Barcelona Escapade

Chapter Twenty-Six: None

Chapter Twenty-Six
None

Time flew by quickly; I almost didn't think what is it today until I realized.

I busied myself with studies for the rest of the academic year. Sinubukan ko ring gawin ang sinabi ni Jayren na makisama sa kaniya habang pinapanatili ang lihim na relasyon kasama si Eros.

I cannot ask for more of him but there have been a lot of times when I wanna convince him to give up and go back to his family. Pero alam ko ring aayawan niya 'yon. He cares for the Villamars so much that he can't let them go.

The only thing left for me to do is to keep my mouth shut and keep our secret away from anyone, well except Jayden and Hiro, dahil alam nila 'yon matapos ang nangyari ilang buwan ang nakakalipas.

Saka masaya naman ako na ganito kami. Risking it would only send me in a 50:50 situation. Either it'll make me happiest or it'll just make me the saddest. And I don't want to test the probability of getting negative.

"I'm going there. Nasaan kayo?" tanong ko kay Jayden habang naglalakad palabas ng gate.

"Sa loob ng auditorium," sagot niya sa kabilang linya. "We got you a seat."

"Alright," I said and dropped the call.

The first week of our second year came. Hindi rin ako makapaniwalang lagpas isang taon na simula noong nagkakilala kami ni Eros sa Barcelona. Isang taon na ang nakalipas nang mangyari ang bakasyong hindi ko inaasahan. And here was I now, dating Eros for 10 months already when way back the summer last year, he just used to annoy me.

"Hey," tawag ni Jayden sa'kin nang mapansin akong naghahanap sa kanila ni Hiro sa may auditorium.

Today's the annual program to welcome freshmen from the College of Engineering and Architecture so every freshman in the two colleges gathered in the auditorium. Also, the day's also to award the Top 10 of every batch last academic year. Nagkataon lang na kabilang kaming tatlo nina Jayden sa batch namin kaya naimbitahan kami sa programa.

Of course, it was Hiro on the top one in our program, Civil Engineering. The guy has been really committed to his academics and nothing at all. Pumalakpak ako habang pinapanood siyang huling umakyat ng stage. Jayden and I were already standing there side-by-side as we watched Hiro earn his certificate from the dean.

"Congrats," bati ko nang dumaan siya sa harap namin. "Guess someone has to treat us today?"

He shook his head with noticeable amusement. He greeted us before he positioned himself beside the Top 2, who apparently, is the one beside Jayden in his right. Tapos ako 'yung nasa kaliwa niya.

Nahagilap din ng mata ko si Mamá sa ibaba ng stage. Nakatitig siya sa'kin nang seryoso. It doesn't seem like a proud stare. Ang malas lang na inimbitahan pa siya rito dahil siya ang kasama sa pag-aaward ng mga top notch at para magbigay ng speech sa mga Architecture students.

I smiled bitterly.

I was anticipating she'll come and see me after the awarding. Kasama ko sina Hiro at Jayden na kaniyang binati bago ako tingnan at naglakad palayo. It was then a sign for me to attend to her so I excused myself from my friends.

"What's your GWA again, Clementine?"

She didn't listen earlier.

Inilahad ko at ipinakita ang certificate na hawak ko. Sa higpit ng kapit ng kamay ko ay halos magusot na ang dulo.

"1.21," basa niya sa papel.

I told myself I've done enough and sufficing to satisfy myself. Pero mukhang nakalimutang kong hindi lang sa sarili ko ang kailangan kong patunayan.