Yes, I gave her a chance.

Because I trust her. Mukha namang seryoso siya sa sinabi niya sa akin kaya pumayag ako, I know my limits as well and if she decides to break the trust I gave, ako na mismo ang lalayo. I don't even know why I agreed at the first place, maybe because I felt comfortable with her? And I don't see any problem making her a friend of mine.

Yet.

I'm very careful with her though, why? Dahil sa nangyari nung isang araw. It didn't feel like those scenarios on a romantic movie where the leading man will suddenly kiss her partner in a public setting, or books that will make you feel butterflies or whatever that is. It made me uncomfortable at alam niya iyon.

Hindi ko gusto ang ginawa niya ngunit hindi din ako nakapalag agad dahil hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko, which I regret. Then after what happened, I gave her a cold shoulder that day. Masama ang loob ko habang nakain kami, who wouldn't? Oo na, some say the she's the epitome of beauty and I can see that pero hindi naman ako ganoon kababaw.

I don't care.

That's why I'm glad that she knew that it was wrong and genuinely apologized for it, other people might just let it pass and invalidate what I feel and never feel sorry about it. Maybe that's the reason why I gave her a chance.

Because I can see her efforts.

You know, those little things.

Katulad nga ng sabi ni Aeri, it is still my call and this is my decision so I hope it turns out well and I won't regret a single thing. Yes, it is just the bare minimum but those little things are important, at lagi ko itong inoobserbahan sa isang tao.

Of course, you have to see if they really care.

Kaya nagulat na lang ako nang nag-message siya kaninang umaga. Actually, kanina pang madaling araw ang message niya pero hindi na kasi ako nagtangka pang hawakan ang cellphone ko dahil focused ako sa paggawa ng activity sa isang elective subject namin. Nakatulog na din ako agad dahil sa pagod kaya pagkagising ko na lang ito nabasa. 

Jimin : hello, thank you kanina hehe.

Jimin : paulit-ulit na ata ako sa thank you huhu. kasi naman, hinatid mo pa ako eh ang layo-layo.

Jimin : i'm honored po mahatid ng isang katulad mo, joke! HAHA

Jimin : anyway, is it possible that you'll watch our practice game later? hehe.

Jimin : edi don't, ganyan ka naman. HAHAHA joke lang 😭

Jimin : kasi kung oo, i'll be happy practicing if you'll come.

Oh diba, may ganon sa dulo. Doble ingat dapat.

"Talagang binabasa mo pa rin oh." I heard Aeri beside me spoke. I just took a glance at my phone!

"Iba tinitignan ko." I said and turned off my phone. Of course Aeri won't buy my excuse.

"I'm still surprised up to this day that you two are talking. Oh, and too sweet sayo, geez." she added while typing something from her laptop, hindi ko na lang ito pinansin pa.

That three hours of class was hectic. Dumagdag pa ngayon ang pagkaantok ko kaya todo pigil ako pumikit dahil baka tawagin nanaman ako ng professor namin kanina, I'm glad I survived. If I didn't, that will be another day to feel embarrassed.

"Oh sure babe, hit me up if you need help with what to wear." my bestfriend exclaimed, hinayaan ko na lang siya asarin ako.

Well, hindi kami makakapag-ingay masyado dahil nasa library kami ng building namin. Napagalitan na nga kanina si Aeri ng librarian namin at binigyan na ng warning. 

"Shhh!"

"Sorry po-"

"Shhh! Isa pa, sige."

"Sorry na nga po eh."

"Aeri, shut your mouth for the meantime please."

"Baka mapagalitan nanaman tayo." a soft voice in front of us was heard.

I forgot we're with Somi right now because Aeri invited her for- I don't know the reason too, baka gusto niya lang ito makasama o makilala. Somi was about to leave our room alone but Aeri tag her along, it's fine with me since I'm comfortable with her and we had a time to discuss about our thesis.

"Girl, don't worry." Aeri said and smiled at the innocent girl with her specs on. "Somi, may naisip ako, wait."

I curiously looked at them and saw Aeri getting her glasses from the girl's eyes. I was about to stop her from doing it because it might make Somi uncomfortable but the girl let her do it. Nakita ko naman na todo ngiti ang kaibigan ko.

"Girl! You look more stunning without this!" Aeri exclaimed, the girl's specs in her hands. Nakita ko naman na napatingin ang libriarian sa amin. I mouthed my apologies and softly slapped Aeri's shoulders, nag-peace sign lamang ito.

"Well, that glasses has a big part in my life. I can't live without it." she said and gave us a soft smile, she fetched for her specs. "I guess.. Thank you for the compliment, Aeri."

"You can use contact lenses as an alternative, pero baka mahirapan ka." 

"I'll take note of that."

Aeri is really a social butterfly, people are comfortable around her. Kaya siguro sikat din ito sa social media, she's beautiful and brings a positive energy to everyone.

Pero bakit iba sa'kin?

Maybe I'm special.

"May decision na ata upperhand ng organization tungkol sa auditions." 

Napatingin naman ako sa salamin at nakita si Ryujin na naghuhugas ng kamay. Suddenly, we both appeared in our building's restroom. We catched up about our studies and the updates about AUDEX, baka malapit na din daw ang practice namin for the competition.

"Really? That's good. I think we need to decide now since malapit na din."

"Yes, yun din sinabi ni Pres. Actually, feeling ko makakapasok yung Chaeryeong ba yun?" she said with a low voice, may mga pumasok kasi bigla sa loob.

"Ah, little sister ni Ate Chaeyeon. She's quite good." I commented, I still remember how I got fascinated by her dance moves that day.

We're glad she auditioned. I just hope people won't doubt her talent and misunderstood her, baka kasi isipin nila na nakapasok ito dahil kapatid niya ang isa sa upperhands ng organization.

"Nagtatanong nga ako sa ibang estudyante kung kilala nila, freshman palang pala siya." she said and fixed her hair. I got confused at what she said so I looked at her with raised eyebrows.

"So what if she's in her first year?"

"Hala Win, don't get the wrong idea! Akala ko kasi same year lang sa atin. Hindi ko nakita yung details nila eh." she said, looking defensive right now, I let out a chuckle.

"I'm just asking..." I said, narinig ko naman ang buntong-hininga niya. "Hindi naman yun yung iniisip ko eh."

"Pero you might get me wrong din."

"Oo nga, susumbong kita kay Lia kapag ganon." I said to , nakita ko namang umiling ito sa sinabi ko.

After having a talk along the hallway about the UAAP season and our studies, we bid our goodbyes. I went to my parked car then I remembered that Ryujin asked me about Aeri dahil hindi ko ito kasama ngayong hapon. Ang sinabi niya sa akin kanina ay may meeting sila at baka matagalan ito kaya kung kailangan ko na umalis ay okay lang daw.

Then suddenly I remembered what Jimin texted earlier, hindi pa din ako nakakareply sa messages niya since I did not check my phone yet. Umupo na muna ako sa loob ng kotse ko at linagay ang mga gamit sa likod, I looked for my phone. I saw my Dad's messages and it was full of pictures again of his work, I replied with a black heart emoticon. I tapped Aeri and I's conversation.

Me : Kamusta ka? Matatagalan ba kayo diyan? I'll wait for you na lang para safe ka makauwi.

Me : Baka 'di ka pala makareply right now, take your time.

Gigi : hello, yes baka matagalan kami dito since may changes ata sa line-up.

Gigi : sasabay na lang ako sa friends ko or papasundo ako kay Mom.

Me : Are you sure? Pwede naman mauna ako and then sunduin kita after.

Gigi : its fine babeee, tsaka you have things to do pa diba and a person to meet? 😏

Me : 😒

Gigi : Lol! wala naman practice, buti wala, i forgot kasi my training clothes geez.

Me : Will you still play after the changes?

Gigi : i think i might, it depends if our coach will just let me play for the last set. pero i want to play for all matches!

Me : Gusto mo lang ng stolen shots mo eh.

Gigi : true ka diyan. joke hindi ah, bad ka talaga haha

I let out a chuckle at our conversation and went to another app to check Jimin's messages. Wala pa siyang ibang messages maliban sa kanina, I should have replied.

But I still don't know...

Gigi : if u have a date then go 😒

Gigi : joke, ingat baby ko 😆

I think it's fine to set aside my ongoing tasks for now.

Jimin : paragraph na ba sinusulat mo..?

Me : Huh?

Jimin : kanina ko pa kasi nakikita na nagtatype ka 😭

Me : Ahh

Me : Vacant niyo na?

Jimin : kakatapos lang po sa isang class. i'm glad i got an uno sa isang recit 😎

Me : Congrats! Hehe.

Me : Practice niyo agad?

Jimin : thanks! and yes, vball time with Yeji.

Jimin : ikaw? wyd? 

Me : Wyd?

Jimin : ano po gawa moooo?

Me : Ah nothing, I'm in my car right now.

Jimin : oki, ingat pauwi hehe

Jimin : rest ka na din, wag ka na pumunta since malayo pa biyahe..

Jimin : Min?

Me : I'll go there.

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