It was a hot summer afternoon, and the sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the campus. Me and my groupmates, Chelsea and Anjie, were exhausted from a long day of classes and research. Our research subject had been particularly challenging, and we were all feeling overwhelmed and stressed out because we needed to revise our research title and also find an adviser to guide us. After class, we decided to take a break and sit down at a bench near the entrance gate of our school to catch our breath and discuss our next steps.
As we sat there, we noticed a group of students walking back and forth in front of us, chatting and laughing. I couldn't help but feel a sense of envy towards them, wishing I could be as carefree and happy as they seemed to be.
PARAMUYPOY KALAWASAN NAMON KAY GRABE NGA ADLAW. DAW GINLAMON KAMI SANG LUPA, HINDI MA DRAWING ITSURA NAMON. DAW KALUOY LANG GID YA SA AMON, GAPUNGKO PA KAMI DAAN KAG GALABAY MGA STUDENTS SA TUBANGAN NAMON. KITANG-KITA GID MGA KUTOY NGA ITSURA.
As I was just getting home from the house, I suddenly messaged Janzene, saying that I was sorry because I had been too busy and overwhelmed by the school-related happenings, and to my surprise, he replied almost immediately. I did not reply to him during his message this morning.
Janzene told me that he had seen me sitting at the bench near the entrance gate earlier that day and that I looked extremely tired. He also mentioned the look of my groupmates, Chelsea and Anjie, and how they seemed just as exhausted as I was. Janzene had been with his classmates, who had bought street food outside, and he unexpectedly saw me in that kind of situation.
NABAL-AN YA NGA AKO TO KUNO KAY NAKA BANGS AKO. UNA, HINDI PA KO MAPATI KAY WALA KO MAN SIYA NAKITA. PASULOD PA LANG KUNO KAG SA LAYO PA LANG, BAL-AN YA NGA AKO. NAAAKSSS!
I felt a sense of relief wash over me, knowing that Janzene understood how challenging our research subject was and that he knew that we could overcome it.
As Janzene and I continued our conversation, the topic turned to something different. I suddenly mentioned the phrase "til death do us part," which really struck a chord with both of us. I tell you guys why I said that.
We had a conversation in which I said that we would go to the office in our school and then go there. He agreed, but he suddenly jokingly said that he would be the one behind me, and I would be in front, protecting him from any potential "roasting" we might encounter.
HINDI KO LANG PAGHAMBALON KUNG SA DIIN NGA OFFICE.
Janzene replied with a sense of humor, saying that if we got roasted, he would leave me behind and go out on his own. This made us all laugh and brought some much-needed levity to our conversation.
GRABE! BAYAAN YA LANG AKO. HAYS AKO NA GID NI HU.
But then I replied back with a more serious tone, saying, "Abi ko til death do us part?"
GINPAKONSENSYAAAA!
And guys, because of this, I started to call him with the callsign for the couple.
GRABEEE NGA MOVES KO, KUHANG-KUHA KO GID SIYA YIEEE.
