Umiyak ako nang umiyak nong gabing iyon. Hindi ako makapaniwalang magagawa iyon ni Mama. Ano na ang gagawin ko ngayon? Paano ako makakapunta sa contest bukas? Ayokong biguin ang department ko.I might get a low grade because of this! Lagot na naman ako. I cannot afford to get a low grade. I have to do something... but how?Kinabukasan, maaga akong nagising but I was not moving. Nakasandal lang ako sa headboard ng kama at nakatunganga sa damit na nakasabit sa pintuan ng kwarto ko. It was a white dress shirt na binili ni Kairos para sa akin kahapon. Binigay niya iyon sa akin habang pauwi kami sa galing Naga.Bumaling ako sa alarm clock ko and it says that it's already 9 in the morning. The contest will start at exactly 2PM pero dapat nasa school na ako ngayon dahil magre-rehearse pa dapa

Next week came and everything went back to normal. Kasama ko na ulit si Gregory papuntang school which I somehow missed for the past few days. On the way to school, he talked about how he enjoyed the experience of staying in Palawan. He said that he was thankful because it was his first trip outside Cebu, kahit na ang rason kung bakit siya nandoon ay para bantayan si Papa kapag naglalasing."Sayang kasi hindi nasama si Papa. 'Di bale, isasama ko siya kapag nakaipon na ako."This was one of the things I admire about Greg. He loves his father a lot more than anyone else and always thinks about him a lot."He's a lucky father," komento ko.Umiling naman siya at ngumisi. "I'm the lucky son who is blessed with a father that hardworking."

Akala ko ay nagbibiro si Kairos sa sinabi niya noong isang araw but I realize that he was really serious. Nagkikita naman kami sa campus but he would only look at me for a few seconds and then walk away, as if he's constantly reminding me of what he vowed days ago.Nakatitig lang ako sa tanawin sa labas ng bintana habang hindi pa rin tumitigil sa pagputak ng bibig niya ang History class instructor namin kahit na lagpas na siya sa kaniyang schedule, buti nalang at last class na 'to para sa araw na 'to. Kahit hindi sila nagrereklamo ay alam kong gustong-gusto na nilang umuwi at gawin ang mga gusto nilang gawin aside sa mga school tasks and activities na walang prenong binibigay ng mga instructors.After a couple of minutes, the instructor finally dismissed the class. She apologized because she got carried away in talking about Philippine

Tumalikod si Mama at pumasok sa loob. Kairos squeezed my hand softly before going inside the house. Everyone was present and was sitting in the living room. My father, as well as Ate Jane and Gregory who had a worried look in his face."Good evening, Mrs. Vera—""Have a seat."Dahan-dahan akong umupo habang hindi ko naman nahimigan ang kaba kahit sa kaniyang mga kamay man lang. "Mrs. Vera, I am very sorry for returning your daughter this late—"Pero imbes pakinggan ni Mama ang sinabi ni Kairos ay bumaling siya sa akin at tinanong ako na siyang ikinaputol ng pagsasalita ni Kairos. "Where have you been, Lilianna?" she asked with calmly but with firmness.

"Lilianna, may notes ka ba sa d-in-iscuss ni Sir sa GE 3? Ugh! Ayoko talaga sa teaching style niya! I really hate History pa naman," pagrereklamo ni Sawyer. Nginisihan ko nalang siya at pinahiram sa kaniya ang notes ko sa subject na iyon para ma-copy niya. "Thank you. Mwaps!" she said and tried to kiss my face but I avoided it, fortunately.She frowned. "Kiss lang, e! Damot-damot, akala mo hindi nagpapa-kiss sa pinsan ko."Kahit bigla akong nahiya sa sinabi niya ay hindi ko siya binigyang-pansin at inabala na lang ang sarili sa pag-drawing ng human muscular system na siyang isa sa mga activities namin sa PE 1. Okay lang sana kung drawing lang, kaso dapat pa namin lagyan ng label sa bawat part! Tapos may skeletal system pa akong kailangang gawin pagkatapos nito! I'm suddenly thankful I did not became interested in taking any medical cour