Exceeding You

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight
#EY08

"Bagay kayo."

"Aldiera," I groaned.

Pagdating na pagdating niya sa bahay ay 'yong tungkol agad sa story ni Alpas ang inatupag niya. I don't know why it's always such a big deal, not just for her but for everyone, that I hang out with him.

Tumawa siya. "Alam mo namang excited ako sa love life mo."

"You know it's not even part of my priorities."

"Cute niyo kaya. Para kayong rivals to lovers except it's only you who considered him as a rival before."

Nagtaas ako ng kilay. "What do you mean? Na ako lang yung competitive? How sure are you that he never saw me as a competitor?"

"Sino una nag-approach sainyo? Siya 'di ba? I'm sure you're aware that he's kind and he never saw you as a rival." Ngumisi siya at tumaas-taas ang kilay. "Right? Right?"

I rolled my eyes. "Tadyakan kita diyan e."

She laughed like she just won a hearing against me. She just knows me so well. And I think she also knows Alpas pretty well. That guy really doesn't care about anyone who climbs up the top over him nor behind him. Siya na mismo nagsabi na wala siyang pakialam sa rank. He just does his best. I wish I could just be like him.

I begged for Aldiera to stop talking about Alpas already. Sumunod naman siya dahil parang naiiyak na raw ako.

We just stayed in our house and spent the whole day talking about everything that we missed out on with each other for the past few days that we didn't see each other. Nabanggit niya rin na may nagrecruit sa kaniyang big school for college. She was offered a scholarship in exchange for joining their women's volleyball team.

Aldiera is really passionate about that sport. And I'm happy for her because she gets opportunities in exchange of doing what she likes. Hindi niya rin naman napapabayaan ang pag-aaral dahil kailangan naman 'yon to keep playing for the school.

The vacation didn't stop me from studying. Hindi dahil may gusto akong malamangan sa pasukan kundi dahil wala lang talaga akong magawa. Hindi rin naman ako mahilig lumabas kapag walang pasok. I heard my parents planning about our vacation in another country but I'm sure it's not yet this month dahil masiyado pa silang busy.

Paminsan-minsan ay tumatambay si Aldiera rito sana, kaso may sinalihan siyang summer sports camp kaya she got busy again.

Alpas:

Busy ka?

I paused from answering some drills I saw online when Alpas' profile popped up the screen. Huling usap pa namin 'yong sa café ng ate niya after the awarding. Ilang weeks na rin ang nakalipas. Ngayon lang ulit siya nagparamdam.

Rishven:

Not really. Why?

Alpas:

Labas tayo. Okay lang?

Rishven:

Where? Your sister's café?

Alpas:

Sa iba naman sana :P

Rishven:

Where, then?

Alpas:

Mall?

Rishven:

And we'll do what?

Alpas: