Out of Bounds (Ugly Past Series #2)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Sophie

This day will be my judgment day if I'm going to proceed to my internship or I'll extend one more semester to redo my thesis. I can feel my palms getting wet as I prepare my presentation. The past few weeks were a hell for me. Ilang gabi akong puyat para lang maging pulido ang lahat. Good thing I had someone to help me. Thank God I have Derrick to link me to some people in business world who are willing to take part of my study.

Kamusta na kaya siya? Ilang araw ko na rin siyang hindi nakikita.

Dahil sa pagiging sobrang busy ko halos wala na akong oras para sa ibang bagay. I didn't attend any band practices and skipped a few gigs. Laking pasalamat ko dahil naiintindihan ako ng banda. Sa aming lima, ako at si Karl na lang ang nag-aaral sa college. The rest already graduated last year. Buti na lang talaga konti lang ang gigs namin sa buwan na ito.

My thoughts lead me back again to Derrick. Ano kayang ginagawa niya ngayon? Maybe he's also taking full control of his life right now like what I do. Hindi ako kailan man ginambala ni Derrick, kahit text o call hindi niya ginawa unless kung ako ang mauna. He understands how serious I am with my thesis that's why he never bother to contact me.

Pero may mga pagkakataon na naiinis ako. Lalo na't naiisip ko na ako na lang lagi ang na uunang mag text o tumawag para lang magkausap kami. It seems like he doesn't care for me at all. Na para bang naaalala niya na lang ako pag tumatak ang pangalan ko sa screen ng phone niya. Dati kasi parang normal na sa amin ang mag usap araw-araw. It's either him or me who initiates the talk. Ngayon, parang ako na lang ang nag e-effort. Napabuntong hininga ako.

"Are you ready with your presentation Sophie?" tanong sa akin ng isa sa mga panel.

Napatuwid ako sa pagtayo at napatingin sa mga tao sa harap ko. I nodded at them and removed the lens cover of the projector to let them see my presentation.

The whole thesis defense lasted for more than an hour. I was scared and nervous the whole time I was in front of the panel. Nevertheless, I was still able to answer all the questions thrown at me. The panel then gave their feedback and pointed out the strong and weak points of my study.

"Congratulations Sophie, you can already publish your thesis!" I huffed with relief when I heard those words. Iyon lang talaga ang hinihintay ko. They gave me advices on how to improve my thesis for the last time before publishing it. Minor changes lang naman kaya hindi na ako mahihirapan.

This is going to be great news for Derrick! Sigurado akong matutuwa iyon pag nalaman niyang hindi nasayang ang pagtulong niya.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa bag at tinawagan siya. Ilang beses nag ring ang phone niya pero lagi itong busy. I dialed it again for the fifth time but he's not really answering. Siguro ay may importante siyang ginagawa kaya hindi niya napapansin ang tawag ko. If I'll leave a message, for sure he's going to read it when he's done with whatever is keeping him. Nagtipa na lang ako ng mensahe sa kanya at pinadala ito.

Dumeretso ako sa parking lot ng school at pinatunog ang kotse ko. I was about to start the engine when my phone rang. Agad kong kinuha ang phone kong nag riring sa bag ko, baka siya na ito.

All my hopes vanished when I saw a different name on my screen. I sighed and answered the call.

"Hi Sophie, nasa studio kami ngayon nagpapractice. May gig tayo mamayang gabi, game ka?" Luis asked on the other line. Rinig ko ang keyboards ni Karl sa background.

"Sige. Wala rin naman akong gagawin mamaya. Tapos na ako sa defense ng thesis ko."

"O talaga? Pasado ba?"