Where the Sun Sleeps

Chapter 03

CHAPTER 03

Nang maabot ng aking mga mata si Serena na nakaupo roon sa isang bench sa fountain park ng campus, nagmadali ako sa paglalakad upang kaagad na makalapit sa kanya.

She lifted up her face when she probably felt my presence, at bago pa ako unang makabati sa kanya ay nagsalita na siya kaagad, "Mars, grabe, good morning! Akala ko hindi ka na rin pupunta rito. Wala kasi si Bebe Noah eh, ka-badtrip," Serena pouted.

Hinatak niya ang pala-pulsuhan ko upang maupo ako sa kanyang tabi.

"Good morning," I chuckled. "Oh? Nasaan ba raw?"

"Nasa puso ko, char," pagbibiro pa niya kaya't mahina ko siyang hinampas sa balikat para umayos na. "Enebe? May recitations nga raw sila ngayong umaga. Nag-aaral siguro 'yon. Sana all."

"Ibig sabihin no'n, mag-aral na rin tayong dalawa," I said as I put out my hand-outs and reviewers. Inilapag ko iyon sa mesa at saka naman kinuha ang aking mga highlighters.

Serena also did the same and didn't talk anymore.

I heaved a sigh when I realized, once again, that I am really in college now, and yet the steps I take to go forth have prints of doubts and uncertainties.

Hindi ko pa rin alam kung saan ako tutungo dahil hindi naman naging maganda ang lahat ng pinagdaanan ko. Hindi ko alam kung nasa tamang landas nga ba ako ng nilalakaran because all I see in my life ahead of me is a blur.

It wasn't easy nor it will ever be, but I'm already here. It's not like I can turn back time to remake my decisions, eh, kahit bumalik man ako sa nakaraan, sigurado akong hindi ko pa rin naman alam kung anong gagawin ko sa buhay ko.

I'm just glad that I have Serena and Noah in my life, even though we're all taking different paths today. I was and still am able to bear with everything that seems unbearable to me.

Napatigil ako at sandaling nilingon si Serena nang isara niya ang librong binabasa. Sinipat ko aking relo at sampung minuto na ang nakakalipas.

"7:30 nga pala ang first class ko, mars," she also glanced at her watch. So, Serena started fixing her things quickly. "I have to go now, babe. I'll see you by lunch na lang if ever, okay?" Isinakbit niya ang bag at saka bumeso sa akin.

"Okay, bye. Good luck, ah," I replied. Kumaway naman ako pabalik sa kanya nang kumaway siya sa akin kahit pa patakbo na siyang naglalakad.

I went back to reading my reviewers, completely focused now. I didn't notice that my phone was beeping until it vibrated.

Nagmadali akong kinuha iyon sa aking bag and my eyes widened upong seeing three unread text messages and two missed calls. And they were all from Kasper!

It's been more than a week since I last heard from him. This is so sudden.

From: Kasper

Hey, you left already?

From: Kasper

Eliott?

From: Kasper

Oh, I see you now, early bird. Haha.

Napatigil ako sa pagbabasa nang tumawag siya ulit. Hindi pa rin mapawi sa aking pakiramdam ang gulat.

"Bigla-bigla kang nagpaparamdam, ah," pambungad ko.

[Yeah,] he chuckled. [You seemed busy early in the morning, huh?]

"Nag-aaral ako, eh, malamang," saad ko habang nakatuon pa rin ang atensyon sa aking reviewer. I turned the loud speaker on and put it beside my paper.

[Alright, then. Wait for me there.]