A Tale In Session (City Series #1)

Chapter 29

"Raffy!" Tawag ng barista dito sa Starbucks.

I placed the highlighter on the table and stood up to walk towards the counter. Nginitian ako nung lalaki na nandoon sa kabilang dulo ng counter, pero hindi ko na siya pinansin.

It's been three days since I've been here in Manila and the only places I've seen is the inside of the condo I borrowed from my parents, and the nearest branch of Starbucks from that particular condo.

Hindi ko alam kung kinakabahan lang ba talaga ako para sa NMAT o ano, pero hindi pa rin ako mapakali. Vale's still in Baguio and he's coming to Manila sa Thursday pa. I decided to come a few days earlier para ma-gala ko rin ang UST, kung saan kami mage-NMAT.

I sat back down and immediately started highlighting again. Hindi ko na napansin yung mga nangyayari sa paligid ko. I was so engaged in what I was reading.

Nagulat na lang ako nung nakita ko sa peripheral view ko na may taong nasa tabi ko, naka-tayo. I looked up and saw Alice smiling. Napaawang ang labi ko dahil sa tatlong araw na pumupunta ako dito sa Starbucks, ngayon ko lang siya nakita. Does she live nearby?

"Hi, Raffy!" Alice said.

I smiled back at her and cleared out the other chair kung saan naka-lagay yung bag ko.

"Uy, Alice," I said. "Upo ka!"

"Thanks!" she replied and sat down. "What are you doing here in Manila?"

"NMAT," I answered and showed my reviewers.

"Ohh." She nodded. "Akala ko dito na kayo! Sabagay, Claude won't change his mind na talaga. I can see it in his face."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Lagpas dalawang buwan ko na ring hindi nakikita si Claude. I haven't heard from him, either.

"Huh?" tanong ko kay Alice.

"Kumusta na pala kayo?" she asked. "I figured, when I left, na you guys would finally admit to each other your feelings na!"

Tumaas ang dalawa kong kilay. Ano pinagsasabi niya? Diba siya yung girlfriend? Hindi tuloy ako maka-salita nang maayos!

"Uh..." simula ko. "Ano?"

"Nahihiya ka ba?" she asked and face-palmed herself. "I'm so sorry! Malamang hindi ka comfortable pag-usapan yung lovelife mo with me 'cause I'm his ex!"

Nanlaki bigla ang mga mata ko.

Kailan sila nag-break? Nung umuwi si Claude dito sa Manila?

"Ha?" I said. "Kailan kayo naghiwalay?"

This time, it was her eyebrows that were raised up in confusion. Kumunot ang noo niya habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Wait, Claude didn't make a move after I went back here?" she said. "Bagal niya naman."

Mas lalong nanlaki ang mga mata ko nung naalala kong naghalikan pala kami ni Claude sa Ilocos! Nalaman kaya ni Alice? Kaya ba sila nag-break?!

Umiling ako nang mabilis. "The kiss didn't mean anything, Alice. It was a mistake-"

"Baliw!" She laughed. "It's okay! It's all forgiven now."

Natahimik ako sa kanya.

Ang bait bait niya naman?! Ang swerte na ni Claude sa kanya, ah?! Nag-break pala sila?!

"Our break-up was mutual, I guess," she told me. "I mean, I knew he still had feelings for you, and it just felt wrong to keep that relationship going if hindi naman talaga kami yung para sa isa't isa, right?"

I looked at her in awe. She's been with Claude for almost five years. That's five years of her life, too, invested in someone else.

Kung iisipin mo, parang sa tagal ng relasyon nila pwede ka nang makapag-tapos ng degree tska mag-board exam, e.