"Can you... check his story... on facebook?"

Parang gusto kong sampalin ang sarili ko sa sinabi. What the fuck talaga. Parang nabingi rin yata si Rio sa inutos ko.

"Ha?" she shrieked, "Paki-ulit nga, girl?" Nakaawang pa ang bibig nito.

I bit my lip.

I let out an exasperated sigh. Ano ba ang nangyayari sa'kin?

It's been a month. I was the one who ended it. I was the one who didn't care while he was begging to save our relationship. Pero bakit mukhang ako ang mas affected ngayon?

Am I regretting it?

Of course... not!

"Late reaction ba 'yan?" Rionelle continued, "Sabi mo wala ka ng pakialam at gusto mong makipag-break?"

Iyan din ang tanong ko sa sarili ko. Why was I acting like a freaking obsessed stalker. I tried my hardest not to view his stories—not to stalk his fb profile.

Pero ang lintik na kamay 'to. Hina-half swipe pa rin ang instagram stories niya!

"Sure ka na ba d'yan? Sabi mo kasi 'wag na akong makikibalita sa kaniya, eh."

I still find myself engrossed by him.

Do I really love him that much?

Para akong naiiyak. I wanted to vent. I wanted to curse him so badly!

"Mahal mo pa 'no?" Rionelle continued.

Umiling ako. I shut my eyes.

Gosh. Ano ba talaga, Luna?

"Girl, prangka akong tao at alam kong alam mo na hindi ko fini-filter mga sinasabi ko pero..." bumuntong-hininga ito nang matagal saka nagsalita ulit,  "Luna, tandaan mong ikaw din naman tumapos sa inyo, umpisa pa lang. The guy begged you a lot of times, pero iniwan mo. You didn't even gave him a concrete explanation."

That hit a lot and I should've expected it. Pero masakit din pala kapag sa mismong ibang tao nanggaling. Rio's words woke me.

I was really unfair to him.

Rionelle just sighed and hugged me. Pinipigilan ko lang umiyak ulit dahil ilang beses na akong umiiyak. Pagod na rin ako. Pagod na rin akong masaktan.

At sa tuwing naalala ko ang lahat, bumabalik lang lahat ng sakit.

I should've just listened to my parents. Dapat talaga pag-aaral na lang inatupag ko. I don't want to get hurt like this again. It feels like I wanted to throw up every single day.

Wake up, Luna. Get your grip together.

"Sure ka ba gusto mong tignan?" Rionelle glance at me while holding her phone.

If this is really the way to wake myself up, then so be it. Para magising na 'tong sarili ko sa pagkahibang.

He and I lasted for a year. We had our moments. He treated me well, and things were fine at first. But then came the uncontrollable fights, our stubborn prides, and the toxic environment surrounding us.

I knew in that moment hindi ko kakayanin 'yong ganoong set up. Mabilis akong sumuko. I ended it with him. I was selfish.

Hindi ko siya pinakinggan. I was too busy with my self. I was wrong. He begged and begged. . . hanggang sa mapagod siya.

Rionelle handed me her phone.

Napasinghap ako.

It wrecked me.

Tears started to form into my eyes.

I had to look away—I had to. But my heart was too raw, too torn, to do anything but stay there—frozen, watching the life I thought I had with him slip through my fingers.

"Luna!"

I felt my head throbbed.

Unti-unti kong minulat ang mga mata ko, only to see Aeri waking me. Kumunot ang noo ko nang bigla ako nitong hinila papuntang bulletin board ng Nursing building.

"'Andito na raw 'yong sched natin sa clinical duty," she happily exclaimed. "Buti na lang magka-RLE group tayo!"

Si Douglas lang talaga ang nahiwalay sa amin kasi Fuentes ang last name niya, kami ni Aerina naman magkasunod lang ang mga apelyido namin. Our classes started officially this week. Ang iksi lang talaga ng one week na orientation.

Wala kaming ginawa ni Rionelle last week kung hindi ang magshopping o maglaro ng ML at Valorant. Oh and did I mention he loved those games, too?

I mentally scoffed. Why was he slipping through my mind again, anyway?

I am more than okay now.

Ininom at iniyak ko na lahat ng sakit.

Ginawa ko lahat ng bagay na akala ko hindi ko magagawa.

Iba rin talaga ang epekto ng pagmo-move on, 'no?

"Sabi raw ng higher years, strict daw itong si Sir De Silva!" Douglas exclaimed.

Kumunot ang noo ni Aeri, "Mukha namang mabait, ah? Nakiki-joke pa nga kanina, eh."

"Naku teh, sa umpisa lang daw 'yan. Nagiging zombieland daw 'yan kapag start na ng Research."

"Edi, see you sa evaluation." Tumawa si Aeri.

Huminto ako saka hinanap ang section namin.  I was looking forward to our area of exposure. Gusto ko kasi sa mga malalayo at ayoko talaga sa city. I prefer having a dorm and working at district hospitals. Mas challenging kasi mga cases doon, and I'm sure mas maraming patients kapag sa Delivery Room or  Operating Room 'yong first rotation namin.

I immediately smiled when I saw our first area of duty.

"San Lorenzo District Hospital," I beamed, "Sa Medical-Surgical Ward tayo, Aeri."

"Ay, gusto ko 'yan! Malayo!" Humalakhak si Aeri.

"Badtripness naman," napanguso si Douglas, "OR namin dito lang sa hospital natin."

"At least, secured na scrubs mo teh. 'Di na hassle kapag magpapapirma ka." Aerina informed him.

Totoo rin naman. One of the disadvantages if you're working at far places is to have your scrubs signed. Kaya dapat prepared ka. Mag-print ka na dapat ng blank na scrub forms para hindi mahirap magpapirma sa Nurse on duty at sa CI na kasama mo during your OR or DR rotation.

Scrub forms are essential for us to graduate from Nursing and to take the Philippine Nursing Licensure Examination. We have scrub forms for the DR—Delivery Room and OR—Operating Room. They serve as evidence that we have completed these areas during our clinical duties and documentation in our practical experience.

Maswerte lang talaga ako at iilang scrubs na lang ang kulang ko sa DR. I've done one baby care and one handle during my second year, and it was one of the most memorable experiences that I have.

Itinuon ko ulit ang atensyon ko sa schedule namin. I saw that our OR rotation was our last rotation, so it will fall on the first week of November.

"Luna, bibili muna kami ni Douglas sa canteen. May gusto kang ipasabay?"

Umiling ako. I've had my breakfast earlier, at 'di naman ako masyadong gutom. "Okay lang, busog pa ako."

"Ante, balikan ka namin ha. Gutom na kasi 'yong baby ko," Douglas caressed his belly.

"Gaga, baka gusto mong kunan kita ng bp sa leeg!"

Binatukan agad siya ni Aerina. I just chuckled at the both of them, bago sila nagmamadaling umalis.

I quickly took a photo of our schedule, para hindi ko madaling makalimutan. I immediately sent it to Rionelle hoping for us to have the same schedules.

Possible rin kasi na makasama ko siya sa San Lorenzo. Sana nasa MS ward din 'yong rotation nila ng RLE group niya. AM shift kasi 'yong schedule namin and hopefully her RLE group was our counterpart—the PM shift.

Saka, magkakasama rin kami sa iisang dorm kung sakali. Hindi ko pa kasi nakakasama si Rionelle sa clinical duty and I was looking forward to it.

"Uy pre, tara dito!"

My phone beeped, signalling Rio's response.

'Girl, sa city kami inassign. OR duty. Sayang naman!'

Bahagya akong nadismaya. She sent me her schedule and I saw parehas sila ng schedule ni Douglas.

"Aries, pare!"

I immediately stopped after I heard that name. Halos manigas ako sa aking kinatatayuan.

Heavenly Father, please.

Ngayon lang ako hihiling na sana hindi siya.

Sana ibang Aries po.

Please not him po.

"Aries Valentin na may black profile picture sa fb!"

Putangina.

Kailangan po talaga Lord, specific?

Halos maiyak na ako sa kaba.

I stopped myself from turning. Para akong mawawalan nang hininga. I can hear their footsteps getting closer to me.

Wala na akong pakialam dahil iisa lamang ang nasa isipan ko ngayon.

I need to get out of here.

"Bingi ka ba pre? Ba't ayaw mong lumapit?"

"Gago ka!" I could hear his laughs from behind, "Tinawag ako ng adviser natin."

I bit my lip. Oh how I miss that voice.

Gusto kong sampalin ang sarili. Talaga lang, Luna?

I silently exited myself from the bulletin board, but before I took a step, I heard another voice.

"Luna?"

Parang gusto kong murahin ang nagsabi n'on ngunit nagtitimpi lang ako. Huminga ako nang malalim. I plastered a fake smile before facing that person.

I saw my new classmate waving at me.

"Hello, Luna! Kamusta 'yong schedule niyo?" Kier approached me. He was my classmate, but he was in a different RLE group. Ka-group niya si Douglas.

Hindi talaga ako lumingon sa pwesto nina Aries. Pero parang bumibigay na yata ang mga tuhod ko lalo na at ang lakas ng boses ni Kier.

I can feel those piercing gaze behind me.

"Okay naman..." I smiled lightly.

"Wow, San Lorenzo District Hospital? Gusto ko rin doon, eh!"

Hindi ko na magawang makinig sa mga sinasabi ni Kier dahil gusto ko na talagang umalis.

Kier tama na, naiiyak na ako sa kaba.

"Luna? Luna Torres?"

Natigilan ako sa pamilyar na boses na 'yon.

I slowly turned my head to see who it was.

Okay. Kaya mo 'yan Luna. Mag-greet ka lang saka umalis.

"Joseph, ikaw pala." I greeted. Nangagalay na 'yong bibig ko kakangiti.

It was Aries' bestfriend, and our RLE groupmate last year. We were once close before.

Parang nang-aasar ang hitsura nito. Pasimple kong tinignan ang katabi niya. Aries was just looking at me, his eyes intense, studying me in a way that made me feel... exposed. Agad akong umiwas ng tingin, ayaw ko na magpahalata na apektado ako. But despite my effort to act unaffected, I could still feel his gaze lingering on me, like he was waiting for something—waiting for me to say or do something that would give him the satisfaction of knowing he got to me.

Ano ba ang tinitingin-tingin nito?

"Kilala mo, Luna?" Kier asked.

"Oo pare, sobrang kilala." Si Joseph ang sumagot para sakin. He was all smiles while looking at me meaningfully.

Bwiset.

I just nodded, "Classmate ko sila n'ong second year."

Kier just ohh'ed, and didn't talked after that. I was about to tell them that I'm leaving pero agad namang nagsalita si Joseph.

"Nagcheck ka rin ng schedule niyo, Luna?"

"Oo," tipid kong sagot. Sumulyap ito kay Aries.

"Ah, si Aries din kasi magche-check ng schedule niya." Nang-aasar ang boses nito saka natawa.

Oh-kay? Anong pakialam ko?

I raised my brow. Pinipigilan huwag magsalita ng kung ano.

"I see," hindi talaga ako tumigil sa pag-ngiti, "Well good luck then, we still have our Research class. Mauuna na kami."

"Nice meeting you pre," paalam agad ni Kier sa kanila.

"Oo pre sige. Nice seeing you, Luna." Joseph chuckled. He was clearly playing with me!

"Thanks, kayo rin." I smiled, again.

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot ng isa at nagmamadaling tumalikod. Bahala na. Ayoko na! Ang awkward!

Who would expect that I would bump into my ex again?

Nagpapasalamat na nga ako at hindi na kami classmates, and there's a low chance we'll meet again. 'Yong mga classmates ko nga n'ong first year hindi ko na nakikita. Siya pa kaya?

"Boyfriend mo?"

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad. Halos mabingi ako.

Aries freaking Valentin.

Anong sinasabi nito?!

"W-What?" nanlalaking matang sabi ko.

"Ah, hindi pre. Classmates lang kami," napakamot ng ulo si Kier.

"'Di ikaw tinatanong ko," Aries shot back. his gaze shifting to me as he smirked, "Si Luna."

It feels so foreign when he said my name. It's been so long, and hearing it from him now brings back memories I wasn't ready to face.

Umayos ka nga, Luna.

"Anong paki mo?" I retorted.

"Uy, time first," si Joseph na kulang na lang mawalan ng oxygen kakatawa. Ito yata ang may COPD eh.

Aries looked amused, as if he didn't expect my response.

"I was just asking. Masama ba?"

"And I was just asking too. Masama rin ba 'yon?"

I was glaring at him. Hindi ko alam ba't ako asar na asar. Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling 'yong galit ko.

This is not me!

"Gusto ko rin magtanong!" si Joseph.

Halos maglulupasay na ito sa sahig kakatawa. Tahimik lamang si Kier sa tabi ko, halos naguguluhan na sa'min.

"So, I'm assuming no?"

"Ba't ba ganyan mga tanong mo?" singhal ko.

Aries just chuckled again.

"I'm just curious..." he trailed off, his voice soft but filled with a certain weight. He gave me a stern look, his eyes not leaving mine for a second. Napalunok ako.

Ba't ba grabe tumitig 'to?

"Of what?" I asked, my tone a mix of confusion and irritation.

"What is it, Aries?" I added, trying to hold my ground as my patience started to thin.

Umawang ang bibig nito. He looked taken a back for a second.

Was it how I said his name? Wow, congrats Luna. Ang assuming mo naman.

He paused for a moment, his gaze still intense, as if weighing his next words carefully. The silence between us felt thick, like the air had shifted. I could feel my heart racing, but I wasn't going to let him see it.

Finally, Aries broke the silence. A smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

"I was just thinking... I might still have a shot with you," he said, his voice light, but there was something in his eyes that hinted more. My breath hitched.

Naputol lamang ang tensyon nang magsalita si Joseph.

"Grabe.. may chemistry pa rin..."

Tinignan ko ito nang masama. He just smiled sheepishly.

"Sige tuloy niyo lang hehe, kunyare wala lang kami rito. Props lang kami." Sinenyasan din nito si Kier na manahimik. Agad namang sumunod si Kier sa kanya.

Napailing lamang ako. Binalik ko ang mga mata kay Aries.

I took a deep breath, refusing to let him get under my skin. "I don't have time for your games, Aries."

Aries raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharpening, but his voice remained cool.

"Who says I'm playing?" he replied smoothly, his voice dropping a notch in intensity. "I was always serious with you."

•••