Chapter 16

Who would've thought Synestine and I ended up being together?

I had the most unforgettable summer I ever had in my whole life. It's been a few months since then, but man, I never thought I would be in this situation where I'm happier than ever. Looking back to all the times I wished I would have a girlfriend, I didn't guess it would be someone like Synestine. The girl I only thought would be just a dream of mine and now I call her mine, and mine alone.

When Tomas found out about me and Sy, he was so excited for us. Para ba siyang nanalo sa lotto dahil sa sobrang tuwa. He knew all the things I thought about when it comes to Synestine kaya ngayon na in a relationship na kaming dalawa, he wished it would last forever at hindi matulad nang nangyari sa kanila ni Cameron.

Deep in my heart, I know Synestine didn't become my girlfriend just so she could forget her ex-boyfriend. I knew she was genuine enough that she said I love you first to me.

Our relationship also became a hot topic around the campus. Hindi kami nakaligtas ni Synestine ro'n. I would hear some words na ako raw pala ang dahilan kung bakit naghiwalay sina Synestine at Cameron. I ignored them all dahil alam ko naman sa sarili ko na wala akong ginawa masama.

Hindi rin naman inintindi ni Sy kung ano-anong mga pinagsasabi nila. I don't want anything to hurt our relationship so anything that we would hear badly against us, we tried not to put attention to them.

There were times we came across Cameron when passing down the hallway. Hindi niya kami pinansin. Patuloy lang siya sa paglalakad niya. He has a girlfriend and all of his attention was put on her. When sometimes I caught her looking at him, I couldn't help but wonder if she was missing him.

Nang mahuli niya rin akong nakatingin sa kanya nang mapatingin siya kay Cameron ay natawa na lang ito. I don't know what to feel at that moment. Tatawa ba ako o malulungkot? Ilang beses na rin naman niyang sinabi sa akin na wala na siyang nararamdaman kay Cameron. She was looking at him to see if he was happy with his girlfriend. Masaya siya para kay Cameron, pero sinabi nito na kung dumating ang puntong aagrabyaduhin niya kami, he would meet her fist and she promised that would happen.

"Once we graduate—"

"I can't wait," pagputol niya sa akin at sabay pag-ikot ng mata. "I'm so over this phase of my life. Gusto ko na lang tapusin 'tong college ang mabilisan, e."

I chuckled. "We've got a lot of time in the world to be together while we're in college," paliwanag ko pa. "At saka pa, once we graduate, I feel like we'll be doing a lot of things and our time would be divided."

"So, you're saying you won't be able to manage your time?"

I shook my head. "Hindi naman. I mean, I'm not sure what's life like after college. Nasa corporate world na ba ako o ako na ang naghahandle ng coffee shop business namin. A lot of things could happen in the next few years."

"So, once we graduate, ano bang plano mo?" balik nitong tanong sa akin.

"I was asking you the same thing."

She giggled. "I will answer it. You go first."

Umayos naman ako nang pagkauupo, but she squeezed herself in me while my arm wrapped around her. "Alright, Madame. Of course, after college, I would love to share it with you and do all the things with you. I thought of applying to big companies and if that didn't work out, I would continue working at the shop. . . That's all I can think of right now, to be honest.

She giggled. "That's actually a good plan already! I don't have a plan. . . I just want to graduate and live a life I couldn't freely live. And this might be too early to say, but I want to grow old with you and have our own family."

I smiled. I hadn't thought about that so she surprised me with that. "Really?"

"Ayaw mo ba?"

I smirked. "I didn't say that. Okay, so let me ask this question since we're already on this topic. . . How many kids would you like to have?"

"Hm. . ." Napaisip naman ito. "I imagine I would be having two to three kids. Two boys and one girl or maybe all girls. I think a house full of kids running around would be fun, but somehow chaotic. I can't wait for that day to come."

"Oh. . ." I uttered, surprised by what she said. "You really want to have kids, 'no?"

"They're fun," simple nitong sagot. "But I know it would be hard to grow them. Was that enough plan after college? What do you think?"

I nodded. "I think so. . . What you think about for your future is what you anticipate to happen in your life, so I think that was a valid plan after all. Well, what we all said might not even happen because a lot of things could happen, we just have to be prepared for them."

"You're right, babe. . . I'm just happy I get to share this lifetime with you. . ."

Since the moment I saw Synestine during my freshman year, I thought she was pretty and I wanted her to be my girlfriend even though it was impossible at that time. I was nobody and a nerdy. Just after a semester, most of my friends moved to another university leaving me and Tomas together. He was the only one who knew about my admiration towards Synestine and even though I had no hope in believing I could have her in my life, Tomas believed in it.

I hope Tomas will stay in my life forever and be the best man at my wedding. He would be excited if I would say that to him. I guess, I also should plan that. My future with Synestine is important so I can't just shrug it off.

Life's more colorful than ever.

***

Synestine wasn't able to come to her classes today as she fell ill. Hindi nga sana ako papasok para samahan ko siya, but she insisted me to go to my classes and she would be fine. Ayaw niya kasing maging dahilan pa siya na mawalan ang Latin honor ko. I was aiming for it since my freshman year, and so I put in my mind na kung hindi man ako magkaka-girlfriend right after college, may Latin honor naman ako. Now that I was looking back, mukhang maswerte pala ako dahil dalawa pang mahalagang bagay ang dumating sa buhay ko.

Before I went to her place, she was requesting me to get some of her favorite Blueberry cheesecake so I would come by the shop later.

Palabas na naman ako ng campus. Iniwan ako ni Tomas dahil may ime-meet daw siya. Hindi ko naman siya masasamahan dahil alam niya kung anong kondisyon ni Synestine ngayon. I wonder what he was up right not. I turned right into the hallway and I bumped into someone else, as I raise my head up to see who it was and apologize, I quickly became speechless when I realized who it was.

"Cameron," I uttered.

"Hey, Pocholo," he muttered, nodding his head. 

I nodded, quickly looking away from him, and was about to pass him by when he called my attention. Parang nabato ako sa kinatatayuan ko dahil hindi ko naman inaasahan na tatawagin pa niya ako. Bubugbugin niya ba ako katulad nang ginawa niya no'n? I was worried. Kami lang ang nasa hallway ngayon, he could punch me straightaway nang walang nakakakita sa kanya at pwede niyang i-alibi ang mga kaibigan pa nito.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" he said, I could sense he was serious about it based on his tone.

"Oh, okay. . . Sure." Hinarap ko naman siya, pero naghahanda na rin ako tumakbo kung binabalak niya akong suntukin.

"I know you've been with Synestine now, good for you, though," he said. I couldn't read his face. Walang reaksyon na pinapakita sa akin kaya mas lalo akong kinakabahan. Tinitigan pa ako nito nang ilang segundo saka ito napangisi at iling. "Look, Cholo. I'm not going to hurt you or anything so chill. I just want to let you know how lucky you are with Synestine. You should take care of her. Love her limitless. Make her the happiest girl in the world. Do whatever you want. I was just saying all those things because I know how Synestine is as a person. She won't hurt you. She would love you until the day she died. Don't break her heart, alright? I will break your face if you do."

"Oh, okay. Of course."

He patted my shoulder and walked away. I was left confused about what just happened, but somehow it made sense. Hindi nagtanim ng galit o kung ano man si Cameron sa amin. It was his last year in college so I guess he doesn't want to leave any regrets behind. Maganda na rin 'yong nagkausap kami 'cause I know now where he stands.

Tumuloy na ako palabas ng campus. Dumiretsyo na rin ako sa shop kung saan kinuha ko ang pinatabi kong cheesecake. I paid for it since I don't want to get myself in trouble. 

Habang papunta ako sa dorm ni Synestine ay tumatakbo pa rin naman sa isipan ko 'yong mga sinabi ni Cameron sa akin. I was wondering if I also should tell her about it or keep it for myself. It didn't take me too long when I reached her place. I couldn't stay longer in a girl's dorm building since they don't really allow men inside the premises, but I had to sneak in so I could see my girlfriend.

"How are you, babe?" I asked softly, handing over the box of cheesecake for her. "Your favorite. . ."

"Thank you, love!" she accepted it, giggling. "I can't kiss you right now dahil baka mahawa ka sa akin, but I appreciate you so much. . ."

"No worries. Do you feel better now?" I asked and she nodded quickly. "That's good to know. I hope you will feel better soon. Your friends kept looking for you at me and I just told the to come by at your dorm so they can check in on you."

"No, I told them not to visit me dahil baka mahawa rin sila," sabi pa nito. "Iyong roommate ko nga halos hindi mapigil ang kaka-spray ng alcohol sa paligid. I was being careful naman and I feel a bit better than yesterday. Again, thank you so much, love."

"All for you. . ." I said, kissing her on her head. "Anyway, I would like to share something with you. . ."

"Hmm?"

"I met Cameron earlier and we had a brief conversation," I started, and then I explained everything we talked about even though Cameron did all the talking.

Synestine was smiling as I told her about it. She knew for a fact that Cameron wouldn't wish harm to us and only for the better even though their relationship ended on a bad note. She said she wanted to talk to Cameron and I won't go on her way and stop her from doing that. If it's something that would create some closure between the two of them then I support it. Hindi naman ako bitter para pigilan 'yon.

Cameron's happy with his girlfriend and so is Synestine with me.

All I care about right now is how can I make my future with Synestine memorable. I don't have an idea yet, but I guess our journey of love starts here and I can't wait to share this path with her forever.