Hey, Cohen (COMPLETED)

#HeyCohen4of5

Epilogue (4 of 5)

"Love, I'm sorry! I can't leave yet," I said in my most apologetic tone. I was supposed to have dinner with Cohen for his birthday, but my professor suddenly announced a takehome quiz since he couldn't meet us... And mamaya na iyong deadline nun. I needed to do it with my classmates dahil medyo mahirap iyong coverage.

I heard the familiar sigh from his end.

"Can I just come there?" he asked.

If it's not me who bails, it's him. It's just... hard. Habang tumatanda kami, dumadami iyong responsibility. Hindi naman pwede na palagi na lang naming uunahin iyong sarili naming gusto. We're here to study... He's almost done with his masteral, but I wasn't there just yet. I needed to hustle more. Mas kailangan kong maging seryoso.

I looked around and saw how busy my classmates were. Nasa ibang block na ako—mas seryoso na sila. Mas naging busy ako, pero mas marami akong natututunan sa kanila. Every time I'd go to class, I needed to come prepared because if not, magmumukha akong tanga. I never thought I'd be competitive in school, but here I was...

University life's really full of surprises.

"I'll see you as soon as we're done, I promise!" pangako ko sa kanya. I looked at my wrist watch that Cohen gave me for my 20thbirthday. Palagi kong suot iyon. It's like a constant reminder of why I was working this hard. It's not just about making my family proud—it's also about making him proud, making me proud. Para naman hindi ako nanliliit sa sarili ko tuwing titignan ko siya tapos titingin ako sa akin. I wanted something that's mine and I could be proud of.

"Are you sure I can't swing by? I just want to see you."

"I can only see you for like ten minutes. Sayang naman—"

"Text me the address."

Napailing na lang ako. Ang kulit talaga. Almost three years together, hindi pa rin siya nagsasawa na sunduin ako kahit saan man ako magpunta. He's always telling me that if I needed to go anywhere, he'd always be happy to accompany me. I thought that that's the reason why he got a car—para samahan ako since marami na akong pinupuntahan ngayon.

I got back to doing the quiz. It's a combination of modified true or false and lots of essay. Ayaw pa naman ng prof ko na 'yun ng walang basis iyong sagot kaya nagre-research pa ako while answering.

I kept my phone by my side para naman kapag nagtext si Cohen na nandito na siya, mapuntahan ko agad. Ayoko kasi ng pinaghihintay siya kasi alam ko naman iyong klase ng effort na binibigay niya sa 'kin.

"Hey..." I said when I saw him standing outside the dark. He's wearing suit and tie because we were supposed to have formal dinner... Naka-ayos na rin iyong isusuot ko dapat... Hindi lang talaga natuloy dahil sa quiz na 'to. Sobrang nilu-look forward ko pa naman 'yun.

He immediately pulled me close and enveloped me inside his arms.

"I'll wait for you," he said.

I looked up. "Mamaya pa ko matatapos."

"I'll keep myself busy."

I pouted. "Makikita mo naman ako bukas."

"Haven't seen you all day today."

I laughed. "Ang clingy naman po," I said at saka ko siniksik iyong mukha ko sa dibdib niya. I'd been feeling so stressed the past few days because of all the requirements, but being inside his arms melted my stress away. "Happy birthday, ser!" I greeted with a soft smile. "Ano'ng birthday wish mo?"

I was looking up at him and he was looking down on me. Ang tangkad kasi talaga!

"To see you every day," he said.