Just The Strings (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 43

#JustTheStrings

Kabanata 43

My agendas for today were pretty demanding. First, I had to personally talk to my professors regarding my absences. I had to endure an hour worth of combined lectures from my professors, but it was well-meant. I understood that they were just after my welfare... and naintindihan naman nila kung bakit bigla na lang akong nawala. It was pretty much an AWOL, but I came back and I swore to no more absences. After that, I had to go to Saint's game. I was preserving all my energy dahil kailangan kong magcheer... Pero medyo hindi rin. Sabi kasi ni Saint, kapag kinakabahan ako, mas kinakabahan siya. Kaya minsan, kahit sobrang dikit ng laban nila with the other team, chill lang ako... At pagkatapos naman nun, magkikita kami ni Kuya.

Ngayon pa lang, pagod na ako.

"Do you still need anything?" Kath asked.

I shook my head.

"Sabagay, Saint already took care of everything. Basta, go text me when you need notes or anything."

"Gusto mong sumama? May game sila sa Brent later," I offered. Kasi 'di ba, wala na sila ni Kuya... Kung anuman ang nagkaroon sila kasi kahit ako, hindi nalinawan sa kung ano ang meron sa kanila dati. Basta sigurado ako na wala na iyon ngayon.

Umiling siya.

"Di mo na crush si Psalm?"

"Crush naman... Kaya lang, I'm taking a break from guys muna. I need to love myself first," sabi niya tapos medyo napaawang iyong labi ko sa sinabi niya. It was unlike her! "I was kidding!" she continued. "But seriously, time out muna."

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Ano ba ang ginawa ni Kuya kay Kath para maging ganito siya? This wasn't her...

"Are you sure you're fine?"

She smiled, and nodded.

"I'm fine."

"Pero—"

"Sabi nga nila, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I'm fine. I mean, I'm in a much better place than I was weeks before," she said with a smile, but I still wasn't convinced. "Anyway, since you'll be walking to Brent lang naman, I volunteer to bring your things to your house. Dami mong bitbit."

"Thank you," I said.

"No prob. What are bffs for, 'di ba?"

"No, seriously... Akala ko kasi hindi mo na ako ulit kakausapin dahil sa ginawa ni Kuya... Kaya thank you kasi okay na ulit tayo..."

"Your Kuya's fault isn't your fault. I just needed some alone time before, ikaw naman kung anu-ano na ang inisip. Stop that, okay? Don't overthink. But all is fine. I am fine. I'm still pretty. I'm still your friend."

I smiled and hugged her... kahit sabi niya ang OA ko na. I was just thankful... Akala ko kasi dati, sunud-sunod na. 'Di ba snowball effect? O kaya naman ripple effect? Na kapag may nagtrigger na maliit na bagay, sunud-sunod na... And I was starting to get really depressed before. Mabuti na lang at nagiging maayos na ang mga bagay ngayon.

We walked together towards the parking lot at saka iniwan ko sa sasakyan niya iyong mga gamit ko. Medyo mabigat din pala... Pero okay lang dahil nagamit ko naman siya in between breaks. After that, I went to my locker to get Saint's jacket. Hindi ko pa rin pala nababalik iyon dati nung pinasuot niya sa akin during their after game party.

Pagdating ko sa Brent, nagulat ako dahil maraming tao.

To: Saint GDL

I'm here already. Ang daming tao. Finals na ba? Anyway, good luck, GDL! I'll be cheering on you