Aligning the Stars (GXG)

XIX - Tagaytay

Astrea

"I'll fetch you later." Saad ko kay Tatum as we were about to leave the campus, "Be on time, okay? Ikaw yung nakakaalam kung saan tayo pupunta, baka pagdating natin do'n ay wala na sila."

"Ayaw mo pa kasi sabihin kay Professor Del Mundo."

"Oh, ayaw mo rin naman sabihin kay Professor Alarcon ah?"

She rolled her eyes at me, "Duh! I refused her invitation, I made up a lot of excuses kasi ayokong sumama since I don't know anyone there. Tas babawiin ko?"

Makes sense.

"Alright, sige na. Umuwi ka na and make sure to have all of your belongings packed." Tugon ko naman, "Si Zarela pala, sure na siyang hindi siya sasabay?"

"She has a meeting with the management, but she'll try to catch up later. Sabi niya kasi na pinipilit talaga siya ni Professor Beliciana, so she was left with no choice."

I nodded with the said information.

"I'll go ahead then. Message kita mamaya pag malapit na ako sa inyo."

Tuluyan na kaming umalis dalawa. Since walking distance lang ang unit ko, I arrived in no time. Naka-stack na yung mga dadalhin ko at mage-empake nalang ako, konti lang naman dahil uuwi rin kami kinabukasan.

Kanina pa natapos yung exams namin and si Ms. Elise pa nga yung unang subject ko, she doesn't have any idea about me coming to the trip. Nahihiya nga ako but I already made my decision.

Sinabihan ko na rin si Tita Sandra na baka mawala ako ng dalawang araw, and she told me that I needed it anyway.

Nung tinext ko si Tatum tungkol sa pagsama ko ay agad itong tumawag sa'kin, she was ranting that she already refused Professor Alarcon's offer, kaya nagulat din siya sa naging desisyon ko.

Of course, I didn't tell her the real reason since I was too exhausted that night.

Pero kinabukasan, she kept on asking about it, yung sinabi ko nalang ay inimbita ako ni Ms. Elise, oh edi tapos. Tatum doesn't know about Karis liking me nor Vida, dahil kung malalaman niya pa ay talagang ilang asar na ang nakuha ko sa kanya.

She used to be scared to tease me, but now.. ewan ko na lang.

Half an hour later, I was already done.

I took a quick shower before prepping myself, since sa Tagaytay ang punta namin at may kalamigan din talaga ro'n ay naka baggy jeans, white inner top at oversized jacket ang suot ko. I also paired it with my white sneakers and sprayed some perfume on my neck and wrists.

I also wore the star brooch that Ms. Elise gave me.

Ever since I received this, hindi pwedeng hindi ko ito suot kada umaalis ako. And.. I like it whenever I see her searching for it secretly whenever we see each other.

It's currently 3:45 pm.

Tinext ko na si Tatum na paalis na ako ng unit, we'll be meeting at a coffee shop near her house kaya nagpabili na rin ako ng maiinom sa kanya.

I got into my car after putting my stuff on the passenger's seat. Kinse minutos nga lang ang nakalipas at nakita ko na si Tatum na naghihintay sa loob ng coffee shop,

Nang makita niya ang sasakyan ko ay kaagad na rin siyang lumabas and greeted me with a smile.

"You look pogi." She says, "Pinaghandaan mo masyado para kay—"

"Stop, just stop." Pigil ko sa kanya, "Sumakay ka na nga."

She laughed at me and handed me the coffee she bought for me before putting her stuff beside mine tsaka sumakay sa sasakyan.