Chase and Courage (Youth Series #1)

22

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"So saan ka na magcocollege?" Sab asked

Nandito kami ngayon sa tambayan. Nakaupo kami sa damuhan habang kumakain ng chichirya at nainom ng coke. Madami ding tao ang nakatambay at hindi lang kami.

"Sta. Mores, college of business." I replied

Sinabi ko kay Sabrina ang balita na hindi ako nakapasa sa UP. I thought I needed someone to vent out and she's the perfect person. She's a good listener perhaps.

Tumango siya at hindi na nagsalita. Uminom nalang ako sa coke mismo ko.

"How about you? Did you pass PUPCET?" I asked and shifted my position

She nodded. "Yup."

"Congrats! I knew you'd pass," I said

She turned to me and smiled. "Thanks."

I smiled weakly and looked at the sky. "School's about to start. Kinakabahan na ako."

"Ako din," she answered

Huminga ako ng malalim habang pinagmamasdan ang papalubog na araw. "I still wonder why i didn't pass."

Nakita ko sa gilid ng mata ko na tumingin siya sa'kin. "Maybe UP is not for you."

"But I wanted it to be," I muttered

I told her my sentiments and

"I know but there are things that are meant for you and things that aren't. Baka may dadating na mas maganda, na mas better. Maybe God is opening new doors for you for more opportunities."

Sabrina's right.

Sa buhay, hindi lahat ng bagay nakukuha mo, kahit na anong sikap mo ay kung hindi para sa'yo, hindi para sa'yo.

That's why sometimes I ask myself if I deserve it. Paano ko ba malalaman kung yung isang bagay na iyon ay para sa'kin o hindi?

It's just hard for someone like me who isn't certain about my path, about my future.

"I understand," I half lied. "By the way, malapit na pasukan namin. Kayo ba? Kailan?"

Uminom siya muna sa coke niya bago magsalita. "Malapit nadin. Halos magkasabay lang tayo."

I nodded. "Goodluck to us!"

She chuckled. "Goodluck talaga. Dito na tayo magsusunog ng kilay."

I laughed. "Paano ba 'yan, manipis pa naman kilay ko."

"Eh basta, let's just enjoy and not overthink too much," she said

"Right!" I exclaimed

"Here's to college life!" she said and lifted her bottle

I chuckled and lifted mine as well. "Fighting!"

Nagcheers kami at nagtawanan. Matagal kaming nagkwentuhan ni Sab. It's as if savoring the moment because when schools starts again, we won't have much free time unlike before.

Sigurado ay mawawalan nadin kami ng oras sa isa't isa. I'll surely miss hanging out with her. Seeing her in school, meeting in the hallways, eating lunch together. Everything.

Mamimiss ko din makasama ang mga kaklase ko. I'll miss our bonding moments. Ngayon palang ay namimiss ko na sila. Ang huli naming pagkikita ay iyong graduation. It became our farewell moment but won't be our last.

Now, we all have different paths to take. Sa iba't ibang paaralan na kami mag-aaral. Magkakahiwalay kami pansamantala para tuparin ang aming pangarap.