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AFTER 1 YEAR

"One brewed coffee and chocolate orea cake for table 16 Zoe." Mabilis kong inayos ang apron ko at kinuha ang order na sinabi ng manager ko. I picked it up and walked towards the table number 23.

"Miss Hana?" I asked, she looked at me and smiled.

"Yes."

"One brewed coffee and chocolate oreo cake, right?" I asked, tumango naman siya kaya nilapag ko ang order niya sa table niya.

"Thank you." Umalis na ako sa harap niya at bumalik sa counter station.

It was already past 9pm and my shift has already ended. Nagpaalam na ako sa manager namin at nagtungo sa crew room. I just changed my clothes and went out of the coffee shop.

I was about to walk when a car stopped right in front of me.

"Hop in." He smiled and opened the door of his car for me. I just raised my brow and went inside his car.

"How's your day?" He asked.

"What are you doing here?" Balik tanong ko, he just laughed and looked at me for a moment.

"Sinusundo ka malamang." Umirap na lamang ako at sinuot ang seatbelt ko.

"Hindi mo ko kailangan sunduin." Naiiritang sagot ko, tumawa lamang ito at pinatong ang isang braso sa bintana ng kanyang kotse.

"Zeph told me to fetch you, we're having a dinner at her place." Tumango na lamang ako at hindi na sumagot pa.

It's been a year since that happened. Everything felt like it was just yesterday, every pain, every fear and every feelings were still here and it never left me. I don't know what really changed, it was just my social status, nothing else.

I've been in a year of desperation and loneliness, I've been depressed and attempted to commit suicide a lot of times. I struggled every day with our memories and the pain of losing everything I have. But I always end up overcoming those night when I felt like I wanted to just give up. But something just make me kept going, it was my love for him that never faded. I was always hoping that tomorrow would be different, that I would be able to see him again tomorrow, or he would forgive me tomorrow, and that was the only thing that kept me going. Until now, he was my will to live and nothing has ever changed.

I tried finding for that lost evidence but it was nowhere to be found, the driver was nowhere to be found. I tried reaching out to Ash but he was always cold and was still mad with me. I already lost connection with everyone besides from Zeph and Jordan who helped me start my life over again.I moved out of town and I started working as waitress just to sustain my everyday needs, Jordan offered me to work at his company but I declined since I wanted to do everything all by myself and I was too embarrassed after all those help that I have received from them.

I have given up on everything. I just decided to let go of him, I just accepted the fact that somethings aren't just made for each other and that was us. It was painful but for the sake of my sanity, I just decided to accept that everything won't be the same again, but until now I had that little hope that maybe he would come and told me that he wanted me back.

"We're here." I stopped spacing out when Jordan stopped the car infront of Zeph's own house. We both went out of the car and walked inside, we did not bother to knock, madalas kasi ay dito kami tumatambay o nagoovernight, we were all friends. Nung una nga ay akala ko may something kay Zeph and Jordan, but I don't know what happened, one day they just decided to just remain friends for life.

Naabutan namin si Zeph na naghahanda ng pagkain sa lamesa. Mabilis na naglakad si Jordan papunta doon at kumuha ng chicken at agad kinain yon.

"Wow kain agad Jordan?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Zeph, I just chuckled and sat at the dining chair. Kumuha rin ako ng fried chicken at nagsimulang kumain. Zeph looked at us with disbelief.

"Wala bang coke jan?" Tanong ni Jordan at nagsimula ng maglagay ng kanin sa pinggan at tumabi sa akin. Umirap si Zeph at padabog na nilapag ang baso sa harap ni Jordan.

"Ayan na po sir!" Inis na sabi nito at nagsalin ng coke sa baso ni Jordan, I just laughed while looking at them. Palagi nalang silang nagbabangayan. Zeph frown suddenly turned into a smile when she looked at me. Kumuha siya ng pinggan at masayang tumabi sa akin.

"How's the work baby girl?" She asked.

"Nakakapagod." Sagot ko, natahimik silang dalawa at sabay na tumawa.

"Double meaning ba yan teh?" Natatawang kumento niya, I just rolled my eyes and put a rice on my plate.

"Zeph wala ka bang dessert jan?" Tanong ni Jordan, padabog ni nilapag ni Zeph ang kubyertos niya at tumingin kay Jordan.

"Ako pa kukuha sa ref?" Mataray na sagot nito. Hindi na sumagot si Jordan at naglakad na papunta sa kusina habang tumatawa.

"You should eat a lot, I cooked that for you." Nilagyan pa niya ng kanin at ulam ang pinggan ko, hindi naman ako nakatanggi. Knowing Zeph, kapag gusto niya ay hindi ka na makakatanggi. She was always there for me during my rough times, and I don't think I would make it if it wasn't because of her.

Matapos namin kumain ay nag-offer si Zeph na mag-overnight na lamang kami, pumayag naman kami dahil wala rin naman akong pasok bukas. Naglatag kami ng matress sa living room ni Zeph, at nagmovie marathon. The lights were off and Zeph was hugging me, magkatabi kami ni Zeph na nakahiga sa sahig na may latag na matress while Jordan was sitting beside me while eating an ice cream.

After few hours ay nakatulog na si Zeph, ako nalang at si Jordan ang gising habang nanunuod ng movie. Jordan was lying down beside me, we were this close, we were used of lying down beside each other.

"Jordan timplahan mo ko gatas." Utos ko sa kanya.

"Choco na gatas ba o gatas na choco?" Tanong nito, inis ko siyang hinampas ng unan kaya't natawa siya. He sat down and looked at me.

"Samahan mo ko sa kusina baka may multo." Sa sobrang inis ko ay sinipa ko siya sa braso niya ngunit nabigla ako ng bigla niyang hatakin ang paa ko kaya't nakaladkad ako paalis sa matres.

"Bwiset ka talaga Jordan!!" I shouted silently, afraid that I might wake Zeph up. We both laughed and he offered me his hand to stood up. Tinanggap ko naman iyon at sumunod sa kanya, he turned on the lights and we walked towards Zeph's kitchen.

I sat at the bar counter and watched him make a glass of milk. He handed me the milk after and sat beside me.

"Are you still having a hard time sleeping?" He asked me. I hold the cup of milk with both of my hands and took a sip.

"Yeah." I answered. Huminga ito ng malalim at inakbayan ako, he messed with my hair so I glared at him.

"I.." He sighed again, I looked at him and furrowed my brows. It looked like he wanted to say something but he can't.

"What?" I asked. Inalis niya ang pagkakaakbay sa akin at tumayo na.

"Someone wants to see you." Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko. Who wanted to see me? Gusto ko pa sanang magtanong pero nauna na siyang naglakad pabalik sa sala. Mabilis kong tinungga ang gatas at hinabol siya.

"Sino?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"You'll see tomorrow." Kinulit ko pa siya ng kinulit kung sino iyon ngunit ang hayop tinulugan lang ako. Hinampas ko pa siya ng unan bago ako tuluyang nahiga sa tabi niya at natulog.

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an: few chapters left, brace yourselves :)

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