Masayang umuwi nang gabing iyon si Gray. Napangiti siya pagkaalala sa mukha ni Xandy. Nakahiga Na siya nang may nag pop Na notification sa cellphone niya.
Napakunot noo siya. "Francine dela Cuesta sent you a friend request."
He immediately deleted the request. No. He wouldn't do anything that would hurt Alexandrei. He loves her and he's over Francine. Napailing siya nang maalala ang nangyari bago sya umalis sa Maynila.
"We're going back to Mindoro," he said and bowed his head. He doesn't want to leave Francine behind. "You can wait for me to come back right? I promise I'll call and text you everyday."
Still no response. "Hey, look at me," he cupped her face and looked straight into her eyes. "I can visit at least once every two months, okay?"
She removed his hands on her face and looked away. "Let's break up. Hindi ko kaya ang LDR."
Napatayo siya. "W - What?! France, malapit lang naman yun. It's just gonna be a year. Pag naka graduate Na ako babalik ako dito. We'll be together again."
"No. Hindi ko kaya. Ayoko na. Mag break Na tayo."
She's cold. She has been cold to him for weeks now. Hindi nya iyon pinansin nung una dahil baka dahil iyon sa period ng huli. But periods don't last a month or more. Everytime he would ask her what's wrong she would just say nothing. Everytime he's with her, she looks like she'd rather be anywhere than with him.
He sighed. "Is there someone else?," he asked, pain apparent in his tone.
"Don't spout nonsense. Hindi ko kaya mag LDR that's all," her voice raised.
"Akala mo ba hindi ko napapansin? You aren't the same anymore. You are cold. Minsan katabi nga kita pero parang wala naman akong kasama," hinanakit niya. "I tried so hard to fix it. Palagi kitang tinatanong kung may mali akong ginawa. I always ask you what's wrong. But you always say nothing," gigil na naihilamos niya sa mukha ang dalawang kamay. "Sabi ko baka nagkulang ako. So I make it a point to text and call you every day. I would give you flowers if I can. But you make me feel so unwanted every single F*cking time. So tell me, is there someone else?"
She stood up angrily and yelled, "You want to know the truth?! Yes! I have someone else! Mas masaya ako sa kanya! Sa'yo? Sakal Na sakal Na ko Sayo!" Her tears fell. "Gusto mo palagi mo kong kasama. Gusto mo palagi every hour ako magtext. Hindi Na ko makahinga. Kaya ayoko na."
Natigalgal siya sa narinig.
She harshly wiped the tears from her face and got her bag from the bench. "I'm sorry. Break Na tayo. Goodbye Mr. Saavedra," iyon lang at umalis Na ito.
Francine was his first girlfriend. He loved her so much to the point of being too clingy. He'd surprise her every now and then.
Siguro iyon din ang mali. He showered her with too much love that she have drowned. She felt suffocated.
"I'm gonna make it right this time," he vowed to himself.
Kinabukasan, maaga siyang gumising at naghanda para pumasok.
"O, Ganda ng gising kuya ah. May pakanta kanta pa sa pagligo," puna ng kapatid niyang si Seichelle. "Tsaka para kang babaeng blooming kuya."
Napahagalpak ng tawa ang kanyang Papa doon. "In love iyang kuya mo Chelle," sabad naman ng kanyang Mama.
Napailing Na lang siya doon. Tama naman ang mga ito. He's in love.
"Ma, pahingi ako ng isang rose sa garden mo ha?," paalam niya.
"Aba mukhang seryoso Yan ah," nangingiting tudyo ni Mang Mando.
"Tinamaan ako 'pa," natatawang sabi nya. Napangiti naman ang kanyang Mama.
"Kelan mo ba ipapakilala Yan samen anak?," tanong ni Aling Grace.
"Pag sinagot Na nya ko Mama."
"Aba! Bilisan mo kuya. Dapat maganda at mabait Yan ha? Hindi kagaya Nung ex mo. Maganda lang."
"Chelle!," saway ng kanyang Papa.
"It's okay Papa," aniya't ginulo ng bahagya ang buhok ng kapatid. "Mauna Na po akong pumasok," paalam niya at humalik sa pisngi ng kanyang Mama.
Hindi niya kinaligtaang pumitas ng isang rosas sa garden ng kanyang Mama. He'd never felt so excited to go to school before. Pero ito sya ngayon, halos hilahin ang oras para lang makita kaagad si Xandy.