Dying Embers

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Three: Familiar

It had been days of nonstop reviews and sleepless nights. Parang lahat ng kape sa mundo, naubos ko na. Today was the final exam.

Kakarating ko lang sa tapat ng classroom, hawak ko pa 'yong ID ko habang pinipilit kong kalmahin 'yong kaba sa dibdib. I reached for the door handle, pero bago ko pa man mahawakan, isang kamay na ang nauna. The door creaked open.

Napatingala ako, and there he was.

Psalm.

Our eyes met, both caught off guard by the timing.

"Arce? Nandiyan ka pala," he said, voice calm but a little unsure. His hand went to the back of his neck, scratching lightly as if he didn't know what to do with it. "Mauna ka na."

Napangiwi ako nang bahagya. Am I really that small? "No, ikaw na," I blurted out, way too fast for my own good.

He chuckled softly, the corner of his lips curling into that faint, unbothered smile I remembered. "No, really. Go ahead."

I hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."

As I stepped inside, I could still feel his presence behind me.

Psalm Valmonte. Yes, that Psalm from senior high. He was a year ahead of us before, but for some reason, nag-stop siya after graduation nila at nag-start ulit a year later. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. But now, here we were, taking the same department, same program, same exam, same room.

We weren't exactly friends, but we'd worked together a few times. Group projects, duties, casual talks that never went too deep. Still, there was something steady about him, something that drew people in even when he said almost nothing.

I slipped into my usual seat. Around me, everyone was doing their own last-minute rituals. Some were flipping frantically through notes, others were staring blankly at the ceiling, silently mouthing definitions. May iba namang parang nagme-meditate, pretending calm, pero halatang kinakabahan din.

I opened my own notes, but my focus was scattered. The hum of voices filled the room, soft whispers, rustling papers, the occasional nervous laugh. My heartbeat was loud against the low buzz.

After a while, I sighed and closed my notebook. Wala na rin namang mangyayari kung pipilitin ko pa. Either I remembered it, or I didn't.

When I lifted my gaze, Psalm had already taken a seat near the window. The light from outside hit his face just enough to outline his calm expression. He didn't look nervous, just quietly ready. That was so him. Back in high school pa lang, ganun na siya, may confidence na hindi mayabang, may presence na hindi kailangan ipilit.

"Rain, may notes ka about sa last topic natin?" a voice whispered beside me.

Napalingon ako. It was Bella, eyes wide with panic but trying to smile. Hindi ko man lang napansin na dumating siya.

"Yeah, I have," I said, pulling out my notebook.

"Tingin naman."

"Sure." I handed her the last page of my notes.

"Thanks, Rain. Good luck sa exam." She smiled, patting my arm gently.

"You too," I replied, forcing a small smile.

Pagkaraan ng ilang minuto, pumasok na ang proctor. Biglang natahimik ang buong silid, parang may pumindot ng mute button. Isa-isang ipinamigay ang test papers, kasabay ng maikling instructions na halos 'di ko na masyadong narinig sa kaba. Then suddenly, the exam began. I took a deep breath, shifted my focus, and drowned myself in the rhythm of shading circles and scribbling notes.