what if we happened

33. Stop Blaming Him

Chapter 33: Stop Blaming Him

Seren

It was already evening when Elias dropped me off at my house using his scooter. Ang malamlam na ilaw mula sa kalye, ang malamig na hangin, at ang tahimik na tunog ng gabi ay nagbigay ng isang nakakarelaks na pakiramdam sa akin nang binaybay namin ang kalsada. Puno-puno ng gaan ang aking dibdib matapos naming malaman ang resulta.

I almost imagine studying in college with Elias. Feeling ko ay umaayon sa akin ang lahat makasama lang siya. Hindi na nga ako makapaghintay!

Sana bukas may pasok na agad! Never talaga ako a-absent! As in, perfect attendance 'to!

Nang makarating kami sa harap ng bahay, I was about to remove my helmet on my own but Elias reached out and took it for me. Hindi na ako nagsalita pa, I just let him.

I glanced over him as I fixed my hair. "Salamat sa paghatid," I said with a smile. "Salamat din sa pag-motivate at pag-help sa akin sa entrance exam. I couldn't have done it without you."

Ibinalik niya sa akin ang ngiti. "Walang anuman, masaya ako na malaman na palagi na tayong magkasama sa apat na taon ng kolehiyo."

His words make me smile even more. Gusto niya rin akong makasama.

"Excited na talaga ako." Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses ko na nasasabi ang katagang iyan sa kaniya buhat kanina.

"Mas sabik ako."

I couldn't help but think how lucky I was to have someone like him by my side. The past few weeks had been tough with all the studying and pressure, but knowing I had him made it all feel worth it. Paano pa kaya sa mga susunod na araw, buwan at taon?

I just couldn't wait to spend my college days with him!

Naputol ang ngitian namin sa isa't isa nang saktong lumipad ang paningin namin sa pagbukas ng pintuan ng bahay. The light from the open door shone directly at us. Bungad na bungad kami. I thought it was just my mother but my eyes grew open when I saw my friends, Thalia and Anais. Kasama nila si Mama na para bang nagpapaalam nang umalis.

"Oh, sakto, nandito na pala si Seren," si Mama ang unang nakapansin sa akin.

For some reason, the smiles of my friends disappeared when they turned their attention to me.

"Pauwi na sana sila, it's a good thing you're already here," tuloy ni Mama.

"Bakit? Anong meron?" pagtataka ko. Wala naman akong maalalang may plano kaming magkikita-kita.

"Puwede ka ba namin makausap?" balik-tanong ni Thalia sa akin.

"Nang tayong tatlo lang sana," dagdag ni Anais sabay sulyap kay Elias bilang pahiwatig. "Nang walang makaririnig na iba."

Nakuha iyon ni Elias. "Ah, sige, Salome. Una na pala ako," paalam niya. "Alis na po ako, Tita."

"Ingat sa daan," nakangiting paalam din ni Mama.

Elias just nodded and smiled at my friends. Si Thalia ngumiti, pero si Anais, nanatili ang pagiging seryoso ng mukha. I knew something was wrong. May nagawa ba si Elias? Why she's being like that to him?

"Ingat ka," huling paalam ko. "Good night."

Once Elias left with his scooter, we went inside the house. Dumaretso kami ng mga kaibigan ko sa loob ng kuwarto ko. The room just felt small for the three of us. Kinakabahan ako for some reason, 'tapos wala pang umiimik sa amin. I felt like we were going to talk about something important and I had a sinking feeling that they already knew something I wasn't ready to admit. They wouldn't have come here for no reason after all.