CW: sexual assault
***
Chapter 30
I was right. Kean Cansino is here.
I told Tina what happened and if she knows where is Kean right now because I'm so sure I saw him at the university. Ang sabi ni Tina, Kean graduated Magna Cum Laude in their batch. Sabay sabay daw silang nag-board exam and yes, she told me that Kean pursued medicine but she doesn't know where.
"He's in our university!"
"Gaga, baka naman namalikmata ka lang. Imposible namang sa dinami rami ng unibersidad dito sa Pilipinas e, iisa ang pinasukan niyo. Kung sa UP ka nag-aral, siguro pwede pa..." she said.
"But I really saw him! Wala ka bang update sa kaniya? Are you not friends on social media?" I asked.
"Why are you so curious? Crush mo ba?"
Muntik ko na siyang murahin. I'm damn serious here. It's just that I got really curious after I saw him. And besides, we know each other.
"Valentina, I am serious."
"Tangina, ito na nga e." She hissed. "I'll see tomorrow, duty ako ngayon. No time for bumming."
"Alright. Thank you."
But then, nalimutan na yata ni Tina kaya naman nalimutan ko na rin. I got occupied with school-related stuffs. After two weeks, I saw him again. On the parking lot this time.
I was running late because my alarm didn't go off. Mabuti na lang at kusa akong nagising isang oras bago ang klase ko. I used my car and now that I am about to run off to our building, I saw Kean getting out from the car beside mine. What a damn coincidence.
"Kean Cansino." I called just after he turned his back.
Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga nang tumigil siya at kunot noong lumingon sa akin. Mas lalong kumunot ang kaniyang noo nang makita ako at matitigan ng ilang segundo. Realization dawned on his face. He slowly faced me.
"What the fuck..." his lips parted.
Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o ano. See that, Valentina?! I was damn right! Kean Cansino is my schoolmate!
"It's nice to see you again." I said but he's still in awe.
"Sien... Osiander?" His eyes narrowed.
"The only." I laughed lowly.
"Damn... what the hell?"
He changed. He's now wearing glasses. He matured just like everybody I know before. His hair is shorter than the last time I saw him. Mas lumaki rin ang kaniyang pangangatawan at tumangkad siya.
"Sien!"
Just when I was about to say something again, someone called me. I looked around only to see Renz running from the other side of the parking lot. He was showing me his watch.
"Double time!" He shouted.
"Oh shit," I muttered and looked at my wristwatch.
Nagtaas ako ng tingin kay Kean na pinapanood ako, hindi maipaliwanag ang ekspresyon. I smiled at him and waved.
"See you around, Kean! I'm sorry, I need to go." I said and ran towards Renz who's waiting for me at the entrance of our building.
I told Tina what happened and she too was surprised. Mabilis lang din naman ang pag-uusap namin dahil may duty siya at kailangan ko ring mag-aral. I saw Kean again after a week. He's in the field with his classmates I think. Nang mapatingin siya sa direksyon ko ay kumaway ako.
