Since Childhood

4: Her Life's Timeline

Summer ends, another school year began, I got my menstruation, I graduated elementary, summer vacation began, my body started changing little by little and the cycle continues. My close friendship with Tim remained strong. Every year he's growing differently. He's becoming manly and manly as time fly. Every summer I was the fifth unofficial member of my kuya Davien's squad. That's only because Timothy doesn't want me to be a total outcast and aloof.

I'm a first year high schooler at the age 13. Kuya Davien is already a High School graduate. He's taking up his bachelor's degree in Medicine now. The High School life is far different from Elementary. There are plenty of pretty and handsome cool kids in the school. Being beautiful and popular is considered an achievement. If you were popular, you'll be the friend of every school kids, although you didn't knew them personally.

In whole year, there is only one season that I'm looking forward for. The summer. Nothing else. Each night I was praying for Tim to totally moved into his father's house and just study at my school. We will be together not just summer if that ever happens. He's fifteen, a sophomore.

Kapag nangyare ang gabi-gabi kong hinihiling, if he transfers to my school, ako ang pinaka magiging happy na girl. That would be the so amazing.

I was able to adjust myself in my high school life. I joined English and Language Club with the intention of making myself busy with my schooling to at least forget Tim even partially. I went out occasionally just to socialized with my classmates and girlfriends. Went shopping, eating, sometimes go and watch sine, do girl stuffs.

After I finished freshman year in High School, the following summer was meaningless. Timothy didn't showed up for the whole two months. I was knocking on their house during first week of May but a stranger open up the door for me. She claimed that she is the new owner of the house. It's been sold to her by Tim's dad because he's looking for a place more convenient to his work.

It saddened me. Everyday, every hour, I was hoping that Tim will showed up telling my brother where he lives now. 29th of May, I turned 14. Mom threw me a party, my classmates where present on the party. Kuya Hirro and kuya Gael was there as well. The only missing person was Tim. Since I met him, my birthday become so special. And now that he ain't here, it is back to how it was before.

The next month, I become sophomore. I tried to find a guy, I tried to like someone from my school but it is not working. My hert won't coordinate with my mind. Parati kong kinukulit si kuya Vien if he have contact with Tim. He said he don't have any since the day his dad moved somewhere else. On my room, there are lot of pictures of Timothy and I together. I had them all framed and they're lined up on my study and bedside table.

Aside from English and Language Club, I also join in Student Emergency Response Team since I have few background in medicine. Those extra curricular I pursued had help me forgetting Tim.

I'm not expecting that he will come this summer. But yes, I'm still hoping. Unfortunately, those hopes turned into ashes when I become 15 and he still didn't showed up. It's been two summer. It's been two years and I'm still missing him. I'm still making myself believe that our friendship won't end like this.

It's my third year now. A junior high schooler. My body was developing already. My hair have grown longer. If not only for mom's happiness, I could have had my hair cut short. My chest have the rightful bumps where those two should be. Girls at my batch are going to school in black shoes with maximum of three inches heels. Their designer's bags on their hands, they wore lipstick, their uniform and skirt was ironed perfectly. While me, I go to school without even giving attention to how I look. I wore flat boring shoe. A Hawk back bag, sometimes my uniform was crumpled because I'm a girl who grew up with boys. My actions wasn't as feminine as others. Pero okay lang. Wala naman akong pinapa-impress-an sa school.

Since it is the first day of the new school year, the classes were irregular. Every professors of each of our subjects only introduce themselves, had the whole class tell who we are, what our expectation on the subject and other part of the orientation. First day is sure a plain boring day.

During lunch, since most of my friends during sophomore days are already in different classes, and different circles of friends, I treated myself in the canteen, just me, myself. Ang only company ko is my phone, earphone and music.

I'm eating my lunch boringly when a tray of food occupied the vacant space in the table where I'm in. I take the earphone in my right ear off without looking up.

"Can I share the table with you?" A guy asked.

I nodded. My eyes is still fixed into my foods as I dig on it. The guy sat in front of me. I don't see what exactly he's doing but I can sense his movements through my peripheral view.

"You've grown up, Rhein." I immediately stop eating when he spoke again.

The voice were unfamiliar but there is only one person who's calling me using my second name. It's Timothy, no one else. Even my own brother don't call me Rhein. Only him.

In slow motion, I raised my head. My eyes went up, upper, until I saw the guy's face. A much older version of the kid I met five years ago.

Handsome face, charming aura and soft eyes. Timothy!

"Hi, it's been two summers. Two years." He chuckled. His throaty laugh told me that he is enjoying my reaction.

"W-what the hell are you doing here?" I asked out of confusion.

"Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa ko dito?"

I examined Timothy. He's more handsome now and manly, that's a given. What makes me confused was the uniform he's wearing. The uniform of our school, the logo on his right chest clearly told me that he is right here, right now. In my school! In my freaking school!!

"Why are you wearing our school uniform?" I pointed out the one he's wearing.

"What do you think the possible answer is?" he smiled.

"I'm not a fortune teller to know what the hell the reason was! You stupid monkey. And you have the guts to show your face after two years of ignoring me?!" I yell at him. I'm releasing the anger and sullen I have gathered for two years.

As if he's preparing himself to tell what exactly happen about his absence, his eyes becomes blue. And his smile hides pain.

"My mom was diagnosed with lupus disease. Her heart and lungs were severely damaged. I couldn't visit because I was with her in the hospital every vacation and weekend. Studying becomes a difficult challenge for me. She passed away just two months ago, dad had my full custody now."

Shocked and guilty, I had my agape mouth covered with my hands.

"I-I'm... I'm so sorry, Tim... I-I'm so sorry about your mom. Hindi ko alam,"

A sad smile formed his lips.

"As long as she's in my heart and mind, she's still here by my side," Tim changed the tone of his voice into somewhere cheerful. "I'll be finishing high school here. So, how are you?"

I'm thinking about you for whole two years... And now, I wish I was there when life becomes unfair to you.

And before I could hold it back, the words "I wish I was there." escaped my lips.