Chasing Hope [HIATUS]

CHAPTER 02

"You sure? Wala talaga?"

"Wala nga. Ang laki ng UST, ilang Kiel ang nag-aaral do'n? Sa tingin mo ba alam ko? Kung ako sa 'yo, ilibre mo na lang ako. Ako na ang dadayo, basta sagot mo gas ko,"

"Huh? Choppy ka. I can't hear anything, I'll hang up now! Bye!" I pressed the end call and leaned back in my chair. Hindi ko siya mahanap, it was impossible for me to find him because he only told me 'Kiel', it's probably just a nickname. Will we ever meet again? Paano na 'tong panyo niya? Ano 'to? Remembrance na nagkaroon ulit ako ng UTI?

By the way, why am I wasting my time looking for that man? I should be studying now because we have a quiz tomorrow. Nag-scroll down ako sa Facebook at nakita 'yung post about UAAP. Fuck, UAAP is starting na pala ulit. I'll watch for sure, aayain na naman ako ng mga kaibigan ko. Never mind, kaladkarin din naman ako.

Buong gabi ko lang hinanap si Kiel sa mga friends ko na Thomasian, I even checked their followings! Pero wala talaga. I can find the people I want to find before, when I want to know something, nalalaman ko naman, but this guy is very hard to find. What is its real name and I can't find it? Hindi ko na talaga kasalanan kapag hindi ko nabalik 'tong panyo niya sa kaniya. Hindi rin naman ako babalik sa UST Hospital dahil I'll make sure na talaga na hindi ako magkakaroon ng UTI this time.

The next day, our class ended early so my blockmates were able to go to Pop Up. They said we won't drink hard drinks, only light ones because our drunkenness will be reserved for Friday night. Sila lang naman ang magpapaka-wasak dahil may plans na ako sa Friday night.

Friday. Right. I opened my phone while walking to the parking lot. Hinanap ko ang name ni Adrian sa contacts ko at nang makita 'yon ay pinindot ko ang call. I just need to call him to update him about Friday. Sa Friday kasi ako uuwi ng bahay, isasabay ko na siya para hindi na siya sunduin ng driver, malamang busy 'yon dahil ihahatid niya sina Mommy sa airport.

"Hi, Ate. I was about to call you but you called first. Mommy said you should accompany me home this coming weekend," Adrian answered my call immediately even though it rang in less than a second. "And... don't tease me about what I have to say. Uh, I miss you too, so please? Go home,"

"My baby's clingy, ahuh. What do you need?" Napatingin ako sa blockmates ko at tumango para sabihing susunod ako sa Pop Up. "Why did you answer my call? Don't you have class?"

"Seriously, Ate, I really miss you. Ate Nathalie and I don't talk much anymore because she is busy preparing her debut with Mommy's secretary," oh, right. Nathalie's debut is coming up, she's probably busy. "It's our break time, Ate... Ate, please? Hindi mo ba ako miss?"

I chuckled because his tone changed. "Of course, I miss you. Okay, okay, I'll go home on Friday. Susunduin kita sa Friday, ha. Let's have dinner together. Text me what time your class ends, okay? Bye na, Ate will drive." Nagpaalam na ako sa kapatid ko at nagpaalam na rin siya dahil kakain na sila ng mga kaibigan niya.

I sat next to my blockmate and got a bottle of Smirnoff, lasang soft drink lang 'to kaya ayos lang sa akin, isang bote lang din ang iinumin ko dahil I need more water in my body. "Girl, you're single, right?" I asked Aika. She nodded kaya may itinuro akong lalaki. "Is he your type?" Napatingin ako sa kaniya, her face has a trace of nervousness.

"Girl... Actually, he's my crush since first year. Why? Do you know him? Close mo siya? Pakilala mo ako, please! Hindi lang ako makapag-first move dahil shy ako and may rumor kasi about him na may girlfriend na siya," Aika shrugged, covering her face with her hand. Halata namang namumula siya, eh, hindi dahil sa alak, dahil sa kilig.

"Alright, wait here." I tapped her shoulder after standing up. "Hey, what's up, the great Brian! Hi!" I approached Brian who was sitting and greeted his companions, I know them all, I am close with them, too.