After All

e i g h t e e n

THIRD PERSON

"I want a break up,"

Parang nanigas si Keith dahil sa mga katagang narinig niya. Hindi siya makagalaw, hindi niya alam ang gagawin.

"I'm sorry," sabi ni Kristine na ngayon ay nagsimula nang maglakad palayo.

"Hala? Anong nangyari?"
"Bakit umalis si Kristine?"
"Baka may gagawin pa ulit si Kris, busy sa acads"

Kasabay ng pagbubulungan ay biglang nagring ang bell na hudyat na para bumalik sila sa kani-kanilang klase. Mataas ang araw pero bigla na lamang umulan kaya nagtakbuhan na't nagmadali ang mga estudyante maliban kay Keith, at kay Cath. Nakatayo pa rin si Keith sa pinagtatayuan niya kanina nung iniwan siya ni Kristine habang si Cath naman ay nasa likuran nito - pareho silang nagpapakabasa sa ulan.

"It's raining, you moron! And I hate waters," sigaw ni Cath kay Keith pero nanatili pa rin si Keith sa pwesto niya at ni hindi man lang gumalaw.

"I don't know if this will help but still at least I did something," sabi ni Cath habang nakabackhug siya kay Keith. Sa isang iglap ay bigla nalang napaupo si Keith, buti nalang napabitaw agad si Cath dahil kung hindi ay madadala siya sa pagkakaupo ng kasama.

Kahit naulan ay kitang-kita ni Cath ang mga luhang patuloy na lumalabas sa gilid ng mata ng taong gusto niya at nasasaktan siya na makita niyang ganito ito.

GERARD GONZALEZ

It's been months since their breakup and I must say, the situation's not good. Keith's not attending school for a month now. Sophia's freaking out and Cath and Darryl's silence is not good either. Their section is falling at hindi 'to maganda lalo na't nawala na ang sorting system. Lahat ng estudyante ng Westmead, the scholars, regulars, and even the special ones, ay nasa iisang intellectual arena lang. All is equal, no more special privilege. The bill was passed since natalo nila Cath sila Kristine sa sports fest. What made it worse is, Cath and Kristine belong to the same section, same as Keith while the others were grouped into another one. Not that I don't trust my sister but I know what she's capable of lalo na hanggang ngayon na no matter how hard I try, she won't talk to me. She even told me not to interfere with her businesses again or she'll never talk to me again. Ugh, this is so frustrating!

"I seriously just wanna live a normal teenage life" I murmured while arranging the papers I need to sign.

"So am I" biglang pasok ni Nick sa pinto na hindi man lang kumatok. Nakagawian na niya, galing nga eh.

"So what now? Have you found her? Contacted her?" Napailing naman siya, napabuntong hininga naman ako. I'm running out of moves.

"I found her. Contacted? Not yet, masyadong mahigpit ang security nila" paliwanag niya.

Sabagay. Having a fiancé at a very young age sucks, lalo na kung sa isang Rothschild ka pa ie-engage.

"So what are your ideas? How do we break in coz we all know, this is your forte" tanong ko.

"I'll take that as a compliment, brother" May kinuha siya sa gilid ng coat niya, "Your parents sent you this" and he handed me the envelope.

In case you're wondering, yep, I'm still in touch with our parents after they left us. Cath don't know anything about this. It's for her own sake after all, we don't want her to be included in this mess.