My T.O.T.G.A. (The One That Got Away)

Chapter 15

There are some things in life  that you really consider to be priceless.

- Dave Grohl

***

"Thank you so much, Uncle. Thanks for all your help."

Ito ang sabi ni Wade kay Dean Sebastian Oliveros matapos niyang matanggap ang tawag ng sekretarya nito at humahangos na nagtungo ng Dean's Office upang kunin ang bagong kopya ng Certificate of Registration niya.

Tuwang tuwa siya ng malaman na magiging kaklase na niya si Veronica sa lahat ng subjects niya.

Mabuti na lamang din at sister schools ang Colegio de Davao na pinanggalingan niya at ang SCU.  Kaya naman kahit transferee siya ay halos wala siyang kailangang i-retake na subjects because both schools almost have the same curriculum. He just needed to comply with the subject requirements of his new professors. Mayroon din siyang kailangang i-take na dalawang pre-requisite subjects  para makahabol sa graduating batch next year. Good thing na puwede niyang kunin ang mga iyon come summer.

"Walang anuman, hijo." sagot naman ng tiyuhin niya. "I'm glad to be of assistance. You're professors have been informed already.  You can just step into their classes right away starting today.  I just hope that everything would work out fine with you and Veronica. O paano, maiwan na kita ha at may meeting pa ako with the school board." sabi nito at pinulot ang cellphone at isang folder na nakapatong na may nakaipit na sign pen sa ibabaw ng table nito.

"Sige po, Uncle. Take care and thanks again. Sabay na po tayong lumabas." tugon niya saka ito sinabayang maglakad palabas ng opisina nito.

Since break niya pa, dumaan siya saglit sa pantry upang mag-snack.

There she saw Veron and her bandmates eating together.  He was too bothered to see her with that guy again. Gustong gusto na niyang lapitan si Veron but he knows it would not be wise to do so. They were laughing and all at ayaw niyang ma-spoil ang moment.  He is somehow enjoying the fact that he can watch her smile and laugh from afar without her noticing.

It was priceless.

Tinignan niyang muli ang COR niya. "Get your head in the game, Wade. You will have all the time in the world."  he told himself.

Suddenly, Veron is alone with that guy again. Nawala na ang dalawang kasamahan nito. Wade couldn't help but listen to their conversation. He was just two tables away from them kaya't kahit papaano ay nauulinigan niya ang pinag-uusapan ng dalawa.

He was not that snoopy pero he really wants to confirm kung boyfriend ba ni Veron ang lalaking ito.  Unfortunately he found no information about that, instead he heard about something sa pagdalaw nito sa parents back in the province. 

Even if he is uninvited, he wants to go, too.  Hindi upang bantayan lamang si Veron from his 'guyfriend' ngunit upang madalaw na rin ang mga magulang nito, lalo na ang Daddy nitong si Tito Arturo.  He heard that he has cancer and he just wants to visit and at least have a little conversation while he still have a chance to.

"Veron is our only child, Wade. Take care of her when I'm gone.  I do not feel like I will be staying for long. Ikaw na ang bahala sa mag-ina ko."  naaalala niyang bilin pa nito sa kaniya one time na inihatid niya ang nobya noon galing school at inabutan nila itong lasing na lasing sa patio nila Veronica.

Malamang ay nagalit din ito sa kaniya ng maghiwalay sila ni Veron noon.  He couldn't blame him. Wade wants to keep his promise by making things right this time.  But he wouldn't be able to do so, kung lagi na lamang siyang iiwasan ni Veron.

Kanina sa first period ay nakuntento na lamang siyang titigan ito habang nakatalikod.  He's wondering if she had seen his note.  Natanawan niyang binuklat nito ang organizer na isinauli niya kagabi bago siya umalis ng bar upang ihatid nang pauwi si Kitel. But maybe, just  maybe.  She may not have seen it yet.