The Architecture (Batchelor Series #1)

Epilogue

Author note: Hi! Thank you for reading this piece of mine, hehe. Magpapa-alam na tayo kay Archi Manuel and Engr Lopez. Next na story is yung kay Drakon. This epilogue will be pov by Engr Baltazar Rivius Lopez.
Not revised °^°

『 ↳✧･ﾟ ;

I still remember the day I met little Manuel. We were both kids competing in a quiz bee competition at our school. I was nervous but determined to win. Manuel, on the other hand, seemed calm and confident. He was a small, scrappy kid with a big smile and a bigger brain.

The last question got me stuck. I don't know what to answer. I give up.

"Participants race your chalk board." The judge announced.

That little munkin from Manggahan High School won the competition with a perfect score. He's the only one who got the last question correct; the answer is Augustus Compte.

I was disappointed but couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Manuel. He was a worthy opponent, and I knew I had to congratulate him on his win. As I approached him, he grinned at me, his eyes sparkling excitedly.

Hindi 'yon natuloy ng bigla ako hilain ng yaya ko. Pinapa-uwi na raw ako ni Mommy may importante raw sasabihin. Narinig ko pa ang pag-sigaw nito. "Kumpareee!" sigaw ni Manuel sa akin, but I left him.

As we parted ways, I couldn't help but think that I had just met someone special. Little did I know that our paths would cross again, years later, in a way that would change my life forever.

My Mom and Dad break and got annulled. My Dad cheat to my Mom. I cried I don't want to be a broken family. Pero wala e, simula non kay Mommy naging malapit ang loob ko, nangako ako na paglaki ko hindi ako magmana sa tatay ko. Di ako mandudurog ng puso ng iba, gaya ng ginawa nya kay Mommy.

"Mommy why do people cheat?" I asked Mom.

"Ano ba tong bata na to! Syempre mag-cheat 'yan sila pag nagsawa na, tapos hahanap 'yan ng mas panget o mas maasim sa'yo. Kaya kung ako sa'yo Baltazar, mag bading ka nalang anak, sa panahon ngayon walang matino, charot!" Biro ng kanyang ina.

Great! Mommy nag dilang anghel ka nga. I had my first relationship with a guy, Manuel, but in my dreams. Are we just academic rivals? I guess. Haha. Nothing more, nothing less.

I find him. Nahanap ko sya, nag-enroll ako sa school kung nasaan sya. Sumakto at magkaklase kami sa specialized section para sa mga STEM student. Patago akong kinikilig kapag rume-rebat sya sa mga counter claim ko tuwing recitation. That's my boy, my hub, my baby.

Di mo talaga malalaman na maba-bading kanalang bigla noh? Ayon nahulog ako tangina tapos ano label namin, chemistry buddy? Hahahaa pero ayos na 'yon kaysa sa wala.

We've been a good team, akala ni Manuel hanggang team lang ang gusto ko. Pero I demand a relationship, puwede naman siguro mabaliko yung straight diba? Dami-dami kasi ng ma-fallan ko, roon pa sa straight, straight pa sa ruler.

"Lasingin mo kaya," payo sa akin ni Renz, magkakasama kami ngayon ng tropa.

"Gago. Paano?" I replied.

"Patulong ka sa mga kaibigan nya, diba sabi mo birthday ng isa. Try mo sober thoughts won't lie." Renz said to him.

Wala naman masama kung mag-try siya. Nilasing nga nya si Manuel. Kitang-kita nya kung paano to mag-selos sa mga babae na umaaligid sakanya. Fuck! Kung nilasing ko na pala sya noon pa. Edi tangina.

Ayon, mission success. Umamin sya sa akin, ang straight napabaliko ko, hindi pa 'yon. Mahal nya raw ako, Lord! Naririnig mo 'yon? Mahal ako ng mahal ko. Suwerte ko talaga sa 'yo.