The Way You Loved Me

C18: The Poem

Chapter 18 - THE POEM

Jorge's POV

"Ethan?"

Nagulat ako nang mapatawag siya. He never called since he left the country. Kaya sinagot ko KAagad ang kaniyang tawag.

"Okay, I'm on my way." I said, ended the phone conversation.

What bothered him to be here again? He is already at the airport. Nagpapasundo siya sa akin.

Kahit kailan, he's good at timing. I wasn't able to attend my last class for what had happened. I'm sure, magagalit lang ang professor namin kapag pumasok pa ako five minutes before the dismissal. Saktong wala na akong klase kaya nagmaneho na ako upang sunduin siya. Hindi naman kalayuan ang airport sa campus.

Sinigurado ko munang nakaalis na si Lhorr. I saw her walking with heavy hearts exiting this department building. Her steps are the only thing that guides her. I know for sure that she can't get over yet of what had happened between her and Wilb.

I hurriedly went to the parking area of our campus. I am quite excited to meet my cousin again, because it's almost eight years already since he left the Philippines.

Ethaniel Damione, but I used to call him 'Ethan'. He is my cousin. He was also my childhood friend and playmate before. I treated him as my elder brother since we had a one-year age gap.

He decided to study in Thailand to pursue his career as an entrepreneur. Growing up, we treat each other as siblings. We are siblings that sometimes had war and misunderstanding especially if we have something in common. Hindi siya nagpapatalo sa lahat ng bagay.

Pagkarating ko sa parking space ng campus ay nakita ko si Sandara. She's with three familiar faces.

"Bakit nila kausap si Sandara?" I asked, wondering. I didn't expect they knew Sandara.

Sinubukan kong lumapit sa kanila upang marinig ang kanilang pinag-uusapan. I was pushed by my detective curiosity. Nagtago ako sa likod ng poste malapit sa hallway ng school. It's meter away in the Communication Department.

"Deal!" Iyon ang huli kong narinig na sinabi ni Sandara.

Nakipagkamay siya sa tatlo kong kaibigan. Umalis si Sandara pagkatapos nang kanilang pag-uusap. I was disappointed to know they agreed to negotiate with Sandara. Lumabas ako sa aking pinagtataguan nang nakalayo na si Sandara. Lumapit ako sa tatlo na hindi pa rin naramdaman ang aking presensiya.

"Auhm," I simply coughed, way to be noticed. As they turned, I saw the surprise on their faces as they saw me.

"Anong ginagawa niyo rito?" pasimpleng tanong ko. "Hindi ba may practice kayo ng banda para sa darating na Acquaintance Party? Malayo yata ito sa building natin?"

"Ah, w-wala. Nag-ikot-ikot lang kami, Jorge. Baka kasi makahanap kami ng puwede naming pag-praktisan," sagot ni Tim.

"Hindi ba't dapat kami ang magtanong niyan sa'yo, Jorge. Bakit ka naman nandito? Akala ko ba may klase ka pa?" tanong naman ni Shoi.

"Pinuntahan ko lang ang kakilala ko rito na gumagawa ng sticker sa sasakyan," pagsisinunggaling ko. "Kaya napadaan ako. Hindi na ako naka-attend ng last subject dahil may susunduin din naman ako."

"Si Janna na ba 'yan, Jorge? Mukhang ang saya mo yata," singgit ni Khen.

I throw a smile. "We're over and we already moved on," sagot ko sa kaniya. "O sige, mauna na ako sa inyo dahil may pupuntahan pa ako. Bumalik na kayo sa building baka hinahanap na kayo ng ka-banda niyo. Hindi rin naman kayo makakapag-practice dito."