To The Moon And Never Back

C24

"prendre le risque ou perdre la chance... Repeat after me..prendre— Miss Jimenez? Kindly repeat it into english quote."

" Prendre le risque ou perdre la chance, take the risk or lose the chance.

Finally, French class is over. Bat ko ba kinuha 'yon? And, there's my girls!

"Hey Tori! Let's go? Sleepover... To my place!" Nika said while holding her books.

"Exciting!! Tara na! Wait, ima call Dan lang to paalam hihik!"  Trisha said while holding her phone and her lipgloss.

It's been four months. Four hecking months kami malayo sa isa't isa. Calls, every day. Texts. And updates. Never nawala. Just now... Almost two weeks na kami di nag cacall. Siguro busy lang siya. He's a professor, and he handles the company too. Pero di niya pinapabayaan ang book na ipupublish niya na! I'm so happy for him.

Samuel and I, became more close. Rina? Stay strong sila ni Sam, and she's a graduate in advance at Dubai.

Kami dito? Fourth year college na. Never ako nawala sa dl, and my check up to doc Mendez every month.

Last attack, last week. At our laboratory. I never tell Nathan na umaatake pa. I don't want to worry him though.

Malapit na birthday ko, this week! My first birthday without Nathan.
_________

"Girls, I bought some wine! Who's up!??" Trish came inside Nika's unit with some wine. While we're playing her PS4.

We stopped for a while to have some chikas with Rina through Skype.

"So, musta na kayo?" She started.

"So, ako Dan and I celebrated our 2nd monthsary!" Trish started.

Yes, they're back. Daniel, really loves Trish. And so Trish.

"Marupok! Sige na, stay strong kayo ha!? Love you Trisha! Oh kayong dalawa? " Obviously us!

" Well, lagi ako nasa Bulacan.. madalas weekends? And, I'm not into dating dating gosh! " Nika said while drinking her wine.

" Aba! Oh babaeng malambot suso, Este puso!" Rina said and laughed. They all laughed.

" Grabe!! HAHAHA, I'm fine, eto ldr. It sucks. Pero, Wala eh" I said and sighed.

" Ghosted na di na chinat! " Sigaw ni Trish na paasar.

I rolled my eyes and think. What if he ghosted me nga? Pag uwi ko noon sa unit ng wala siya for the first time, Nika and Trisha are always at my unit. For like 2weeks. Until kinaya ko. Cleaning his room, his old stuffs. Masakit para sakin.

Nakita ko yung slippers na ayaw niya ipa hiram.. Yung computers niya. Na isa nalang naiwan.. I missed him. But, I'm used to it now. It's been four months, So.

3am, nakatulog na sila. We don't have classes for tomorrow dahil puro program na since malapit na rin ang test.

I wento outside, Nikas balcony and just looked up.

"Gosh, Nathaniel. What are you doing. Leaving me  on read. " I sighed.

" Hey.. " Nika greeted and sumandal sha sa railings.

"Agh, I'm so tired these days. Buti nalang may one week vaccay tayo! May presentations sa school so, parang fair na rin yata? " Nika said.

Wait, may week vacation. No classes. So... I can book my flight!? I've been waiting for this long vacation!

"Really?! Wait aalis ka this coming week? Vacation week?" I asked immediately to invite her to come with me.

"Hmm, nope. Why?"

"Cali?" I asked na pasimple.

" Please?! "

Nika sighed and nodded.

"It's your birthday next day. So, yes. "

Finally!!! Yes! I'm excited. I'll book our flights!

" Trisha!? "

I was shocked to see Trisha na nasa gitna namin.

" I can't come huhu" she said. She's obviously drunk! And messed hair! Nagising lang siguro siya...

"Why!?" We asked.

"Canada... Daddy. And mommy... You know.. and hang with my Danny" she said. Obviously walang wala sa sarili!

We chuckled and hugged each other instead. Seeing the three of us here at the balcony, naka hug sa isa't isa habang minamasdan ang view, is the best memory this year.

I wonder if ano ang ginagawa ni Nathan sa Cali... Surf? Nag tuturo? Nag update sa book? Hmm...

"One, two, three!" Sabay kami bumilang para ipakita ang score sa test

"A!"
"A!!!!"
"A plus!"

We all got passed this test.

"So... Party!?" Nika excitingly suggested.

"Nah, I'm seeing my Danny tonight" she sadly said.

They both look at me with confused faces.

I felt tired. Blurr na nakikita ko.

And breathing heavily and fast.

Until it's all black. Just black. Can't even hear everything.

_______

'Just like weather, People change'

*Baby! I missed you!*
*let's break up.*
*No, no!!*
*I'm dying?!?*
*He's gone. Sorry Toria.*

"Aaah!"

I woke up. Screaming.

Scared.

Sweat.

Panicked.

Until I hugged my parents.

"Time and date check. April 13, 4am."

I slept. For hours.

It's. My.

Birthday.