Setting You Free (Let Me See Side Story)

Chapter 5

Despite knowing the fact that Aisleen was going on dates with someone else, William still did his best to reach out to her. Alam niyang mahirap pero hindi siya nawalan ng pag-asa. He tried to contact her through social media, pero ni minsan, hindi ito sumagot sa kanya. Ni hindi nga nito binasa man lang ang mga mensahe niya. He was literally inbox-zoned, but he didn't mind. In-expect naman na niya 'yon.

He wanted to reach out to her in other ways but he wasn't sure kung ano na ba ang cellphone number nito kaya hindi naman niya ito mapadalan ng text o matawagan man lang.

And so he asked for Jiv's help again.

"Jiv, I really need your help. Wala ka bang mapagtatanungan man lang ng number niya?" William asked his friend. Magkasama sila ngayon sa condo ng kaibigan. Doon muna pansamantalang namamalagi si William, afraid that his parents would drag him back to the US kapag sa condo niya o sa bahay ng mommy niya siya nagpunta.

"P're, ilang tao na ang napagtanungan ko. Puro hindi na rin nila nakakausap si Aisleen. Alam mo namang masyadong mailap sa tao yung isang 'yon. Ni wala nga yatang naging kaibigan 'yon nung nag-aaral pa tayo," Jiv said, which caused William to sigh. Of all people, he should know how difficult it is to approach Aisleen. Because of the wall that she built around herself, it took an intense amount of effort before someone could even reach or befriend her.

Pero bakit nagawa agad nitong makipag-date sa iba? Was the guy that great for her to let him in and to move on that fast? William couldn't help but wonder.

William shook his head because of the ideas that were starting to cloud his thoughts. He should be level headed when it comes to this. If he couldn't be calm enough while coming up with a plan to win Aisleen back, it might only cause more trouble to him and he didn't like that. Alam niyang malayo pa ang kailangan niyang lakbayin para lang mapalapit ulit sa dalaga, and he's willing to do whatever it takes para lang magkasama ulit sila.

"Wait. Did you try asking your aunt already? 'Di ba siya pa rin yung dean sa course nina Aisleen?" William asked out of the blue. Ngayon lang niya naalalang kamag-anak nga pala ni Jiv ang dean ng college nina Aisleen. That connection should strong enough para makuha na niya ang impormasyong kailangan niya.

"Negative, p're. I tried asking her already, pero hindi rin binigay sa akin. Confidential daw at dahil na rin sa mga nangyari kay Aisleen after the accident, matindi na ang takot ni Tita sa pamilya nina Aisleen. They threatened to withdraw their investments sa school dahil na-bully si Aisleen noon," Jiv explained and that caused William to feel worse. Kung nandoon lang sana siya sa tabi ni Aisleen, none of those would have happened.

"Oh, wait. I just remembered. Yung isang professor niya, pinsan ko. Let me try asking him," Jiv said at tila nabuhayan ng loob si William. He knew that his methods of acquiring Aisleen's cellphone number weren't the best, but he had to do it. He was desperate already and he just couldn't let Aisleen slip away from him.

***

William desperately waited for feedback from Jiv. Everyday, kinukulit niya ang kaibigan kung nakuha na ba nito ang number ni Aisleen. For him, every moment that was passing by without him talking to her felt like he was losing Aisleen little by little. Without any assurance, he knew that he was slowly losing the fight.

And so when he finally got what he was waiting for, he did not waste more time.

"O, ayan na. Tangina, ang hirap makuha niyan. Ilang suhol pa ginawa ko sa pinsan ko para lang ibigay sa 'kin 'yan," Jiv said as he threw a piece of paper to William. Agad naman itong sinalo ni William at pagkakita niya sa nakasulat doon, nanlaki bigla ang mga mata niya.

Sa wakas, ito na ang pinakahihintay niya.

"Thank you, p're! I owe you one!" masayang sabi ni William.