Professor's Pet Series: Quinn Ellis

XXVIII. Birthday And a Surprise

Before sunrise the next day, we got ready for the long drive back to the city. Miss Gomez also informed us during breakfast na nauna na raw bumiyahe sina Miss Mendez at Greg kanina pang madaling araw. I can't say that I'm surprised though, dahil kahapon pa lang ay naging mailap na siya pagtapos ng naging pag-uusap namin sa yacht. Besides, I think this is all for the better. The less we see each other, the easier for us to move along with our lives.

And, move along we did.

A month had quickly passed since that three-day getaway, and my life pretty much went back to normal, except that things haven't been the same.

Hindi pa kasi ulit bumabalik sa university si Miss Mendez. Wala rin naman nababanggit sina Miss Gomez at Miss Andrews tungkol dito, kaya wala na talaga akong naging balita tungkol sa kanya. Si Miss Diaz naman ay umalis din pagtapos ng midterms, at wala na rin kaming naging weird encounters pa.

The first week was the most crucial for me. I felt like a recovering addict suffering with the worst withdrawal syndrome.

Those were the times that I had to constantly remind myself that it's over, we're done. And, the long nights were the toughest. I can't even remember how many times I dialed her number, only to end the call at the first ring. Those were the drunken nights that Kelsey had to physically restrained me from driving to her place, and make a fool out of myself. Those were truely the hardest.

And, then slowly I started to get used to it. Get used of not seeing her, get used of the fact that she's finally moved on, and get used of the pain in my heart everytime I remember her.

Masakit pa rin, of course. I don't think it will never not hurt, because she's my first heartbreak. She was my first love, I can freely admit that to myself, now. And, once in a while, I still get the urge to go to her. Talk to her and begged her to come back to me, if it wasn't for Eli, Kenny, and Kelsey slapping some sense into me, I would've done it a long time ago.

And, speaking of Kelsey, we became even more closer now than ever. Madalas na rin namin siyang isamang tatlo sa mga lakad. At first, Eli and Kenny were a bit apprehensive, until they got to know her more. They saw how pure her intentions were towards me, and how she always had my best interest in mind. One time pa nga, she bailed out of an important family matter to come and picked my drunken ass, dahil hindi ko ma-contact sina Eli at Kenny.

Time and time again, pinatunayan niyang lagi siyang nandyan sa tuwing kailangan ko siya. I wouldn't have known what to do without her unwavering support.

Of course it already occured to me that she might be doing all of this hoping to gain something. Besides, hindi naman sikreto na may gusto siya sa akin. She posted it on Instagram for fuck's sake. And, it's one of the reasons why Eli and Kenny were doubtful about her in the beginning. But, I was quick to dispel their worries, because in all the time since we began to hang out, she never once uttered a word, or even suggested that she wanted more than what I could offer her at the moment.

Isa rin 'yan sa mga rason kung bakit hindi malabong magustuhan ko siya. She's never pushy, very intuitive, and symphatetic. Her beauty and wit completed the whole package. And, I admit that I'm physically attracted to her, but, that's too shallow of a reason to start something with her right now. Masyado pang maaga. I'm still in too deep with a certain professor, and that would be unfair on Kelsey's part.

We're hanging out at the music lab to pass the time, and I'm stting on one of the couches while strumming random cords on the acoustic guitar, when I felt something hit me right in the forehead, successfully snapping me from my reverie. Pag-angat ko ng tingin ay ang nakangising mukha ni Eli ang bumungad sa akin.

"You moron, that fucking hurt." Inis na sabi ko rito habang hinihimas ang noo.

"Sorry, doll. Didn't mean to hit you right in the face. Hindi ka kasi nakikinig eh." Tumatawang sabi nito habang nakataas ang dalawang kamay na naka-peace sign.