"Oh, where have you been? nakabalik na si Ella kanina pa" Lance greeted as I sat down sa table namin.

I was still out of my senses, feeling the ring that I was holding.

The same ring Ali gave me in highschool, the same ring I gave her back in Batangas.. the same ring she threw out of frustration. How did it happen to be here now?

"Sophia?" I heard Lance's voice louder.

I looked at him surprised.

"What?"

"San ka galing?" he asked.

"Huh? ano bumalik lang akong cr may nakalimutan ako kanina e" I suddenly saw Ella sa tabi ni Lance na umiinom ng wine.

"Ella's acting a bit weird" lumapit si Lance para bumulong sakin.

"Huh?" I looked at her as she put down her glass and saw na medyo nasira yung make up niya lalo na sa mata.

"Where did you go?" I asked her.

"Ugh bitch if you only knew, nakichismis lang ako jan jan lang" she scoffed before laughing.

She seems good naman, until I saw her other hand holding a bouquet of purple hyacinth.

I looked at it before giving Keily a suspicious look.

Her eyes just widened and shook her head telling me she doesn't know about it.

I furrowed my brows before standing up.

"So? who wants to grab dessert before the performances start?" I asked, I need to get everything together, this is not a good time to think about it.

"Me me!" Keily stood up.

"Grab a bottle when you come back" Ella just rolled her eyes.

Lance just smiled assuring me na babantayan niya nalang si Ella.

"Omg Soph I have kwento!" Keily excitedly said as we walked to the dessert bar.

"Ano nanaman nasagap mo ha?"

"Ih ano kasi! I saw someone kanina, I think I like him!" kilig niyang sagot.

"What? whoever that is Keil, swerte ka kabatch natin" I said.

"Hmm yun nga e, I didn't know why he's here hindi naman siya nakaformal.." she thought.

"Huh? saan mo ba nakita?"

"Kanina sa lobby nung inaantay ka namin saka when you went to look for Ella, he passed by our table e"

"What is he wearing?"

"Black hoodie, that's why I'm thinking hindi na baka hindi natin kabatch, hngg sayang naman" she complained.

"You know what? baka guni guni mo lang, you're desperate of finding someone kasi e" I tried not to think na baka same guy sa nakausap ko kanina.

"Hoy hindi ah! nakita ko naman yung mukha kahit nakacap siya, cute nga e"

Shit.

"Well you're probably never going to see him again if hindi natin kabatch Keil so look for another one nalang" I said as we were walking back to the table after getting dessert.

"Ano ba yan, I think Ella already has one pa naman, paano na ako?" I stopped in my tracks and looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Well the flowers.. hmp! wala ka kasi kanina nung bumalik siya ng table e"

"Why? what happened?" I asked curiously.

"Well it's more like nagulat kami ni Lance may bumagsak na bulaklak sa table before we saw her sit down grumpily, and Ella never acts like that for nothing.. and gurl did you see her make up?! Ella Choi? smudged make up in a room full of people?! uh-uh" it's true, Ella doesn't act that way for no reason. Kumunot yung noo ko sa iniisip ko.

"Shall we talk to her?" Keily asked.

"No. she'll tell us if she wants to" I know Ella, she tells us everything kahit hindi namin kailangan malaman, so telling us nothing might mean something.

"Where's my wine?" Ella asked as we sat down.

"Enough alcohol for you lady" Lance sighed.

"Urgh" Ella rolled her eyes.

"What's bothering you?" Lance asked her.

"Why are you asking?" she replied.

"You're just acting weird and I want to know what is happening" Lance said with irritation.

"Not your business" she looked away.

Lance just looked at me and I shook my head at him.

"Guys! this is a party okay? not petty, so stop it, let's not ruin it" singit ni Keily.

"Arghh you're right, we're basically doctors after next year so yeah, I do want a party" Ella said.

We smiled at each other. All the other things are not supposed to bother us right now.

"Cheers?" Lance put up his glass.

"Cheers! congrats guys!" Keily cheered.

I started to hug myself as it was getting cold sa event, the night is getting deeper na rin kasi.

Nagulat ako when I felt something wrap around my shoulders.

I looked back and saw Lance covering me with his tux leaving him in his polo.

I smiled at him before looking back to watch our batch mate na nagarrange nung party giving his speech.

"You guys, we all know where this will lead us, hang your head high future doctors.." I smiled remembering how much I really worked to get here.

"Things have brought us down pero isang taon nalang may M.D. na sa pangalan natin" his words took me back to what we were before.

~~~~

"Morning doctor" Ali kissed my forehead  which woke me up.

"It's saturday boo, let's sleep in" I rubbed eyes.

"Hmm, can't boo I promised Lucas we'll be home today right?" I suddenly sat up.

"What? that's today? shit oo pala, I'll take a bath.. and hindi pa ako doctor boo" I stood up smiling before folding the sheets.

Ali hugged me from behind and rested her chin on my shoulder.

"Ilang years nalang naman boo" she whispered.

"Hahaha matagal pa" I chuckled.

"I'll wait, I'm just excited, that M.D. looks good in your name" she kissed my cheek.

~~~~

My smile faded as I remember the ring, I did put it sa bag, I sighed. What is happening Ali?

"Cheers to us all, see you next school year hahaha" he laughed before applause filled the room.

"Hear that guys? we did good!" Keily commented.

"Right, I heard third year's the hardest, means we can party more next year huh!" Lance laughed.

"Good! that's what I liked about youu!" Ella joined him and we all just laughed, this will be a good night.

I can already hear light snores from the back seats habang ihaatid kami ni Lance pauwi, seems like they gave in to the alcohol.

"You sure you're alright Soph?" Lance asked concerned.

"Of course" I looked at him smiling.

Naalala ko lang nanaman yung singsing and that guy.

~~~~

"She says you look good, as always"

I looked back at him tears still in my eyes.

"W-who are you?"

"Does it matter? Hannah?" I was shocked, he knows my name.

"How'd you get this?" my voice broke.

"She already warned me about this but I can't not talk to you, hindi na ako manggugulo, please take the ring" with that he started to walk away.

A tear fell on my cheek as I looked at the ring in my hands.

What does this mean?

~~~~

"Els? just say something if it's who I think it is" I whispered to Ella as she was getting down the car.

She looked at me looking sad.

"Anything? kahit 'hello' lang? I'll get it"

She just sighed before walking to her door.

I sat back and sighed.

"Why?" Lance asked.

"Huh? wala, I'm just sleepy" I answered.

"Well.. I should have dropped you off first before Keily, but you do know mas malapit yung condo ko, wanna stay the night?"

I looked at him.

"Next time nalang Lance"

"Hmm okay, your say" we drove off.

"Hannah.." nagulat ako when I felt a gentle grab on my arm as I was about to get down Lance's car. What shocked me more is how he called me. Why Hannah?

I looked at him surprised.

"Look, I can't end the night without talking to you.." he started awkwardly.

"You look so beautiful tonight" he complimented.

I stared at him still surprised with what's happening.

"And I can't stop myself from staring at you the whole party.. I know I might sound bad" I didn't know how to respond to what he was saying but he doesn't look like he was giving me a chance to answer at all.

"If this is the pace I need to be following, I can wait, you're always worth it" he smiled softly.

"Lance.."

"If what you're going to say will only hurt me more, please keep it"

I looked at him sadly.

"Keep it until you wouldn't want to hurt me anymore, until you change your mind" I nodded softly. He's always been there for me, I don't think he deserves half of what's best.

I walked to my door still surprised with what just happened. How i wish it was that easy.

I sat down my bed after washing myself and getting ready to rest.

Once again I stared at the ring I now hold.

"How do I wear you when I don't know if I deserve your grace?" I smiled sadly.

I decided to tie it in a string and wear it as a necklace until I want to wear it on my finger again.

I put it in my jewelry box before laying down.

My eyes suddenly went to my shoes na nakalagay sa gilid ng pinto.

Bigla akong nahimasmasan.

Has it always been you Ali?

I got startled nang biglang nagvibrate yung phone ko, I immediately looked to see who it is and saw a message from Ella.

"Hello"

~~~~~~~

uwu :/