakalagay sa roses.

"Break a leg Ros. -Van"

Mababalian talaga ako sa pinaggagawa mo.

Nilapag ko na ang bouquet sa may driveway ko tapos nagpunta na ako sa tricycle station para sumakay papuntang Kingdom College.

Adrie's POV

Today is the day of our defense, I was about to pick up Ros when I saw Van walking to her apartment's door, holding a bouquet of roses. I just walked to Kingdom College, which is a wrong thing I did because I am wearing red and it's a sunny day.

I saw Ros walking out of a tricycle on my way to school. I thought Van picked her up. "Ros" I called her, she turned around.

"Bakit?" She asked.

"Why are you wearing red?" I asked.

"Para they will stop asking questions. 'Di ba ibig sabihin ng red ay stop?" She answered.

I laughed, I wore red for luck, she wore red so that the panel would stop asking questions.

"Sira." I said as we walked to the AVR for our defense.

When we got to the AVR, we picked from pieces of paper with numbers on so that we would know when we will be presenting and defending our thesis paper.

I picked number 1, Ros picked number 10. She put her palm on her face, "Sana natulog muna ako." She said.

"'Nay anong nabunot mong number?" Shine asked.

"10" Ros said as she showed the number in the small piece of paper.

"Palit tayo." I said.

"Ano ba iyo?" She asked.

"1" I said.

"Ayoko nga" She said then sat with her groupmates to discuss their thesis.

"Adrie, couple kayo ni Ros a." Kuya Kenny said.

"Hindi a." I said. "Do we still need to discuss our thesis?" I asked.

"Nah" He answered.

Our thesis was so easy to understand because it's aligned to our course but Ros' thesis was the opposite. I saw her having a hard time explaining to Shine and Nicole how they would present their thesis.

Rosena's POV

"'Nay anong basa dito? Paradigim?" Tanong ni Shine.

"Anong paradigim?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Ito oh" Sabi niya habang pinapakita sa akin ang papel.

"PARADIGM" Sabi ko. "Paradigim pinagsasabi mo?"

Tumawa lang siya. Alam ko namang hindi niya talaga naintindihan kung ano 'yong word kaya nagdasal na lang ako na sana ma-defend namin ang thesis namin.

Lord, help me kahit hindi kita ka-group.

Nagsimula na ang defense, nauna ang group nina Adrie. Nakangiti silang pumasok sa AVR, habang kaming lahat sa labas, kabang-kaba.

Adrie's POV

Can I just say, in conclusion, WATAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Rosena's POV

Natapos sina Adrie mag-defense nang nakangiti pa rin.

"Aba ayos a." Sabi ni Gico. "Nakangiti, naipaglaban ang thesis, e si Ros kailan mo ipaglalaban?" Pang-aasar niya sa pinsan.

Umiling lang si Adrie tapos naupo sa tabi ko.

"Ikaw Ros, kaya mo pa ba?" Pang-aasar naman sa akin ni Gico.

"Alam mo matatapos na lang school year aasarin mo pa ako." Sabi ko.

"Ay hanggang matapos buhay mo aasarin kita." Dagdag niya.
Tumawa naman si Galaxy na ka-video call niya.

Inirapan ko na lang siya. Si Paige nasa tabi ko kasi nagkakabisado siya ng sasabihin niya na sinulat niya sa index cards. Kinuha ni Adrie 'yong index cards sa kamay ko "Sige nga. Recite mo ulit." Sabi niya kay Paige.

Sina Nicole at Shine, umuwi muna kasama mga bf nila. Naiwan ako.

Tawang-tawa ako kay Adrie at Paige kasi inaasar ni Adrie si Paige.

"Ano ano ulitin mo nga?" Dagdag na pang-aasar pa ni Gico.

"Gragraduate na kayong lahat, iiwan niyo na ako." Realization ko.

"OA ka, makikita at makikita mo ako 'no, ikaw na kaya nanay ng anak ko." Sabi ni Gico. "Si Adrie din, magkikita pa kayo ni Adrie."

Napatigil si Adrie sa pagtuturo kay Paige saglit tapos napatingin sa akin, tinuloy niya lang pagtuturo kay Paige nung nakita niyang wala akong reaksyon.

"Magkikita pa tayo Ros, promise." Sabi ni Sharine.

"Oo nga, ikaw 'tong hilig mamaalam ih." Sabi naman ni Paige.

"Selfie!" Sabi ni Sharine tapos nagpicture kaming lima.

Nung lunch na, binilhan kaming lahat ng pagkain ni Adrie. Mcdonald's tapos 'yong paborito kong strawberry ice cream na nilagyan niya ng honey butter biscuit at strawberry biscuits sa ibabaw.

Napangiti ako. Kasi kahit ramdam kong bilang ang mga araw na kasama ko si Adrie, dahil gragraduate na siya, masaya akong kumpleto kami ngayon at masaya. Bawat moment pinipicturan ko, kasi kahit anong pangako nilang magkikita pa kami, alam kong hindi na ganun kadalas.

"'Wag ka na ma-sad." Sabi ni Adrie.

"What if mag-cry na lang ako?" Biro ko.

Natawa siya.

Unexpectedly, naging smooth ang presentation namin ng thesis namin, akala ko masasabi ko pa sa panel na conclusion, 'wag mo na opinion. Pero hindi, naidefend namin ang thesis namin. Ang lakas ko talaga kay Lord.

After namin mag-defense nakipagpicture sa amin ang prof namin sa Research 2 na si Ma'am Celia. Siya kasi 'yong tipo ng tao na lahat na lang ng bagay pipicturan tapos mahilig pa mang-picture ng student na seryosong nag-aaral tapos izoozoom niya pa at ipopost. Nirerefer niya din ang sarili niya as Daisy Duck dahil ayun ang paborito niyang cartoon character.

Nagkayayaan kami nina Gico na magpunta sa Antipolo para kumain at mag-karaoke. Habang naghihintay sa pagkain, namimili si Gico ng kanta, akala ko naman siya ang kakanta, inenter niya ang number tapos inabutan kami ni Adrie ng tig-isang mic.

"Anong kanta 'to?" Tanong ni Adrie kasi hindi siya nakatingin nung nilagay ni Gico ang kanta sa karaoke.

"Look at the stars, look how they shine for you..." Panimula ko.

"And everything you do
Yeah, they were all yellow

I came along
I wrote a song for you
And all the things you doAnd it was called Yellow
So then I took my turn
Oh, what a thing to have done
And it was all yellow" Pagtutuloy ko.

Sumabay na si Adrie "Your skin, oh yeah, your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
And you know, you know I love you so
You know I love you so."

"Yie! Bagay na bagay talaga!" Sabi ni Paige habang nagvivideo.

"I swam acrossI jumped across for you
Oh, what a thing to do
'Cause you were all yellow

I drew a line
I drew a line for you
Oh, what a thing to do
And it was all yellow" Pagkanta ni Adrie.

Nakatingin ako sa kanya, feel na feel niya bawat salita nung kanta. Tumibok nang mabagal 'yong puso ko.

"And your skin, oh yeah, your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
And you know, for you, I'd bleed myself dry
For you, I'd bleed myself dry" Pagkanta ko.

Nagsabay ulit kami, "It's true
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine
Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And all the things that you do"

(Yellow By: Coldplay)

"Hooh! Anak na lang kulang." Pang-aasar ni Gico.

Adrie's POV

As we sang and ate, I sat there contemplating if I will tell Ros already that I will be going to America after graduation. I did not want to see her cry, especially now that we're having a good time. I looked at her as she sang and laughed with our closest friends and it kind'a broke my heart that this will be the last time I see her like that for a long time before we meet again or not at all.

"I'm only one call away, I'll be there to save the day, Superman, Batman, Spiiiiderman." Gico sang. "I'm only one, I'm only ooohaahaahaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan"

"Ayusin mo." Sharine said.

"I'm only one call away." Gico ended the song.

"Walang'ya nung natapos 'saka umayos." Sharine said while laughing.

"Adrie, kantahan mo naman si Rosena." Sharine told me.

"What will I sing?" I asked.

"Kung ano 'yong feel mo." She said.

I chose Heaven Knows By Rick Price

"She's always on my mind
From the time I wake up 'til I close my eyes
She's everywhere I go
She's all I know..." I sang while looking at Rosena.

"Luh always on my mind daw oh." Side comment of Paige.

"Gagi tungkol sa heartbreak 'yang kantang 'yan e." Gico told Paige.

I continued to sing

"Though she's so far away
It just keeps gettin' stronger, every day
And even now she's gone
I'm still holding on..."

"Anong gone? E ito o." Gico said then pulled Rosena's hand to mine.

I held Rosena's hand. "So tell me where do I start
'Cause it's breakin' my heart
Don't want to let her go

Maybe my love will come back some day
Only heaven knows
And maybe our hearts will find a way
Only heaven knows
And all I can do is hope and pray
'Cause heaven knows..."

Rosena cried while I'm singing, it's as if she feels what I'm feeling.

When we went home, I decided to stay with Ros at her apartment.

"Adie, Roie, dito si Daddy!" She called our two dogs, they ran from the kitchen to the living room where I'm sitting. I played with them as I waited for Ros to finish preparing snacks.

Ros sat down beside me. "Ros I want to tell you something." I said.

"Ano 'yon?" She asked as she ate a cracker.

"I will be leaving after graduation, sa US muna ako with dad." I said.

She choked on her cracker. "Ahk ahk, wait."

After drinking water, she continued to speak, "Ilang buwan ka do'n?" She asked.

"I don't know. But will you be waiting for me?" I asked.

"E ano ba tayo?" She asked back.