Always and Forever

S I M U L A

"I-I'm sorry," I stared at the girl who bumped me, dahilan kung bakit nahulog ang mga librong dala ko. Yumuko ako para kunin ang mga librong nahulog at tinulungan naman niya ako, halatang nagmamadali siya kaya nabangga niya ako.

"It's okay, just be careful next time." Tugon ko, tumango naman siya at humingi ulit ng tawad. Nagsimula na siyang maglakad kaya hinayaan ko na, I looked around at napansin na lahat ng estudyante ay nagmamadali patungo sa iisang lugar.

Then I realized, ngayon pala malalaman kung sino ang mga nakasali sa Dean's List. I'm not interested because it doesn't really matter if you're on the list or not, ang importante ay makapasa ka at maka-graduate. Habang naglalakad patungo sa parking lot ay tumunog ang cellphone ko, I'm sure it's one of my friends.

"Hello," I said as I answered the call, its Ellie, one of my friends. I stopped walking when I reach the parking, wala pa ang kotse namin at isang white BMW convertible lang ang naka-park dito. It's heavily tinted kaya hindi ko makita kung sino ang tao sa loob or kung may tao ba.

"Astrid!" Tili ni Amber sa kabilang linya, inilayo ko ng konti ang cellphone sa tenga ko. What's wrong with her? Its Ellie's phone pero si Amber ang sumagot, I'm sure magkakasama silang tatlo.

"Girl, nasaan ka ba?" Hindi pa ako nakakasagot ay si Jassy na naman ang nagsalita. "Kaya ba hindi ka na pumunta dito dahil alam mo na ang resulta?"

"Anong alam ko na?" Wala nga akong kaalam-alam sa resulta, ano na naman ba to?

"Girl, Dean's Lister ka!" Ngayon ay silang tatlo na ang tumili. Natawa ako at umiling, mga baliw talaga. Like I've said, it doesn't really matter. "Top 1 ka girl, hindi lang sa department niyo, sa buong University ulit!"

I know it's overwhelming and it's a big deal for them but for me, it's not. There are more important things in life that matters, more valuable and precious, like your life.

"I can't believe this, hindi ako nag-aral ng mabuti during finals!" I exclaimed, alam kong hindi sila maniniwala but it's true.

"Don't give us that shit, Astrid. Tatlong taon ka ng Top 1, ngayon ka pa magtataka?" Si Ellie ang nagsalita. Noong first year ako ay naging Top 1 ako sa department lang namin, noong nag second year na ako, doon na nagsimula ang pagiging Top 1 ko sa buong Unibersidad. At alam kong excited sila dahil may tradisyon kaming magkakaibigan, kung sino man saamin ang makakasali sa Dean's List ay manlilibre. "Say the magic words, please."

I rolled my eyes kahit alam kung hindi nila nakikita. "Fine. On Saturday, my treat."

Ngumiti ako at umiling ng marinig ko ang mga tili nila, they ended the call after that, these crazy bitches.

Napawi ang ngiti ko ng bumukas ang pintuan ng kotse at lumabas doon ang isang arogante at mayabang na lalaki. The man walked shamelessly, he walk like he own the damn place. He looked me in the eye, and I can't help but to stare at him intently. The guy is drop-dead gorgeous, with his deep black eyes and well-defined jawline, every girl in this school will drool over him. Well, except for me. I've known him since we were in elementary, I've seen him flirt with different girls, and I've seen him pick a fight with boys.

"What?" He asked me arrogantly and with a smug look plastered on his pretty face, he may be drop-dead gorgeous but his attitude is rotten! Nakita ko lahat ng pagbabago sakanya, pero hindi kailanman nagbago ang kanyang ugali, same old Marcus Montgomery. Inirapan ko siya at tinalikuran na.

Himala at kinausap niya ako, ang huli ata ay noong highschool pa lamang kami. We're not really friends before, we rarely talk, and I bet he can't even remember my name. Mahirap na siyang makausap noon, mas lalo na ngayong college na kami. Well, he's famous before and he's still famous today.

"You didn't change at all, Sullivan." I stopped walking. After all those years, his mere voice can still affect me so much, but in a different way now. "Still cold and snob."

Gaano ba kalaki ang university na ito at parang ngayon niya lang ako nakita? Lagi ko siyang nakikita sa cafeteria at hallway, nakikita ko din siya sa restaurant at café malapit sa school. Siguro ay wala talaga siyang pakialam.

Huminga ako ng malalim at hinarap siya. "And you're still an asshole, Montgomery."

I saw his eyes become darker, if it's even possible. He clenched his jaw, which makes it more define. Tinalikuran ko siya at sakto naman na dumating na ang sundo ko, agad akong pumasok sa backseat at hindi na siya nilingon pa. I know he's angry, bakit siya magagalit kung totoo naman ang sinabi ko. My heart beats faster than normal, maybe because of anger. If he's angry then I'm also angry.

Let's admit it Astrid, you liked Marcus Ian Montgomery before, and now you hate him for making you a fool during your high school days.