Leaving it to chance [ Serendipity Series #01 ]

VIII: timpi

Timpi - (v.) to control one's self.

* Should there be any Bisaya words used throughout the chapter, a Bisaya glossary will be placed at the end of the chapter for your reference.

***

I found out Franko got his org mate pregnant. Apparently, he kept it from Astrid for months now. She only found out about it now. The girl was apparently around six months pregnant, too. She went to UP to visit Franko when she saw him arguing with the girl. Had she not caught them, maybe he wouldn't have told her.

I watched Astrid sob her heart out, a hand placed on her mouth as she let her tears flow. I didn't know how to react nor did I know how to comfort her. I knew how much she loved Franko, he was her first boyfriend. Astrid gave her whole self to him, I would know, I witnessed it all and to have her hurt this way, didn't settle well with me. Both of us sat on the floor of her bedroom, her sobs echoing through the quietness of our condo. I knew she didn't need someone to tell her it was going to be okay—heck, I didn't know how anyone was going to be okay after hearing this—but I was going to be a friend to her. I didn't know how to help ease the pain, but I was going to be here for her every step of the way.

"Ilabas mo lang lahat, Strid," I mumbled habang hinihimas-himas ko ang likod niya. Astrid reached a point where she didn't have anymore tears left to cry, but she still sobbed. I could tell it hurt her that much.

"Nins, hindi ko alam kung saan ako nagkulang." She cried, shaking her head as she pulled her knees closer to her chest, resting her chin atop.

"Kulatahon ko nang amawa na lagi. Bagaa og nawng! Ang kapal!" Bugbugin ko talaga 'yung gagong 'yun. Ang kapal! I huffed, nose flaring with anger. "Astrid." My tone softened. "You're more than enough. Please know that. You loved him with every fiber of your being and there's nothing wrong with that at all. Hindi ka nagkulang at hindi ka mali para magmahal nang buong-buo, okay? Franko did not see your worth. Siya ang may mali. You don't deserve this, my love. You don't. Gosh, If I could give the world to you, I would. Iyak mo lang lahat, ha?" I said as I pulled her into a tight hug. I could feel her tears on my shoulder as she cried once more.

We stayed like that for a who knew how long, but I didn't mind. The heavens continued to pour, shrouding Astrid's room with a gloomy gray blanket, sinasabayan pa talaga ang kalungkutan namin. 'Langya.

When it started to get dark, I left Astrid's room to turn on the lights around the condo. I helped her get back on her feet (literally) and handed her some clothes for her to change into since suot pa niya damit niya from UPTC. She remained silent the entire time, even until I tucked her into her bed. I closed the door behind me knowing she wanted time alone.

I loved silence but not this kind. The condo felt so empty and kind of lonely. You could feel the sadness lingering in every corner. Napaisip ako kung ano ang sunod, what was next for them? I knew how much Astrid loved Franko, but he fucked up big time. I didn't know how she—or their relationship for that matter—would be after all this. I was so deep into my thoughts that I almost didn't notice my phone buzzing on island counter.

Mikie.

"Hey," I answered softly, stepping out onto the balcony. Thank God it stopped raining, but ang lamig pa rin ng hangin. "Are you home?"

"Yeah, I am. Kanina pa, actually. I texted you but you didn't respond. I was getting worried that's why I called."

I smiled through the phone.

"Sorry, inasikaso ko pa kasi si Astrid. She's—she's so broken right now." I sighed, nibbling on my inner cheek. "How would you feel if you found out your boyfriend of two years got a girl pregnant? And he kind of had no plans of telling you that he got a girl pregnant and you found out about it accidentally."