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When daddy said I'll transfer to another school, no one can ever change his mind. I told my family that it's okay if I'll stay, but they never listened. They are furious at the moment.

Mommy and daddy went outside to buy me meds, while Serene and ate are here in my room to watch over me.

"He was here a while ago..." pagbubunyag ni Serene. Akala niya siguro tulog pa ako at hindi ko naririnig ang usapan nila ni ate. I can clearly hear their conversation but I remained my eyes shut so they'd continue what their doing.

"Who? Her ex?" I can sense the bitterness in my sister's voice.

My friend hummed.

Are they talking about Israel? So he went here and I didn't know a thing? Hindi ko alam ang dahilan para pumunta pa siya rito. After what he did, he had the guts to show up?

Well... masisi ko ba siya? I was the one who broke up with him. We're over and in fact wala akong karapatan para magalit dahil sa ginawa niya. He can already do whatever he wants because he's not attached to me. Sinusulit niya na siguro ang natitirang mga panahon para makapang-babae siya!

I felt so... insecure.

"Pero hindi siya pinayagan ng daddy niyo para makita si Astrid. Kung nakita mo lang sana ang mukha ni Israel kanina, he was so worried about her," dugtong ni Serene.

Nakatalikod ako sa kanila kaya hindi nila alam na nakabukas na pala ang mga mata ko. 

I intentionally faked my sleep in order to hear their conversation. It was heart-rending for me, especially after realizing that he came but they only pushed him away. I understand my parents anyway. Alam kong ginawa lang nila iyon para sa ikabubuti ko.

I remember when I was a kid, me and my family almost died when three strangers tried to kidnap us . That was the root of my panic attacks. Kahit hindi parehas ang sitwasyon, basta sa tuwing nakakaramdam ako ng matinding pagkabalisa, umaatake ito.

Buong akala ko'y itutuloy pa nila ang pag-uusap pero nagkamali ako nang tumigil sila at nanahimik na lang. I just took that opportunity to rest until I fell asleep again.

After I woke up from a deep slumber, I got a very good news that I can now go home. Pagsapit ng alas kuwatro ng hapon, binisita muli ako ng doctor para sa ilang mga bilin. Pagkatapos noon, ay okay na ang lahat at saka na kami umalis. Hindi na namin kasama si Serene dahil nauna na siya.

"I already contacted the director of your new school, anak. I'll just have to process some papers at pwede ka nang lumipat. Please take this seriously and I hope you won't get mad at us," pagpalaliwanag ni daddy.

Umiling ako at ngumiti. Kung siguro ay pinahintulutan ng aking mga magulang si Rael na bisitahin ako rito, hindi ko rin siya kakayaning harapin. It was traumatizing and my heart still hurts after what I saw in the gorcery store. The pain is still here and I think it's not easy to just forget about it.

Moving on is hard. Especially if that person already took a big part of your life. It was my first time being in love, my first time having a boyfriend, and my first time experiencing an intense heartbreak. All of that happened in a short period of time but none of those did I regret.

This is the last time I'm gonna cry because of him. Setting him free will be my nightmare but I don't have a choice. This is what destiny or probably God made us be.

Holding a pen, and blank paper above my desk, I scribbled the words I wanted to say for him. A short letter of goodbye is the last thing I thought about before completely letting him go in my life.

Dear Israel,
   Hi! How are you? Are you doing well these past few days? Do you miss me? Because I really do and my heart won't stop beating your name. Pero huwag kang mag-alala, I'm starting to get used to it and I'm getting better every day. I'm fine so you don't have to worry anymore.
    I'm also deeply sorry for the things I said to you that night. Hindi ko iyon sinasadya at alam kong nasaktan kita ng sobra dahil doon. When I saw you kissing another girl, it's like my world stopped for a moment. I want to know why you did that but whatever your reason won't change the fact that I don't have the right to get mad since we already broke up.
    Thank you for letting me love you. Hiding-hindi kita makakalimutan. Fulfill your dreams without me. I'm sure you'll be a great priest someday, sharing and inspiring the society with the word of God. I am always rooting for you to achieve your goals because I know you're amazing. God loves you.
– A.J. Peralta

Tinupi ko iyon at nilagay sa isang maliit na envelope. After a few seconds of thinking so many things, a tear escaped from my eyes down to my cheeks. But it wasn't just a tear made from pain. It was a tear mixed with joy and sorrow, showing that I finally had the courage to be strong after all the adversities.

That exact day, pinadala ko ang sulat sa address niya. Sana lang ay makuha niya iyon at mabasa. It might be too old-fashioned but it was the best way since I deactivated all my social medias.

With a bag on my back, I smiled as my new teacher welcomed me to the whole class. Ang mga kaklase ko ay nakangiti rin at tila excited sila na makilala ako.

"From now on, she will be your new classmate. Astrid came from Eastwood International School and she will be studying here from now on. Be good to her, class."

"Yes, sir!" sumagot ang buong klase.

Ang kaninang kaba ay nawala dahil napalitan iyon ng tuwa. I just hope I'll find peace here.

Itinuro ni Sir Arthur ang upuan na para sa akin. "You can sit on that vacant chair. If you have further questions, you can approach me in the office, okay?" he said in a calm voice.

"Sige po, sir at maraming salamat," sagot ko sabay tango.

Tinalikuran ko siya at lumakad na patungo sa upuan na bakante. My girl seatmate glanced at me and offered a smile.

"Hi! I'm Christa! Nice meeting you. Ang ganda-ganda mo naman," pagpuri niya. Hindi ko inaasahan na iyon ang agaran niyang sasabihin.

"Thank you, ikaw din naman. I hope we'll be friends."

She nodded as our teacher started his discussion. Hindi niya na nadugtungan ang sinabi kanina at nakinig na lamang.

I tied my hair in a bun since my long hair is distracting me. Ilang minutes na lang ay matatapos na ang first subject namin. Since nag-transfer ako, may mga ibang subjects akong ite-take na iba ang mga kaklase ko. Hindi kasi ang pare-parehas per semester ang ino-offer ng schools na mga subjects kaya medyo mahihirapan ako.

"So, Astrid, anong course ang kukunin mo sa college since nag STEM ka?" tanong ni Christa habang kumakain kami sa cafeteria. Ipinakilala niya ako sa ibang mga kaklase ko at mabuti na lang mababait sila sa akin.

They asked me questions and I'm hoping they won't be asking the reason why I transfered. Baka hindi ko lang iyon masagot.

"Dentistry," sagot ko at namangha siya.

"Really? I'll also study Dentistry!" tuwang-tuwa niyang sambit.

Medyo nagulat pa nga ako sa pagtaas ng boses niya. She was ecstatic when she heard that I'm taking Dentistry as my course. Pareho pala kami.

"That's great!" I replied after chewing my food.

Tumawa ang isa ko pang kaklase. "You're so happy, huh? Alam mo, Astrid, wala kasi siyang kaibigan na magte-take ng same course sa kaniya kaya ayan, tuwang-tuwa." He chuckled.

"Sa wakas! Nakahanap ako ng taong kaparehas ko ng interes!" aniya.

"Saan ka ba mag-aaral? Dito rin sa ba sa University? Ako kasi rito na, e para alam ko kung may kasabay ako."

Naalala ko ang dalawa kong kaibigan habang kinakausap sila. Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa akong balita kay Eira. Gustong-gusto ko na siyang kausapin pero galit pa rin siya akin.

Nilabas ko ang phone at pinindot at hinanap ang pangalan niya sa contacts. I typed my message and hit the send button.

Me:

Hi, Eira! Kamusta ka na? Can we talk?