Noted, Architect (Architecture Series #1)

Chapter 14: Just For Today

APHAEA

Nasa gitna ako ng paghinga ng malalim, sinusubukang bumalik sa sarili ko matapos ang breakdown ko kanina. Nakatambay pa rin kami sa maliit na study room kasama sina Atlas, Drayton, Lee, at Javi. Nandito pa rin sila, tahimik pero ramdam ko ang supporta nila.

Biglang nag-ring ang phone ko. Mama flashed on the screen. 

Sakto talaga, 'Ma? Ngayon pa?

I took a deep breath before answering. "Hi, Ma."

"Hi anak, kumusta ka na?" My mom's voice was warm, but I could hear the worry in it. Lagi naman siyang gano'n. Laging nag-aalala kahit wala namang problema. This time, ayaw ko lang ipakita na may problema.

I forced a smile, kahit alam kong hindi niya kita. "Okay lang, Ma. Busy lang sa school, alam mo naman. May major plate kasi ako, but I'm managing." 

Haha. Managing to keep it together, Ma.

"Sigurado ka bang okay ka, Aphaea?" she asked. 

Alam ko ang tanong na 'yun. Parang hinihila niya lahat ng sikreto ko palabas sa mga baga ko, pero ayokong bigyan siya ng dahilan para mag-worry pa lalo.

"Promise, Ma. I'm fine," I replied.

At biglang sumingit ang mas nakakainis kong kapatid, si Asherah. "Ate, busy ka pa rin ba? Ang boring mo!" She giggled, her voice teasing as always.

I rolled my eyes, finally letting out a real laugh. "Ay wow ha, anong ginawa mo ngayon? Wala ka rin namang ginagawa kundi mag-TikTok diyan."

"Hindi ah!" she shot back. "At least ako, hindi boring! Ikaw kaya, laging stressed, nawawala na ganda mo!" She burst out laughing.

"Tse! Mag-TikTok ka na lang ulit," I joked, shaking my head while my friends watched me, amused. "Ano nga, bakit ka nandiyan?"

"Wala lang! Gusto lang kitang asarin kasi miss na kita, eh."

There it was, the soft spot I always had for her. I sighed, feeling my heart warm a little. "I miss you too, bruha."

"Ako din!" Asherah piped up again, laughing. "Bruha ka rin, kaya bagay tayong magkapatid! Ikaw subsob sa pag-aaral tapos laging honors. Ako ito chill lang. Valedictorian pa."

"Exactly," I teased back. "Sige na, bruha, sabihan mo si Mama na okay na ako."

Asherah chuckled. "Bye, Ate! Ingat ka, ha. Love you, Miss Perfectionist."

"Love you too, Miss Baliwdictorian," I responded with a grin, bago pa man ako makapagpatuloy, narinig kong inagaw ni Mama ulit ang phone.

"Aphaea, just checking up on you, anak. Wag ka masyadong magpapagod, ha? We love you. Alam mong nandito lang kami, okay?" she reminded me gently, the love in her voice wrapping around me like a hug.

"Yes, Ma. I love you, too." After a few more pleasantries, I ended the call, feeling a little lighter. The warmth of my family, kahit na sa tawag lang, was exactly what I needed. Pero kahit gano'n, alam ko pa rin na hindi ko pa rin kayang bitawan lahat ng bigat.

As soon as I placed my phone down, the door burst open. 

Ano na naman 'to?

And there he was. Ody.

"Ready ka na ba, Aphaea?" His grin was wide, like he had just won the lottery.

I blinked at him, confused. "Ready saan?"

"Spontaneous amusement park trip, syempre!" Ody exclaimed, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Huh? Ano raw? 

"H-hindi, teka, bakit—"

"Go with him, Phae," Drayton cut in, leaning back in his chair with a lazy grin. "He already knows the rules, remember?"

"Yeah, trust me," Atlas added, smirking. "Besides, mukhang kailangan mo 'yan."

Javi nodded his agreement, while Lee was already by the door, motioning towards Ody. "It's not like you have anything else planned today, right?"

I glared at all of them, frustrated but also... relieved? "Fine," I muttered, standing up. "But I'm not staying long, okay?"

"Sure, sure," Ody grinned, taking my hand and practically dragging me out of the apartment. "You'll have fun, promise. Kasama mo ako eh."

~~~~~

Pagdating namin sa amusement park, ramdam ko na agad ang excitement ni Ody. Parang bata na hindi mapakali, habang ako naman, medyo skeptical pa rin, trying to keep control of myself despite the sudden plan.

"Let's just take it slow, okay?" sabi ko, knowing that too much spontaneity would probably overwhelm me.

"Of course, Cupcake," Ody said, a playful smirk on his lips.

I raised an eyebrow. "Cupcake? You're really not going to let it go?"

"Yeah," he shrugged. "Because you're sweet and tough at the same time. Plus, you bake great cupcakes."

I felt my cheeks heat up at the nickname. "Tse, ang corny mo."

"Hey, you love it," he teased, his eyes twinkling as he led me towards the basketball booth.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but smile. 

Cupcake, huh?

We spent the next few minutes at the booth, Ody attempting to win one of those giant stuffed animals. 

Ang competitive talaga ng lalaking 'to. 

He was determined, shooting basket after basket, his focus unshakeable. Sa bawat pasok ng bola, his grin widened, and I could feel his energy lifting my mood little by little.

"Ano, Cupcake? Gusto mo ba ng panda?" he asked with a wink.

I laughed softly. "Kung kaya mong manalo, sure."

Challenge accepted.

It didn't take long before Ody finally sank the last shot, winning a giant panda plushie that was bigger than me. He turned to me, beaming with pride. "Here you go, Cupcake."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You actually did it."

"I always do," he said with a wink, handing me the panda.

I hugged the plushie close, feeling a strange warmth fill my chest. 

Maybe I did need this.

As the day went on, I found myself slowly letting go of my worries, one ride at a time. Parang ang dali lang maging carefree with Ody around, kahit alam kong may mga bagay akong hindi pa kayang bitiwan.

But still, deep down, something gnawed at me. I couldn't fully relax. 

Jonas' messages, my major plate, the constant pressure—it all lingered in the back of my mind like a dark cloud I couldn't shake off.

Ody must have sensed it because, as we sat down on a bench to take a break, he looked at me with concern in his eyes. "You okay?"

I nodded quickly, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, I'm fine."

But he didn't let it go. "You know you don't have to be perfect all the time, right?"

I froze at his words, feeling my heart skip a beat. 

Did he see right through me?

"I know you've got a lot on your plate, but you don't have to carry it alone," he continued, his voice soft yet firm. "Kaya nga kita dinala rito eh. I want you to forget it all muna."

I looked away, hugging the panda tighter. "It's not that simple, Ody."

"Alam ko," he said quietly. "But maybe... you can start by letting yourself have fun. Even just for today."

I glanced at him, his smile reassuring, and for a moment, I let myself believe it. Maybe I could enjoy this. Maybe I didn't have to be perfect all the time.

So I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Okay. Just for today."