Trilogy 1: Lost

Chapter 7

The days felt longer, yet somehow emptier. Kahit anong pilit ni Elara na mag-move on, may mga oras na nadarama pa rin niya ang sakit. Minsan, sa gitna ng klase, nawawala siya sa sarili, nag-iisip kung saan nga ba siya nagkamali. Her heart wasn't fully in her studies, yet she knew she couldn't let her emotions define her. She had to find a way to move forward, kahit mahirap.

Sa paglipas ng mga araw, napansin ni Elara na naging usap-usapan siya sa school. Hindi niya maalis ang mga usapan at tingin ng ibang estudyante—alam nilang siya ang naiwan, ang niloko. Parang may mga matang sumusunod sa kanya, curious, at minsan may halong awa. Others whispered about her and Roel, speculating what had gone wrong.

"Bakit siya iniwan ni Roel? May iba daw siyang kasama palagi, di ba?" she overheard one classmate say.

"Ang ganda ni Elara, pero iniwan pa rin siya. Ano pa kaya kami?" another commented, with an odd mix of envy and pity.

Sa simula, napakasakit makinig sa ganitong mga usapan. But gradually, Elara realized that the only way to truly heal was to focus on herself and what mattered. Kailangan kong maging mas malakas, she thought. Kung wala na si Roel sa buhay ko, oras na para magpatuloy at gumawa ng sariling kwento.

Kahit masakit pa, she resolved to change. Instead of hiding, she faced her studies head-on. She started spending more time with her books, practicing and immersing herself in her projects. She even joined group activities, immersing herself in things she'd once loved but had neglected. Slowly, as she poured herself into her work, she began to feel a sense of purpose again. Ito ang buhay ko. Ito ang gusto ko para sa sarili ko.

Her determination didn't go unnoticed. One afternoon, her professor commended her for her improvements and focus in class. "Good work, Elara," he said, smiling approvingly. "Nakikita ko ang sipag mo ngayon."

That simple acknowledgment filled her with pride. Kaya ko pala ito. Despite her broken heart, she could still grow and learn. She could still be someone she was proud of.

In time, people began to notice the change in her. Some boys even tried to court her, thinking that with Roel out of the picture, she was available. But Elara had no interest in romance. Hindi ko na kailangan ng kahit sinong distraction, she told herself firmly. If love was what she'd lost, then she would gain it back by loving herself first.

"Focus muna ako sa sarili ko," she told one of her friends who'd tried to set her up. "Tama na muna ang love life. Ako naman ang uunahin ko."

Little by little, Elara felt the heavy weight lifting. Her school performance improved, and she found herself making new friends, especially with those who genuinely cared for her growth and well-being. Her heartbreak didn't vanish overnight, but the pain dulled as she directed her energy toward her own dreams. She realized that she didn't need to prove her worth to anyone else—not to Roel, not to anyone who'd doubted her. Ang mahalaga, alam niya sa sarili niyang kaya niya ang lahat ng pagsubok.

And with that, she felt a strange new confidence rising in her, one that was slowly but surely healing the cracks in her heart. This was her story, her journey.

Elara pushed herself to dive even deeper into her studies. She started staying late in the library, determined to do more than just pass—she wanted to excel. Dati iniisip ko lang na masaya na ako basta kasama ko siya, she thought. Pero ngayon, mas masaya pala akong hinahanap kung ano talaga ang kaya ko.

Every morning felt a little brighter, even if there were days she woke up still feeling an ache in her heart. She reminded herself that healing took time, and as each day passed, she saw how far she'd come. Her classmates noticed her growth, admiring how she'd managed to turn her pain into something meaningful. One of her friends, Rica, even said, "Iba ka na, Elara. Yung dating malungkot mong aura, parang nagiging inspiration na para sa amin."