Beyond the Horizon of Love (Ryker Series #1)

BTHOL [21]

Everything went on smoothly. Our normal school days went on until it was only a few days away for our Paskuhan.

"Sinong date mo sa paskukan, Brix?" dinig kong tanong ni Zayd. 

"Si Nova nga, sino pa ba?"

"SI Nova? Eh, paano pala kapag may ibang date si Nova?" 

"Eh 'di wala. Ikamamatay ko ba kung wala akong ka-date?"

"Ano ba kasing pakialam mo?" iritadong tanong ni Lei dahil nakaupo siya sa gitna nila Brixton at Zayd. "Ganyan ka ba ka-curious sa magiging date ni Brix kung hindi available si Nova?"

"Nagagalit ka na naman, eh. Tinatanong ko lang," malambing na sabi ni Zayd.

"Pakialamero ka kasi. Basta si Nova ang date ko, tapos ang usapan," Brix rolled his eyes.

"Wala ka bang date sa paskuhan?" baling ko kay Nova.

"Sino namang magiging date ko?"

I shrugged. "Baka bigla kang may ipakilala ka sa amin, eh."

Pabiro niya akong inirapan. "Para namang may oras pa ako para sa ganyan."

"Ano bang theme ng pasukan this year?" tanong ni Lei.

"Paskuhan through the Decades," I answered. "We could dress up in different decade-inspired costumes."

"Okay! Let's do the Secret Santa exchange na!" Lei shouted.

Secret Santa exchange was our exchange of gifts. That's our routine ever since we were in high school. We will just draw names and then exchange gifts on the paskuhan day.

"Set the criteria na Nova."

"Ako ulit? Nauubusan na ako ng ideas diyan," reklamo niya pero wala na ring nagawa.

I put down my bag before taking a set so I could hear what they had to say. Brix also put down his phone since he was playing mobile legends earlier. 

"The budget is 1000 pesos as the maximum limit," she told us.

"Anong theme ng regalo?" hindi makapaghintay na tanong ni Lei.

"I really don't have any idea," Nova said. "How about something related to our university or our favorite memories here?"

"Okay!" I shouted. "So, we've got the budget set at one thousand pesos, and the theme is university-related."

We continue until all names are drawn. Kanya-kanya kami ng tago para makita kung sino ang nabunot namin at para na rin hindi nila makita kung sino ang nakuha ng isa't-isa sa amin. 

When I saw Lei's name on the paper I pulled out, I immediately put it inside my wallet so I wouldn't lose it.

I excused myself when I received a text message from Sean that his class already ended. As usual, I excused myself to my friends. Mabilis akong dumeretso sa parking lot. 

I jumped and hug him from behind when he didn't noticed that I was already behind him. He turned to me with a frown but as soon as he saw me, he instantly smiled. 

"Get inside. It's getting late," he told me.

"Who's your date this Paskuhan?" I asked him nang pareho kaming makasakay.

"Secret," he smirked.

I immediately frowned upon hearing that. "Really?"

He chuckled. "Really."

"Hey!" nakasimangot na sabi ko.

Tumawa siya bago bahagyang ginulo ang buhok ko. "You, of course."

"Pumayag na ba ako?" malditang tanong ko.