Parted Ways

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Sabi nila kung mahal mo talaga ang isang tao gagawin mo ang lahat, aayusin mo ang sarili mo para lang maging deserving sa kan'ya.

Kaya ko ba tinulak si Caden na ipriotize 'yung mga bagay na dapat niyang gawing priority para lang maayos niya 'yung sarili niya at maging deserving siya sa akin?

No, ginawa ko 'yon hindi para sa akin kundi para rin sa kapakanan niya.

I did it for him to strive more only for himself. I want him to be the best version of Calian Aden Mercado I will ever met. I only want the best for him.

Ako rin maraming kailangan ayusin at paunlarin sa sariling buhay ko kaya anong mawawala kung sabay kaming dumaan sa prosesong ito 'di ba?

After this long process, I know we could say that the fruit of our labor is worth the wait.

I'm happy with the decision I've made because I can see him really doing his best that he can.

It's been a month already since that happened. Hindi pa rin naman kami masyadong nagkakasama ni Caden dahil tuloy parin ang basketball career niya.

Noong mga panahon na lugmok na lugmok siya sa mga problemang kinaharap niya tungkol sa passion niyang ito, ngayon ay nasuklian ito lahat. Katatapos lang ng aming intramural at siya ang nakakuha ng MVP award sa basketball, he even got some awards from different games na sinalihan niya. I'm so proud of my Caden, his pain was well paid off, indeed.

On the other hand, Farah and I were already good. In fact mas tumatag pa nga ang bond namin.

A day before our intramural was our 5th year anniversary for being best of friends. Akala ko nga wala na talaga eh, but I guess the time we spent apart made us more stronger.

'"Sorry, Aruzel. I missed you."she hugged me from my back and when I turned to her, she was waving her hands with a mail on it.

Kinuha ko ang sulat sa aking bag na pareho ng sakan' ya at iwinagayway ko rin iyon.

"Oh my God!!!" sabay naming tili.

"I'm sorry too, Farah." I said as I hugged her too.

"Happy Friendversary!" bungisngis naming dalawa.'

It's a gloomy morning when I arrived at our school gate. I am walking peacefully when a hand blocked my vision.

Upon smelling his scent, alam ko na agad kung sino iyon.

"Tanggalin mo nga, amoy pawis ka!"

Agad nitong tinaggal ang kamay niya at nagreklamo.

"Hindi naman ah." siya sa sobrang babang boses.

I turned to face him and I almost got choked. Caden handsomely looking fresh was there slowly smelling himself.

Grabe, gano'n na ba katagal na hindi ko siya tinitigan ng ganito kalapit? Lalo siyang gumwapo!

Tumikhim ako bago mapang-asar na ngumiti. "Looks like your shower gel failed to make you smell nice, huh?"

Bigla siyang namula. Gusto ko lang siyang asarin bakit ba! Kahit na gustong-gusto ko nang ubusin ang amoy niya, titignan ko muna kung anong gagawin niya.

"Sabi mo dati ang bango ko, eh ito 'yung gamit ko noon eh," ngumuso siya bago tumalikod. "Iba na nga lang gagamitin ko bukas, may sira yata ilong niya." bulong niya na akala naman niya hindi ko narinig.

Sobrang lapad ng ngiti ko kasi alam ko namang hindi niya ito makikita, or so I thought.

Isang hakbang palang ang nagagawa niya nang bigla siyang lumingon sa akin. Huling-huli ng mga mata niya ang pag-arko ng aking mga labi.

Umiwas ako ng tingin at tumakbo nalang palayo, nang masaya.

Kahit hindi kami masyadong nagkikita at nagkakasama nitong nakaraan, hindi niya parin nakalimutang iparamdam sa akin na espesyal ako sa kan'ya.

Everyday nag-iiwan siya ng kung ano-ano sa mesa ko at makikita ko nalang pagpasok ko kasi hindi rin naman kami nagpapang-abot. Usually lunch in a cute lunch box, chocolates, and even flowers ang iniiwan niya. All of it comes with a note that makes my day complete.

How I wish I spent a little more time with him earlier.

Bakit ba kasi kapag wala siya hinahanap-hanap ko siya pero kapag nandyan na siya wala na nahihiya na ako kaya ang ending, nasasayang 'yung chance na magkasama kami kahit sandali.

Hay, Caden. You never fails to make me happy, frustrated and everything.

As time pass by, I can now acknowledge this unnamed feeling I'm already feeling for him, but there's those what ifs that kept on blocking me to do so.

What if it wouldn't work?

What if he doesn't feel the same way anymore? But I highly doubt this, he's still into me.

What if, what if, what if?

Ang kaninang magandang timpla ko ay biglang napalitan ng inis.

I passed our classroom's door while I am marching like a mad kid with my brows with only small space left for them to connect.

"Take it easy, princess. I didn't do anything to you." Asher reacted because he's the one I saw upon entering. Natakot siguro sa itsura ko.

"Then stop blocking my way, will you?" I fired back now with my brows shot up.

"Why are you like that? Hmmm." he acted dramatically. "Perhaps your prince charming made you mad? Kahit ako naman maiinis kung umagang-umaga makikita ko siyang may kausap na ibang babae."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh!" ngayon naman ay umakto siyang gulat. "Nevermind, I shouldn't be the one saying this to you." he waved his hand but before he could step, I firmly held his bag.

"Sasabihin mo o sasabihin mo?"

Hindi naman ako galit o magtataka kung may kausap nga siya kasi halos araw-araw naman may sumusubok lumapit sa kan'ya.

Iniwas niya ang bag niya at kunwari pinagpagan ito.

Ay, sensitive?

"I saw him with Kara."

"Oh, 'yun lang pala." I turned my back on him. Waste of time.

"Nakikipagbalikan yata."

Napako ako sa kinaroroonan ko. Anong pinagsasabi ng lalaking ito?

"So hindi mo nga alam," nanatili akong nakatalikod sa kan' ya. "They had a past."

What the hell?