Maybe Next Time

Chapter 22

Lumipas na ang ilang linggo matapos ang competition. Nakauwi na rin kami. We're just too busy with our academic tasks.

As a graduating student. We're working on our project feasibility study. Isa ito sa mga requirements na kailangan naming i-comply para maka-proceed sa internship namin.

Lachlan is also busy with his requirements. Matapos ang pag-amin niya ay sobrang clingy na neto. He won't even survive a day without checking up on me. Madalas rin ang pang-aasar niya sa akin. He would also call me tapos tumakas daw ako sa mga kaibigan ko kasi may ibibigay siyang food. In these past weeks ay ganoon lang ang routine namin.

By the way, Lachlan and I had talked about it, the idea of slowing things down. It was his suggestion, really. He wanted to do things right, to court me properly, he’d said. I had been surprised at first—who does that anymore? Gusto niya ako at gusto ko rin naman siya. Kaya bakit patatagalin pa?

But there was something sweet, almost old-fashioned, about the idea, and I couldn’t say no. So, we agreed to take a step back, to let him court me, to savor the slow burn of our relationship.

Naeenjoy ko naman. Kasi feeling disney princess talaga ang peg ko. Isipin mo napakasungit niya sa iba tapos sa akin lang tumitiklop!

Though the other day, I’d catch him looking at me with that soft, steady gaze of his, and my heart would flutter, just like it did when we first met in the orientation.

Then, he went on that educational tour. Hindi niya man lang sinabi sa akin! Nalaman ko pa kay Naina kasi narinig niya yung usapan sa office. No text, no call—nothing.

I tried not to let it bother me, telling myself that he was probably just busy, caught up in the excitement of the trip. But as the days passed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Had he changed his mind? Narealize niya ba na baka bugso lang ng damdamin niya yung nangyari?

It was hard, not knowing. Nakakatampo sobra! I found myself checking my phone more often than I’d like to admit, hoping for a message, anything to let me know he was thinking of me. But there was nothing, just silence, and the quiet worry that maybe slowing down had been the wrong choice. Alam ko namang nonchalant talaga siya pero kahit man lang goodmorning ay wala?

Hindi ko na inisip pa at pumasok nalang sa klase. Kasama ko ngayon sina Naina at Joyce. Nakatambay lang sa UC habang hinihintay ang next class. Lagi ko pa rin chine-check kung may message na ba si Lachlan kaso wala, so I was about to give up and put my phone away, it buzzed.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw his name on the screen. I opened the message quickly, my hands trembling slightly.

Lachlan Madden

Zay. Sorry hindi ako naka message. I know I should’ve told you, but I wanted to surprise you. I got you something. I hope you like it.

Zaylee Sevilla

Pang-sulsol mo ata yan eh. Alam mo kasing may kasalanan ka.

Lachlan Madden

Nagtatampo ka ba?

Zaylee Sevilla

Mukha ba akong nagtatampo? Ang sabihin mo guilty ka lang. 😌

Lachlan Madden

Namimiss mo lang ako. Aminin mo na.

Zaylee Sevilla

Kapal mo talaga!

Oo na!