Dopamine Rush

33| TO REMEMBER.

We arrived at the university at 12:30.

Carlo headed first at the Dean's office to let his presence known while I waited at the student area. This is exactly where I waited him that day, the same they when we shared the same umbrella and had our first short conversation. Looking around, I can see that the university had improved a lot. Mas maganda, mas maraming buildings, with fully airconditioned rooms.

It's good to be back here after so many years. I've a lot of good memories here which I cherished so much. I met my people here and most especially, Carlo- my person. This is the place where this relationship of us started, grow, bloom, and flourished.

"I was so scared back then." I chuckled, and he looked at me, encouraging me to continue. "You're Carlo. The nursing student Carlo na maraming admirers, consistent president lister. And on the other side, ako lang to. Isang nursing student na nag-stop for years, with average social status, simple lang manamit na minsan pa nga paulit-ulit, hindi marunong mag-make up. Hindi magaling makipag-socialize. I just felt like you're out of my league and it's not a match."

We continue to walk the familiar grounds, heading to nowhere. Just killing time while reminiscing.

"I really had a hard time dealing and understanding the set up you wanted, back then." He nodded, smiling. Then look at me with narrowed eyes. "You didn't know that you had a quite bunch of admirers too. Not many as my admirers but certainly more serious than mine. You see, mine are just fans while yours are potential suitors, Iz. You're scared.. while I'm anxious and worried."

"What a joke." I laughed.

"Oh, you have no idea, Iz." He shakes his head. "Masyadong mataas ang tingin mo saakin, Iz. I'm not a son of a politician or CEO, not a superstar or something. Hindi ako ganon kataas, Iz. I'm just a normal college student who happens to be a part of our school organizations."

I cling my arms at him, and sweetly look up at him.

"You had a steady phase and you know what you want, you excell, you make yourself popular with the things that is normal to you. You're comfortable about yourself and confident and you're always good at the things you do. You're too much for me, for a student who's too lazy to step up and showcase her potentials and capabilities. Too uninterested with the spotlight and pressure. Im just a dean's lister student who masters the art of procrastination." I explained, accusingly. "You're always on the spotlight while I'm invisible who avoids the light.. and yet you see me."

He stopped walking, so do I. He look down at me and stare at my face for a moment, "And you will always have my eyes, Iz."

I playfully nudges him, shy yet grateful. We continue to walk. His hands are inside his pockets while I'm clinging at his arm.

"You see me even though I always made myself invisible. You came and suddenly, I wanted to be better. I started to upgrade my hygiene, my looks, my fashion. Suddenly, I wanted to achieve more, do more. You see me and I I was motivated to study harder, pushed myself to my full potential, do better. I wanted to excell and learn all the skills. You inspired me to be the best version of myself." I said and held his hand, entwining it with mine. "You saw me and suddenly, I wanted to step out of my comfort zone so that you'll have a better view. I wanted to offer you the best version of myself."

He smiled handsomely and brought our hands into his lips, planting a soft kiss against the back of my hand. As my shoes collided with the concrete floor of the university's gymnasium, my heart was filled with a wave of nostalgia for my college days. The gymnasium was renovated, it's much wider and now fully-airconditioned. A lot has changes happens in this gym but it doesn't change the fact that my single era has ended here.