where we left off / 01

Epilogue

I was busy with watching Friends with my cousin, Tyrone, when our cellphone starter vibrating. Nakapatong iyon sa center table ng apartment ko, and I'm pretty sure that the reason behind it was our group chat.

Tyrone was the first one to get his cellphone. He handed me mine, too.

"Amputa," I heard him curse. For sure, nabasa na niya 'yung message ni Alyana. "Kakatapos lang natin sa moth ng September!"

I rolled my eyes. OA. Nag-type na lang ako ng reply sa group chat. Our editor-in-chief, Alyana, isn't really strict. Okay lang sa kanya, as long as matapos mo 'yung naka-assign sa 'yo.

I read their exchange of messages. Mostly, puro asaran lang ni Tyrone at Alyana. The other members weren't active sa group chat. Puro seen lang sila.

"Hell, no."

Alyana asked me to the interview with Marquise Ferralis! He's my freaking ex!

Lalo akong nakaramdam ng iritasyon nang marinig ko 'yung tawa ni Tyrone. He sounds like he's mocking me. Paepal.

"Have fun talking to your ex, pinsan."

I groaned.

Mabilis lumipas ang araw. I've been messaging Mark, trying to make him do the interview, but he just wouldn't. Alam ko naman na may katangahan akong ginawa sa past, but can't be considerate?!

You didn't consider his feelings before, Azura.

I sighed deeply, reading the message I got from him. Girlfriend niya raw 'yun. Sus. What happened to "You're the only one I'll love"?

Kahit na medyo inis ako sa kung sino mang babae 'yun, I asked her nicely to hand the phone to Mark. She did naman. But as expected, he just told me to fuck off.

I groaned.

When I found out from Mack that he did an interview with Athena, someone from the rival school, I was... I don't know. Hurt?

So, I told him I'll stop. I left our group chat.

Feeling ko kasi, karma ko 'to. I feel like I won't be able to do good when it comes to journalism, because I hurt someone just for it.

Maybe I was really a horrible person. That night, hindi ako natulog.

I was woken up by my cellphone vibrating. Sunod-sunod ang messages, but the shocking part was that it came from Mark. He helped me...

Until now, he still shows how much he wants me to teach what I want.

How can I be that selfish to him?

So as soon as I finished the article, I invited him for a friendly date. Gusto ko siyang kausapin. I want to finally explain to him — like what everybody is telling me to do.

"Hey," he smiled when he arrived at the newly-built coffee shop near my apartment. It has a nice, calm ambiance.

"Hi," I greeted back. I gestured for him to sit at the only chair across me.

"Um-order ka na?" tanong niya. He's wearing a plain, navy blue shirt and pants. His usual get up. Ang fresh, kainis.

Umiling ako. "I was waiting for you. Hindi ko kasi alam kung anong gusto mo," I explained.

"'Yung dati pa rin." Shet. Tumayo siya sa upuan niya. "I'm going to order. What do you want?"

"Uh..." I trailed off. "Ganun pa rin sa dati."

Mark gave me a boyish smile before walking towards the counter.

We didn't leave after we ate what we ordered. It wad my plan. Nag-usap lang kami. Catch up... I also thanked him for helping me again.

"About the break-up..." And I started explaining to him. Alam ko naman na mababaw 'yung rason ko. It's almost unreasonable of me to break up with him. And after months of thinking about it, naisip ko na hindi naman niya kasalanan. I should've tried handling my time better, instead of breaking up with him. I shouldn't have vent my frustration out at our relationship.

Contrary to what I expected, nginitian lang niya ulit ako. "Okay lang, Azura."

He drove me back to my apartment after. He's still the same gentleman that I know. He's still the same gentleman that I love.

After the Halloween Party, we got back together. Pinangako ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko na sisirain at sasayangin 'yung chance namin. I kept it in my mind that communication is always the key.

"Don't do anything stupid. Wait for him to explain," Tyrone reminded me. Kasama ko sila ngayon ni Alyana. Tinitignan namin 'yung post nung Dianne.

I breathed deeply. I won't do anything stupid.

Tinignan ko muna 'yung profile nung babae. Almost all her posts was about Mark. Naka-share rin 'yung ibang pictures ni Mark. She's creepy.

I calmly talked to the only person who seemed sane na nag-comment sa post niya. The guy replied immediately. He told me that Dianne was the girl that Mark asked to pretend as his girlfriend before. Masyado raw umasa.

And as soon I read Mark's messages, I immediately talked to him. Again, communication is the key.

"Oh my gosh! Congrats," I squealed. Sinalubong ko ng yakap si Mark.

"I have the most supportive girlfriend, huh?" he laughs as he hugs me back.

I giggled. "I told you that I'll always be the first one to meet you at the finish line."

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a/n: so it finally endeeeed. aaaaah. i really don't wanna end this pa, but it won't make sense kung papahabain ko pa 'to. and also, i hope you enjoyed reading. this is really a light story lang naman hahaha. btw, you'll see more of the sa other stories in this series.

anway, see you on "Write Me A Love Story"!

ps. it's tyrone and alyana's 🤭