The Calm in the Chaos (Trazo Real Series #3)

Chapter 44

Chapter 44

I immediately placed my things on top of a vacant table I found in the nearest coffee shop from my university. Break namin at ito lang ang nakikita kong pagkakataon para mag-review sa quiz ko mamaya.

I can't believe that I'm in my last semester for college this year. Nakakainggit nga lang sa susunod na batch sa amin dahil new curriculum na ang sinusunod nila – meaning kami ang huling batch na limang taon ang pag-aaral ng architecture.

I placed my order as soon as I secured a table for myself. Gusto ko nang matapos ang quiz mamaya para magkita na kami ni Rafael. We'll have dinner tonight at susunduin niya ako sa school mamaya. My blockmates have gotten used to seeing me with him too. Pinakilala ko siya sa mga kaibigan ko sa block namin dahil tanong nang tanong ang mga kaibigan ko kung sino na raw ang boyfriend ko.

There was a point in my life where I thought of boys as "toys" and I wasn't proud of that. I was enjoying my youth, yes, and I always make it clear to them that I am only up for games and not really for commitments. But now that I am finally committed to someone, I began to realize how sad it had been for the boys I've hurt before because they were ready to commit to me and I wasn't. It wasn't my fault, I know, because I am always clear about what I want; but I can't help but think about how I used to handle my relationships back then.

I enjoyed the thrill and freedom of my no-commitment relationships. I also had a serious one but it got boring and I couldn't endure it or maybe because all along I knew that I could only like Philip on the surface and that won't be enough to make me really down for him. I've always had a hard time finding the perfect amount of thrill, freedom, peace, and security in a relationship until I started dating Rafael. Hanggang ngayon ay nagugulat pa rin ako na pwede naman pala na makuha lahat ng gusto ko sa isang relasyon – that there is no such thing as "too ideal" if you are with the right person.

And I know that from the beginning, it had always been him. He was always the right friend, the right companion, the right man for me. Not even the years that passed by changed that; not even the coming years could ever change that.

"Nainip ka?", tanong ko nang madatnan ko siyang nakasandal lang ulit sa labas ng driver's seat. He was waiting for me to get changed dahil ayaw kong kumain kami sa labas nang nakasuot ako ng uniporme.

"Nope. Naga-ayos lang ako ng feed ko. Tingnan mo", he said and showed me his pre-planned Instagram posts. Mas creative pa siya sa akin sa Instagram feed niya.

I smiled because I saw three photos with me in it. Ang isa ay noong kinuhanan niya ako ng picture habang nasa passenger seat ako. The other one was when I was busy cramming a plate and he took a stolen photo of me.

"Mukha naman akong galit dito", ngumuso ako at bumungisngis siya.

"Seryoso mo pero cute pa rin kaya", he answered with a smile plastered on his face. "Itong isa, si Mama ang kumuha kaya magkasama tayong dalawa."

Ngumiti ako habang pinagmamasdan ang litrato. Nakatalikod kaming dalawa ni Rafael at magkahawak ang mga kamay. I was wearing a beige dress and platform heels; Rafa was wearing a white long sleeve and black slacks. Noong hindi na gaanong busy sina Tito at Tita ay nakakain kaming apat sa labas at pormal na akong pinakilala ni Rafael sa parents niya.

"Are you still bothered about your uniform?", tanong niya habang pinipisil pisil ang kaliwang pisngi ko.

"Huh? Hindi. Bakit?"

"I thought it still bothers you whenever we go out and you're wearing your school uniform while I wear my office attire", he said and tucked the strands of my hair on my left ear. "Gusto mo bili na lang din ako ng school uniform dito tapos suotin ko kapag lalabas tayo? Mukha pa rin naman akong college student. Baka mapagkamalan pa akong first year sa sobrang fresh ko."