The Only Reason

Chapter 13

"Isang subject nalang, and we're finally done with our midterms!" Gabby exclaimed with her arms held up high in the air.

Hindi ko naiwasang mapatawa't paluin siya sa braso dahil kanina pa kaming pinagtitinginan dito sa cafeteria dahil sa ingay niya.

We've been hanging out often since the last two weeks—our review and requirements weeks. Sometimes with Janine and the girls, madalas kaming dalawa lang.

We really felt the urge to go back to how frequent we used to bond then, and I'm glad na we're actually acting on it.

"Oo na, oo na. Calm down, Gabby. Baka we'll end up not having answers later." I said. Napa-irap siya.

"Anong we'll end up not having answers later eh halos dito na ta'yo natulog sa school last week, kaka-review. If it wasn't for Ethan who was too adamant sa pagsundo't hatid kemerlu niya saatin, three weeks na tayong nagcacamping sa field." She exaggeratedly pointed out.

"I'm still nervous kasi," I said while scratching the back of my head, and sighed.

"Nako sizt," she started as she gathered my printed reviewers and stuffed them back in my folder. "Alam mo, you have to let your brain cells loosen up. Hindi yung you'll let them work ng bonggang-bongga hanggang sa they'll get super stressed na. Noong isang linggo pa sila nagtratrabaho over the same things, sa tingin mo kakayanin pa nilang tulungan ka mamaya kung hindi mo sila pagpahingain for at least an hour?"

With a sigh, I shook my head. "Fine," I replied. She has a point naman kasi. I think I already studied everything we needed to take note of for the test in Social Psychology, for at least a countless times, and two weeks has been too much for my brain cells already.

"Very good. Plus matalino ka naman na so kaya mo na yun." She assured me. "Anyway, is your baby going to pick you up later?" She asked me.

I shrugged. "He hasn't texted me about it yet. Napagod yata kasi he had two long tests talaga yesterday." I replied.

"Ahh. Si Marco kasi, nag-invite. Since last day naman daw ng midterms today, tambay raw ta'yo dun sakanila tonight. Dinner na rin daw." She said, showing me Marco's text to her.

Ever since Leanne's birthday, unti-unti kaming naging close nila Marco. We'd sometimes have unplanned outings or even have lunch together on Mondays since yun lang yung araw na parehas ang schedule naming lahat.

But of course, I never failed to notice that Dane wasn't still really comfortable being in the same place with Marco.

"Yayain mo na rin daw sina Janine, if free sila." She said while typing on her phone.

Kahit sila Janine, Lala, and Shay, naging malapit na rin sila sa friends ko—to the point na ultimo mga chika na kami lang nila Gabby, Kirsten at Nicole ang nakakaalam, alam na rin nila.

And yes, si Gabby ang kanilang main source.

"Are you going?" I asked her. She shrugged. "I'm not sure. Pero baka kasi pupunta si Geo since pinapabantay ni Lester si Leanne pati inimbitahan din sila ni Marivic. I need to watch over him too, baka biglang alukin ni Marco ng alak eh yari ako kay Mama if that happens."

Napatawa ako. "That's okay. I mean, fourth year na siya. I remember Daddy letting Kuya try alcoholic drinks after he turned thirteen and he was at like, first year high school." I said and shrugged.

"Eh si tito Bernard yun, hindi si Mama. Kung nandito lang si Papa, he'll be Geo's back up eh kaso nasa malayo siya." She pointed out, while I nodded in agreement.

"Isn't Les going, though? Why'd he ask George to watch over Leanne?" I asked. "Ewan ko sakanya. Baka may ka-date, malay ko." She bitterly uttered.

"Someone sounds jelly.." I mocked her. Napa-irap nanaman siya, making me laugh kase halatang natamaan siya.