NOTE: itry ko lang po magsulat in taglish. Sabi ko nga im used to writing school papers and reading my previous chapters, it kinda sound like a school paper. Please bear with me.
Jade's POV
i spent time with my friends today. We just stayed in the park and do crazy stuffs. I had so much fun. But all those time, i was thinking about Althea. I miss her. Her corny jokes. Her sweetness. Her hand. I miss holding her soft warm hand. Sana makauwi na ako. It was late when we decided to go home. Oh my, i forgot to text Althea. She must be worried sick about me.
message to Althea:
"Hey im on my way home. Lakad lang kami. I know its late na. You can go ahead have dinner. No need to wait for me. Ill just eat when i got home. See yah!"
Sent
When i reached home, i went directly to my room. Althea likes to hang out in my room even if i am not around. She feels comfortable daw so i let her be. Unlike most times, my room seems dark, no lights turned on. Wala rin namang ilaw sa kwarto ni Althea nung dumaan ako. Asan kaya un? Baka nangangapit kwarto nanaman un. Kaibigan naman kasi niya lahat ng ibang boardmates namin so it doesnt surprise me when she hangs out with them. Tumuloy ako sa kwarto ko and opened the door.
"Surprise!" Althea shouted at the exact same time that i entered my room. Siyempre nagulat ako. At makita ko ung ginawa ni Althea. She prepared a candle lit dinner for us. I was shocked. What is this all about? I mean do friends prepare candle lit dinner for their friend? Woah! But at the same time i was touched. She's really sweet. I dont know why she does this and all the things she do but i really appreciate it. In a short span of time that we're friends, it seems like she's making up for all the lost time. Araw-araw may surprise siya for me. And each surprise is different. Hay. I dont understand what im feeling, i just know that the strong feeling i have for her when we first met is still here inside.
"Ano to? May pakandikandila ka pa a baka masunugan tayo." I said while trying to hide the joy im feeling deep inside.
Nainis naman si Althea sa sinabi ko at nagwalk out. Before she can even touch the knob i pulled her towards me and hugged her tight.
"Ito naman. Biro lang. Salamat. Ang ganda. I love it." Words cannot fully express how happy i am, hindi lang dahil sa mga surprises niya but because she came into my life. Binitawan ko siya then i looked at her hoping that my eyes can tell her more than the words i uttered.
I saw her space out but recovered immediately. She pulled me to the table and asked me to sit. I saw a cute bouquet of paper origami. I didnt know that shes this creative. I like the flowers she gave me but i like this origami the most. It wont wither. I saw writings on each flower and read it out loud. I saw Althea blushed while i was reading it. Those were traits. I dont know whose but i have a feeling that she's trying to describe me with it. Ohh. Althea is really sweet and adorable. Maybe because of embarassment, she tried to grab the origami. Good thing i was able to dadge it and put away the origami inside my cabinet where It is safe from Althea.
Uhm. Adobo. I like adobo. How does she know that ive been craving adobo for days now? Ah. I remember, she heared me when i told my mom about it. I took a bite of althea's adobo and....wow! Ang sarap. It was one of the tastiest adobos i ever tasted. Ung meat malambot. Sakto ung alat at asim balanced by the sugar then the spicyness kicks in just enough for you to crave for more. For a newbie, This dish is not bad at all.
We enjoyed the food Althea prepared. After dinner, we sat on my bed while talking.
"Kamusta pala lakad mo? Nagenjoy ka? Ay bakit ko ba tinatanong e malamang naman oo. Ne hindi mo nga naalalang may naghihintay sayo dito." Althea said and she leaned on the headboard of my bed.
Nararamdaman kong may tampo sa sinabi niya. May katotohanan naman ung sinabi niya dahil nag-enjoy talaga ako, pero hindi totoong hindi ko siya naalala. I was thinking and missing her the whole time. Hindi nga lang ako nagtext kasi parang ang oa ko naman. Hindi rin naman un normal para sa magkaibigan db? I dont know pero by instinct bigla akong nahiga sa may balikat ni Althea at hiyakap siya sa may waist.
"Sus. Tampo agad? Kasama mo naman ako buong maghapon nung mga nakaraang araw. At namiss rin kita today. Wag ka na magtampo." I felt her smile after hearing my words and felt her hands embraced me.
Althea's POV
After last night's dinner, we still feel full by the time we woke up. So i just made Jade hot cocoa and coffee for me. We decided to stay home for the day and do a movie marathon. We watched movies of different genre. Some i didnt enjoy but because im with Jade im fine with it. By the way, we were holding hands the whole time we're watching. Nagulat naman ako nung biglang nahiga si Jade sa lap ko at natulog.
"Huy. Natutulog ka naman na. Akala ko ba manonood tayo?!" Althea
"Oo nga iidlip lang ako saglit. Ikwento mo sakin ung mga mamimiss kong scenes ka. Keep watching." At natulog na nga siya.
Hay. She looks so peaceful when she sleeps and i just couldnt have enough of her. Kaya ko siyang titigan kahit gaano katagal habang natutulog siya. Habang tinititigan ko si Jade ng tulog, lalo ko naman naramdaman na mahal ko nga siya. Mahal na mahal ko siya. Pero natatakot ako. Dahil alam kong hindi naman kami pareho ng nararamdaman.
Today is the day na baba na kami sa mga hometown namin for the semestral break. Gabi pa ang byahe ni Jade so i decided na same na oras na rin ako bbyahe pauwi. While we were doing our last minute packing, i went to Jade's room.
"Jade." I called her.
"O althea, what is it? You look sad.. Problem?" Jade
"Althea, can you please not transfer boardinghouse? Please!" I begged. Then i was not able to control myself. I cried.
Jade's POV
Althea just asked me not to transfer boardinghouse. I dont know how and what to answer. I mean everything is set and good to go for my transfer. We already paid the downpayment, the deposit, and the advance payments. But...
Althea suddenly cried and her crying breaks my heart into tiny little pieces.
"Ssshhh. Tahan ka na a. Huwag ka na umiyak. Tignan mo o pumapangit ka na o. Tahan na." I tried calming her with my joke but to no avail. She continued crying and begging me not to transfer.
"Althea wala namang magbabago kahit lumipat ako. Magkaibigan parin tayo, pwede parin tayong maghangout together. Hindi ka na nga lang pwede magsleep over sa akin kasi bawal na. May mga kasama na ako dun na mga friends. Nakakahiya naman sa kanila diba?" Paliwanag ko sakanya.
"No! Everything will change pag umalis ka. Hindi na tayo magkikita. Hindi na tayo magkakasama. Malamang unti-unti makakalimutan mo na ako. Please! Kung kahit kontin lang may halaga ako sayo please huwag ka nang lumipat. Alam mong totoo lahat ng sinasabi ko na magbabago na ang lahat pag lumipat ka. Please!" Pagmamakaawa ni Althea habang patuloy na umiiyak.
I know na totoo ung sinasabi niya. Baka nga hindi na kami magkita pag umalis na ako dito sa boardinghouse. Dati nga kahit sa iisang bahay kami nakatira hindi kami nagkikita. Magkaiba kasi ang courses namin kaya iba rin pati schedule. Napaisip ako sa mga sinabi niya. Mahalaga na rin naman talaga sa akin si Althea. After the one week we spent together parang antagal na rin naming magkaibigan. Hay. Umiyak parin si Althea. The sound of her cries and pleas are like knives stabbing in my heart. Hay. Sabagay ung mga blockmates ko makikita ko parin kahit hindi kami magkakabahay, magkakaklase kami e, si Althea hindi. Fine!!!!!!
"Tahan ka na. Hindi na ako lilipat. Ok?! Dito na lang ako. Wag ka na umiyak. Pag hindi ka pa tumigil umiyak lilipat na ako." I laughed while i was saying it because i was trying to blackmail her. I guess it was effective because she was trying real hard to control the tears. Then she finally stopped. Buti tumigil na siya umiyak, ngayon ko lang siya nakitang umiyak and grabe pala ang feeling. Intense. Parang may batong nakadagan sa dibdib ko.
"promise yan a. Hindi ka na lilipat. Pinkie swear?!"
"pinki swear!"
Pinunasana ko ang mukha ni Althea na basang basa sa luha. She's smiling now. Such a sweet and warm smile.
"Thank you!" She said and hugged me.
