T-Shirt Girl (COMPLETED)

TSG 20 - Never Be The Same

"And how can I pretend I've never known you? Like it was all a dream, no. I know I'll never forget the way I always felt with you beside me and how you loved me then."—Never Be The Same, Red

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They say that there is a defining line in someone's life. It separates his existence by two: before he met the love of his life and the time that comes after that. For Toby, he was certain that he had crossed the line when he was still a kid. And life became different after.

He couldn't possibly cross another line. He couldn't possibly meet the second love of his life. Kung hindi si Jazz, it has to be Jae. It has to be.

"Nay, gusto kong pumunta ng America."

His mother gave him a quizzical look. "Ano naman ang gagawin mo roon? Maganda naman ang trabaho mo dito a."

Napakamot siya. Tatanggapin kaya ng nanay niya ang rason na may gusto siyang sundan kaya sya mangingibang-bansa?

"Hindi po para sa trabaho. Mga ilang linggo lang po."

Tumaas ang kilay nito. "Magbabakasyon ka? May ipon ka ba?"

Ang sampung libo sa sweldo niya nitong December ay ibinigay niya sa nanay niya para panghanda nila sa Pasko at Bagong Taon. Nagtabi na rin siya ng pambigay para sa dalawa niyang maliliit na kapatid. He still has his Christmas bonus intact. Iyon ang plano niyang gamiting pambili ng plane ticket.

Sana nga lamang ay sapat na iyon para sa ilang linggo nyang pamamalagi sa states.

"Meron po."

"Kailan mo balak?"

"Baka po last week ng January," sagot niya.

"Hindi ka pupunta sa binyag ng kambal ni Jasmine?"

He groaned inwardly. Right, may binyag pa nga pala. Pero kung papatagalin pa niya, baka lalong mapalayo sa kanya si Jae. Jazz will understand. At least, that's what he was hoping for.

--

"Nasaan ka na namang bata ka?! Akala ko ba'y nagtatago ka?!"

Inilayo ni Jae ang phone mula sa tenga nang tumaas na ang boses ni Manang Soling. Mga bandang alas dyes ng gabi, she sneaked out of the house.

"Manang, puting-puti na ang mata ko sa sobrang boredom! I had to go out!"

"Paano kapag nakita ka nya? Ano'ng gagawin mo?!"

She rolled her eyes. Toby would surely find her in a club, if he happens to love clubs. She doubt that he'd ever been on one before.

"Relax, manang. I'll be back before 4AM. For sure naman, hindi sya tatambay sa harap ng bahay ko ng madaling-araw, 'no?"

"Hay! Ewan ko sa 'yong bata ka! Sya, basta tawagan mo ako agad kapag nakauwi ka na ha."

"Opo!"

She pressed the end call button so hard, her phone shut down. She shoved it in her little purse and then stomped inside the club. It felt like years pero linggo lamang ang lumipas simula noong huling labas niya ng bahay. She looked paler than usual. Gusto na nga niyang magbabad sa araw pero baka naman may makakita sa kanya.

She quickly headed to the bar and ordered two drinks. Magkasunod niya iyong tinungga.

--

Toby told his friends about the plan. It was such a big gesture. Not only is he going to spend a lot of money, he also had to beg his boss to let him have a long leave. Dahil alam nito ang sitwasyon niya, napapayag nya ito. Pero bawal na syang mag-leave ng buong taon, with the exception of Christmas, New Year and his birthday.