Eyes On Me, Baby (COMPLETED)

Chapter 58

Chapter 58

I graduated after first semester, so I still had to wait for the second semester to end for the ceremony. Before, I really did not care for the ceremony. But I really did work hard for my degree. I was actually looking forward to it. But since we still had to wait for five more months, we just had a dinner outside. My parents gave me money for my graduation gift. They actually said that they thought about giving me a car, but Austin's always picking me up. They actually considered the condo, but they said that they didn't think there's a need for that anymore. Instead, they deposited money in my account. They said if I wanted to travel, I could use that. O sa kung anuman daw ang gusto ko.

Today was February 5. Kasama ko si Ate Gina sa grocery. It's Austin's birthday tomorrow, and I initially planned on an out of town trip with him, but the last few weeks, he's always tired because there were functions he had to attend almost every day. Instead, I decided to just fix him a dinner in his condo. I liked staying in, anyways.

"Maybe I should just order," I said as I was pushing the cart.

"Kaya mo 'yan," Ate Gina said. "Sa steak naman e basta sundin mo lang iyong instructions na sinulat ko. Saka dahan-dahan lang sa asin at baka masyadong maging maalat."

I nodded. "Okay... but I am actually worried about the mashed potato."

"Basta ilaga mo lang iyong patatas tapos iyong gatas at butter."

"If I mess it up?"

"Magpa-deliver ka na lang sa KFC."

I nodded. "You're right," sabi ko.

We already finished with my grocery list tapos ay naggrocery naman kami para sa bahay. I was just pushing the cart habang si Ate Gina iyong namimili.

"Karma," pagtawag niya.

"Yes?"

"Lagi ka namang nasa condo ni Austin... Balak mo na bang doon tumira?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. "No," I replied. "Lagi ba talaga akong nandoon?" I asked because I haven't really noticed.

Tumango siya. "Minsan na nga lang kita makita sa bahay."

"Really..."

Ate Gina nodded again. "Natanong ko lang..." she said as she was looking at which tomato to pick. "Kasi naka-bili kami ng Kuya mo ng lupa sa probinsya."

"Aalis na kayo sa bahay?" I asked, suddenly sounding alarmed at the thought of them leaving me.

"Hindi naman agad," sagot niya. "Habang nandoon ka sa bahay niyo, doon lang kami ng Kuya mo. Pero kapag umalis ka na, balak namin na sa probinsya na tumira sana—" Her eyes widened. "Umiiyak ka ba? Bakit ka umiiyak?!" she asked, getting a tissue from her bag and handing it to me.

Napa-hawak ako sa pisngi ko. I was crying. I dabbed the tissue to dry my cheek. I looked at her.

"Di ko alam kung bakit ako umiyak."

"Di naman nga kami aalis habang nasa bahay ka pa. E kung nandun ka hanggang magtrenta ka, e 'di doon din kami."

"So... you're just staying there because of me?"

"Oo. Syempre kami na nagpa-laki sa 'yo. Busy parents mo sa trabaho. E ngayon may Austin na na mag-aalaga sa 'yo. 'Di na kami masyadong nag-aalala—jusko, bakit ba umiiyak ka?!"

Napa-hawak na naman ako sa pisngi ko. The last time I cried was when Austin told me we should just be friends.

"Can I think about this?" I asked.