What about now? (Rules Breaker Series 1)

Chapter 24

Miles

Aljanna's bachelorette party went so well. Masyadong pinag handaan ng kaibigan ko ang gabing iyon. Ika nga niya, baka iyon na ang huling gabing single siya dahil malapit na ang kanyang kasal. Nikko is finally okay. He then reunited with the love of his life and as their friend, I am too happy. 

And hoping secretly. 

"Kamusta ang inaanak ko?" I tried to be cheerful. 

"He's good. Medyo kumukulit na," Ani Nicole. "You'll attend the reunion? Medyo malapit na din,"

Ngumiti ako at saka umiling. "Unfair naman kasi. Bring a date? Sino naman ang dadalahin ko? Aso?" And she laughed. 

"Surely Matt will be home this time." Aniya na naging dahilan ng pananahimik ko. Dahil kalakip niyong katotohanang iyon ay ang kaba ko na maaring hindi lamang si Matt ang uuwi ng pinas kung hindi maaring si Austine rin. 

"W-well, good for him." Nasabi ko na lamang dahil ayokong isipin ni Nicole na apektado pa rin ako ng kay Matt. "Anyways, baka mag leave din ako next month. I'm not sure if I can attend."

"Pa-saan ka?" Usisa niya habang umiinom ng alak. 

"Baler, Aurora." Ngumiti ako. I saw her lift her brows, nag tataka sa aking sinabi. Sino ba namang hindi? Sa dinami-rami ng lugar sa bansa, bakit nga ba sa Baler pa? I have the urge to explain all of a sudden. "When we're at Baler, I felt so free of expressing my feeling for Austine. It isn't long but somehow made me realize now that I really do love him but I was too focused of providing love for someone else. There's so many things I could have done back then, Nic's." 

I heard her sighed. "You want to go back there hoping you could turn back time and do it?" 

I smiled sadly. "Desperately yes," lumungkot ang kanyang mga mata. 

"You know Miles, we are no longer kids. Malungkot kapag mag isa at alam mo 'yon, hindi ba? Would you stop hoping for Austine? It's been ten years. Umaasa ka pa rin bang babalik siya? Umaasa ka pa rin bang single pa siya at pwede pa kayo?" That's Nicole. Ayaw niyang umaasa sa isang bagay dahil iyon ang pinaka masakit para sa kanya. If it wasn't for her, then, she'll let go of that. 

Katulad ng sinabi ni Nikko, hindi na nga naman kami bumabata. Sina Nicole at Lyssa ay pareho ng kasal at may anak. I know Nikko will settle his life soon after two years of waiting. Aljanna's getting married. Jamie and Elle are both engaged. Yet I hope Joyce's doing good kahit na hindi na kami ulit nakakapag usap. I can't change the fact that I'm missing her. Sobrang tagal na din. Balita ko, marami rin siyang napag daanang problema, and it's sad I am not there for her. 

"Hey, Miles!" Jamie called me with it's camera on her hands. "Say hi to the vlog!"

"Hi guys! I feel stupid right now talking to a camera! Please report their channel and kindly unsubscribe! Thanks!" Masigla ngunit may kaunting sarcasms na sabi ko. Tinawanan lamang ako ng dalawa dahil wala naman ng bago 'ron. 

"Thank you for encouraging our viewers, Miles. I'll put her instagram account right here so you can report her too." Tinuro niya pa ang kanang bahagi niya kung saan marahil ilalagay ang account ko. Pinatay niya na muna ang kanyang camera at saka tumabi sa'min. 

"So, how's life as an influencer?" Si Nicole na ang nag bukas ng topic. 

Nag kibit balikat si Jamie at saka lumagok ng alak. "Which one? Being the bad influence or the bad influence?" Pew! There's no choices, though. 

"Wala kang kwentang kausap," kumento ni Nicole na ikina-tawa ko. 

"I love you more," natatawang sagot ni Jamie.