" Oh! Ang tagal niyo naman magtapon ng basura!" Leigh suddenly asked to us. She was wearing her bag now.

" Saan ka pupunta, Leigh?!" Emma noticed her because she was standing now.

" Babalik lang ako ng school." Leigh answered, smiling. " Gora na ako, bye!" She passed my direction.

" Hoy! Gabi na, ha." Emma shouted but it's already late. Leigh didn't notice that.

Until I heard an engine outside the food shop. I had a glimpsed.

" Uh! Girls, I'll go now." I waved to them. It's Kuya Roland who was waiting for me outside.

" Aww!" Ashley sad-faced. " Daya niyo!"

I shook my head. " I'll catch up to you all next time instead," I mentioned. " Bye!"

Emma suddenly ran in my direction. " Girl!" She even placed her palm into my hands. Tumikhim siya bago magsalita. " Don't make a decision if you're mad. And we will support you no matter what. You are a brave girl. Plus! Don't forget to call him tonight." She removed her hands into my palm and she suddenly put them on my side face. "Bring the cause to spark. I know that you still love him."

" Thanks." I slightly smiled.

" And if you can't handle anymore the situation. Just say Tangina!" She whispered to me, slowly. " Basta 'wag mo lang araw-arawin."

" Hoy! Hoy! Hoy!" Ashley suddenly appeared in my sight. Katabi na niya si Emma. " What is happening."

" Nothing." We both answered, jinx.

" Ah! Sabagay." She nod her head, pero alam ko namang hindi siya naniwala sa palusot namin.

" Okay! I will go na talaga this time." The last thing I mentioned to my girls.

I am in my room now. I finished cleansing my face and I took a shower just to freshen me up.

How was Gilbert tonight? Is he okay? And what was he doing with Taya earlier at that time?

Until my phone vibrated. It was Gilbert calling me. Gilbert.

I suddenly rolled my body on the bed. I know that it's a simple thing, but it makes me super happy that I got a call from him.

[ Hello, darling. Just got home] He greeted, he sounded like a tired guy.

" Hi!" I greeted back with a plastered smile on my face. " It's late, huh. It's really exhausting being a senior high"

[Of course, darling. We're going to college na, eh. Nothing to do but only to face the reality.] He answered back.

"How're your friends? For sure they took the STEM Strand, right?" I asked to him.

[ Yup! Except for Trix, my friend. he took Home Economics while Angel got the ABM.] He answered me. [ Tuloy ba talaga yung plano mo?] The atmosphere changed. I know that he was talking about my Senior plans. That I will take it to the University of Sto. Tomas.

" As I said, I'm still gonna think of it." I chuckled. " Don't worry about it."

[ I don't want to lose you.] He confessed, serious. Ang gulo! I don't know if I will continue being jealous of Taya because of what happened earlier. But nothing hurts more than a heart left wondering. Should I ask him why he was with Taya? I don't want to make a cause that we will fight again. I always said to him that I will trust him. In exchange, why he did this to me? Like, why he left me wondering about them?

[ Hey! Ba't ka natahimik?] He asked, sounded worried [Totoo sinabi ko, swear.]

I looked up to the ceiling. Thinking. I know that our relationship wasn't that perfect. We have ups and downs. We have a lot of troubles we've been fighting for. I'm kinda mad to myself na, bakit ang bilis ko siya patawarin? Bakit kahit anong gawin niya sa'kin, ayos lang? Should I be happy about that? Or should I be angry with myself?

" Uh! Good night!" I immediately ended the call. I don't want to make a cause. I will just keep it. I will just gonna understand. I will just gonna put trust in him.

Days and days passed. We're just calling each other. Sometimes he was not answering the calls, but I can understand that he was so busy with his studies so do I, because the final examination was approaching. I really have trust in him. So I don't need to be jealous.

I suddenly woke up when the alarm rang. As usual, I fixed my bed first. And I took a bath.

I went downstairs so I can go to the gym. Thank goodness that today was a weekend. I'm planning that after I did all my morning routine, I will review for the examination because it was scheduled on Monday and Tuesday.

I decided to text Gilbert if he was available to review today and tomorrow. But I think he will answer no. Because he has his own pointers to review.

I changed my wear into cross-back bra padded, grey tracksuit bottoms paired with the latest white pair of jogging shoes.

Kuya Roland took me to the nearest gym and I just said that he stayed in the car. I don't need bodyguards.

" Can I avail myself a membership?" I asked the guy-in-counter.

" Yes, Ma'am. Paki-fill up nalang po ng form." He gave me a bond paper and I signed it up.

" Here!" I smiled.

" Thank you and enjoy po." He answered back.

I looked around and I only saw a few people. I went to the treadmill immediately because I want to start with cardio.

When I found it, I glazed my eyes around the machine.

" How to start this shit?" I whispered to myself. I don't know! UGH!

I slightly moved my fingers around the buttons that I saw.

"Do I press this one? Or that one?" I continued to whisper to myself.

" Press the start, Babe." A familiar voice taught me.

I looked at my back and I saw a girl that her hair was in a braid.

" What are you doing here, Angel?" I asked her. She was in a gym suit like me.

" Okay, babe. Calm down. I'm not here to fight! Bullshit." She fired back to me while sipping on her personalized stainless steel water. " You want?" She gave me the water that she was drinking.

" No!" I disgustingly replied. " Can you just go away? I'm busy here." I rolled my eyes.

" O... kay! Maybe you remember last time, babe. That you bumped me." She ran and acted it again. " Ouchy ouch!" She slowly mentioned with actions. " I said that we're not done, right?" She smirked.

" What the hell do you want?!" I shouted. I don't care if someone heard it.

" I want to revenge." She let out a fake laugh.

" Then do whatever you want!" I replied back to her. I feel frustrated. I came here to remove all the stress.

" Not now, babe." She smirked, and she walked away with my sight going outside of the gym.

I let out a hard sigh and held my head with both of my hands. What the fuck! I thought she didn't come here to fight? She even made a scandal! UGH!

I didn't continue the workout and I just went back to the house. I'm in bad mood!

I removed my hair from the ponytail, frustrated and mad. I have no words. Why was she so angry with me? Is this about Gilbert? Is he was revenging me because Gilbert chose me over her? Lastly, Is this how love supposed to feel?

I just made a sarcastic smile, sticking my tongue inside the side of my cheek. And I let out a deep breath. I shook my head in madness " It hurts." I held my chest. And I poured the heavy feeling.

Days passed and It's already Sunday, Afternoon. I just reviewed myself last night even tho I can't focus.

I'm here in the kitchen, preparing for a coffee. In front of my sight was an index card with important details for the exam. I heard the electric kettle sound. I poured the hot water into the cup. I have now my coffee. Much better for the review.

I'm swiping my Instagram Stories for at least five minutes and I will turn off my phone for no distractions.

I saw that Ashley was on her laptop, typing something. I swiped and I saw my favorite Youtuber that will gonna upload his content later at night. And next was Vincent's story.

In that video, I saw some were reviewing and others were doing some other stuffs. Angel and Lance were laughing, Gilbert was in his book.

" Bro, so busy naman. Let's have some fun!" I heard Lance mentioned it.

" Yes, babe. Let's play." Angel winked.

And I just heard a familiar voice. The camera didn't have a glimpse of that voice.

Before the story ended, Vincent cleared his throat.

I didn't hear Gilbert replied back. I see they were group studying. Maybe I will just gonna give them food. They deserved it since they will be a grade 12 soon. And also I want to see him. Gosh! I missed him. I want to hug him tightly so bad.

I immediately chatted with Ashley on Messenger.

Natashane: where are they?

Natashane: sent a photo

I sipped in my coffee. And I shuffled my index card. And I heard a notification.

Ashley: i dont know where eh

Ashley: why?

Natashane: i will go there.

Ashley: okiru!

Ashley: wait lang.

I just shook my head. And I just browsed the book beside the index card.

Ashley: idk where eh.

Ashley: pero vincent sent me the address.

Ashley: here.

And I saw the address of the house where they were reviewing.

Natashane: thanks.

I immediately turned off my phone and I just took a shower and wore a white plain tee tucked in jeans partnered with white sneakers.

" Kuya Roland. Let's go here." I ordered Kuya Roland who was washing the car outside the house.

" Saan po 'yan, Ma'am Tash?" He wiped his hand on his shirt and I gave him the phone.

" Ah! Sige po palitan ko lang po damit ko." He replied.

" Uh! That's fine." I said to him. Looking from his top to bottom. He was wearing great. " You will just gonna drop me off there. And I will call you if I needed." I ordered.

He nodded and entered the car and I followed.

" Just drop in SaveMore first. In Bayan. I will gonna buy Dunkin Donuts and Greenwich before you will go to our destination." I mentioned to him while fixing my bag.

" Hindi na po tayo dadaan ng green fields po ma'am, ha!" He glimpsed at his back. " Papasok nalang po tayo sa T.S. Cruz."

I nod at him. " You're a driver."

Minutes passed and we were now at the Dunkin donut. I bought some Pizza already.

" And also can you add nitro cold brew?" I asked the girl who was at the counter.

After I paid I went back to the car immediately.

We were now spanning the road. " How was Ate Lita, Kuya?" I asked him, sipping at my drink.

" They're ayos naman po." He smiled at the mirror.

" They?" I nod at him. " I see."

He laughed. " Miss ko na ma'am sila." He suddenly mentioned to me, frowned. I can feel the heaviness in his heart.

I missed Gilbert too.

" Yeah. I miss her too." I looked down. " I want to see him so bad... I mean her." I sarcastically laugh.

" Ah! Gano'n po ba, ma'am?" He smiled. But that was too crazy.

" Have you never cheated on Ate Lita?" I randomly asked him was looking at the outside of the car's window.

Tumikhim siya bago magsalita. " Bakit naman po ma'am?" He wondered at my question. " Hinding-hindi ko po magagawa 'yon sa pamilya ko ma'am."

He looked at the front mirror. " Kasi sila na lang 'yung meron ako." He shook his slowly looking back again to the road.

I wished that even though I'm not with Gilbert, I hoped he never cheated. But why did I think of that? He can't do that to me.

" Nandito na po tayo ma'am. Lalakad nalang po kayo ng kaunti." He said to me and I had a glimpsed outside.

Rhant'z? I remembered this place.

" Going to the left, I think?" I asked him, questioning.

" Sa tingin ko po." He answered.

I nod at him. " Thank you!" I mentioned to him with a smile plastered on my face. I've never been grateful to anyone else than Kuya Roland and also to some of my important friends too. I don't deserve their kindness. " I will just gonna call you if you can pick me up na po."

I opened the door and I stood still, looking at the Rhant'z. I saw the car was gone now. I walked now to the road and I saw the houses were in left and right with numbers. I held the pizza and donut boxes I'm both of my hands. I looked back again to the address that Ashley sent me earlier. And I saw a person in my near-left in the sari-sari store.

I smalled my eye again to them. They were so familiar.

I just familiarized myself when he looked at me. It was Gilbert.

I put a big smile at him. It was like it's the first again that I saw him.

He was now slightly and slowly walking to me. Until someone pulled him in his hands that turned him back against me.

It was Taya... I can clearly see it with both of my eyes.

Taya kissed Gilbert fucking passionately.

She even wrapped his neck so she can feel the pleasure better.

Without knowing, A tear fell from my eye. My knees were getting weaker. My hands were getting weaker too which caused the boxes to drop.  I can't stand it any longer. I can't fucking feel anything. I suddenly put both of my hands on my mouth, so no one can hear that I am sobbing. So no one can feel that I am hurting.

I holds my chest while my knees were on the ground.

" Fucker!" I whispered to myself. I had a breakdown... and someone lifted me up.

" N-Natasha." It was Gilbert. He looked surprised, he was restless. His eyes were tired. Is he already like this?

" Fuck you, cheater!" I beat his chest repeatedly. " Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!" It causes so much pain, my tears continued dropping from my eyes.

It was my boyfriend kissing another fucking girl!

" How can you fucking do that?" I can't do anything but beat his chest.

I remembered Emma, that if I can't handle the situation I will just gonna say it.

" Tangina! Since when?!" I sob at him." Tangina!"

 He suddenly gave me a hug and I continue to cry. I carry on to let out the pain that I'm feeling right now.

I immediately removed my body from the hug. I wiped my face.

" H-How can you fucking do this to me?" My voice brokes. " How?~"

" You just misinterpret, darling." He looked so dazzled.

" Misinterpret?!" I mentioned to him, seriously. I shook my head in madness. " Misinterpret?! Gilbert?"

" You know what? Sorry for disturbing you." I fixed my hair. I don't care if my eyes were red that time. I took my bag from the ground. I turned around at him. I closed my eyes, In front of my eyes. In front of my fucking eyes.

" H-Hey! Darling." He grabbed my arms. " S-Sorry."

I immediately removed his hands from my arms. " D-Don't call me darling anymore."

" We are... finished now." I slowly said to him even though I need to let go because I am hurting. I continue to wipe my tears but they kept on falling. " Let's stop this shit already."

" Why... Why is it so easy for you to say that, darling?" He looked up to the sky, he was preventing tears from flowing into his eyes.

" W-Why is it so easy for you to cheat?--" I stopped.

" I-I didn't..." He was shaking his head, frustrated. His voice brokes. " I didn't cheat, darling." He held his head with both of his hands, grievance, and disappointment. " I will explain. Just don't leave me." He calmed me. But my anger and betrayal from my heart were still here.

" I don't need your fucking explanation, you cheater!" I pointed his chest repeatedly. " I saw it with my two fucking eyes!" My hands were getting weaker.

The Lakandula Street was filled with tears. I looked back at Taya. She was still standing there in shock.

I went back, looking to Gilbert." We are finished." I slightly smile at him. No hard feelings left for me. I'm already accepting the fact that I am just your once upon a time but not your happily ever after. " You are free, Gilbert."

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