Chapter 17
PHYTOS
WE SPENT the rest of the night together. Niyaya ko si Deity na pumunta sa park na madalas naming puntahan noong mga high schoolers pa lang kami. Dito kami madalas mag-kwentuhan at mag-stargazing kapag gabi hanggang midnight.
"Na-miss ko 'to," sabi niya habang lumilingon-lingon sa paligid.
"Ako rin," I said as we both sat in a bench.
"Really? Sa Korea ba, marami kang pinapasyalan? Maganda ba ro'n?"
I nodded. "Maganda ro'n. Pero mas gusto ko pa rin dito. Kumusta nga pala si Patch?"
"Ayon. Mukhang stress na stress sa course niya. Nothing much changed. Mahilig pa rin siya sa cake," sagot niya.
"At madaldal pa rin?"
Tumango siya. "Yeah." Then we both laughed.
"So, how's your studies?" tanong ko.
"Doing good. Actually, nag-shift ako from Linguistics to Communication Arts."
"That's quiet a surprise. I never imagined that you have an interest with Communication Arts," I commented.
"Dream ko talagang i-take ang course na 'yon," she smiled.
We talked about things. We smiled and laughed together while catching up one's life. Ang dami palang nangyari noong nawala ako. Pero dahil sa mga kwento niya, parang wala rin akong na-miss out.
"May sem ender kami the day after tomorrow," she mentioned. "It was like a party sa school but I have no plans to go."
"Bakit naman?"
She looked at me intently. "Nandito ka na, bakit pupunta pa ko do'n? After all, were not together for a long time. It was a high time to spend the coming days with you, right?"
I smiled from ear to ear. "Right."
Napa-tingin siya sa relo niya. "Oh, 3:00 a.m. na pala. Ang bilis ng oras."
"Time flies when someone is happy," sagot ko.
"Do you think am I?"
"Yes," I answered.
"Why so?"
"Simply because you're with me." I grinned.
Ngumiti lang siya. Then after a while, she yawned.
"Deity?"
She looked at me. "Y-Yes?"
"Saranghae."
"Saranghaeyo, Phytos."
Marunong siyang mag-Korean? "Do you know. . ."
"I did. Hello? In case you've forgotten, Linguistics ang previous course ko," she said wearing a smug smile.
Mayamaya ay bigla siyang tumahimik. "Oh, bakit? May problema ba?"
"I remembered our Ball a few months ago. Hindi ako um-attend," she pouted.
I tried my best to hear her voice clearly. And I did hear sadness with her tone. "Why not?"
"Wala kasi kong dance. Ayoko namang pumunta do'n at mag-mukhang tanga lang sa table."
"Sa ganda mong 'yan, sa tingin mo ba walang magyayayang makipag-sayaw sa 'yo?" tanong ko habang hinuhuli ang mga mata niya.
"Tss, dapat nasa basketball court ka, eh. Mambobola ka!" Hinampas niya ng mahina 'yung braso ko.
