Chasing Hope [HIATUS]

PROLOGUE

Tinignan ko silang lahat na nakaupo kasama ang mga jowa nila, each of them has. And there's me, standing because I'm too shy to sit. Pito kaming nasa table. Mag-mu-mukha lang akong tanga rito, eh. How long will I watch my friends fall in love? Nakakasawa na rin kasi. What about me? I mean, hindi naman ako nagmamadali magkaroon ng boyfriend, ayaw ko rin maging mabilis dahil mawawala kaagad 'yon. And last, I date to marry.

I simply took a seat and joined their conversation habang nilalaro ko ang bottle ng beer, I don't even want to drink. Biglaan lang naman 'tong chillnuman namin dahil sobrang nakaka-drown na raw ang pinag-aaralan namin. Biology is the course, what do you expect? Science ng high school? But to be honest, this course is sobrang hirap. Minsan, I just want to fly like Doraemon. But it would be easy if I had a boyfriend, wouldn't it? Kidding!

"Hey, I need to go." Tumayo na ako pagkatapos magpaalam sa mga kaibigan ko na kasama ang jowa nila, they're my blockmates kaya sila palagi ang kasama ko after class. Lumabas ako ng Walrus at sumakay sa kotse ko para magmaneho papunta sa Rita's. Hindi naman ako nahihilo or what since my alcohol tolerance is high, besides, hindi naman nakakalasing ang beer sa akin.

I went inside and immediately went to the counter to order a cookies and cream. That's my favorite kaya iyon palagi 'yong ino-order ko kapag kakain ng ice cream. Since nasa dulo ako, I can see those who also eat ice cream.. but they have someone that I don't have. I have friends, there are many of them that I can be with anywhere. I'm the only one who decides if I like it or not. There are times when I want to be alone, but sometimes I want to be with someone.

Joke.

Alak lang 'to.

My gaze went to the man who passed by, I looked at his uniform and saw that there was a UST logo on it. Thomasian, huh. None of my business but why is he here? Siguro may girlfriend siyang Atenean. Should I also go to UST to find a boyfriend? Yep, I should go! It's so boring kaya na mag-study alone, gusto ko rin maranasan 'yong study date kuno. Iyon ba 'yun? That's what I always hear from my friends after class, 'study date' with their boyfriend. Ano ba'ng meron sa beer?

Lalabas na sana ako ng café pero napansin kong nakatingin sa 'kin 'yung lalaki, I gave him a simple bad look and then left. Napansin kong napa-kunot pa ang noo niya dahil sa ginawa ko bago 'ko umalis. Sorry! I didn't mean to do that. When I am almost in UST, it suddenly dawned on me that I hadn't drunk water yet. What about milk tea? That could be my water.

"Aba! Tignan niyo kung sino'ng nandito!" Andrei teased me immediately when he saw me entered the cafe. "'De, joke lang! Baka ako bigla pagbayarin ng mga kakainin," binatukan ko siya bago umupo sa upuan na katabi ni Rafi, Drei's girlfriend. Rafi is my friend too, she's from Ateneo rin but magkaiba lang kami ng course.

"What do you guys want? Mine's choco macadamia," I looked at them after I chose my order. Cheesecake milktea ang kay Rafi, while java chip mocha frappe kay Andrei at Jade. "That's it? How about Nachos?" kumunot ang noo. "Come on, guys. I'm the one who will pay. Dinner na 'to,"

"Ayos na 'yon, Nads. Add ka na lang ng isang nachos para sa dalawang kumag tapos dalawang carbonara para sa 'ting dalawa." Rafi said, I just nodded to what she said and stood up to order. They're always like that, kailangan ko pang mag-ask kung mayroon pa silang ibang gusto para ma-order ko.

Ibinuksan ko ang phone pagkatapos mag-order, may isa akong missed call galing kay Kuya Ashton kaya kaagad akong nag-message sa kaniya kung ano'ng kailangan niya. I didn't feel or hear either because my phone was on silent.

"Amoy alak ka, uminom ka ba?"

Natawa ako. "Naamoy mo pa 'yun? I didn't drink too much kaya there's no need to worry. Kumain na kaya ako ng ice cream.. ganiyan ba talaga kapag palaging nasa inuman?"