Worth The Wait

Chapter 1

It was in senior high nang maging sina Julie at Alden – long distance relationship because Julie is studying in Manila while Alden is studying in Cebu. Pero pa'no nga ba sila nagkita? Pa'no naging sila?

Ganito..

*flashback*

Sa school, habang nagpa-practice ng prod si Julie para sa isang school event, may nakita syang bus na kakarating lang sa school nila. May nakalagay na signage: "School Field Trip". She wondered kung sinu-sino ang nasa loob ng bus. Isa-isang bumaba ang mga tao mula sa loob ng bus. Nagulat si Julie when she found out that it was her elementary batch mates from Cebu. Lumipat kasi silang mag-anak sa Manila when her mother was diagnosed with cancer and had the treatment kaya dito na silang magkapatid nag-aral. When her former batch mates saw her, nagmistulang artista si Julie kasi panay pa-picture sa kanya ang mga 'to, halos lahat except for this one guy – Alden. After hours of coping up with her batch mates, nagpaalam na sa kanya ang mga 'to.

While on her way home..

(phone rings – Mom calling)

Julie: (answers) Hello Ma? Opo, pauwi na ako. Sige po, bye. (end button)

Then.. (phone beeps – unknown number texted)

*text: 

Hi. How are you? Long time, no see ah. Nothing much changed, you're still very beautiful. :)

Julie: Oh, thanks. By the way, who's this?

Alden. :)

Julie: Oh, aryt. :) Ba't nga pala kayo napadpad sa school namin?

Alden: Our school's having a school trip every year in Manila  for those graduating students para makapamili ng school for college. :) Didn't expect to see you there.

Julie: Oh, okay. :)

Alden: Eh ikaw, san ka mag-aaral?

Julie: Not yet sure, but I'm planning to take the entrance exam in Angelicum. :) Ikaw?

Alden: UST most probably :) Hoping to hang out with you soon.

Julie: Let's see. :)

-end of text conversation-

Nakarating na si Julie sa bahay. Diretso sa kwarto para magbihis tapos bumaba na para mag-dinner. Nag-toothbrush tapos natulog. Himbing na ng tulog nya, at 12MN..

(phone beeps – Alden texted)

Alden: Hey Julie. Hoping you're still awake. :) Can we hang out tomorrow before we leave for Cebu on Tuesday? Don't worry, buong batch. Just wanna cope up with you.

The next morning, 10AM nang nagising si Julie. She checked her phone and nakita nya ang text message ni Alden.

Julie: (replies) Hey. :) Sorry for the late reply. Sure, I'm free today. Eh kayo? Just text me where and what time, I'll be there. See y'all.

Alden: Hi. Been waiting for your reply. Haha! Okay, we're all free. Gala ang nasa itinerary namin today, good thing you're free. See ya at 11AM? We'll be at MOA.

Julie: (tingin sa clock) Shoot! 10:05! Maliligo pa ako. (sabay bangon at nagmamadaling pumunta sa banyo para maligo)

10:45AM – tapos nang maligo si Julie at magbihis. Nagmamadali na syang bumaba para magpahatid sa driver nila sa MOA. Saktong 11AM nang makarating sya sa MOA.

(phone beeps – Alden texted)

Alden: Hey. We're here. Ikaw, san ka? We're standing in front of Folded & Hung. :)

Julie: Here at MOA na. On my way there. Wait :)

Alden: Okay. Ingat! :)

Nakita nya ang mga ka-batch nya na naghihintay sa kanya. Whole day silang gumala at kumain, picture-picture, videoke, arcade – halos lahat ng pwedeng gawin sa mall ay nagawa na nila. Matapos makipag-hang out with her batch mates, umuwi na si Julie – syempre hinatid sya ni Alden.

Tuesday morning – flight ng mga ka-batch ni Julie pauwi ng Cebu.

Julie and her batch mates are still keeping in touch with each other through SNS, pero si Alden walang palya sa pagte-text sa kanya – everyday pa nga, kahit sobrang busy. That's why after three months of courting, sinagot na sya ni Julie. Birthday ni Julie and first monthsary nila ni Alden. She's waiting for Alden to be online para makapag-usap sila, pero di nag-online si Alden. She even texted him pero di nagre-reply, that's when she tried to text Alden's friends.

*Julie's text

to: Kris, Joshua, Jake

Hey guys. Alam nyo ba kung nasan si Alden? Been trying to call and text him pero di sumasagot eh. Please, if may alam kayo kung ano na nangyari sa kanya, update me. I'm worried. :( Thanks.

-sent-

After 30mins. .. (phone beeps – Kris replied)

Kris: Juls, sorry tagal nakareply. Just saw Alden kanina, and I don't think you might wanna know what I saw. Better if sya nalang magsabi sayo. :(

Julie: (bothered) Ano ba yun, Kris? Tell me, please.

Kris: Tawagan nalang kita. Hirap explain sa text eh. Wait.

(phone rings – Kris calling)

Julie: (answers) Hello, Kris?

Kris: Juls, I'm sorry if sa'kin mo pa malalaman but I think you have to know.

Julie: What is it? (naluluha na) Sabihin mo na, Kris, please.

Kris: Si Alden kasi..

Julie: Ano? Anong nangyari sa kanya?

Kris: Walang masamang nangyari sa kanya. Si Alden kasi, may iba nang girlfriend – si Louise.

Julie: Ha? Pa'no? Eh ako girlfriend nya. (umiiyak na)

Kris: Oo, Juls. I saw them kissing kanina sa mall. I even confronted him at alam kong monthsary nyo ngayon kaya muntik ko na syang bugbugin kanina. I'm sorry, Juls. Kung alam ko lang..

Julie: No, it's okay Kris.. Thanks sa pag-aalala. Thanks for telling me. Kaya pala ang cold na nya sa'kin these past few days, may iba na pala syang pinagkakaabalahan. Sige Kris, ako nang bahala. Salamat talaga ha? (umiiyak)

Kris: Sure, Juls. Basta if you need someone to talk, just call me. Okay? Stop crying na, he's not worth your tears.

Julie: I will, thank you. Kaibigan nga rin talaga kita. Haha. Bye!

Kris: Haha. Bye!

-end of phone conversation-

Sobrang nasaktan si Julie sa nalaman nya, so she decided not to contact Alden anymore. She immediately changed her number para di na rin sya ma-contact ni Alden. She's moving on and  is enjoying being single.

*end of flashback*