SAME COURSE [COMPLETED]

XVII. TRIO

After a week, kumalat na sa campus na Christine's pregnant and kinausap na rin sila ng dean ng college.

"What happened ba paano nalaman?" I asked

"Medyo nauseous kasi ako kaninang first period eh nasa isang cubicle pala blockmate so, ayun"

"Anong sabi ng dean?"

"Baka hindi daw ako makaattend ng graduation because..." then she started crying

"Gosh!" lumapit ako kay Christine "It's okay" I hugged her "Don't worry, makakaattend ka ng graduation, we'll help you"

"What is happening?" When I looked si Steph then umupo siya across us "Oh ba't naiyak ka?" she asked Christine then sinabi ko sa kanya yung nangyari.

"I see. Hindi naman maiiwasan yon and lalaki rin naman yang tummy mo hindi mo na rin matatago. Don't worry, I know they can hide it from everybody"

"Hindi kaba galit saken?" Christine asked while fixing herself.

"I don't know" Steph replied "I mean, I don't know what to feel. Hindi ko alam kung magagalit ba ako sayo o kay Gab. Pareho kayong careless and under the influence of alcohol so.."

"What are you trying to say? Na dapat hindi ako magdrama ng ganito kasi parang ginusto rin namin yung nangyari?" Si Christine, medyo tumaas yung boses niya "Steph, if galit ka sabihin mo hindi yang kung ano anong wordplay pa ang gagamitin mo para itago yang feelings mo!"

"Hey, both of you, can you please stop? Hindi healthy tong ginagawa niyong paguusap" I looked at them "seriously, if you guys want to talk, pwedeng kalma lang? Wag tayo magpadala sa emotions para maiwasan natin mga masasakit na salita, can we do that?"

They both looked at me and nodded.

"I'm sorry Steph" Christine said "kahit naman anong sabihin ko ngayon, hindi ko na matatakasan to. I'll take responsibility for it, kasama man si Gab o hindi. Never magiging kasalanan to ni baby"

"I'm sorry too, Christine" Medyo naluluha si Steph "It's just that, I don't know what to react. Kahit na sabihin ko sa sarili ko na I don't have the right to feel this way because wala naman talaga kami ni Gab, eh iba naman nagiging reactions ko"

"Hindi ko intention na agawin sayo si Gab, we all know kung sino talaga ang gusto ko. I just want you to know na kung magdecide man si Gab na iwanan na lang ako and my baby, I will be fine. If he wants to be with you I'll be fine. Hindi ako para maghabol sa kanya"

"But, Christine" Steph hold her hands "I will never let your baby grow up without a father. I know yun rin ang gusto ni Gab. I know him, na kahit gago he'll take responsibility sa nagawa niya. So, please, accept him and lahat ng magiging efforts na gagawin niya for you and baby"

"How about you?" Christine is crying this time.

"Alam mo, marami pa namang lalaki dyan, don't worry, hindi naman ako mauubusan" then they laughed "and besides, iniisip ko na career na lang muna siguro ang unahin ko bago ang love. Di rin naman ako nagmamadali" Steph looked at me tapos ngumiti. "Also" she looked at Christine "Can I ask permission? Gusto ko sanang makausap ang magiging asawa mo bago mo siya itali sayo"

"Baliw ka!" Christine laughed "of course, kahit wag mo na siyang ibalik, I will thank you for that" tapos nagtawanan kami.

"I cannot believe I am witnessing this kind of maturity between the two of you" I said then napaluha na rin ako. I am so proud of these two. Hindi ko maexplain kung gaano ako kaproud to know and have them.

That evening nasa Cafe na naman kami and talking na parang unang araw ng bagong buong barkada.

Nagusap sina Steph and Gab that afternoon and I believe everything is settled. Medyo pugto pa yung mata ni Steph but I know how strong she is and she'll be able to move on from this. Natutuwa lang ako kasi yung changes sa ugali niya and how she handles the situation is very matured. Hindi ako malulunod sa luha this time.

"Why are you smiling like a crazy person?" Jinn asked then napatigil silang lahat and looked at me

"Tsss. Pwede ba?" tapos nagtawanan na sila "Dalian niyo na dyan ha, masyado niyong ginugulo tong cafe ni Krista, ang ingay ingay" tapos bumalik na ako sa kitchen.

"Okay ang aura ng barkada mo ngayon ah?" Krista asked.

"Oo nga e, ngayon ko lang narealize na sana naging okay na agad kami non pa. Siguro mas marami pa kaming adventures na nagawa together"

"Eh naguumpisa pa lang naman kayo e, you should be ready, adventures are coming pa, it'll not stop"

I smiled at her "I really love talking to you, alam mo ba yon?"

"Alam ko" she said "And I'm glad nakilala kita at ang friends mo"

"We feel the same. Please keep on guiding us Krista"

"Don't worry, I have your backs" then she okay sign me and lumabas na para i-deliver ang mga orders.

Hinintay ako ni Jinn hanggang magsara yung cafe.

"Gusto mo bang magpart-time sa cafe ko Jinn?" Krista asked

"Ha? Okay lang naman"

"How about NO?" I exclaimed. "Tama na baka kung ano pang masabi sayo ni Krista e"

"Ano bang dapat kong malaman?" Jinn asked

"Dapat mong malaman na gabi na at ihatid mo na si Pao sa bahay nila okay? Bye" Krista said then umalis na rin siya.

"So? Shall we go?" I just nodded.

While walking napagusapan namin ang mga dapat gawin for Gab and Christine and kung paano namin sila matutulungan lalo na ngayong school days. I believe we need to also include Steph sa usapan kaya postponed muna yung topic.

"Magiging maayos rin ang lahat alam ko. Kaya natin to"

"Talaga lang ha?" He teased

"Stop teasing me, I'll kill you" then sinuntok ko kung tyan niya tapos tumakbo

"You little brat, kapag nahuli kita you'll be dead" tumakbo na rin siya habang hawak tyan niya.

Pagdating namin sa tapat ng bahay nila, bukas yung mga ilaw sa loob.

"Oh? Andyan na ata mom mo"

"Hindi, kachat ko lang siya kanina, sa graduation pa siya uuwi"

"Eh sinong nandyan?"

"I have no idea Pao" Dahan dahan kaming naglakad papunta sa house niya to check kung sinong nasa loob. Shit, baka magnanakaw to I'm ready to fight! But, kung magnanakaw, bakit bubuksan ang ilaw?

Biglang bumukas yung main door ng house nila. We stopped and looked at each other tapos a man walking towards the patio... and.....

"Jinn.." I looked at the man and looked at Jinn

Jinn looked at me and looked at the man

"Dad? What are you doing here?"