An Old Summer Daydream (Old Summer Trilogy #1)

29

YORI

"Yori, I'm sorry for asking this, but please don't leave Nat alone for now. Things are becoming hectic. Always walk her home and pick her up like what I said." 

I nodded while holding my phone. Nat's dad just called me. "Is there something wrong po?" I asked because I also got worried for Nat's safety.

"My team and I are going against big-time businessmen. That's all I could say. You know how it is here... Business and politics... they go together," he explained. "Nat already knows that. She's a smart kid." 

"Okay po. Please take care. I'll take care of Nat," I said before we ended the call. 

Since I had to pick her up everytime she had classes, gigising ako nang maaga kahit sa hapon pa ang pasok ko. Minsan, antok na antok ko siyang haharapin. It was not a burden at all, because it was Nat. I was willing to do everything for her.

I would get up at five in the morning to shower and prepare her bento. Pagkatapos ay maglalakad na ako mula sa dorm sa campus papunta sa condo niya. Pagkasundo ko sa kanya ay maglalakad naman ako pabalik sa campus. Kapag matagal pa ang klase ko ay uuwi ulit ako at matutulog saglit. 

"Nagmamadali ka na naman, ah!" sabi ni Wale habang inaayos ko ang gamit ko.

Napatingin ako sa orasan. "Kailangan ko na ihatid girlfriend ko." Nagpaalam na ako sa kanila at tumakbo na papunta sa building nina Nat. Ganoon kapag walang training, pero kapag mayroon ay magkikita na lang kami sa club room.

"Kickboxing na ba trip mo ngayon?" tanong ni Nam nang samahan niya ako mag-gym. 

"I should learn how to fight, right?" I raised a brow and smiled a little. 

"For your girlfriend?" natatawang sabi niya. "You talk about her twenty-four-seven, bro." 

"I don't have anything or anyone else to talk about." Nagkibit-balikat ako habang sinusuot ang gloves ko. 

"Corny mo, bro," pang-aasar niya. "Nasisiraan ka na kung siya lang nasa isip mo magdamag. Baliw ka na sa jowa mo." 

"Is it bad? She's my girlfriend. I can be crazy for her," seryosong sabi ko.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo! Siraulo! Baka pati sa exam, pangalan niya lang isagot mo!" 

Dumaan ang birthday naming dalawa. Nag-celebrate lang kami sa resort habang may free time pa kami. Pagkatapos ay bumalik kami sa pagiging busy sa acads at sa competitions. During Christmas break, my sister and I went back to Japan to celebrate with Mom. 

"I'm going out for a bit," my sister told me. Nakabihis na siya. Kinuha ko ang coat niya na nakasabit at inabot sa kanya. "Arigatou..." she said in a gentle voice and smiled. "Ittekimasu!" paalam niya.

"Itterasshai," I said while standing near the genkan. 

I was left alone in the house because Mom was on hospital duty. Naglinis na lang ako ng bahay at lumabas saglit para kumain ng lunch mag-isa sa malapit na ramen place. I didn't want to go home yet so I roamed around and looked for a gift. Wala pa akong nabibiling Christmas gift kay Nat. 

It was hard to give her something that her family couldn't afford. Kahit ano naman ang hilingin niya, mabibigay sa kanya, so the best I could think of was something that would be meaningful. 

"It would be easier if she's here right now," I whispered. Because I could just treat her to an amusement park or a resort. 

And just like that, I received a call from Nat.