Day One
Austin is here.
Kuya Van lied. On purpose or not, I don't know.
Right after we arrived at the hotel, I saw Austin get out of his car, too. I badly wanted to leave but Kuya Van's grip on my shoulder was so firm. Ayaw niya akong pakawalan.
Right. Kailangan kong magtiis.
I chose our table. Kahit pa may naka-assign naman para sa amin ay lumipat ako. I chose the farthest one. Iyong malayo sa karamihan. Sumunod naman sa akin si Kuya. I'm sure dito rin uupo sina Tyler.
"Sorry, akala ko 'di pupunta," Kuya Van said. Inirapan ko lang siya.
Kailangan ko pang kausapin sina Mom tungkol sa pag-imbita nila kay Austin. But today's not the right time.
Day OneMom and Dad must have gotten so fed up with me sulking at home for the next two weeks because they signed me up for charity work."You're such a lazy adult these days. Do something productive," sabi ni Mom at inabutan ako ng mga papel.Well, in my defense, I haven't been entirely useless. I finished two oil on canvas paintings. I met up with Mr. Canaro and Mrs. Tan for my presentation of artworks and I even cleaned our pool area! Hindi lang nila alam 'yon kasi wala naman sila."Mom, can I ask you something?""What?""Bakit invited si Austin noong kasal ni Kuya Theo?"Nawala na iyon sa isip ko pero naalala ko ngayon nang mabasa ang pang
AssumeThe worst part about being in the same event and place as your ex is the unavoidable probability of having awkward moments. Ilang beses ko nang nakita na nakatitig sa akin si Austin. It's not making my work any easier! I couldn't focus properly... Sabayan pa ng pasimpleng panunukso nina Agatha tuwing nakikita nila na titig na titig sa akin si Austin.Wala ba siyang ibang gagawin? I thought he's a busy person now. Well, he's a busy person way before. Iniisip ko lang na baka mas lalong busy na siya ngayon.I remembered again what he said in the car. Pinipilit ko na ang sarili ko na 'wag nang isipin pero ayaw talaga mawala sa utak ko.Austin wants me back? Was he serious? And did he think he'll be able to prove himself to me again just by shamelessly staring at me?
AssumeDumiretso ako sa isang bakanteng classroom. Malayo 'to mula sa pinanggalingan ko. Nang umupo ako ay agad bumuhos ang mga luha ko. Parang tanga lang. Halos dalawang taon na ang nakalipas pero hanggang ngayon naiiyak pa rin ako... Walang pagbabago.I wiped my tears away. I'm not even sure why I'm crying now... Dahil ba hanggang ngayon nasasaktan pa rin ako? But I already moved on...I spent an hour in that vacant room. My eyes are red from crying. Ayokong magpakita sa kanila na ganito ang itsura ko... Pero wala akong choice.Bumalik ako sa mga bata. Nakayuko lang ako nang nilagpasan ko sina Inigo at Agatha."Ate Georgina!" sabay-sabay na tawag sa akin ng mga bata.Pumila sila sa hara
Drunk CallI finally decided to have my own place. Gusto ko sana na ako na ang magbayad para roon kasi may savings naman ako but my parents insisted to pay. They won't let me go if it's not them who's gonna pay for the condo unit. Medyo bothered pa ako roon ng ilang araw. I really want to be independent... Siyempre kasabay na rin doon na ako na ang magbabayad sa mga gastusin ko. But my parents were persistent. Pumayag lang sila na ako na ang bahala sa groceries ko.I am not yet at my best when it comes to cooking but I'd like to try. Wala nang Noah or Yuri na dadalhan ako ng pagkain kapag 'di ako nagluluto. Wala nang Manang Lila na maghahanda ng pagkain ko kapag nasa bahay ako. I'm on my own now. For real.I went to the nearest grocery store. Bibili ako ng mga ingredients para sa mga pagkain na kaya kong lutuin. I'll also g
Drunk CallNanlamig ako. This is Austin. I know his voice."Can you let me talk? Kahit 'wag ka nang magsalita. Just don't drop the call," he said.I don't know why but my gut is telling me that he's drunk. It's Rafael's birthday, after all. Uveros always drink when they celebrate birthdays."Where did you get my number?" I asked. From Agatha? Inigo? Kuya Van? Or from my parents?"Got it from Inigo's phone. I'm sorry..."Huminga ako ng malalim. Patience, Gia. Patience."Drop the call now. You're drunk," sabi ko."No. I promise I'll keep it short," Austin said.
TypeI couldn't move with what Skylar said. What did she mean by before it's too late? Should I be worried about something?Napailing na lang ako. I didn't want to complicate things and come up with answers to my questions so I just did the sanest thing I could think of. I put everything she said at the back of my mind and just focused on our LU trip.I was successful at that part... Nang mag-Sabado ay nakahanda na lahat ng dadalhin ko. Clothes, essentials, camera and other things. Susunduin ako nina Inigo at Agatha kaya maaga akong nag-ayos. I didn't want them to wait for me to get ready."Basement na kami," Agatha said when I picked up her call.
TypeMinutes passed and it's not just Ali and Agatha who's asking me to sing. Pati sina Kuya Rex ay pinipilit na rin ako na pumunta sa stage. Even the vocalist who just finished her song asked for me!God, this is so embarrassing.Na-prepressure na akong tumayo kasi hinihintay na ako ng vocalist at guitarist sa stage."I'll sing too if you sing," Iain suddenly said. Parang iyon na ang last straw nila na mapilit ako na kumanta sa harap.Ang kulit nila... Panay pa rin ang iling at tanggi ko pero bigla akong hinila ni Inigo patayo at tinulak papunta sa stage. Ang sama ng ugali!"Woohoo! Go, Gia!" he cheered and showed me a thumbs up. Sumabay din sa pag-cheer sina Raf.
TalkIt was awkward.Or rather, I was awkward.Austin didn't join us for dinner. Nang iwan ko siya sa dalampasigan ay hindi siya sumunod. I thought I could escape with the talk that he was referring to... Well, for tonight at least. Pero mali ako...Inigo and the guys decided to have a drink - which was seconded by Agatha and Ali. Me? I'm against it. Hindi ko nakalilimutan na balak akong lasingin ni Agatha. I wanted to just sulk in the villa. Or maybe just sleep the night off. Pero ang kulit nina Ali. In the end, napilit nila ako na sumama.Hindi ko alam kung may silbi ba ako rito. Tahimik lang ako habang nag-uusap sila. I need to const