Until You Say It [Completed]

Kabanata 23

I have never been in relationship before Ysha, now that I am, I came to learn that the best way to maintain a healthy relationship is through constant communication and honesty.

Napangiti ako ng makitang naglalakad papalapit sa amin si Yshara dala-dala ang apat na patong na libro niya. Tumayo agad ako para matulungan siya. "Baby, bakit ang dami mong dala?"

"Hell week." She pouted. I kissed her cheeks. Nakarinig ako ng kantyaw mula kay Jordan at Shaila.

"Parang sumakit mata ko, kiss mo nga." Side comment pa ni Jordan habang nakatingin kay Shaila. I ignored his side comments.

"You should've texted me at least, para naman sinundo na lang kita." Umiling siya at nang maupo ay tinuon na ang attention sa mga librong pinatong ko sa mesa namin. Tahimik kaming apat na nagre-review. We're on our third year kaya nakikitaan ko na ng pagseseryoso si Jordan, or nadala nung muntik na siyang iwan ni Shaila.

"Wow naman. Sisipag ah." Comment ni Cybelle nang madaanan kami. Nag-thumbs up siya sa aming apat ngunit di iyon napansin ni Ysha na subsob na sa pag-aaral. Natawa na lang din siya. She's on her fourth year and I know she got busier than us. OJT na kasi nila. We rarely see each other now.

I watched Yshara as she takes down additional notes on her notebook. "Law on Obligations and Contract." I read on what's written on top of her notebook. Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin at ngumiti. I tucked some strands of her hair. She looked up to me again and mouthed 'thank you'.

I continued advance reading for our next lecture later. Nang mapansin kong may humaharang na namang buhok sa mukha ni Ysha, I took the chance to get her ponytail on her wrist. Hinayaan niya lamang ako. Tumayo ako upang pumwesto sa likuran niya para maitali ko ang buhok niya. She mouthed 'thank you' again.

"Are you cramming?" I noticed how focus she is. Umiling siya. Natawa ako ng bahagya. She looks like she's cramming. "You look like you're cramming," kahit sila Jordan ay napapalingon na rin sa kanya.

Dahan-dahan na siyang napaangat ng tingin sa akin. I realized she's close to crying now. Nag-panic ako. "Baby, are you okay?" Umiling siya? Sunod-sunod bumagsak ang luha sa kanyang mga mata.

"It's just that.. Second year ko pa lang ito pero I'm having a hard time with this one subject already. I feel like I'm gonna fail so I have to triple my efforts. I don't wanna fail." She said while crying. "My parents aren't pressuring me naman but I just don't want to fail. I like what I'm doing."

Napalingon ako kay Jordan at sumenyas na aalis muna kami ni Yshara. "Hey, it's okay. I'm here now. Let's go. I'll find a better place for you." Tumango siya at sumunod sa akin ng tumayo ako. Nagpaalam siya kina Shaila at Jordan gamit ang mahinang boses.

"Don't you have class later?" She asked while I'm driving.

"Yes, but I made sure we don't have quiz later. I'm doing advance reading so I won't have any problem with that." She looks so worried. "Baby it's okay." I said. "We have a place at Tagaytay, that's where we are going. I'd like to take you to Baguio but it'll be a long drive baka hindi ka na makapag-aral."

"I don't have class later and tomorrow, but I really have to study more." Napatakip siya sa kanyang mukha. "I don't want you to see me like this. I don't want to be a burden anymore." Kinuha ko ang isang kamay niya. Our fingers now intertwined, habang ang isang kamay ko ay nasa manibela. She stared at me for a while and when I looked back at her she looked away.

"You were never a burden to me, Ysha. You will never be. So please, let me do things I can do for you." I assured her. Walang traffic dahil weekdays, at nakatulog na rin naman si Yshara bago kami makarating sa bahay namin sa Tagaytay. "Baby wake up.." Marahan ko siyang ginising. She opened her eyes and close them again. "Should I carry you instead?" I asked, she pouted. "I'll carry you now." She smiled and then went to sleep again. She is that sleepy! Natulog ba ito kagabi?