Virtue of Love in Mendiola (Manila Series #1)

Chapter 28

"There's no such thing as moving on and you can't unlove a person." Jade said.  Siguro mas nangingibabaw yung hatred kaya nale-lessen yung love. But, nandoon pa rin yung love mo for that person."

"So, anong ibig mong sabihin?" I asked.

"That you're still into kuya. You still love him." Jade said. "It's just that he's the right person at the wrong moment."

"I'm.. speechless." I said. "Maybe you're right but we can never tell."

"Hindi natin masasabi but let fate tell us. Sabi nga nila, maybe in parallel universe you two are meant for each other." Jade said. "Don't think too much about what I said. Just keep that in your mind. Balik na tayo?"

"H-Ha?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

"I said balik na tayo doon, hindi balikan na kayo." natatawang sabi ni Jade at natawa nalang din ako sa sarili ko. We then went back to our friends after talking and walking around. I took a bottle from the table then I sat down beside Jade.

"Uy, graduation na pala ninyo the day after tomorrow, right?" Allen asked pertaining to me and Ali dahil next week pa ang graduation ng mga thomasian.

"Yep. Pupunta ka?" I asked.

"Oo naman! Bakit naman hindi, diba?" sabi ni Allen. "Kasama ko 'to sila Jazen, Kio, Jill tsaka Jade. That's what friends are for!" dagdag pa ni Allen at natawa naman kami maliban sa isa. Maliban kay Jazen at hindi ko na 'yon ikinagulat.

Before it gets late, we've decided to go home na dahil may pasok din sila Allen bukas. We waved our goodbyes before entering the car and promised our 'see you again' then we part ways. Nang makauwi na kami, I took a quick half bath before going to bed.

The next day, we just spent our whole day with our family. I visited my family same with Ali. Tomorrow's gonna be our graduation and we're going to enter another chapter of our lives. I hope that this chapter wouldn't be as painful as the previous chapter.

"Nasaan na daw sila Alijah and Jillian, anak?" Mom asked while preparing the dinning table. We're gonna be having a dinner with Ali and Jill's family.

"They're on their way na daw po." I answered. Hindi nagtagal ay dumating na din si Ali with her family at kasunod lang nila sila Jill and her family.

"Is it true that you are living abroad?" Ali's dad asked.

"Yes. Ara will study law there." Dad answered.

"We're planning nga din na tumira sa Jersey kaso Jill told us na she prefer living and studying here sa Pilipinas and that's fine with us." Jill's mom said.

How I wish kagaya nila ang parents ko so that I don't have to leave him in pain and wounded. How I wish there's a way to stop all these pain. How I wish I never met him if I will only give him pain and if I will only leave him. Sana hinayaan ko nalang na hanggang magkaibigan lang kami. These thoughts, they're drowning me since the day I left. I can't get them off of my head same with this pain that I can't get off of my heart. Dahil ang mga 'to ay mananatili na lamang na sana.

After eating, we left our parents in the dinning room because they're still having a conversation. Jill, Ali and I went to the garden to spend our night together.

"Are you guys excited for tomorrow?" Jill asked.

"Of course! Who wouldn't be?" Ali answered.

"Me, I guess?" I said.

"Oh, please, Ara. You should be happy that you're gonna be graduating." Jill said.

"Aside from the fact that I'll be leaving Centro Escolar. It saddens me to think that I'll be leaving the country and you guys." I said in a low voice.

"You already left Jazen. Is there anything that hurts more than that?" Ali asked.

"We'll be able to see each other again soon. Don't be sad." Jill said. "Let's be happy and live life to the fullest while we still have time!"

"I know right!" we heard a guy behind us said. "I'm sorry I'm late?"

"Omg! Jian!" tuwang tuwa kong sabi tsaka ako tumakbo papunta sa kanya at tsaka ko siya niyakap.

"I shoud've brought Jian sa condo niyo kung naalala ko lang na ganyan ka kasaya pag kasama si Jian." Jill said then she laughed. Jian and I are very close even during our childhood days and nothing and no one can separate us from each other.

"Whatever, Jill." I said. "So why late, mister?"

"Nagenroll ako sa papasukan kong law school." Jian said as an answer.

"Kumain ka na Ji?" Ali asked.

"Not yet. Kayo ba?" Jian asked.

"Yep." I answered. "Kuha ka namin food ni Ali sa kitchen dito lang kayo."

We went to the kitchen to get some foods for Jian and for us. I also grabbed some drinks from the fridge. I only took some Smirnoff because no one wants to be wasted and drunk on their graduation, right?

"Jian's here na po! He's eating with us sa garden." I shouted before leaving the dinning area. "Here's the foods!"

We exchanged conversation while eating and drinking just like what we usually do when we're together back during our high school days. Before it gets late, Jill and Ali's family left. I then took my rest after they left. The next day, I woke up early then I took a bath. After taking a bath, I fixed myself. I am wearing a beige crop top and a gray sweatpants. I then went down after doing everything I have to do. I had my breakfast with my family then I went back upstairs to do my make up and to do my hair since I asked mom that I'll be the one to do my makeup and my hair. I then brought my things and my toga with me before going downstairs.

After the graduation ceremony, we had our picture taking. We also asked them to take a photo of us three and a photo including Jade, Jazen, Allen and Kio.

"Congratulations to my Law friends!" Jill said then she hugged us.

"Congrats, Ara, Ali!" Jade said congratulating us. Kio and Allen congratulated us as well. After the picture taking and greetings, I then went to the parking together with my parents when someone called me.

"Tita!" I said.

"Graduation mo pala kaya pala nandito si Jaze." sabi niya. "Congrats, hija!"

"Ay hindi po. Jazen attended the graduation ceremony with our friends po. Friendly presence po, haha!" sabi ko. "Bakit po pala kayo nandito?"

"Nagrequest ako ng mga requirements ni Jazen. Alam mo na, for his med school." Jazen's mom said. "Anyway, do you wanna join us? Dinner tonight?"

"Tita, hindi pa po ba nababanggit ni Jazen sa inyo?" tanong ko dahil mukhang hindi pa niya nasasabi sa parents niya ang nangyari sa amin.

"Ang alin, Ara?" she asked.

"Tita, we broke up po a year ago." I said with a smile.

"Hala, sorry to hear that, hija." Jazen's mom said. "You're still welcome sa bahay at sa pamilya. You're still part of the family. Anyway, congrats ulit! Mauna na ako, hija."

"Thank you po! Ingat po, Tita! See you around po." I said then I started walking again papunta sa lugar kung saan nakapark ang kotse ng Daddy. Naglalakad ako nang may humawak sa palapulsuhan ko dahilan upang huminto ako sa paglalakad.

"Hey..." he said. "Congrats, Ara.."

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