By Chance

Chapter Forty One

Note lang na everything I write here is fictional. I include real events sometimes, pero 'yun 'yung mga nakikita nating nangyayari talaga. This is a fan fiction, guys. Hahahaha. Let's not bring our hopes high again, baka tayo lang din ang bumagsak at mawasak.

—

Three days after we arrived, pumasok na rin ako sa school. It was my first day, and I couldn't contain the emotions inside me. Sobrang overwhelming lang kasi ng feeling dahil at long last, I finally found the place where I'll truly belong.

Art. Film studies. Film making.

My classmates were very accommodating, I was able to get along with them immediately. After everything's that happened, I realized, maybe becoming a doctor wasn't really for me. I realized, I'm meant to become a film maker.

I never felt this happy while studying. Sa Pilipinas, sobrang stressed na stressed ako. Oo, may mga pagkakataon na naiintindihan ko 'yung mga lessons, pero I just couldn't find it in myself the enjoyment I now feel every time I enter our classroom. Parang pakiramdam ko, nag-aaral lang ako para makipag-go with the flow sa mga kaklase ko.

"Cass!" Kirsten exclaimed, I bobbed my head to the side and smiled at her. Ever since I entered the school, she's always been this bubbly girl who loves to play the violin. But, we're not that really close to each other. "You're Filipino, right?"

I nodded my head, "Yes, why?" Nagulat ako nang bigla niya akong hilahin palabas ng classroom.

"Jusko, alam mo bang ever since Year 7 pa ako nangangarap na magkaro'n ng Filipino classmate," natatawang sabi niya. "You already know my name, but I'm gonna introduce myself again. Kirsten Valenzuela." She extended her hands for a shake-hand kaya inabot ko naman 'yung kamay ko.

"Cassandra Dawn Feliciano," I said with a smile.

It was easy. Sobrang dali niyang maka-get along, lalo na't pareho kami ng music taste. She even knows Unique, for Pete's sake, and I couldn't even imagine how she would react kung nalaman niyang nandito rin si Unique sa London.

But, apparently, Unique lied. Hindi naman talaga siya mag-aaral dito, like, enter a University, but instead he'll self-study Photography. Sinabi rin naman ni Unique na gusto niya munang mag-focus sa photography, and knowing London's a very good-looking place, he agreed with my dad.

Shocking? Yes. Pati ako nagulat. I never though Dad would invite Unique because he trusted him so much. Nakakaloka nga rin dahil gustong-gusto niya talaga si Unique para sa'kin!

Sabi naman ni Unique, Kean was ok with it. Na lie-low muna si Unique, sobrang dami rin naman kasing gigs bago kami umalis ng Pilipinas. At saka, kung may mga very important events naman for Unique sa Philippines he'd always be willing to come back naman daw. Hindi naman niya pababayaan 'yung commitment as a solo artist. It's also a good excuse, since he's already writing songs for his next album.

His last album to be exact.

I was really surprised when he told me about that. Until now, wala pang nakakaalam ng sikreto ni Unique, families lang ng both sides and some close friends. That he's going back to his band after his contract with O/C Records. He realized that it was just a decisive decision that he made, na-pressure siguro. But realizing that he loves his band and his friends more, and making music with them is the only thing could fulfill his empty heart, is what makes me proud of him more.

I realized din kasi na, sa sobrang padalos-dalos natin sa pagdedesisyon, saka lang din natin mare-realize na nagkamali ka lang pala ng pinuntahan.

It was already recess time, buti na lang at close ko na rin si Kirs kaya may nakakasama na rin ako pag kumakain. Pagkalabas naming dalawa, halos atakihin naman ako nang makita ko si Unique sa labas ng room.

"O?" Napatingin ako kay Unique at ngumiti, saka ko lang na-realize na kasama ko si Kirs kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya. Natawa dahil mukhang starstruck, sino ba namang hindi? Nasa harapan mo ang isang Unique Salonga. "Ay! Unique si Kirs nga pala, Kirs si Unique."

"Girl, nananaginip ako. Pakikurot," sambit niya. Pareho kaming natawa ni Unique sa sinabi ni Kirsten, pero in the end, nakipagkamay na rin si Unique sa kan'ya.

"Wow, ang chill mo naman sir Unique," pabirong sabi ko habang naglalakad kami papuntang canteen. Sabi ni Unique, binigyan daw siya ng passes ni dad para makapasok sa school dahil pinapabantayan din niya ako. Jusko, suddenly my Dad became too protective of me.

Nakabili kami kaagad ng pagkain namin kaya naghanap na rin kami ng mauupuan. Natatawa ako kasi sobrang saya ni Unique dahil wala raw nakakakilala sa kaniya, kung meron man e mangilan-ngilan lang daw. Hindi naman sumpa ang kasikatan para sa kaniya, pero he admitted that he still gets thoughts about being out and free in a public place na walang lumalapit sa'yo para magpa-picture. Mas magaan daw ang atmosphere minsan.

"So, why are you here?" Kirs asked out of the blue. "I mean not really trying to meddle, kaso nakaka-curious lang kasi. Knowing your career there is already booming, tapos suddenly, umalis ka."

Unique shrugged his shoulders, "Gusto ko lang ng space," sambit niya. "Tsaka kailangan kong bantayan si Cass habang nagsusulat din ng mga panibagong kanta." Natawa naman ako sa sinabi niya.

"Hindi ako binabantayan niyan, huwag kang maniwala." Natawa naman si Kirs.

Kumain lang ako habang nag-uusap si Kirs at Unique, I couldn't help but to adore Kirs, though. Ang talino niya rin, pumapantay sa kagalingan ni Unique. Hindi sila nauubusan ng pwedeng pag-usapan, and I was okay with it. Pagkatapos ng health break, umalis na rin si Unique dahil may kailangan pa raw siyang gawin, tsaka kailangan din daw niyang ituloy 'yung kanta.

"Hindi talaga ako active sa social media and stuff, pero ikaw pala 'yung sinasabi nila na related kay Unique at Blaster," she said and laughed. "What's it like?"

Napatingin lang ako sa kaniya, hoping I could find the right answers, "I don't know—exhausting, I guess? Puro issue kasi. Nakakapagod. Main reason kung bakit ako pumunta rito. I need a breath of fresh air," I said and smiled. Tumango na lang si Kirs at tahimik kaming pumasok ng room. Pagkapasok namin ay wala pa ring teacher kaya nagkuwentuhan na lang muna kami ni Kirs, I even got band recommendations from her, and I didn't regret listening to The Paper Kites, nakakalungkot lang dahil underrated.

After classes, umalis agad ako ng room at nagpaalam kay Kirs dahil kailangan daw naming umalis kaagad ni Unique. Pagkasakay ko, ngumiti lang siya at pinaandar na kaagad ang kotse. I didn't even bother talking because pakiramdam ko wala rin akong makukuhang matinong sagot.

And then we arrived at a park, walang tao, sobrang peaceful, sobrang tahimik.

"Ano 'to?" untag ko kay Unique habang naglalakad kami para maghanap ng pwedeng maupuan.

Ngumiti lang siya hanggang sa nakahanap na kami ng pwedeng maupuan. Naglatag siya ng blanket at nahiga agad, napaupo naman ako sa tabi niya.

"Hinanap ko 'tong lugar na 'to kaagad pagkarating na pagkarating natin dito sa London," sambit niya. "Maganda naman 'di ba?"

Ngumiti ako at tumango, halos gusto nang tumalon ng puso ko palabas, "Hindi ka ba napapagod Unique?"

Napangiti siya at napaupo bago humarap sa akin.

"Mapapagod? Ano 'yun?" natatawang sambit niya. "Basta't ikaw, Cass. Hinding-hindi ako dadalawin ng pagod mapasaya lang kita."