The Art and Science of Love (Of Love #1)

Chapter Eight. One

A week without Ju was... mundane. Mundane and boring but still, normal, I consoled myself. I knew I was missing Ju pero pinigilan kong sabihin sa kanya o kahit kanino.

Like I guessed, he really did find a way para makapagparamdam pa rin kahit na isang plane ride away siya. Kahit na may time differences kami, kahit na ang dami niyang ginagawa para matuto tungkol sa kumpanya (He and Avo will inherit it, after all), and kahit madami namang magagandang babae yung pwede niyang pagkaabalahan na lang doon instead of bothering with me, nagawa pa rin niyang magsend ng mga updates sa'kin. Random pictures sa mga napupuntahan niya, mga close up ng pagkain as if nanggugutom siya (sinasakto niya kasi pag nabobore na ako sa kalagitnaan ng klase) at minsan pa, mukha ni Avo. Nung isang beses, nabigla na lang ako nung bumulaga sa'kin yung natutulog na mukha ni Avo sa screen. Hindi ko alam bakit niya pa pinipilit si Avo sa'kin, hindi ko naman siya gusto. Buti pang si Jess and pinadalhan niya, kikiligin pa 'yun at baka bayaran pa siya sa effort niya because of her obsession with them.

If I was other people, I would just outright ignore Ju to stop caring for him. It was the easy way out but I knew I was prideful. Hindi ko magawa. Ayokong ipahalata na ako ang natalo sa pagmamatigasan namin. Ayokong malaman niya na sa aming dalawa, ako yung lumambot ang puso at nagsimulang magcare for real sa kanya. Ang mas nakakatakot na dahilan talaga though, na kahit ayokong lumalim pa ang... nararamdaman ko kay Ju in general, was ayokong bumalik kami sa pagiging strangers. Better we have shallow connections than nothing. Even if I had to always be careful about every step around him.

"Zea is nice. She acts really tough at times but she's a softie in reality and is really loyal. You two are so similar, Emi. You are even both Parker. "

Tumaas yung kilay ko sa sinabi niya.

So we both have the same resting bored bitch face then?

"You've been speaking about Zea for quite a while now. Sigurado kang hindi mo girlfriend yan?" Jasper joked kahit hindi naman siya palajoke.

Jazzy was quick to blush and unsuccessfully hide it with her palm.

Napatingin ako kay Jasper na nakangising nakatitig kay Jasmine na nagtatago pa rin sa kanya.

I smiled then fake coughed.

"Excuse me." Then I went away to give them time alone.

People in love nowadays. Minsan nakakasuya and minsan nakakainggit tignan.

I smiled tightly in front of the mirror. It's okay, Emiliya, you survived four years without love.

- - - - - - - - - - x

The week passed by fast when I actually expected it to be slow. Maybe it was thanks to the fact that I really focused on my studies to run away from distractions. Kahit nga si Jess, nawiweirduhan na sa akin. Ang alam niya kasi, hindi naman ako GC but then I was suddenly acting like a nerd running for honors.

I exhausted my stock of enthusiasm for a month in seven days that by Saturday, I was so close to giving up things I was interested in. Even my list of novels. The lack of things to do had me staring at space at random intervals, pondering the meaning of life, and thinking about existensialism. Kung hindi pa ako sinaway ni UJ, I'd be a goner in my mind. Buti na lang umepekto pa yung pagkamasungit niya.