-Sophia Bailey-

November 24, 2026
Wednesday 1:30 pm
Jensens District Subdivision, Ireal City

"Bye, Ma! Aalis na ako! Kailangan ko na talagang umalis!" Malapit na akong mapatid nang patakbo akong bumaba sa hagdanan dahil sa sobrang pagmamadali. Kailangan ko na talagang makarating doon at sana naman, hindi ako male-late! 

Pagkababa ko ay sinalubong ako ni Mama na may dalang isang platong puno ng sliced potatoes. May hawak pa siyang sandok. "Take care, Sophy! Pakumusta na rin sa mga kaibigan mo, ha?"

"Opo! Bye na!" Me and my Mom waved at each other when I was about to leave our gate. I really need to make it in time or else they will scold me for being late.

Because this time, they will all come with us to meet her.

Because this time, we know what will happen already. He will be in a safe condition, all thanks to Raquel. All thanks to the person we'll be seeing today.

I was very, very glad. I was glad to experience such pain and suffering that time. I was so thankful that I finally realized that it wasn't true at all---or maybe.

But what's the best part of me, being so happy right at this day? It's the part of seeing him smile at me all the time! Na hindi na ngayon ang magiging huling araw na 'yon. Makakasama na namin siya sa wakas, makikita na namin siyang ngumiti na parang nakakawala ng lahat ng problema iyon. I was so glad!

I realized that I my tears were falling while i was dashing to the main sideroad which made me stop from running in order to wipe it. Pinagtitinginan pa ako ng mga napapadaang tao kasi patuloy pa rin ako sa pag-iyak.

Ang akala nila ay may nanakit sa akin o hindi ko na napigilan ang umiyak sa sobrang lungkot. Pero gusto kong malaman nila na kabaliktaran pala ng iniisip nila ang nararamdaman ko. Nalulugod lang kasi talaga ako. Sobra!

Matapos kong punasan ang mga luhang natapos na sa pag-agos sa mukha ko, naalala ko bigla ang kuwento ng Clock Shop at ang kuwento nilang dalawa.

Siguro, hindi niya lang ginawa 'yon para kay Austin. Ginawa niya rin talaga 'yon para sa pinakaminamahal niyang tao. Naiintindihan ko siya. And I appreciate her very much. Sa oras na magkikita kami, pasasalamatan ko siya. Sobra ko siyang pasasalamatan kahit hindi niya man alam ang dahilan ko o alam niya na dati.

"A-Ate..."

I flinched that my shoulders even jumped in my surprise because the familiar voice of a guy crossed my ears. It felt like all the things went slow when I gazed at the guy who was standing right in front of me.

He's carrying a delivery box and he's wearing a very familiar jacket and pants. Natawa na lang ako sa aking isipan nang maalala ko ang sarili kong nakasuot ng damit na suot ng lalaking kaharap ko ngayon.

"A-Ako ba ang tinutukoy mo?" maalumanay kong tanong sa lalaki at nabigla ako nang mabilis itong lumapit sa akin. His face was filled with excitement when he strolled near me that I even stepped backward.

"A-Ate Sophia! I am Cedric Edward! Naaalala niyo po ba ako?"

Eh?

What did he mean by that? Hindi kaya...

Awang ang labi kong natulala.

"I-I mean," he added and he was getting red when he looked away. Hindi ito mapakali pero tila may gusto siyang sabihin.

I chuckled because of his cute gesture. "May gusto ka bang sabihin?"

"T-Teka. Do you remember me? I was actually... I was the one who was introducing myself to you when you we're still in High School!" Medyo natulala ako sa sinabi niya upang alalahanin ang tinutukoy ni Cedric.

So he actually knew who I am because of the happenings when I was in High School? Wait, si Cedric ba 'yong mas batang student noong High School kami na inaasar ng ibang boys sa akin?

And he's actually that guy? He's grown so much and he's charming, and taller!

Napahalakhak ako nang maalala ko na siya. "Ikaw 'yon? I remember you. You're the guy that some boys were teasing to me. You like me?"

Mas namula siya at hindi na ako magawang tingnan nang maayos. "I...I, yes. I mean. Right! You're right."

Medyo nginitihan ko na lang siya. "We even joined at the same club back then, right?"

"Opo, but the truth is that I planned to join on the same club to you and that's the day when I realized that I... well. I have no chance. Haha!"

He chuckled shyly and I could tell how sincere he was. Ang tangi ko na lang na naigawad ay ngiti na nagpaparating sa kanyang na-appreciate ko ang feelings niya. I remembered him, he's that guy that some students had said who's been asking for my number. Hindi lang nila binabanggit ang pangalan niya noon pero siya pala 'yon.

"I appreciate your feelings for me, Cedric," I said and smiled. We gazed at each other and I saw how his faced lightened up. "But you'll find someone, better than me!"

I showed my palm to her. "The fate will lead you. Time will guide you to your dreams."

Unti-unting sumilay ang kanyang ngiti sa labi dahil lubusan niya akong naintindihan. Kalaunan ay bumuntong-hininga ito na tila nabunutan ng tinik sa dibdib.

"I'm so glad I met you, Ate Sophia. I didn't regret meeting you back then," sabi niya at halos matulala ako nang tila may naalala ako nang makita ko ang masayang mukha ni Cedric. He's so sincere. "I'm very glad that I confessed too, at last. Despite not having any chance but it's still worth it."

"Me too," I told him. "Friends?"

"Friends! Take care. Mag-ingat ka sa lakad ninyo." Akmang maglalakad na sana siya nang magpaalam siya sa akin pero dahil sa sinabi nito, pinigilan ko muna siya.

No one told him that I have an errand, and with someone else.

"Cedric?" tawag ko sa kanya at nagtama na naman ang tingin namin.

I gulped. "Do you have my number already?"

"Ah, actually. Yes. But, I'm finding a courage to say Hi to you, sooner," he replied with a smile. "Not today."

Gosh, this guy's making me feel confused.

Bago pa man ako nagpaalam sa kanya ay sinabi ko munang puwede niya akong i-chat anytime since hindi naman magagalit si Austin doon.

"Before I go on, can I ask you?"

Tumango naman siya. "Anything!"

"Are we all going to be okay today?" tanong ko sa kanya at medyo tumagal muna bago ito sumagot.

He smiled. "Everything will be fine, Ate Sophia."

Mas naganahan na akong nagpatuloy patungo sa Kiran Street dahil super confident ko nang makita sila para makilala na namin si Luciana.

Hinihingal akong napahinto sa tapat ng isang Clock shop. Napahawak ako sa tuhod mula sa pagod at kawalan ng hininga dahil sa pagmamadali, makarating lang ako rito sa Kiran Street. Makita ko lamang siya at makausap.

Pinunasan ko ang mga namuong pawis sa aking noo.

"Sophy, you should've told me to drive you all the way here."

I gulped and froze myself from stooping. Am I ready? I mean.

Yes, I was so ready to see his smiling gesture to me!

Masigla akong tumayo nang matuwid at nakita ko ang masiglang mukha ni Austin. Ang guwapo at ang masayang itsura niyang humarap sa akin para alalayan sana ako.

"I'm very fine, Austin!" Halos naiiyak akong nakangiti sa kanya at hindi ko na mapigilan ang mapayakap sa taong ayaw na ayaw kong mawala kahit na kailan.

He was pointless from my tight embrace but he happily hugged me back that my feet went off the ground a bit.

"What's with the hug for?" tanong niya na natutuwa kaya natawa na rin ako sa sobrang saya. "You really missed me. We've only seen each other yesterday."

Saktong nakita ko ang gumaganang malaking orasan sa Clock Shop at nakita kong 2 pm na ng hapon.

"We're both late, Sophy," sabi ni Austin nang magkahiwalay na kami. Natawa na lang ako kasi dati naman na kaming nale-late. Pero ito ang pagka-late namin na pinasalamatan ko.

Nakadaan na 'yong truck nila Cedric.

"Magugulat pa ba tayo?" I asked with a laugh and he just giggled back, putting his cap on my head to shade me.

"Hindi na," he replied and he held my hand.

"Mayroon na si Logan, Emma at Emery sa Café, Luciana's there too. Tayo na lang ang hinihintay nila," wika niya kaya tahimik akong tumango at magkahawak ang kamay naming tumawid sa kalsada.

Medyo kinabahan talaga ako sa pagtawid namin pero nang makatapak na kami sa kabilang banda, nagtaka pa si Austin kasi halos napagod pa akong tumawid.

"Are you really okay? Why did you run all the way here?"

Look, it's the fine caring Austin I know.

"Hindi, okay lang ako!" sagot ko nang nakangiti pero kinakabahan na ako kasi makikita ko na si Luciana.

Mabagal kaming pumasok sa Café at iisang tao lang ang inuna kong hanapin.

"Late! See? Late talaga 'yang mga 'yan kahit kailan! Nako!"

"A-Austin! Sophia!"

"Well, bad thing about not being single, you know! Come on! Just agree, dude! People!"

Sunod-sunod kaming sinalubong ng mga panimula ng mga kaibigan namin kaya natawa na lang si Austin sa kanilang tatlo. They're all here too.

And Luciana, was sitting beside Emery. Crossing her arms as her eyes were on me.

She slightly smiled and stood up, lending her hand to me.

"Nice to meet you, Sophia Bailey."

I smiled and accepted her hand. "I'm pleased to meet you too, Luciana Antonio. Thank you very much."

May idinagdag pa siyang sinabi sa akin pero wala itong boses. Kahit na hindi ko 'yon narinig, naintindihan kong ang sinabi niya sa akin ay, "Congratulations".

I thanked her again before looking at Austin. Yeah, congratulations to us all.

That all of us as Austin's friends had successfully saved him.