Take Me Home (City Series #4)

Chapter Twenty-Five

L

The months passed by. It became bearable to be far away from Z, but it wouldn't have been possible kung wala sina Raffy. They were always there when I needed them. I think the distance was a good thing, too. It made me explore my own world in this small city without him.

Kaya naman pag-dating ng pasko, tuwang tuwa ako. Especially since I haven't seen Miggy and Ethan for a long time. Louise couldn't make it, but we made sure to call her.

We all had fun, with our house to house Christmas parties and all. Mage was happy, too. I could see the genuine happiness in Miggy, Ethan, and Z's eyes when they saw Magui for the first time in months. Parang mga kapatid na tuwang tuwa sa bunso. But the break went by way too fast. Umuwi na rin sila pagkatapos ng new year.

I loved Z's Christmas gift, too. It was a bunch of letters, at sobrang tuwa ko talaga dahil napaka-dami. I could read them over and over again, pero hindi ko binuksan lahat. He wrote one for every occasion.

Open when you're having a bad day.

Open when you feel like celebrating.

Open on fifteens.

Open when you're tampo.

Open when you feel like we're worlds apart.

Open when you're ready. And only when you're ready.

There were so much more. Siguro abot sa 50 letters ang sinulat niya.. I think. I haven't really opened them all so hindi naman ako sigurado. Iba iba rin mga size ng envelope niya. It was so different from all the other gifts he has given me. Puro mamahalin ang mga regalo niya sa akin these past few years, but this? This is the best one for me.

"Vale, sige na kasi please! Mas maganda nga yung schedule sa block G!" pilit ni Selena kay Vale habang kumakain si Raffy at Mage ng popcorn.

They all decided to come over before enroling tomorrow. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilan sarili ko na ma-miss si Z dahil sa pinapanuod namin. We're watching the same movie from when they slept over nung unang birthday surprise nila sa akin.

"Vale, sige na kasi!" Sipa ni Selena. "Huuuuy! Sige na please! Ayaw ko ng 7:30!"

Vale remained quiet as he watched the movie. Humalukipkip si Ena at umismid habang tinitignan nang masama si Vale. Papangiti naman siya bigla, tila ba may naisip na paraan.

"Raffy, lipat tayo block N." Selena grinned.

I held back my laugh. It's obvious that Ena's using Raffy to get to Vale. Halata naman kasi na gusto ni Vale si Raf. He's not that good at hiding his feelings. Pero manhid rin naman si Raffy, kaya naman even after spending a shole semester together, wala pa ring improvement.

Honestly, they would make a really, really good couple!

The day was fun with them, pero nahirapan na ulit ako nung umalis sila. I suddenly felt the urge to call Z, kahit na kakaalis lang niya.

I take everything back.

It isn't that bearable.

Sino ba niloloko ko?