It All Started With: We're Just Friends

Nine

Deanna's Point of View

FINALS WEEK!!

I wasn't sure if I could pass the tests this week. I haven't had the time to study because there are tons of papers that I need to finish. I was settled to study in a coffee shop near the campus to at least stay focus.

After a while, my phone vibrates so I checked it. It is a message from Ricci.

I miss you so bad.

I smile then I remember that I'm in a public place so I immediately retract my smile. Is it always like this? You can't force not to smile even in outside places. I stared at his picture on my phone for so long that it seems like I want to stop studying and just stare at his photo.

I replied to his message with I miss you more. He sent me two blue heart emojis and that really made me giddy. Then I continuously read the notes I took during the discussion. I am now inspired to ace these finals.

The day has come, I looked for Ricci to have an inspiration before the exams but I couldn't find him. I texted him asking where he is and he replied that he's trapped in the comfort room because he was called by nature. After a few minutes, I saw him walking out from the comfort room and he's wiping his sweats all over his head. I laughed so hard that everyone actually looked at me. He turned his head on my side and he smiles. "Why are you laughing?" He asked innocently. "I caught you wiping your pawis on your forehead. That's why." He shoved my face in his underarm. "Bully!" He said. "Ew babe. Asim!" I joked. He stopped and he stared at me like he is confused on what I said. "Legit?" He asked. "No stupid. I'm just kidding!" I said still laughing.

After our finals week, we have one more day just for completion and everything. I'm so bored, so I poke Ricci's features, his eyes, lips, nose and cheeks. Yet he's still asleep. I stared at him for a while, and the only thing I can say is that Lo Amo Tanto.

"In love ka na naman." He suddenly said. I was in shock so I went back to organize my things inside my bag. "Babe, you're blushing." I continued doing my thing. "Hey. You act like you're having a crush on me." He teases. "No, it's just that it's so embarrassing to catch me staring at you." I said with poor voice. "So what? I often do it to you too." He said. "Ha? How often?" I asked. "Every night? I have tons of pictures of you on my phone and I habitually look at it."

The school hours has ended so we are now school free for two months. "Babe, let's have a date or a spontaneous trip again? I miss doing road trips with you." He said taking off his varsity jacket because it's extremely hot outside. "I will go home to Cebu for weeks babe." I said. "For how long?" He asked. "Probably three weeks?"

"Uh... Can I come? For a week lang at least. I'm gonna miss you, three weeks are so damn long." He said. "Sure you can come. You can formally meet my family then." I said. He turned red when I said family, "Uy. Nervous?" I asked. "Kinda. But, when's your flight?"

"I'm not sure yet." I answered. "Can we buy the tickets together?" He asked. "Of course. How 'bout next week?"

"Babe, we will be having a tournament in San Juan on second week of June. We have to claim the ticket before June." He said. "Is it the Chooks To-Go game?" I asked. "Yes it is. I'll be in Gilas Cadets. I can't miss it."

"Okay, tomorrow then? I'll watch your game after I came back from Cebu." I said.

Days had passed. I'm preparing my backpack because today is my flight. I have three hours left before heading to NAIA. Ricci and I got the different dates of flight, I'll be taking off first then he'll leave tomorrow morning. "Babe, did you packed your necessities already?" He asked watching me struggling with my packing. "Yeah I think I did." Then I went to the bathroom to get my sanitary. "Deanna, you're getting excited ah. Don't panic." He said.