Diamond's Worth ✓COMPLETE

Special Chapter III

John Joseph

It's a few months away from graduation. Then, after that, I'll get to leave home for a while to work on my admission to Harvard Business School for my masteral. Honestly, hindi ako ang nagdesisyong subukan. It's my professors. And dad opened up once about the same thing which somehow gives a huge influence regarding my decision.

Pero ibig sabihin din non, I'll get to live away from the normal life I used to have while in the country. I haven't tried being on my own but for sure, I'll eventually get a hang of it. But on the brighter side...

Napangiti ako sa naisip ko.

Right. At least, you won't have to deal with her anymore, John.

Tch. Pero nakakapanibago na isang buong linggo siyang hindi nangulit. Maybe, I just got used to her annoying presence and it has become my norm without my knowing. With that idea, I glance at my phone. When I see unread messages, I quickly grab the device to check who they are from.

None from her. Dati rati naman, kulang ang sampung messages na sinisend niya sa isang araw ah.

"Damn it, John." Mura ko sa sarili ko.

Was I expecting her messages? Tch. Come on. This is what you want. No more childish messages from her. No more incessant calls. No more annoying interactions.

Remembering how she casually declined my offer to give her a lift home the other night, I begin to feel upset. I hate it when I am confronted with rejections. That is perhaps the reason why I try every second of my life to be the best that I can, always much better than the others. As much as possible, I want to be perfect so that rejecting me will be everyone's last option.

From: Dianarra Michelle

Thanks for talking it out with your brother. Belle is so happy today. She said she shared snacks with your sibs. We're on the way to the institute.

Matigas lang ang ulo ni Daniel but I guess, he still knows how to listen then. I wonder though... How does it feel like for Dianarra's family? For their parents? Pareho silang magkapatid na may sakit. Although, Dianarra is said to be cancer-free, she still worries about her future, thinking she might not be able to see tomorrow as doctors once warned her. That keeps me worried too. She's like a sister to me.

Kaya naman, isa siya sa mga dahilan ng pagseselos niya.

Ugh!

"Johnny, what the fxck is wrong with you?" Inis na tanong ko sa sarili ko. Tamad na nahiga ako, kuyom ang palad na binagsak sa kama.

Stop thinking about her. What the hell!

Damn it. Damn it! Hayaan mo na, okay? Saturday bukas and she will surely be coming over. You can talk to her and make her understand why you just cannot give in to what she wants.

Nakakatawang balikan. Almost her whole life, as soon as she learned what liking means, Katriona commits herself to me. She is just my brother's age but whenever she's with me, she acts maturely. I hate how she missed out on her youth just to see no one else but me. Ayokong magsisi siya sa huli dahil sa dami ng mga na-miss niya sa buhay... na ako ang dahilan. She is still so young. She hasn't enjoyed her childhood because of me already. I can't take away her teenage years from her too. That would be too much to regret in the future.

***

"Hala. Student siya dito?"

"He is wearing our uniform so yeah. Obviously."

Hindi ko pinansin ang usapan at tilian ng mga babaeng nadadaanan ko. Late akong pumasok sa klase e. Pero second year college ko na naman 'to. Those girls must probably be just freshies.