"What are your plans?" Rj asked Nic. They had barely a week together. In a few days, Nic would be performing in the concert while Rj was scheduled to fly to the US for college.
"Plans?"
"Oo...anong balak mo? Plano mo sa buhay? Anong gusto mong kunin sa college, ganun?"
"Gusto ng Papa ko, mag-doctor daw ako..."
"Gusto mo?"
Nic shrugged her shoulders. "Di ko nga alam kung ano gusto pa e"
"Sabagay, ako rin e. Diba di pa ako sure kung gusto ko rin maging doctor tulad nina Mommy at Pops..."
"...and Bio ang kukunin mo sa college?" Nic looked at Rj, confused.
Rj shrugged his shoulders. "Bahala na...pwede naman mag-shift e...wala naman sa agreement namin ng Lolo ko kung anong course ko sa college basta mag-college lang ako sa states"
"Oh"
"...sya ang mags-sponsor ng college degree ko basta sa US daw ako mag-aral..."
"Gusto mo?" Nic asked.
"Okay lang...kahit saan..."
"Wala kang ma-m-miss dito?"
"Wala naman masyado..." RJ sighed.
"...ayoko ring ma-attach masyado sa ibang tao..." Nic said. "...pero, uuwi ka rin ba?"
"Maybe...ewan..." Rj shrugged his shoulders.
"...may nangyari bang masama dito na gusto mong takasan?" Nic said after a long pause.
Rj didn't reply. Instead, he stood up and asked, "...ready ka na ba para sa concert?"
"...naka-impake ka na ba?"
"Nagpadala ng Move-In guidelines yung university..."
"Move-in?"
"Karamihan ata ng college or university students, doon sa student housing or dorms nakatira..."
"Ah, so wala kayong bahay dun?"
"Meron...pero hassle kasi medyo malayo yung bahay namin sa university..."
"Ah okay...nakwento ko ba sa yo na aalis din kami dito?" Nic offered.
"Huh?"
"Gusto daw mag-retire nina Mama at Papa sa probinsya e..."
"So, dun ka na rin mag-aaral?"
"Dito lang ako sa Manila mag-aaral...uuwi ako sa amin pag-weekends..."
"Ah, dito lang din sa Luzon?"
Nic nodded. "Bulacan"
"Ah...medyo malapit lang pala..."
Nic nodded. "Yun yung gusto ko...di ko lang sure kung papayag si Papa...medyo OA kasi yun e. Maliit na bagay lang, lagi nyang sinasabi na ipapasok ako sa kumbento..."
Rj chuckled, his dimple showing. "Sister Meng..."
Nic giggled. "Di bagay...baka masunog pa yuung kumbento ng dahil sa akin..."
"Grabe sya..."
"Bakit ikaw?"
"Anong ako?"
"Naisip mo bang mag-pari? Nung bata ka, anong pangarap mong maging?"
"Hmm...diba pinag-usapan na natin to? Doctor pareho ang Mama at Pops ko so parang expected na maging doctor din ako..."
"Eh gusto mo nga bang maging doctor? Anong specialization?"
Rj didn't reply. Memories of Chichi came to his thoughts – when she was critically-ill, a few days before she passed away and the only time he was allowed to visit her in the hospital.
Nic continued, "...naisip ko din maging doctor...o kaya architect or businesswoman..."
"Hmm...so, aalis ka na rin ng village? Magkikita pa kaya tayo?" Rj asked.
Nic didn't respond. She had been thinking about their eventual separation but tried to push it aside. Besides, other people have moved out of the village before so distancing herself from Rj wouldn't be 'new' anymore.
When his Dada told him about sponsoring his college education abroad, Rj already thought about coming back to the Philippines during holiday breaks. But now that he found out about the possibility of Nic not being in the village anymore when he'd come to visit, he thought of other options where he could spend the holidays.
---
Nic invited Rj to watch the technical rehearsals. He was slightly hesitant at first because no one really knew about his and Nic's 'friendship'.
"Dude, samahan mo naman ako..." Carlo said one afternoon after Carlo's football practice. "...tutal aalis ka na rin diba? Samahan mo ako for one last time..."
"Sus! Ang drama nito...uuwi naman ako ah"
"Matagal pa yun...malay mo, may chicks ka pang makikilala dun..."
"Tsss...saan ba?"
"Si Ashley kasi..."
"Yung jowa mo?"
"Hmm..." Carlo nodded. "...kasali daw sya sa production nung choir concert..."
"Ows?" Rj's face brightened up. Here was his chance to watch the rehearsals without being judged or suspected of. Carlo was looking far so he didn't notice Rj's expression.
"...sa Thursday night...technical rehearsals daw nung choir dun sa venue..."
"Ah...sige..."
"Sige? Teka, kelan ba flight mo?"
"...Friday evening..."
"Yung araw nung concert..." Carlo said.
Rj nodded and sighed heavily, dropping his shoulders.
