Parted Ways

CHAPTER THIRTY

It's already 8:00 o'clock in the evening but the coffee shop was still alive and every minute, may mga pumapasok na customers na kagaya namin ay mag-rereview din. Time passed by real quick, our pre-finals are already approaching.

I was smiling and feeling enthusiastic while reading my notes, I feel so so so inspired!

"Buti pa iyong isa d'yan, pangiti-ngiti pa rin kahit alam naman niyang sobrang hirap daw ng pre-finals nila." Kaye said.

Farah's other blockmates seconded what she said then they teased me more.

I'm with my best friend's group mates because they are rushing a project. I decided to join them nalang kasi ayaw ko namang maiwan sa condo. Besides, I can review more kung may nakikita akong tao sa paligid ko. Weird.

Napailing nalang ako kaya natawa nalang sila.

I glanced at my phone and I couldn't help but to smile again when I saw what's on my wallpaper.

It was the photo taken at the amusement park. Me smiling at the camera while Caden was looking at me like I am the only one that matters to him.

Hay, Caden! Hulog na hulog na'ko!

Ever since that Laguna escapade with him, it felt like the spark between us came back. Kaya naman ginanahan na ako sa mga bagay-bagay, unlike nung alam kong hindi kami okay, I can say that now, I am relieved. Relieved to the point na nagagawa ko nang maging masaya ng totoo ulit.

Alam ko na kahit hindi ko aminin sa sarili ko noon, alam kong nasaktan at nalungkot ako. Pero wala namang mawawala kung patuloy kang umintindi 'di ba? That's the least thing I could do, and now, it led to good thing naman naman kaya I can say that I've made the right decision.

Staying is always a decision. Understanding comes with it, too. Relationship would work, only if you decide to. But of course, it wouldn't work kung ikaw lang ang nagdedecide, you two should. Though minsan iisa lang ang nakakapag-desisyon lalo na sa time na hindi magkaintindihan, one should stay still while exerting more effort.

And that, that's what exactly happened to us. I decided to understand him and he was even the one who exerted more effort. I'm contented with it. I really am.

But yes, this couldn't be applied to every relationship. It's just that, sa relasyon namin, applicable pa ito. We all have different preferences in life.

"Aru! I'm nervous." bulong niya sa'kin habang walang tigil ang paghampas niya sa braso ko.

Kanina pa kami naglalakad hanggang ngayon hindi pa kami nakakaabot sa gate. Paano kada hampas, titigil for a minute maglakad.

"Konti nalang, Farah. Ilang steps nalang nasa loob na tayo, mamaya mo na'ko hampasin."

She giggled then pulled me so that we could go inside already.

Kaya naman pala eh, dami pang commercial ng babaeng 'to!

"Hi!"

"Hello!"

"Huy, goodluck ha!"

"Laban!"

Ilan lang 'yan sa mga narinig ko habang naglalakad ako sa corridor ng building namin. We are freshmen, of course this pre-finals was very important for us. After this and the finals, we could breath properly na. This sem was one hella ride. It's our adjusting year so it's understandable.

Pagkalapag ng test paper namin, I prayed before proceeding to answer.

Pre-finals week ended nicely so makakapag-pahinga na kami kahit sandali.

I was cleaning our unit when Caden video called.

"Hello, mahal!" he cheerfully greeted.

"Mahal!" I answered with the same energy as him.

He smiled sweetly.

"What's with the smile mahal?" I asked confusely.

"I'm just, recharging. From the hell week." he answered still smiling.

Caden just finished their finals week, mas nauna sila sa'min, ours was still weeks from now.

Everytime he video calls, he's smiling while staring at me. When I asked one time he answered,

"'Everytime na nakikita kita, narerelax ako. What more kung titigan pa kita 'di ba? So yeah, staring at you recharges me."'

We talked about random things for about an hour before he tried to review me. It lasted for 1 and a half hour kaya naman hindi na'ko natapos maglinis.

"Alright, mahal." he said while gathering his notes na ginamit niya sa pagrereview sa akin na hindi ko alam kung saan niya nakuha kasi magkaiba naman kami ng field. "Rest ka muna bago ka maglinis, okay?"

"Opo mahal, thank you." then I gave him a genuine smile. "I love you!"

"I love you!" he stood up because he placed the pile of papers somewhere.

"Mahal, I'll hang up na ba?" I said because he seems to be busy na.

He immediately sat infront of the screen again. "Mahal,"

What's with the sudden seriousness?

"Mahal," he repeated.

"Mahal?"

He stared at me for a couple of minutes pa bago siya nagsalita.

"You'll be a good engineer someday." he said. "And I want to see you pave your way on getting that title. I love you, my future engineer!"

Oh man! Why did Lord blessed me with this kind of man? I said it before, I'll say it again. I'm so thankful that God gave me him!

Kung gaano ako karelax mag-review nung pre-finals, this final exam's review was otherwise.

I was frustratingly pulling my hair because I can't properly understand this certain formula that I was reading.

"Naubusan ng inspiration, Aru?" she said then laughed.

"How I wish that Caden was here!" I answered. "Mas nagegets ko 'yung turo niya, kaso nalito ako doon sa sinabi ng prof ko, kainis!"

She looked at me from head to toe. "Can you risk yourself looking like that na makita niya?"

I glared at her and she just laughed again.

I stood up and checked myself in the mirror. I look like shit.

"See?" she added.

I shot my brows up. "Caden saw the worst in me. I'm sure that how I look like wasn't a big deal to him."

"Okay, princess. Be careful on what you wish for." she teased.

I rolled my eyes on her then just decided to take a bath.

After that, I went outside again. Ganoon parin naman ang itsura niya. There's a food on the table and a can of beer on her side, chilling while reading huh?

Bago pa ako makaupo, the door bell rang.

Farah stood up and opened it.

My lips parted in shock when it sinked in on my mind. Caden was standing there with a box on his hands, plus a bouquet of tulips on top of it.

Farah grabbed her bag on the couch.

Nagpabalik-balik ang mga mata ko sa kanilang dalawa.

"Before you could even rant, I texted him na." she smirked. "That's how I calculate, princess."

Then she finally closed the door and went away.