Years After (Completed)

54 - Back to Normal

Like his wife, Victor gives in to Althea's request not to file a complain for Marga and her friends at school. Though he did not like the idea, he prefers to respect Althea's decision to end the issue. He just pointed out to Althea how she should be careful next time to avoid such nasty rumours to happen again. He also wants to commend Thirdy for protecting Althea but eventually decided to keep the admiration to himself.

Days have passed and the incident has been normally forgotten in school. Marga's social media post and public apology ended it all. But Thirdy became more observant at Marga because he does not like that they became clingy to Althea after the incident, he has a different feeling about it.

"Thea." he called one afternoon. He has been looking for Althea since his soccer practice ended and found her in one of the bench chatting with Marga and her friends with Eloisa.

"Hello there Thirdy." Eloisa greeted.

"What are you doing here Eloisa?" He asked.

"I am here to pick-up my friends and we saw Althea kaya nakipag kwentuhan muna kami sa kanya." Eloisa replied.

"I have been looking for you, Althea." Thirdy said.

"I was waiting for you at the bench na malapit sa gate, kaya lang medyo umambon kaya sumilong muna ako dito." Althea replied.

"Ang sweet nyo naman, naghihintayan pa kayo. Umamin na kasi na kayo na." Marga commented.

"Kailangan ba talaga may malisya ang lahat ng nakikita nyo sa amin ni Althea? Can't we be friends who cares for each other?" Thirdy asked.

"Pasensya ka na dito kay Marga, Thirdy. I'm sure that is not what she really mean." Eloisa apologized in behalf of Marga.

"Eto naman si Thirdy hindi na mabiro. Joke lang naman yun." Marga said.

"I think we better go girls, since may kasama naman na si Althea na maghihintay ng sundo nya." Eloisa said. "Sure ka ba, Thea? Ayaw mo talagang sumama sa amin sa mall?" she asked Althea.

"Thank you for the invitation, Loise. Maybe next time, marami pa akong gagawin eh." Althea replied.

"Alright, I hope that next time will be very soon." Eloisa said, before she and her friends walks to their van.

"Do you really have to be friends with them after what they did to you?" Thirdy asked.

"Tapos na yun, Thirdy. Let's just forget about it." Althea said. "Don't worry, I know naman that I should be careful dealing with them. We just had some girl stuff chat before you came." She further said.

"Alright, I know naman you know how to deal with them, paalala lang naman yung sa akin." Thirdy said.

"Thanks for the reminder." Althea replied, smiling.

"Anyway, have you seen na yung art work mo, the one we featured nung family day natin nung grade 10 tayo? Sana hindi pa nila itinapon, I would like to buy that for my Mom. She really likes that painting of yours. If only I knew that it will be displayed for only a couple of week noon, sana hindi ko na isinama sa mga art works na ibinigay natin sa school committee." Thirdy said.

"Hindi pa nga eh. I hope, too that they did not throw it away." Althea said.

"I am more certain that they will not do that, most likely nasa bodega yun dun sa roof top." Thirdy said.

"Paano kaya natin mahahanap yung painting ko na yun? Gusto ko rin ngang makuha na lang kung hindi na nila gagamitin." Althea said.

"Kapag nakuha natin, please sell it to me. Ibibigay ko sa Mommy ko." Thirdy said.