Campus Love Story # 1: My Lost Valentine

Chapter Fifteen

Binuksan ni Daniel ang malamig na San Mig Light can, habang naka - indian sit siya sa damuhan, tinitignan niya ang mga batchmates/ classmates niya na kasalukuyang nasa swimming pool at masayang nagbibiruan. Nasa isang private resort sila sa Clark, pa- despedida sa kaniya ito ng mga kaklase dahil aalis na siya sa makalawa. He is going to Singapore to earn a living, luckily, he was given a better offer in terms of salary because of his credentials as far as experience and license rating is concerned. "Boys Night Out" pa nga ang sabi sa kanya ng nag - organize. Sino pa nga ba ang mag - eeffort nang ganito kundi ang pinakamatalik sa lahat - si Tey. Na kasalukuyan nasa pool din at nakikipagbiruan-lakas ng tawanan nila. Lumunok siya mula sa hawak niyang inumin. They seem vey happy - going on with this break like this from work, they are definitely seizing the moment. All his bags and things are packed. Hinihintay nalang talaga niya ang schedule ng alis niya. Masaya siya in a sense that finally he can finally provide better living for his family ( the way he planned) but ofcourse alam niya na masakit malayo sa pamilya - besides ever since he saw Trish by accident that day, may kung anong mabigat na bagay na nasa puso niya. Masaya rin siya na nagkausap sila ng dalaga finally - sabi nga ni Trishia - it's a closure for the both of them. But for hi, it's not YET over - he intends to fulfill his promise to her na babalik siya. Lumunok ulit siya ng San Mig na hawak niya, ang pait lalo ng iniinom niya. The regret made it harder and more hurtful for him;. Alam niya sa pagbalik niya - walang kasiguruhan iyon, it's like taking a risk. Tey is right afterall his decisions for letting her go is terrible, now he had to face the consequence of his actions.

"Hey! Ang lalim ng iniisip mo", sabay tapik sa balikat ni Daniel.

Ang tapik na iyon ang nagpabalik sa kasalukuyan niya - It's Vincent, "Oh Vince! You're here", anang nakabawi sa pagkagulat. Nahulog nga talaga isip niya sa mga bagay bagay at hindi niya namalayan paglapit sa kanya ng kaibigan.

Umupo sa tabi niya si Vince, nag - indian sit katulad niya at may dala rin itong San Mig Light can, naka bukas na ito.

"I'm sorry I came late", wika ni Vince, nakatingin siya sa mga kaklase nilang nasa pool.

"No worries - buti nga nakarating ka - I mean it's so nice of you to give me something like this", anang Daniel na ang tinutukoy ay ang pa- despedida sa kanya.

"It's nothing - - It's the least we can do Dan, alam naming ang hirap na malayo sa pamilya; this sacrifice you'll be doing for them", sabi ni Vince, lumunok ulit siya ng serbesa na hawak niya.

Na - touch naman siya sa sinabi ni Vincent - they don't have this intimate or close tie as with Tey but spending 5 years in the same class that is not big in terms of number of classmates, he considered him as 'friend buddy' still. He smiled to him, thinking what could be the right things to say.

"Besides --- ang kulit kaya ng organizer ng event na to", sabay tingin kay Tey na tawa nang tawa hanggang kasalukuyan.

At parang narinig naman na sila ni Tey, napatingin ito sa direksiyon nila at kumaway, "Ano pa ginagawa niyo dyan ? Tara na!", sigaw pa nito.

Tumango naman sina Daniel at Vincent, sumenyas na susunod na sila.

"See?", sabi ni Vince sabay kindat kay Daniel, he seems to be amused.

Iiling iling naman si Daniel sa kausap. He has a point minsan may 'kulit syndrome' talaga ang matalik na kaibigan. "He's one of a kind", sabi nalang niya.

Tumango si Vince, bigla naging seryoso na parang may naalala. "Nagkita raw kayo ni Trish one time?", lumunok ulit ito ng San Mig.

Bagamat nagulat sa sinabi ni Vine ay agad siyang nakabawi "Oo, last Wednesday ata yun; it was by accident though", paglilinaw niya.

"Yeah - Trish told me that same day", sumagot si Vince na hindi tumitingin sa kanya, trying to keep his composure.

"I hope you didn't mind it at all Vince, I mean - I just want to catch up with her", sounding defensive para sa kanya. Pero he hope hindi ganon ang dating sa kausap. Actually bigla nga siyang na - guilty, knowing what he feels for 'his' girl right now - siyemre kung siya nasa lugar ni Vince makakaramdam din siya ng 'selos' or 'inconvinience' sa nangyari.

"I didn't-I trust her ( pause) even you Dan, I trust you, alam ko we even had agreement with this, hindi ko nilihim sa'yo ang intention ko kay Trish way back", tapatang sagot ni Vince.

Hindi makasagot si Daniel - finding it hard to say right words with what Vince had said.

"I don't know what had happened with the both of you - what makes it funny sa ilang buwan na magkasama kami ni Trish, we never talked about you - honestly, we never brought up even the day na hindi ka pumunta sa motorcade, I saw her hurt that time Dan, whatever your reasons are, I'm just glad I attended that event", sabay inom ng San Mig.

Nagulat si Daniel sa mga narinig, hindi niya expect na ganito ka- straight forward si Vincent. Is it because of the alcohol? Uminom rin siya ng San Mig, still speechless.

"And maybe I'm also afraid to ask questions about you - I'm afraid for the answer I might hear", ngumiti siya but it was a bitter sweet smile. "That's why I don't really ask. I trust her, that we have the same feelings", tumingin siya sa kausap.

"I'm with her now Dan and I intend to keep her as long as I can", sounding determined.

Napalunok si Daniel. it's really the alcohol, he felt ashamed and guilty and maybe jealous or envious as well, never did he imagined na by this time Vince is somewhat 'threathening' him with what he said. Well he can't blame him can he?

"Ofcourse Vince", sagot na lang niya - lalo kasing bumigat pakiramdam niya. He tried to smile to keep his emotions. Inubos na niya ang natitirang laman ng San Mig.

Ngumiti rin si Vince sa kanya, maybe he also got his emtions relased with what he said earlier.

"Wala ka bang balak mag - abroad Vince", sabi na lang niya to lighten things up.

"I'm not closing any doors, but in the mean time I'm contented here", sagot ni Vince. "Besides, I want to have a stable relationship before I go - I mean mahirap din and L.D.R", dagdag pa niya.

"L.D.R?", hindi niya talaga gets iyon.

"Long Distance Relationship", ngiting sagot ni Vince.

"Ah - okay -never heard", matapat na sagot ni Daniel.

"Hey! wala ba kayong balak tumayo diyan?", sigaw ni Tey mula sa pool, this time tumayo na siya sa mababang bahagi ng pool.

"Eto na susunod na", sagot naman ni Daniel, sumenyas pa na parating na sila.

Inubos na ni Vince ang nalalabing laman ng San MIg niya, halus sabay silang tumayo.

"Take care of yourself there Dan", sabi ni Vince sa kanya.

"Thanks Vince", sincere na sagot niya. Take care of Trish sabi ng isip niya.

Naglakad na sila ni Vince papunta sa pool, tatanungin pa sana niya ito kung alam ba ni Trish na magkasama sila ngayon at kung nabanggit niya na pupunta na siya ng Singapore, kayalang pinigil na lang ang sarili, baka kasi ma mis interpret siya ni Vincent. He better keep those questions himself.

Nakarating na sila sa pool malamig ang tubig.

"GROUP HUG NAMAN DIYAN", sabay sabay na sabi ng mga kaklase ni Daniel sa pangunguna ni Tey.

God! mamimiss niya ang mga ito - mamimiss niya ang Pinas. Pinigil niya ang sarili huwag maiyak, he felt so mixed up - masakit din ang umalis lalo na kung ganito kabuti ang mga iiwanan mo. At lalo na kung may iiwanan kang hindi mo alam kung sa'yo pa o mapapasayo pa. Pinilit niyang makisaya, wearing his mask as he usually does.

Lord please guide me. Make Trish happy even I'm not there for her.