If only I could bear to leave this toxic relationship. I would.

"Hello love!"

I immediately hid my phone in my sling bag as soon as he gets into my place. Kanina pa ako naghihintay sa coffee shop dito sa mall. I was here since 8 yet he arrived at 9. Talk about filipino time.

Ang alam ko kakatapos lang ng group meeting nila ng mga ka groupmates niya para sa kanilang research. He is a STEM student at dahil nasa group nila ang karamihan na gustong tumahak sa medisina ay sinuhestiyon sa kanila ang research na experimental.

I'm no STEM student nor has an experimental research, isa lang akong HUMMS student na bulag sa katotohan. How could I become a freaking lawyer with this mind?

"Oh? Anong nangyari sa'yo? Bakit nakabusangot ang mukha ng love ko?" He then cuddled me and I just buried myself in his chest. Afraid that I might answer him truthfully. Ironic for an attorney wannabe who seeks the truth.

"Wala naman. Ang tagal mo ah?"

"Sorry na love. Hirap kasi ng research eh. Nagca-canvas na kami ng expenses namin for the experiments. Nagtatalo pa ang grupo kaya natagalan ako. Peace na tayo, okay? Libre kita."

Ngumiti lang ako sa kaniya bago siya nagtungo sa counter para mag-order ng coffee at cake na lagi naming ginagawa kapag nagdedate kami sa labas.

I just had a cup of coffee while waiting for him earlier, another one won't be that bad. Kailangan ko siguro ang kape para magising ako sa katotohanan. That this man I'm with isn't always like this.

After having a small chat in the coffee shop, we just went to the arcade section of the mall. Nagbabaril-barilan and playing basketball in which of course I always lose. He is not a player for no reason. He was the MVP during the palaro of our campus. Did I also mention he's well popular among girls way before I had him?

Ako ang umamin sa kaniya noong minsan akong nadakip para sa blind date. My dumbass best friend paid the the officers in charge of the blind date for us to be well... date.

Halos takbuhin ko na noon ang buong field inakala pa tuloy ng iba may larong nagaganap. The officers were just chasing me to my doom. What I thought was an embarrassing day turned out to be quite enjoying. Isang oras kaming hinarap sa isa't isa. Kailangan naming mag-usap kung hindi mas matatagalan kami roon. He's such a social butterfly that I never find myself awkard with him. Mas lalo tuloy akong nahuhulog sa kaniya and out of impulse, I confessed. Silly me.

He reached legality almost a year ahead of me. I just turned eighteen a few months ago, that's when we started dating. I hit my shot as soon as I reached legality.

Pero sabi nga nila 'Real life starts at 18' . The days of the fairytales, the oh-so-sweet romances and life in perfection, all of that will eventually fade at 18. I realized how this thing called 'love' works.

"Veda?" Caleb waved his hands in front of my face. Napakurap ako, only to realize that the game in front of me says, game over. "Are you even listening?"

Bahagya akong napapikit. I know where this is going.

"Veda, naman. I spent my narrow schedule just to be with you and you'll just ignore me? Ano bang ginawa ko ha? Sabihin mo."

Umiling-iling ako at ngumiti. "Wala. Ano ka ba natulala lang ako saglit, may inaalala lang."

Napangisi siya at bahagya akong hinawakan sa braso. "Sino lalaki ba?"

"Of course not! May performance task lahat ng sections ng HUMMS bukas. Gagawin nga sa amphiteater eh."

"I see." Bahagya niyang pinitik ang noo ko bago namin napansin ang biglang pag-ingay ng phone niya. "Excuse me. I'll just take this call."

Tumango-tango ako bago siya tuluyang umalis sa harapan ko para makalayo sa maingay na mga naglalaro sa mga arcades.

Napabuntong hininga ako at agad na hinulog ang huling token sa coin slot para makapagbaril ulit. May nasagi akong kamay mula sa katabi kong arcades. I looked at him and realized it was Paul, my classmate.

"Uy, nandito pala leading lady ko." He chuckled before getting the gun off the rack and started shooting on the screen. "Nagsisimula ka na Veda."

Napatingin ako sa screen ko at dali-daling kinuha ang baril at seryosong humarap sa screen ko. It's best that I won't bother him so he won't bother me.

If I remember it right, Paul was Caleb's cousin. If Caleb sees me with Paul he'll be angry.

"Nagbubulag-bulagan pa rin ba, attorney?"

Tila napantig ang tainga ko sa sinabi ni Paul. Alam kong para sa akin iyon dahil medyo mahina ang pagkakabigkas niya rito at sinakto't kung maari ako lang ang makakarinig.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin, Paul?"

"Alam mong may ibang babae ang pinsan kong gago. Bakit ayaw mo siyang hiwalayan?"

My grip towards the toy gun stiffened. My brows arched low as I just started shooting people in the game.

My phone vibrates and as soon as pick it up, Paul grabs my phone and went through my messages.

"Your friend even sent some evidence. Yet, here you are either blind or just accepting the fact that he is cheating on you. Wake up."

Ibinigay ni Paul pabalik sa akin ang phone at agad na umalis.

I looked at the photo my friend sent me and it was Caleb in the same coffee shop where we was just a few hours ago. He's now with the same girl I was looking for in the photo earlier. How can he do this to me?

Umilaw ulit ang phone ko at nakita ang tawag ni Caleb.

"Sorry, emergency sa research. Kailangan na pala naming bumili ng daga at cages. We have to start the experiment tomorrow after class."

I was on the verge of breaking down but I tried to manage myself. "It's okay. Goodluck, Doc."

"Thank you, love. See yah tomorrow, attorney."

I closed my eyes and gathered enough courage to finally say those words I wanted to tell him. I should've done this before.

"I was hoping to not see you tomorrow...Let's break up."

Agad kong ibinaba ang phone ko at lumingon sa likuran ng mapansin tila may nakatingin sa akin. I was right. It was Paul behind me giving me an okay sign before he walked away.