She's the Victim of Her Own Crime

Chapter 4

(Late Update, as in super duper late. Sorry.)

After their summer break, balik ulit sa dati. Levi went back to her dorm in Zamboanga while Nikko stayed in Davao. 5th year na sila and their internship starts.

Ganun pa din sila, yung daily routine ganun pa din. They always update each other kung anong nangyari sa araw nila. At kahit na busy ang mga ito ay nagagawan parin nilang makahanap ng oras para sa isa't-isa.

"Vi, kamusta na nga pala yung sinasabi mong ginuguhit mo?" Nikko asks on the other line.

Kasalukuyan silang nag-vi-videocall. It was 10 pm already, they are both tired but they kept awake for each others benefit.

"Diba sabi mo ida-draw ko yung dream house ko, and I just finished it kanina nung vacant time ko."

"Wow! Patingin!"

Ipinakita ni Levi ang kanyang drawing kay Nikko. "It's supposed to be my dream house but you were always in my mind kaya hindi ako naka focus last last week and I don't have inspiration. Pero naisip ko, you can be my inspiration while making my dream house and eventually, hindi na sya dream ko. But, it is my dream house for us." Paliwanag ni Levi.

Nikko was so touched. "Ghad, Lev! That's so sweet and cheesy. Natameme ako dun. Thank you, Vi."

"You're always welcome. Alam mo bang tuwang-tuwa si Hera nung pinakita ko ito sa kanya. She said na ang ganda daw and she can feel the passion and love sa output ko."

Nikko smiled. "Let's work it together, Vi."

"Yes, Nikkoy. Kahit anong mangyari, let's wait for each other ha."

"Oo naman! I made a promise. 'Saka konti nalang, Vi. Ga-graduate na tayo."

-

Tuloy pa din ang communication nilang dalawa and they have many plans during their semestral break ang Christmas break. So both of them are looking forward to their next meetings.

But last week of September, Levi deactivated all her social media accounts, she also changed her phone number. She moved to another dorm and she didn't tell anyone about everything except her mother na nasa Japan.

Levi was so pressure dahil sa kanyang internship, at napagbintangan din ito na sya ang dahilan kung bakit nakapasok ang magnanakaw sa dorm nila dahil sya ang huling nakauwi. But the truth is, it wasn't her fault. Na set-up lang ito ng mga kasamahan nya sa dorm na naiinggit sa kanya.

Her landlady told her na umalis nalamang dahil perwisyo na din ito. Levi always go home around 9pm dahil may klase pa ito na dalawang subject sa gabi.

She was so down lalo na din sa office nya sapagkat pinagawa ito ng model ng condo ng kanyang senior architect at nagustuhan naman ito ng may-ari ngunit hindi sinabi ng senior architect na gawa nya ito.

She was so pressure din dahil minamadali ng senior architect yung designs na matapos agad dahil kailangan na ito para ipresent sa mga investors.

She feel so worthless and devastated dahil  sa nangyayari sa buhay nya ngayon. After her internship, she deactivated all her social media accounts and changed her number para hindi na ito ma contact ng kanyang senior architect. Nasabi na rin nya ito sa kanyang kapatid at sinabing hindi ipaalam sa iba.

At sa studies nya, she feels so down because she's running for Cum Laude pero yung isang subject nya nalalagay sa alanganin. But good thing ay bumabawin din naman ito, todo review ito ngayon sapagkat next week ay final exam na nila.

Levi was so busy, marami syang ginagawa and she even forget about the outside world. Palagi itong school - office. Nakahanap din sya nga part-time job sa isang maliit na architecture firm dahil natapos na ang kanyang internship program.

During the semestral break, naging busy ito at hindi nakauwi dahil may big time project ang kanilang firm. She was task to do the exterior design and she needs to finish it ASAP dahil dadalhin itong abroad ng isang investor.

After sembreak ay 2nd semester na and this time, she's now taking her three remaining minor subjects and some seminars about architecture.

Nakahanap na din ito ng mga kaibigan sa firm na pinagta-trabahuan kaya naging okay na ito. They also hangout kapag may free time sila, went to some resto bar to eat and drink.

-

On the other hand, hindi mapakali si Nikko kung bakit hindi na nagpaparamdam si Levi. His heart was in pain, lahat ng social media accounts ni Levi na alam nya ay hindi nya mahanap. At laging unattended yung numerong naka save sa cellphone nya.

After a week, naghanap na ng paraan si Nikko. He asks Levi's bestfriend - Hera. Tinanong nya ito kung alam ba nya kung anong nangyari kay Levi.

Nikko was so worried kay Levi, naiiyak na ito sa tuwing naaalala nya si Levi.

Palaging nakikita ni Hera si Nikko na nakatunganga sa canteen.

"Hoy!" Panggugulat ni Hera.

He was just looking at him blankly.

"Hoy, wag ka ngang ganyan. Snob mo ha. Ilang weeks na bang hindi nagpaparamdam sa'yo?" Tanong nito habang nagbibilang. "Ay hala, more than 1 month na pala. Grabe, anong nangyari dun sa bruhang yun? Ni hindi man lang nagsabi."

"Hindi ko din alam, wala naman akong nagawang kasalanan. Yung kapatid nya pinuntahan ko na pero wala ding alam. Pero alam kong may alam sila, hindi lang sinasabi."

"Wag ka ngang magmokmok dyan. Haler, baka busy lang yung tao. Ano ka ba. Instead na magpaka emo ka dyan why not let's have some fun tonight. Uminom at gumala ka naman kahit minsan friend! Bagay talaga kayo ni Levi ano. Pareho kayong seryoso boring ang life." Natatawang sabi ni Hera. Babatukan sana ito ni Nikko ngunit nakaiwas ito.

And in the end, sumama si Nikko kay Hera.

"Wag kang maghanap ng iba, gag* ka kay Levi ka lang. Inom lang, walang landian." Paalala nito kay Nikko.

"Yes, ma'am!"

-

While Nikko was partying, si Levi naman ay busy pa rin sa kanyang project. But good thing naman ay malapit na syang matapos dito.

And even she was so busy, palagi nyang naiisip si Nikko. Ngunit pinipigilan nya ang kanyang sarili to reach all her goals. She needs strive hard para maging Cum Laude and she needs to strive hard sa kanyang work. She was told na if maganda ang feedback from the investors ay maaaring maging big break yun sa kanya kahit na hindi pa sya licensed architect.

And during Christmas break, pumunta itong Cebu to attend some seminar at dun na din sya nagpasko. Lumipat na kase ang kanyang kapatid at asawa sa Cebu.

'Panindigan mo muna yan, Lev. Focus ka muna sa studies at sa work mo ngayon. You both promise naman, diba?' Lev told herself.