Sometime In July (2024 edition)

Chapter Six

Yssa arrived at work later than usual, her thoughts still entangled in the events of the previous night. She hadn't slept much, her mind replaying every word, every look, and every touch. After her first three classes, she slipped into the canteen, craving the comfort of coffee to push through the day. She glanced at the clock—11:00 am. Only a few more hours, she told herself, but her exhaustion felt like a weight pulling her down. She asked for an extra packet of sugar, hoping it would give her the energy she needed.

As she stirred her coffee, the cafeteria door slid open, and in walked Brandon. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on her, and his face lit up with a smile as wide as the SM Megamall. He hurried over, his excitement palpable.

"Well, hi, Yssa," he greeted her, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "You look great today. I've been dying to hear what happened."

"Hello, Brandon." Yssa managed a small smile, pressing her palm against her forehead, trying to keep her thoughts from spiraling. Brandon dashed to the counter, grabbed his coffee, and returned to her side in record time, barely able to contain his anticipation.

"So, what's he like?" he asked, not even looking at her as he struggled with the sachet of cream. His eagerness was evident.

"I don't even know where to start," Yssa replied, her mind racing.

"Start at the beginning," Brandon urged, his eyes twinkling. "I don't want to miss a thing."

Yssa took a deep breath and began recounting Glenn's early morning visit, his sudden decision not to go to church, to which Brandon immediately responded with a teasing, "Ulol, ulol, ulol!" She continued with the jeepney ride to the Rivera's, the incident in the kitchen, the small talk at the swing, and the invitation to dinner. She shared every detail, leaving very little out, as Brandon listened intently, hanging on every word.

"It sounds like you had a wonderful time," Brandon said, a proud smile spreading across his face.

"I did. It was one of the best days I've ever spent here in Olongapo. But..." Yssa trailed off, her smile fading.

"But what?" Brandon leaned in closer, concern replacing his earlier excitement.

"There was this look in his eyes on the porch, like something was bothering him. Like he was worried about something," she admitted, the memory of Seth's distant gaze flashing in her mind.

"What do you think it was?" Brandon asked, his brow furrowed.

"I thought it was Kristina, the girl in his novel. The girl he seemed to love so much. His face went completely blank while we were talking, as if his mind was somewhere else."

Brandon burst out laughing suddenly, catching Yssa off guard.

"What's so funny?" she asked, confused by his reaction.

"You are," Brandon said, his laughter subsiding. "What did you expect? You knew he was still in love with that Kristina person before you went there. Remember, it was his 'undying' love that you found so attractive in the first place. Did you think it would be that easy for him to love someone else the way he loved Kristina?"

Yssa looked away, feeling a little embarrassed, and Brandon laughed again. "You never thought about that, did you? That's exactly my point."

"Brandon, you weren't there... you don't know how right everything seemed between us, up until that conversation on the terrace."

Brandon's voice softened, his expression turning serious. "Yssa, I know you had high hopes, but like I told you, don't set such high expectations. If it's meant to be, it will happen. Just take things as they come."