Sammy's POV
It’s been a week since Justin and I presented our project. And fortunately, we had managed to obtain a good grade otherwise, Justin’s will either be skinless or will be kicked out to the black hole in no time.
"Adri, where are they?" I asked Adri while we are on our way to the cafeteria.
"Huh? I don’t know where they are. They just said that they will wait for us inside the café." She answered without looking at me. It seems like she’s been avoiding my gaze.
"You don’t know? Luke’s your boyfriend and I’ve seen how attentive you are when it comes to his schedule and now you’re telling me you don’t know? Suddenly?” I asked her suspiciously.
I saw how she gulped. She’s also started to get sweaty.
"Adri, are you okay?" I asked her again which she failed to answer immediately.
"H-huh? Yeah! I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?” she then responded after a while.
“You sure?" I asked again.
"Yeah, sure. Let’s just hurry up. They might be waiting for us already.” She said then walk ahead of me.
Hmm... I don't know but I feel that there's something odd here eh. Is it just I or they are hiding something from me again?
*****
Like what Adri said, Luke and Justin are already waiting for us inside the cafeteria. The food for the four of us is also on our table. We immediately approach them.
"Sorry, did we took so long?" I asked as I take a seat.
"No. It’s fine. The food also took too long to serve.” Luke said.
"Let’s eat." Adri said.
I can’t help but notice their unusual actions while we are eating. They are being weird again.
Their phones are on their side and it keeps on vibrating non-stop. It is continuously vibrating. It will start at Justin’s then Adri’s, then it will be followed by Luke’s.
I want to ask them about that and 'bout my odd feeling but I don’t want them to think that I am assuming things. I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of them hence, I decided to just let it go and continue eating.
*****
"Justin, let’s go." Luke said after a while. We just finished our lunch.
"Ah, right. Let’s go." Justin was about to stand when I asked a question.
"Where are you going? And it is just the two of you? How about Adri and I?” Our class is over for today. We just decided to eat our lunch here since it is already noon.
"H-huh? Ah eh... we have to do something important.” Luke responded.
"And Adri? How about her?" I asked again. They are inseparable.
"Adri can manage. She can go home by herself.” Luke answered again which strengthen my gut feel that there’s something wrong here.
I mean, they always together. You just can’t separate the both of them.
"Ah yeah, Janna. I can just commute on the way home. What they are about to do is something really important, let’s just let them.” Adri came to rescue his boyfriend.
"We better go ahead. Take care on your way home.” Luke and Justin bid.
"Just!" Adri called out.
"You can handle it, Adri.” Bahala ka na. Kaya mo na yan!" Justin said.
I looked at Adri.
"What?" she asked when she notices that I am looking at her suspiciously.
"Ah… nothing. It's nothing.”
"Let’s go, Janna. Let’s hang out first on the lounge.”
*****
"Janna, I have a question. I’m just curious, what’s your ideal guy?” Adri said once are seated here in the student's lounge.
"Ideal guy? I don’t have one, actually. I just want someone who can jive and click well with me. Someone who can put up with me no matter how moody I am, how random I get. Someone who will always be by my side and will never leave me alone. Someone who can feel me I’m special." I casually answered while I’m looking at nothingness.
"Ah… what if there’s someone who wants to serenade you? Is that okay with you?” she asked again.
Serenade? Me?
"Maybe... I don’t know. Maybe it will be fine?” I responded with uncertainty.
"Ah… how about the things that will make you say yes?”
"Hmm… he just has to promise me that he'll be that one guy who will enter my world and will never go out. He just needs to stay with me. That’s what I want. I don’t want to be left alone again.” I answered with sadness in my voice.
"Ah sorry! Did you remember something or someone? Sorry, Janna." Adri quickly apologized as she senses the sadness in my voice.
"No. I’m fine. Why are you apologizing?” I said then I force a smile. "Aren’t we going home? I mean, I’m tired. I want to take a nap.” I asked after a while.
"Yeah, we’re… we’re going home. Just—" Adri suddenly cut off when her phone suddenly rings.
She quickly answers it.
"Hello? Oh? What? Where are you? Is everything set and ready?” she continuously asked. "Ah… so is it safe to go? Are you sure? Alright, I know.” she said before she ended the call.
She then faces me.
"Ah Janna, I have to go somewhere. I’m sorry.”
"What? Even you?" I asked and she nodded.
"It is really important, Janna and it will not take too long. Can you wait for me at the heroes’ park?” she said afterward.
"Can I just go with you?”
"No! I mean, ah… I have to go there alone. Just wait for me at the park, please?” she explained.
"But—"
"I have to go, Janna. See you at the park!” Adri said then immediately leave.
Okay. Did I just say that I don’t want to be left alone again?
And since I don’t have another choice, I just go to the park.
It looks like there’s an event?
I go nearer out of curiosity.
"Ahm, miss… excuse me, do you perhaps know what is the event here?" I asked one of the girls here. I guess, she’s also curious like me that’s why she’s here?
"No. I just go here."
"Ah. Thank you."
I really want to know what is happening but at the same time, I am getting tired. I want to go home.
I was about to leave when someone called my name.
"Miss? You are Janna Samantha Villamayor, right?" she asked which made me look at her.
"I am. Why?” I curiously asked.
But instead of answering me, she just smiled at me then give way for me. And in one move, the students out here also give way for me. And you can tell from my face how shock I am when I realized what is happening.
There he is, standing in front while looking at me. He also has a guitar.
I want to say something but I find it hard to speak. I really can’t process fully what’s happening here.
I just stand here, frozen. He started to play the guitar.
"Baby, I know you're hurting
Right now you feel like you could never
Love again
Now all I ask is for a chance
To prove that I love you” he then started singing.
The students surround us also started to react.
"From the first day
That I saw your smiling face
Honey, I knew that we would
Be together forever" honestly, I don’t know what and how to react. I can’t even think straight. I also want to walk away but it seems like I’m frozen on the spot.
"Ooh when I asked you out
You said no but I found out
Darling that you'd been hurt
You felt like you'd never love again" I decided to look around.
"I deserve try honey just once
Give me a chance and I'll prove this all wrong
You walked in, you were so quick to judge
But honey he's nothing like me" and there I saw Luke on the right side, hiding on a tree. Like everyone else, he’s just watching Justin.
"I'll never break your heart
I'll never make you cry
I'd rather die than live without you
I'll give you all of me
Honey, that's no lie" I also saw Adri on the other side. She’s looking at me and I know that she’s also an accomplice on this one even though she denies it.
"As time goes by
You will get to know me
A little more better
Girl that's the way love goes baby, baby" and now, I understand why they're all acting weird and odd these days. It is because of this.
"And I (I) know you're afraid (know you're afraid)
To let your feelings show (feelings show)
And I understand
Girl, it's time to let go (girl, it's time to let go because)"
Girl, it's time to let go
Girl, it's time to let go
Let go? Can I?
"I deserve a try (try), honey
Just once (once)
Give me a chance (chance) and I'll prove this all wrong (wrong you walked)"
Did I really over him?
"You walked in, you were so quick to judge (quick to judge)
But honey he's nothing like me
Darling why can’t you see” I closed my eyes when I remember something again which earned a tear on my left eye.
I shook my head and smile bitterly. I can’t. I can’t just let go easily.
"I'll never break your heart
I'll never make you cry
I'd rather die than live without you
I'll give you all of me
Honey, that's no lie" I don’t know who or where these tears are for. But one thing is for sure, it hurts.
"No way, no how (I'll never break your heart girl, I'll never make you cry)
I swear (Oh I, oh I, I swear)
No way, no how (I'll never break your heart girl, I'll never make you cry)"
I saw how Justin’s expression changes when he saw me crying but he tries so hard not to show it.
Even Luke and Adri looked at me with concern.
The students around us also started to get confused. Maybe they are confused because I’m crying?
If this is in an alternate universe, maybe I can be happy. But no, I can’t be happy. I can’t even pretend to be one.
"I'll never break your heart
I'll never make you cry
I'd rather die than live without you
I'll give you all of me
Honey, that's no lie"
I know the song isn’t over but I chose to run away.
"Janna!" I heard Justin call me. I just continue running. "Janna! Janna!" he called again. I know he’s running after me.
I’m exhausted but I don’t want him to catch up.
My phone then started to ring. I know it’s either from Adri or Luke so I chose to ignore it.
"Janna! Look, I'm sorry! Janna!" he said, still chasing me.
I am just a few meters away from the main gate when I suddenly remember that no one will fetch me today because I was supposed to be with Justin.
"Janna!"
I tried to run faster.
"Janna! Please!" he pleaded but again, I just ignored him.
I just continue running until I collided with someone. I easily lose my balance due to exhaustion. Fortunately, the one who I collided with, has fast reflexes so I didn’t fall on the ground.
"Janna!" Justin said then run over to us.
"Are you okay? Easy there, miss."
I immediately stand straight to say sorry and to express my gratitude.
"Ah.. sorry and thank you— M-Marco?"
He’s here?
"Samantha, what happened? Why…"
"I know, I look like a mess right now, so can you help me? Can you drive me home?” I asked.
"Sure. Get in." he said then open the door on the passenger seat.
I was about to get in when Justin came.
"Janna. Let’s talk, please." He pleaded.
"Monteverde." Marco acknowledged him.
"Estrada." Justin said. They threw each other a dagger look.
I know what they are thinking.
"Let me talk to her." Justin said but Marco just smirked at him.
"So, it’s all your doing."
"You don’t know what is happening." Justin countered.
"Yeah, maybe I don’t. But let me remind you, once I saw Samantha cry again because of your doing, forgive me on what I can do to you.” Marco answered back like a protective brother to me… as he always did.
"Marco, let’s go. Don’t mind him. Let’s just go, please. I want to go home." I said to Marco.
"Right…" he responded then get inside his car.
"Janna! Janna! Talk to me, please!" Justin goes to my side, pleading. But again, I ignored him.
"Sorry…" is all I can say to him.
Sorry for his wasted efforts.
I know he worked so hard for that but I ruined it.
I just can’t let go yet.
*****