Destined to Reunite

Chapter 17

CAITYLN'S POV

It's been a week since nang matapos ang bakasyon namin kasama sila Joshua, it was fun. And all i can say is that we're all on good terms. I should have known better than to assume that my anger was a result of whatever they had done in the past; perhaps I was an attachment-problematic child after all. They had their reasons, which I should have known better. 

Nung huling araw namin doon sa Boracay, we decided to have a Bonfire Night while our parents enjoyed themselves inside the hotel. We had meaningful conversations and i felt we still had connections like before. It was so good to have this moment with them. 

Today's Friday, they transferred me to Saint Luke's University. My dad asked me about this and eventually agreed on it. They were so happy nang sabihin ko ito kila Joshua last night. I heard someone knocked on my door, it was my mom. "Sweetie, i heard that you transferred to SLU?". Tanong niya. 

Tumango ako, she sat beside me. "It's okay for me, mom. To be honest, the Perez brothers were so happy about this news." Sagot ko. 

"Are you happy too?"

I smiled and nodded. "Of course! I also heard that my bff's transferred to SLU. It's a good sign, mom!" Sagot ko.

Napatawa naman siya sa sinabi ko. "That's good to hear. Anyways, pinakuha ko sa Auntie Nena mo yung uniforms and wash day shirts mo." Sabi niya.

"Oh! Do you want me to get them? I'm free naman today, Mom." Sabi ko.

"Thanks, sweetie! She texted me earlier, nasa flower shop lang daw siya." Sabi niya saka binigay sakin yung car keys ni Dad.

Nanlaki mata ko at tinignan siya. "Mom, are you joking?" I asked.

Umiling siya at nilagay sa palad ko yung car keys. "Just for today lang, anak. Mag-ingat sa pag-drive okay?" Paalala niya.

Tumango ako. "Thanks, mom!"

___

Nang makarating ako sa flower shop ni Auntie Nena ay kaagad ko siyang hinanap. Her shop is full of customers, looks like mabenta ang kanyang mga bulaklak.

Sinalubong ko agad ng yakap si Auntie nang makita ko siya. "It's good to see you, my baby!" Bati niya saakin.

Napangiti naman ako at tinignan siya. "Likewise, Auntie. How are you doing?" I asked.

She raised her hand, holding the flowers. "I'm customizing their orders. Medyo pagod today because there are so many customers outside. I've been here for more like hours!" Sagot niya.

"Do you want me to help?"

Umiling siya at nag-smile sakin. "No, it's okay! I'm good, bebe. Baka hindi na rin kita maasikaso because i'm very busy today." Malungkot niyang sabi.

"It's okay! Don't worry about me po, just tell me where are my uniforms and wash day shirts. Ayon po talaga sadya ko dito." Sabi ko.

"Oh! About that, i forgot to tell your mom na naipadala ko na yung mga damit mo thru grab. I'm sorry!" Sabi niya.

"Ah, i see po! I'll text her na lang to tell her that my clothes are on the way na." Sabi ko.

Nagpaalam na ako kay Auntie umalis na ako, nang makapasok ako sa loob ng kotse naramdaman kong nag-vibrate ang phone ko. Napasimangot ako nang makita ko ang pangalan ni Joshua, binasa ko yung text niya. 

Napabuga ako ng hangin at tinawagan siya na sinagot niya agad. "Bakit mo ko hinahanap?" Bungad ko sa kabilang linya. 

"Did you eat lunch already ba?" 

Napataas ang kilay ko bigla kahit hindi niya nakikita. "What's with you?" Tanong ko. 

"I'm inviting you for lunch, baliw ka ba?" 

"Kasama ba natin sila Joseph at Ben? If hindi, 'wag na lang. Ayaw kitang makasama."

"Ah, so ayaw mo? May lakad sila today. Sayang, libre ko pa man din yung lunch na 'to."

"Sige, pero naka-kotse ako. I'll pick you up na lang, okay?"

"Nakakahiya, ako yung pinagd-drive. Passenger princess ba ko?"

Napangisi ako, habang nilalabas yung susi ng sasakyan. "Pwede naman kung gusto mo."

"Sige, see you later!"

___

Nang makarating ako sa tirahan nila, bumusina agad ako sa labas ng bahay nila to give him a sign na nandito na ko. Lumabas naman siya kaagad at pumasok sa loob ng kotse. "Yabang, porket siya yung driver today." Sabi niya. 

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Wala pa kong ginagawa, nangi-inis ka nanaman!" Sigaw ko. 

Tumawa naman siya. "Joke lang! Hindi ka ba nagtataka kung bakit nag-aya ako ng lunch?" Tanong niya. 

Umiling ako. "Hindi ako interesado sa mga sasabihin mo, kung ako sayo magpatugtog ka na lang." Sagot ko. 

"Ang panget mong kausap, isang pilosopong sagot pa baka magbago isip kong ilibre ka." Sabi niya. 

Inasar ko pa lalo, mas lalo naman nainis. Natawa na lang ako nang maramdaman kong napipikon na siya, tinigilan ko ng asarin siya. "Sige na, sabihin mo na yung dahilan kung bakit ka nasa ganitong situation." Sabi ko. 

"Marami akong reasons, actually. First, tinatamad akong magluto. Second, utusan ko dapat sila Manang pero naalala kong day-off pala nila ngayon. Third, mago-order dapat ako online pero naisip ko ang lonely ko naman kumain kahit nasa bahay lang naman ako." Sagot niya. 

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako sa sagot niya. Hindi ko alam kung paano ba nabubuhay ang taong 'to kung ganito naman ang mindset niyaa, nakakabobo lang. "Isa lang masasabi ko sayo, Josh. Napaka-arte mong depungal ka!" Inis kong sabi. 

Tumawa naman siya ng malakas. "Ayaw mo non, kapag may word kang maririnig na maarte ako agad unang papasok sa isip mo? Angas non!" Natatawang sabi niya. 

I started the engine habang umiiling sa mga sinasabi niya, this is so disappointing. "I don't believe that you're a dramatic person, all i see in you is that you're a womanizer. Nagkaroon ka ba ng girlfriend before?" Sabi ko. 

"Before? I never had a girlfriend. I must say fling, pero one-month lang inabot." Sagot niya. 

Nilingon ko siya at tinaasan ng kilay. "Girl, how do you play so lightly with the emotions of others? Mukha bang laruan ang mga babae?" I asked. 

"Yo, chill! I'm not that playboy, can you just at least hear my side story before ka mag-judge? Yung naging fling ko, she insisted on being my temporary fling. She's head over the heels, hinayaan ko na lang. But i swear i stopped after a month because she's being delusional and it creeps me out." Sagot niya. 

Prumeno ako at tinignan siya. "Classmate mo?" Sabi ko. 

Tumango siya at napabuntong hininga. "You're right. Now that i've mentioned it, that'll be my problem issue when the semester begins." Sabi niya.