I woke up so early today. Sobrang gaan ng loob ko at hindi mawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko, maybe it was because of our conversation last night. Jhon Rey told me that I could depend on him.

Hindi mawala sa isip ko ang mahigpit niyang yakap sa akin. Even the memory of his scent persists. I feel that we took a single step toward getting closer.

"Oh you seemed happy, sweetie," bati ni mom nang makalabas ako sa room ko. She was preparing our breakfast. Napayakap tuloy ako sa kaniya.

"What makes you happy today, my love?" tanong pa niya. Umiling ako at piniling sarilinin na lamang ang dahilan. I just want them to see that I am in a good mood.

"It must be because of Carpio." Dad sat down on his seat and implied. He got the napkin and put it on his lap. "Don't be so attached to him that you won't get hurt eventually."

Nawala naman ang ngiti ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Umupo na lang ako sa upuan at tahimik na kumain.

"Mr. Remington told me that you already visited to check your wedding rings," patuloy ni Dad.

"Oh really?" gulat na tanong ni mom bago tumingin sa akin.

"Yes, we did," sagot ko kay dad. Tumango-tango siya.

"How about your wedding dress, have you already fitted on?" tanong pa ni mom.

"Yes mom, may napili na rin po ako. Jhon Rey and I check it out together yesterday, and he also said that it looks good on me."

"It's good to hear that he's treating you well. Mapapanatag ako kahit tumira kang kasama niya after this marriage."

"Yes, he's treating me well, Mom. We both promised to be good parents to our children." I glanced at Dad, who was now busy eating. "I hope this will make you happy, Dad. We're not trying to oppose marriage or anything. I'm hoping you can see our efforts too to reflect on what we did."

Hindi nagsalita si dad. Usually he'll push his side to me but now, he's not ding it. I wonder why he's being silent.

Tinapos ko na lang din ang pagkain ko bago ako nagpaalam na papasok na. I don't know if I'm being addicted by the thought of seeing Jhon Rey at school that's why I'm feeling excited, but I should suppress it just like what my father told me so. Mahirap masaktan sa huli, pero sa huli pa naman 'yon.

Derrick is there outside of our house waiting for me para ihatid akong muli sa university. It seems like a very long time since I last saw him.

"How are you Derrick?" I greeted, which surprised him a little dahil hindi ko naman siya madalas batiin nang ganito.

"I'm fine, Ms. Velasco," sagot niya, which also astonished me.

"Hindi mo man lang ba ako kukumustahin?" giit ko.

"I can see that you're happy." Ngumiti siya nang bahagya bago tuluyang pagbuksan ako ng pinto papasok sa kotse.

"Yes, I am," sagot ko na lamang. He shrugged and entered the car before he sped off. What's with his energy?

Ilang minuto lang ay nakarating na kami sa university. Lumaki ang ngiti ko nang makita ko si Jhon Rey. He smiled at me too, before he came over to me. I love to see him shine like the sun in the sky.

"Should we go together?" he inquired.

"Sure."

Magkasabay kaming pumasok sa klase. Wala pang mga estudyante sa room namin, kung kaya't tahimik pa ang paligid.

"You're early today," sambit ko nang makaupo ako sa upuan ko.

"I was thinking that you might come in early. Have you had breakfast?" he asked.

"Yeah, mom prepared a meal. How about you? Kumain ka na ba?"

He shook his head, and that's completely cute to look at. "I was too excited to get here, so no, not yet."

"Then, should we grab a bite to eat?" I ask. "May gusto rin akong bilhin, so I'll go with you."

"Alright."

He extended his hand to me. I felt a sudden rush inside my heart while looking at his hand, waiting for me to be held on. I held his hand and couldn't help smiling. I sense something within myself that is now different. My feelings for him are getting intense.

We were about to leave the class when Jhunel appeared in front of us with that menacing gaze. "Did you do it on purpose?"

Nagulat ako nang tanungin niya si Jhon Rey na parang alam na rin ni Jhon Rey ang tinutukoy niya. It feels like they are starting a fight again. I remembered the time when they punched each other in the middle of the class.

Nakita kong tumingin si Jhunel sa mga kamay namin kung kaya't bumitiw ako. Out of shock.

"Did you quit para magkaroon ako ng place sa training?" Jhunel hissed. Bakas ang panlulumo sa mga mata niya. So that was what he was talking about.

"I never did that for you. Hindi lang ako interesado. At hindi ko naman hawak ang desisyon nila para piliin kang ipalit sa akin," Jhon Rey acknowledged him with a condescending sneer that made Jhunel more furious with anger.

"You're not interested? Then why did you play that well that time? Just to defeat me and throw me in the shade? Gusto mo lang ipagmayabang na magaling ka and capable of winning then kapag kailangan ka na you're quitting?" nangagaliiting tanong ni Jhunel. "Sabagay, that's the kind of man you are. That's what you always do. Play and leave."

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Jhon Rey. Hinawakan niya ang kuwelyo ng uniporme ni Jhunel. "What did you say?" Jhon Rey glared at him.

"Jhon Rey, stop." I stood between them and tried to remove Jhon Rey's hands from Jhunel. I glanced at Jhunel and sighed.

"Jhunel, ikaw rin, please stop. It was I who told him how much he wanted to train and play at the UAAP. Hindi ba dapat magpasalamat ka sa kaniya 'cause if he did not quit, you'll not be in there."

He turned to face me disgusted. "Ganoon ba kaliit ang tingin mo sa akin?"

"N-no, we're merely trying to help you."

He grimaced and looked so disappointed at me. "I don't need help from that guy, Sheen May."

I felt agitated and was ready to follow him when Jhon Rey pulled me away. Even if his mouth was still unmoved, his eyes were asking me, like questioning me, what I was doing. That freaked me out, and I only noticed that I was about to leave him and follow my ex-boyfriend. I felt some kind of guilt.

Unti-unti nang nagsidatingan ang mga kaklase ko kaya hindi na rin kami nakalabas para bumili ng pagkain. Umupo na kami sa kani-kaniya naming upuan.

Professor Pasion came in and checked on how we were handling the letter, which was our final project in the subject. And there, muli kong naalala 'yong sinulat ko sa taong nanakit sa akin nang lubos. Hindi ko pa nga pala nabibigay. I'll make sure na mabigay ko, pero nasaan na nga ba 'yon?

Okay, I'll check it later at home since it isn't in the bag I'm carrying right now. I'll make sure to give it to that certain someone before this month's end.

A few of my classmates submitted our professor their letters. They were the responses they had received from those who had hurt them so much.

"Would you like to read your letter in front of us?" tanong ni Professor Pasion sa isa sa mga kaklase ko. Umiling siya. She appeared ashamed of it and looked like she was about to cry.

Professor Pasion nodded and mouthed, "I understand," before turning to another student and asking, "How about you?"

"Sure, professor, though it's very brief because I'm not a man of words." He marched in front of us. He cleared his throat before reading the letter he sent to the girl who had hurt him the most.

"Hello, Bianca! I know you're doing well now, but I just wanted to let you know that this letter is for our school's project, and they asked me to write something to someone who hurt me the most. And yeah, it was you. It was a long time ago, but you still rank as the person who hurt me the most because you're the only one I still love the most. Although you're now married and have children, I still have regrets that I never gave my very best. I can understand why you chose someone better than me because I was incapable before. But rest assured, I'm doing fine and still rooting for your happiness here on the side of the road. Love, Benj."

I bit my lip. I saw some of my classmates were teary eyed, particularly the girls. 'Yong mga boys naman sige sa kantyaw na ang sakit, pero ang sarap mo naman magmahal bro!

Professor Pasion beams with pride as she addresses his student.

"So, after a few weeks, here is her reply," Benj said as he opened the letter. "Hello, Benj! I'm sorry it took me so long to respond to your letter. I'm glad you're doing well now, and I saw on your feed that you have a lot of friends. I've seen you become an introvert and a loner, so I'm happy that you've finally opened up your heart to others. I'm really sorry for what I did before. You were right; I deserve to be called someone who hurt you the most because I became worse at that time. This may not be much to be forgiven, but I always seek the day that you can actually unhate me. Things may not end well for us, but I know you'll definitely find someone better than me. Good luck with your studies! My husband wants to say hi, and my kids were curious about what kind of uncle you are when I showed them your picture. Just like you are, I'm rooting for you to finally find happiness. And I will also be happy looking at you on the other side of the road. Love, Bianca."

"Woah, they really loved each other before," komento ng isa sa mga kaklase ko.

"How lucky she was when Benj was with her."

Nagpalakpakan ang mga kaklase ko. Nakisama na rin ako. I don't know why I feel happy and sad after hearing those letters. Some people might not end up together but still found their happiness eventually. I was happy at the thought that even though they didn't end up together, they chose to move on and be happy. It was sad because those things they were planning to do together ended up doing with someone else.

"That was soothing. I also wish you happiness, Benj," komento ni Professor Pasion. "Oh kung sino mang may crush kay Benj, it's time for you to move," biro pa ni prof.

Nagsitinginan naman ang mga kaklase ko kay Rhann, one of our best students here in class. Wait, ba't wala akong alam tungkol sa kanila? May ship din pala sila?

"Ano na, Rhann? Kilos-kilos din! Huwag puro aral!"

"Shut up!" Umirap naman siya. I laughed when I saw her making faces. Halata tuloy na totoo 'yong pang-aasar sa kaniya.

Natapos ang morning classes na hindi mawala ang ngiti sa labi ko. So that was the purpose of that project for us to finally have our closures from someone who hurt us the most. Sabagay, hindi nga naman nila malalaman na nasaktan mo sila kung hindi mo sasabihin at ipapaliwanag 'yong certain point na nagawa niya kaya nasaktan ka. So if you will be brave and tell them that they hurt you, you can see if they will make a move to fix the problem or just let you hurt. If they continue hurting you, then he or she doesn't truly love you.

The bell rang, signaling that lunch break is here, I looked behind me to ask Jhon Rey if he wanted to grab lunch with me, but he was no longer there.

Saan siya pumunta?