"Oh my God? I mean, SFU Summer fair is really near na, thank God we're almost done with second year, jusko!"

Freshmen and Sophomore years in college didn't drifted away like a smooth butter on a newly toasted bread. It was hard but it was fast. I massaged the bridge of my nose and nodded to what Jean said, blockmate ko ngayong last sem ng second year college. After a week, summer camp na and all those activities of SFU, bust lalo na sa arts department because mostly we're the ones who's in charged.

I closed my eyes and sat at the bench at St. Therese avenue, with folders on top of my lap, I sighed and felt bad for the freshmen students, just from thinking about summer camps and events, I can remember how hard it was for my 16 year old self being enslaved by my seniors to organize our booth or run to the quadrangle to get the forgotten stickers. Buti nalang talaga at sophomore na ako and junior na next year. I'm almost half-way done with college!

I really thought studying itself would be the most exhausting part of this journey, but coming from the arts department? Extracurricular activities just proved my hunches wrong. "Pupunta ka ba sa camp?" Tanong ko habang nakapikit pa rin, I'm thinking about my unfinished patterns at home, ang dami ko pang ipapasa na plates at designs.

Akala ko kasi before college is not that hard as to what other people has been saying. Turns out I'm wrong. College is much worse than those testimonies. I thought I'd never find it hard since I'm learning naman and it's my dream to learn how to design and how to be the fashion designer I've been dreaming about, but no! It's not like those in films!

Hell. That's college in one word. God, I don't have any energy na to be attending camps, may fashion show pa sa Arko sa susunod na bwan and our org joined that event, I need to sew my final piece, just thinking about it stresses me out already. Jean sighed, I opened my eyes and watched the tall trees dance to the wind's direction. Onti lang ang tao because it's already quarter to 6 and normally sophomores lang ang may mga ganitong late schedules or even working students.

"Oo siguro, maraming gwapo 'pag Summer camp at open house e," she giggled, I just shook my head and massaged my nape, pagod na ako. I want to go home although Mang Bert is not here pa. I pursed my lips and took out my iPad to look for my deadlines.

"Puro ka gwapo, you always say that whenever there's an event," puna ko at tinignan ang notes app, and there I saw my never-ending home works.

"Alangan namang humanap ako ng pangit, Ophelia! I mean sorry Andrew E., but I won't find someone who's panget! Tsaka, if may chance e'di sunggab na!" She exclaimed, muli nalang akong umiling at tinaggal ang buckle ng I.D ko, I need to log in sa school portal, pero kahit buong buhay ko naman is sa SFU ako nag-aral, hindi ko pa rin memorize ang student number ko.

"Ewan ko sa'yo, Jean," I laughed and bit my lower lip, malapit na dumating si Mang Bert and si Jean naman ay may driver's license na kaya hinihintay na niya nalang akong maka-uwi because she'll drive herself home.

"Eh ikaw ba? Pupunta ka?" Naagaw niya ang atensyon ko pero wala akong ibang ginawa kung hindi paningkitan siya.

"I don't know," I shrugged. "Maybe not because I'll be busy with my ballet practice and my fashion shows," I puckered my lips in the realization. I got recognition from different people because of my dancing, but I think I'm not that good enough, I mean just not yet. But I think this is also because my practice days lessened and I'm not used to that, so I feel like I'm not improving or I'm not as good as my old safe, hindi kasi tulad ng dati na marami akong oras.. Now that I'm a college student parang wala na akong time para sa kahit ano.

Dalawang taon na rin ang lumipas simula nang umalis si Light dito sa La Carlota, and ever since? Hindi ko pa siya nakikitang umuwi. And though two years had passed, I can still feel the eyes of the people around me, watching every move of mine as it should be perfect. I sighed. At kahit ilang years na ang lumipas, my parents aren't still contented about my achievements, parang para sa kanila, hanggang hindi pa ako natatanggap sa Royal, them I'm still not good enough.

"Lagi nalang Yrreverre!" Reklamo niya na naging dahilan ng pagtawa ko, palagi kasi silang umaalis ng gma blockmate namin and they hang somewhere near but I always find the excuse to decline. I have no time for any of those so better decline. "Sama ka na! This year lang! Tsaka minsan lang tayo college pero habang-buhay ka ballerina at fashion designer," she draped her arm on my shoulders and pulled me closer.

"Pag-isipan ko pa," I lied. Hindi ko pag-iisipan, I won't just go at all. Sasabihin ko nalang na hindi ako pinayagan, pero hindi naman ako magpapaalam talaga.

"'Wag na! Sumama ka na! Hindi mo ba rinig kay Sir Santos? Extra credits daw next year, at isa pa, Loki will perform this year daw!" She giggled and waggled me. Agad kumunot ang noo ko at tumingin uli sa mga puno.

"Loki? Who's that naman?"

"Oh my God ka talaga, Ophelia!" Marahas niyang sabi ng naging dahilan ng pagtingin ko sa kaniya, her face screamed betrayal, na para bang malaking kasalanan na hindi ko kilala 'yong Loki? Isn't that the brother of Thor? My gosh, I'm not even sure!

"Who's that ba? Brother of Thor?" She exhaled and shook her head in disappointment.

"Singer! Basta galing siya ng Kalinaw!" My attention diverted to the car in front of us, it's our car.. I gazed at her and she just compresed her lips. "Ah, basta! Ayan na si Mang Bert, ingat ka! At pupunta tayo ng fair, okay? Malapit ka na mag-18, hahanapan kitang boyfriend!" She decided and pushed me off of the bench. I scratched my hair and just let her be. Isang araw lang naman 'yon and it's summer.

And I finished my second year strong, dean's lister ako and that made me happy, at least even I'm having a hard time it's paying off. Hindi ko rin napansin ang bilis ng panahon because it's summer camp or SFU fair season already, at walang ibang message sa akin kung hindi si Jean na nangungulit, isama pa si Cola na tinatanong kung pupunta raw ba ako.

Cola took finance in college and minsan nag-bo-bonding pa rin kami but not often. May boyfriend na rin siya but I haven't met him since the dude's studying at Priston. I bit my lower lip and sat on my chair while a white satin cloth is hanging on my arm. Tinignan ko ang phone kong nag-ring and it displayed Jean's name, for sure kukulitin niya ako because today ang start ng fair.

"Hello?"

"Bakla ka! Bihis ka na? Four start ng events, pero sunduin na kita mamayang three para maka-try tayo ng booths at makalibot tayo, bihis ka na ha! Susunduin kita! Bawal excuses, huminga ka naman, 'te!" Before I could even reply she ended our call already. I exhaled harshly and stood up as a sign of defeat. Maybe this is good na rin, so I can loosen up..

I took a bath real quick and fixed myself, I just wore a simple blue dress and some accessories, wala naman talaga akong balak magtagal so I just wore what I'm comfortable with. I paired my outfit with a white sandals and a sling bag, agad na akong bumaba at naroon na si Jean na prenteng naka-upo sa sala set namin, she's sitting there as if it's her house, I rolled my eyes and chuckled.

"Ay wow! Shuta akala ko hindi ka na sisipot e! Tara na bilisan mo, 'wag nang rumampa!" Agad siyang tumayo at pinagpag ang pants niya, she didn't even waited for me and walked outside our house na, Jean is really a breath of fresh air, she keeps my in touch with humor outside my lifeless life.. Si Cola at Light lang naman kasi ang kaibigan ko na nag-jo-joke sa akin kaya when I entered college it's hard since I'm not that friendly. Buti nalang andoon si Jean.

I followed her shortly and sat on the passenger's seat. She's just wearing her casual outfit, oversized shirt and white sneakers, parang ganoon naman palagi ang soot niya kahit sa campus, lagi nga siyang nasasabihan na parang hindi raw fashion design ang course na kinukuha niya dahil ang simple lang ng mga sinoot niya, but honestly? I don't see anything wrong about her style, it's just this thin stigma na kapag fashion design and course mo kailangan extra ang mga sinusoot mo.

Everywhere I go there's just this stigma, siguro kahit saan nalang talaga tayo pupunta mayroong ganito. "Hanap tayong kalandian mo, ayos ba?" She declared, I just rolled my eyes playfully and chuckled.

"'Wag na, I don't need," tumawa nalang ako at kinabit ang seatbelt. I pursed my lips as she play her playlist.

"Bakit ba? May boyfriend ka ba? Nililigawan ka no'ng nasa Economics, ah? Ayaw mo roon? Matalino 'yon," tumahimik nalang ako, I can't answer her queries, pakiramdam ko kasi ay ang bata ko pa masyado, I'm not even an adult and plus, maraming panahon pa para sa mga ganoong bagay, I just want to enjoy my youth.. Or baka kasi wala pa akong nakikilalang taong nakakapagparamdam sa akin na gusto kong maging in a relationship?

I don't know, maybe when I meet that one person malalaman ko from there on that I want to be in a relationship. "Wala akong boyfriend, ayaw ko rin, it's not something on my bucket's list, honestly," I explained a bit.

"Sus! 'Pag may pogi mamaya magbabago isip mo, basta, hahanap tayong kalandian mo, hindi tayo uuwi nang wala," she said, determined. Pinabayaan ko nalang kasi kahit ilang beses na naman niya ako inaasar or pinapakilala sa mga friends niya sa other departments they all just give up on me, I must be real difficult, I really don't mind.

When we arrived at the school grounds, puno ng mga balloons and tao ang quadrangle, since roon talaga ang gitna ng school, she parked near the Econ building, may field naman sa likod kung saan puro bato and that's where the other parking lot is, pero rito nalang niya pinark ang car niya because mas malapit sa stadium. Maraming tao at mostly sa mga 'yon ay outsiders since open house nga ang mga summer camps and fairs.

Agad kaming bumaba ni Jean at pumunta sa booth ng course namin, mga nagbebenta sila ng mga patches and other sewed stuffs, malapit 'yong pwesto namin sa college of finance kaya madali akong nakita ni Cola, si Jean naman ay may mga kinakausap because she has friends, as in group of friends all over the campus, ang sabi niya sa akin dala na rin daw 'yon ng pag-party niya and that she had joined many orgs and hang outs.

"Andito ka na pala! Buti pumunta ka! Alam mo ba nakita ko si G—" natigilan siyang magsalita nang hatakin ako ni Jean, her eyes are wide and she's pouting at the direction where the other booths are placed. I know Cola didn't got offended because they're close as well, sabi nila nakilala nila ang isa't isa sa isang party ng common friend.

"Tignan mo! Ayan! Lalapitan ko 'yan tapos hihingiin ko number ano? Game ah?" Tinignan ko kung sinong tinutukoy niya and I almost tripped because of shock, my throat dried so I tried my best to dampened it with my multiple gulps, halos hindi na ako makagalaw mabuti nalang hawak ni Jean and braso ko. "Gago, ano, ayos ka lang?" I didn't paid any attention to her because I'm still shocked. My breathing hitched when I saw their group coming close to where we are.

"Oh my God," said Cola. "Oh my God ka talaga, Ophelia! Kailan pa 'yan umuwi rito? Alam mo?" Hindi ako sumagot, I just stared at his figure.. After two years of being apart with each other I thought there would be no change at all, akala ko kasi kung anong itsura niya noong 16 years old siya ay ang itsura na niya kahit pa maging ilang taon ang lumipas, because considering his face and appearance back then is already great.

But he proved me wrong today. He surely got taller, mukhang pumayat din siya.. Or his body got toned? I'm not sure.. He's just wearing a white statement shirt and his jeans, pati na rin ang sneakers niya, I blew my cheeks and tried my best to avoid his gaze, agad akong tumalikod at tumingin sa mga paninda ng booth nila Cola.

"Ano? Bet mo siya? Bilis, reto kita, anak 'yan ng Mayor e, lalapitan ko na sab—"

"Alam niya, Jean, alam na alam, 'wag mo nang anuhin, yaan mo siya, marami pang gwapo rito hanapan ka pa namin, Ophelia," hindi ko nalang siya pinansin, even though I wasn't planning to buy anything I still stared at at the products, hoping that he'll just past by and not say hi to me because I won't know what to respond if ever. "Alis na tayo, punta tayo sa Econ, or sa Aero, andoon sila Simon," aya ni Cola, agad naman akong sumunod at hinila nalang din si Jean.

"Kaloka kayong dalawa! Bakit? Anong meron? Gwapo na naman 'yon ah! Sayang, galing 'yong Manila," reklamo ni Jean, suminghal nalang ako and pulled her away from that place, I don't even know why I'm running away from him. I just don't want to see or talk to him today, kinakabahan kasi ako.

"Basta! Kulit mo!"

"Bakla saglit kasi 'yong bag ko! Ex mo ba 'yon? Hindi naman 'di ba? Samahan mo muna ako kukunin ko 'yong bag ko!" I inhaled deeply when she pulled me back to the booth and the next thing I knew was his figure is few meters away from me, good Lord. "Ay oh pak, sakto, andito na pala e," mahinahong kinuha ni Jean ang bag niya sa table, and I don't know why but his eyes are like a magnet, and mine can't leave his gaze.

"He's really back," rinig kong bulong ni Cola, I gulped and closed my eyes tightly, nakita na niya ako. I can't hide no more. When I opened my eyes, I saw that he's still staring at me. Gusto ko na sanang umalis but he spoke.

"Hi Lizette," he said. I almost forgot how breathing normally was and I was just astounded by his voice, two years and it's deeper this time.

"Lizette raw, kilala ka? Stalker ata 'yan mare, pass," bulong ni Jean. Hindi ko nalang pinansin, I smiled nervously, tumango nalang ako at hinawakan nang mahigpit 'yong slight bag ko.

"Hello, Sibal," I uttered, almost a like a whisper. "You're back.. For a vacation?" His lips curled in amusement, nang marinig ko ang sarili ko ay agad kong binawi 'yong tanong. "Ah.. You don't need to answer.. Good to see you!" Hahatakin ko na sana sila paalis nang marinig ko ang isang lalaki sa likod ni Light na sumigaw, nakatingin kay Cola.

"Babe!" The guy shouted, I sighed disappointedly, oh my God.

"Babe!" Cola shouted back, my brows furrowed in pain, I feel like the heavens are playing me. "You're here? Why?"

"Light just got home from Manila so I asked him if he can come here sa fair since naalala ko kagabi na may event nga kayo rito," the guy explained, I gulped. Sabi ko na nga ba, mali ang desisyon na pumunta pa ako rito. "You know each other?" He looked at me and just nodded, unsure.

"Oo," sagot ni Light. "Bestfriend ko, Kyle," I slowly looked at him and saw how a smirk was formed on his lips. "Ikaw kilala mo?" Tinignan ko ang boyfriend ni Cola and he shook his head.

"Nope."

"Bestfriend ko, babe, si Ophelia and this is my other friend, Jean," Jean gave them a wave and a smile, kita ko sa tingin niya sa akin na naghihintay siya ng explanation. I never told her anything about Light or any boys that had been involved in my life. She looked betrayed. "Si Kyle, boyfriend ko from Priston, Phe, Jean," ngumiti nalang ako at tumungo.

I thought it'd end there, akala ko aalis na kami ni Jean para maglibot, but no! Kyle and Cola insisted for us to eat snacks sa field, I pouted because Jean is also with her fling, kaya tuloy mag-isa ako ngayon. But not really because Light and some friends were with him, so to exit myself from the lonely situation and Light's undying stares, I took my phone out and just distracted myself with social media.

"Are you mad at me?" Agad kong tinignan ang nagsalita, and it's Light, his hands are inside of his pockets and still gazing at me, I didn't looked at him at the same manner but I shook my head. "Why aren't you talking to me?" Hindi ako nagsalita hangga't nakarating na kami sa field and we just sat down because sabi nila Cola sila na raw ang bibili ng food, akala ko pa naman tatabihan ako ni Jean but of course, no.

She sat beside her kalandian which made me sigh because the seat beside me was empty so it meant that Light had the chance to seat beside me. Ipinatong niya ang siko sa pulang mesa at nag-lean palapit sa akin, I was taken aback quickly and gulped more. Now that I saw his face close I surveyed his matured face, but it didn't actually changed a bit, his eyes are still narrow, same as his nose, and his lips are still rosy red.

But his earrings didn't escape my gaze, ganoon pa rin cuffs and piercings on his helix, I immediately circumvented my gaze on his piercing one, I heard him chuckle because of what I did. "You're mad ba?" Umiling nalang ako at nag-phone. "You are.. " Mahina niyang sabi.

The whole time that we're eating, he kept on trying to talk to me but it just didn't feel right. Nahihiya na rin ako dahil sa nakaraang dalatang taon kahit isa sa mga messages niya ay wala akong sinagot. I didn't want to disturb him or even be a reason for his distractions.. Our dreams deserves nothing but the best. Hindi ko nalang siya pinapansin hanggang sa matapos kaming kumain, pagtapos nito magsisimula na 'yong mini concert sa stadium.

"Bakit hindi kayo nag-uusap kung bestfriends kayo? Duda ako e, siguro mag-ex kayo," tinignan ko nalang si Jean nang masama at inilingan, Light chuckled and bit his straw, si Cola naman ay parang pareho lang ng reaction ni Light, I bit my lower lip and was about to exclaim when Lucius started speaking.

"We're not exes, we're really bestfriends," confirmed by Light.

"Oo, kaso nag-Manila si Light e'di ayan hindi na ulit sila nakapag-usap, paano si ate mong Ophelia hindi nag-re-reply kay Light, wawa naman bebe Sibal," I shook my head and ignored their stories, hindi ko rin alam kung bakit lumayo na loob ko kay Light, maybe because I wasn't really a fun of the long distance relationships in all aspect.

"I'll just go to the rest room," I politely said and stood up, hindi ko na hinintay ang sasabihin nila. After I washed my hands I applied lipstick on my lips and left the rest room, I already heard the speakers outside, it means that the mini concert will start, it's almost dark so I already anticipated this. I don't have any plans on staying here for long and I'd leave around seven, alam ko namang sasabihan ako ng 'korni' nila Cola but I don't care, I don't want to stay for long, I want to rest.

When I got out of the rest room I almost jumped because of surprise. Napahawak ako sa dibdib because of nervousness, paano, si Light nasa labas ng rest room! "You'll be the death of me!"

"E'di sulat mo sa cause of death mo Lucius Sibal, Lettie," he winked. I closed my eyes because of his sarcastic remarks, I walked past him and ignored his presence. "Joke.. I was joking," he said and walked by my side.

"I