Second Chance

THEODORE 6

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"Ano? Yung flowers ba okay na? Gusto niya ng white roses ah! White ba binili mo???"

Hindi ako mapakali. Today is my d-day. Everything should be perfect. From the timing to the very little details. Dapat sure na to. Wala ng urungan.

"Yes, Theo. I've fixed everything na. Go! Ako na bahala dito.", sabi nitong si Chelsea.

I had to trust Chelsea. Matagal na naming pinagusapan ito kaya alam kong maasahan ko naman siya.

Now, all I have to do is to wait for Athena.

I texted her.

Where are you? Our class will start in five minutes.

Habang naghihintay ako ng reply, eh minabuti kong umakyat na sa room. Our university is quite big kaya alam kong maaayos ko pa ang mga bagay-bagay sa room.

When I got there, I saw that the projector was ready and andun na rin yung laptop. Since I got help from our blockmates, kinuntsaba ko sila na magkunwaring normal lang ang lahat. I also had to convince our professor na kunwari ay naurong ngayon ang reporting ko.

Then Athena replied,

Paakyat na. Andyan na ba si mam???

Oh shit! Malapit na siya.

I panicked that I had shout at everyone to take their seats. Buti na lang sumunod lang naman sila. Pati si mam, eh nakatayo lang sa harap.

Siguro ilang minutes lang before Athena came running inside. Hingal na hingal pa siya, sigurado akong tumakbo to.

"Good morning mam! Sorry I'm late!"

"Take your seat, Miss Cojuangco."

As planned, nagpatuloy lang yung flow nung klase. Nagattendance muna si mam at naupo na nga si Athena sa upuan niya.

Sinundan ko lang siya ng tingin.

Yes! She smiled! She saw my note!

Naglagay kasi ako ng I love you, latecomer sa desk ng upuan niya. I just can't contain my excitement that I had to smile crazily.

"Okay, class. I've decided to let Mr. Ramisses do his reporting for this day. Theodore? Are you ready?", pag-aannounce naman ni mam.

Nakita kong napalingon sakin si Athena. I just smiled back.

"Yes, mam!"

Nagpunta na nga ko sa harap at kinalikot ko na yung laptop. I turned the lights off and everyone was quiet. This is it.

It's now or never.

I looked at Athena, she was just staring at me. Kung pwede ko lang ihinto yung oras.

But I shook myself. No, I had to propose.

"Good morning everyone. Today, I'll present to you....."

I opened the video.

Nagsimula silang magtilian.

"the reason why I breathe everyday..."

Nagflash ang mga pictures namin ni Athena sa screen. Right from where we first met, up to the present life we enjoy living.

The song Turning Page started playing.