SAME COURSE [COMPLETED]

XVI. IT WILL BE OKAY

We are having coffee sa waiting area ng hospital and Steph is just silent. I don't know what to say at this point.

"I don't know what to do" Gab said. "I thought I have protection but I realized na wala pala nung umaga na

"I can't believe you're starting a topic about how you did that thing" Jinn said then he looked at me and Steph. "Ang laking trouble nito Gab"

"I know" he cupped his face

"You should take responsibility for this. I know how strict mom and dad ni Christine"

"I'm getting crazy"

"Pao. I should go" Si Steph, stood "I don't want to deal with this, for now"

"Sige, uwi na tayo" I said

"No" she replied

"I'll take you home" Gab said

"No!" She looked at Gab

"Pero Steph.." tumayo si Gab then naglakad towards Steph

"I'm okay" Steph said while looking at the floor "let's talk about this later"

After that conversation tumalikod na lang sa amin si Steph. I want to go with her pero pinigilan niya ako. I was thinking na it was a hint na she wants to be alone. This is too much to take for her since I know na mahal niya si Gab.

After several minutes lumabas na si Christine sa ER. Nagulat siya nung nakita niya kaming nasa labas.

"What are you guys doing here?" She asked while smiling

"We are waiting for you. Ano na pakiramdam mo?" I asked

"I'm okay. Over fatigue lang daw. Super stress kasi these days e" then she started to cry and hugged me "What am I going to do Pao?"

"Awwww. It'll be okay. You need to tell your parents about it" I'm also looking at Gab na hindi rin alam kung anong gagawin

"No. They'll hate me for sure"

"There's no reason to hide this Christine. Your tummy will get bigger eventually. Damage control lang rin"

"They'll kill me"

"I'm sorry" Si Gab. "I promise you we'll get through this" Christine just looked at Gab then nung nakita niya si Jinn, lumipat siya kay Jinn and hugged him.

"You'll be okay" Jinn said.

Next day at school wala sina Gab and Christine kasi they will tell their parents about what happened. So, it's just me and Jinn and Steph.

"Steph, what happened last night?" I asked

"I went home then rest"

"Steph, tell me the truth"

"Ano bang gusto niyong sabihin ko? Wala naman kaming relationship ni Gab from the first place so wala akong marereact na ayos"

"Pero Steph.."

"Hindi ko alam kung accident ba to or sinadya or what pero I don't want to think about it. Wala akong right, hindi dapat ako magalit kasi wala naman kami ni Gab. You understand guys?"

Jinn and I just looked at each other kasi Steph is crying

"I'm hurting. I admit pero sa lagay namin ni Gab ngayon wala akong karapatan to question him sa nangyari. I don't own him" nagpunas siya ng luha "we'll get through this okay?" she smiled.

She has a point. Technically wala naman confirmation between her and Gab, kung ano nga bang meron sa relationship nila. Mutual understanding? Is that really a thing? Ang hassle lang. Ang hirap isugal ang damdamin sa mga bagay na walang kasiguraduhan.

That evening sa cafe, I talked to Krista about what happened and suddenly dumating sina Gab, Christine and Jinn. I served them hot coffee.

"Is it okay to have coffee Christine?" I asked

"I don't know? Better to not have I guess"

"Okay, akin na lang to" then sat beside Jinn.

"So, what happened kanina?" Jinn asked

"Ayun, both parents got angry pero wala naman na kaming magagawa" Gab then looked at Christine

"And then?" Jinn asked

"Her parents want me to marry her"

Christine started to cry. "Gosh, we all know kung sino naman talaga gusto ko and just because of this incident.." she sobs.

"I'm sorry" Gab said "I told you earlier, handa naman kitang panagutan"

"I can't believe you guys are experiencing this adult issue already" Krista said "It's okay to have fun but you all should know your limitations. I hope you guys learned something from this. Hindi biro tong pinasok niyo" Nilapitan niya si Christine "Stop crying na, wala naman magagawa yan. Wag kana magpakapagod makakasama sa baby yan. Don't worry, open lagi ang cafe ko para sa inyo"

Gab took Christine home and naglakad na lang kami ni Jinn papunta sa bahay.

"Krista is good with words no? Medyo nacalm ako kanina" Si Jinn

"Yes. I'm glad we have Krista" I replied

"So, kelan daw maguusap sina Gab and Steph?"

"I don't know if they will going to talk about this. Wala rin akong info sa plan ni Steph"

"I know it's hard for her"

"Totoo"

Silence

"We are all shocked right? I did not foresee this. I mean, the friendship"

"Same" he smiled. "Hindi na nga ako sanay na hindi kayo nakikita"

"Ako rin" I looked at him and he's looking at me na pala "oh, what is it?"

"Wala. I just want to see you smile. Medyo di ko siya nakita netong nakaraan"

"Baliw ka"

Then sinabayan niya ako hanggang sa patio ng bahay

"As far as I remember, you live next door right?"

"I know. I just want to make sure na you're home"

"Oh-kay, enough of this. We're all tired. Rest well Jinn, okay?"

"Yes, I will. You too" he smiled.

I was about to turn around when he grabbed my arms and pulled me.

He's hugging me then pushed me a little away from him and kissed my forehead

"Goodnight Pao" he smiled then naglakad na siya papunta sa bahay nila.