"Are you scared, ate?" I look at Theo who sat beside me at the dining table, my brows furrowed and slightly turn my body at his direction. 

"Saan naman ako matatakot? I'm doing all good, what's the reason for me to be scared?" I confusedly ask while chewing on my apple. 

Theo shrugged before taking a spoonful of cereal, "College, I heard mahirap daw. Then I know you're going to leave the down and go to Manila, plus you're gonna live with kuya Sam." he said and my lips parted a bit before slowly nodding. 

"Ah... yes, you're right about those, but I'll be fine. I'm no longer a kid, Theo. I can fight for myself and so are you, I know you'll do so well here." I said before caressing his hair. 

I spent days and days of the summer making sure I am relaxed and I have rested. College is sure a big things just like what Theo said, but that's reality and I have to face that reality. Laura already left the country, it was a sad goodbye to all of us. She also seems like she's carrying something inside her that day. Ali cried the most among of us when Laura left. 

Speaking of Ali... I haven't messaged her for almost a week na! Our last contact was the night when Laura left. 

I grab my phone and scroll through my contacts and look for her number, I press call and waited for her to answer, but she never did. I tried another time, then another, until I got tired by the 4th try. I look confusedly on my phone. Ali usually answers, Ali never ignore a call except if she's doing something really important. 

"Alam ko na," I said before jumping out of my bed and rushing out my bedroom. I went to the kitchen first and grab a bucket of cookies before running our of the gates with my slippers. Their house is just less than 100 meters away anyways, I could just run towards their house. 

"Ali? Ali!!" I shouted outside their house, their dogs barking at me so I make sure I'm around 5 meters away from the gate  but my voice loud enough for her to hear me. I was expecting her to come out, but to my surprise, it's tito Isaias who greet me a good morning with a smile. 

"Lory, ikaw pala, ano 'yon?" he ask, since I'm not really close with her parents, I got a little shy. 

"Ahm... si Ali po? Hindi niya po kasi sinasagot ang tawag ko." I shyly said, tito Isaias look surprised. 

"Hindi ba niya ibinigay sa'yo yung bagong niyang number, sandali-sandali at ibibigay ko sa'yo." he said before getting back inside their house. A minute later he come out and he handed me a piece of paper. 

"Iyan ang bagong number ni Ali, makakalimutin talaga 'yang si Ali, nakalimutan palang sabihin sa'yo yung bagong number niya." he said and I slowly nod while staring at the number. 

The number is not in Philippines hotline. 

I look up at tito, "Tito, nasaan po si Ali?" I asked, hoping I'm wrong. 

Tito smiled, "Hindi rin siya nagpaalam sayo? Akala namin nagpaalam siya, Nasa abroad ngayon si Ali, doon siya mag co-college." he said and my jaw dropped. 

"Pero diba po nakapasa siya sa UP?" I asked, still denying that she actually left. 

Tito smiled, "Aampunin muna siya ng lolo niya sa Massachusetts, doon siya pag-aaralin." he replied and I slowly nod. 

"Sige po, salamat po tito." I said before starting to walk back towards the house with a heavy feeling. 

I flopped down on my bed together with the bucket of cookies in my hand as I stare at the phone number written on the paper. I sat up and open the bucket of cookies while still looking at the phone number. 

"Bakit hindi siya nagsabi?" I mumbled while munching on the cookie, I don't mind if she's gonna study there for college and will spend years there, but what actually matters to me is that she didn't even told me, or us! 

After few cookies I finally had the urge to call the number, and within 2 rings, she pick up. 

[Hello?] she sounded odd. 

"Hey..." I smiled and took a deep breath, "Kamusta ibang bansa?" I asked, I don't want to go straight and ask her why she didn't said goodbye cause I can sense from her voice that she's going through something. 

[Ah... hehe, okay lang naman, adjusting pa pero makaka-adjust naman.] She replied and I slowly nod. 

"Kailan ka pa diyan?" I asked again, playing with the paper in my hand. 

[Ano... mga magtwo-two weeks na, kasabayan lang ako halos ni Laura na umalis.] she replied and my lips parted. 

"Bakit hindi ka nagsabi?" I asked with a little pout on my lips. 

[Ah ano... kasi... ayaw ko naman agawan ng spotlight si Laura nung aalis siya. Balak ko kasi talaga noong meet up natin na 'yon ako magsasabi, kaso nagulat ako na si Laura rin pala ay aalis kaya hindi na ako sumingit.] she explained and I felt a slight pang in my chest, why is she like this? She's so... selfless. 

"Ali, you should still have told us. I was worried about you. Tinatawagan ko yung dati mo na number pero hindi ka sumasagot, hindi ko pa malalaman na umalis ka kung hindi ako pumunta sa bahay niyo." I said with a slight annoyance in my voice but I made sure I still don't sounded mad. I'm just annoyed that she always worry about the other but never thinks about herself. 

[Nahihiya din ako na magsabi, ikaw nalang magsabi sa kanila.] she said and I slowly nod, 

"Okay, I will." I replied, after saying that, I hear someone call her from the other line. 

[Sige na Lory, una na ako, bye!] she said, I wasn't able to bid a goodbye because she already ended the call. I push my phone away from my ear and sigh. 

I then went to our group chat and the first thing I noticed is some changes in their nicknames. 

from me: Ali left the country, she's in Massachusetts right now, doon daw siya mag co-college. 

Gwen and Laura immediately seen the messages. 

from Lauriat Kassandra: 

What?! Really?! She didn't bid a goodbye! 

from Gwen-Gwen: 

True ba?! Hoy @Aliparot ano itong nasagap ko na chismiss?!!

from me: 

I think she's busy right now, kakatapos ko lang siyang kausap kanina, here's her new number nga pala... 

After sending Ali new number, it seems that they all got busy and probably calling Ali. A sigh escaped my lips and stare at the bucket of cookie. 

"Ang daya mo, ang daya niyo, iniwan niyo kami dito." I said before grabbing the bucket of cookies and place it on my lap before staring at the wall, no thoughts in my mind. 

"Be ready, pupunta tayo ng Manila bukas, you and Sam will start looking for a condo." Mom said while we're eating breakfast, I slightly lift my head up and nod. 

"Sure," I shortly answered before continue eating, mom finished eating first and so is tito Thiago. Both of them left and mom only bid goodbye to Theo. 

"Grabe, ramdam na ramdam na ayaw sa'kin ng nanay ko." I joked as I sat on the sofa and begun scrolling through the TV channels. 

I'm peacefully watchig a Barbie movie when I received a text, 

from Ponce: 

See you tomorrow! 

It made me sigh as I read his message, I held my phone with both of my hand and started typing a reply. 

to Ponce:

The condo should at least be nice and comfortable. 

from Ponce:

Of course, somewhere both of us will relax and be comfortable. 

I shake my head and didn't bother to reply, but after few seconds, another text came up. It made me hiss in annoyance and I aggressively pick up my phone from the sofa. I thought it's Sam again, but to my surprise, it's Inin. 

from Inin:

Bukas daw lalabas yung results sa PUP, kinakabahan ako. 

After reading his message, a smile crept on my lips. 

to Inin:

Of course makakapasa ka, I've been telling you that for a long time. We've manifested enough already. 

from Inin:

Sana talaga, kinakabahan na ako. 

to Inin:

Don't be, negative thoughts brings negative results, so calm down, and claim that you'll get that full scholarship. 

I fix my position on the sofa and wait for him to reply. 

from Inin:

Tama-tama, claiming na agad! By the way, busy ka? Tara ice cream! 

I slight tilt my head after reading his message, 

to Inin:

Pwede pass muna? Feeling ko pagod ako kahit wala akong ginagawa. 

from Inin:

HAHAAHAH, same! Naiintindihan kita, don't worry. Sa susunod nalang, kapag lumabas na yung results para blow-out ko na rin. Bukas ba, libre ka? 

I bit my lower lip before shaking my head, I have to make another excuse to him because I can't just tell him that his girlfriend will be looking for a condo where she would live with another man. 

to Inin:

Siguro after 2 days? Pupunta kaming Manila bukas, hindi ko alam kung kailan ang uwi namin. 

from Inin:

Ah sige sige, ingat! 

I sent him heart emojis after that, I place my phone o n the carpeted floor before laying down on the sofa, right hand on my stomach while the other one is hang low, almost touching the floor. 

I miss him, I want to see him, the last time we saw each other was before our graduation. Hindi rin ako nakapunta sa graduation niya dahil gabi na 'yon at alam kong hindi ako papayagan na lumabas. Plus he also don't want me to be there because he said it's something not so elegant and I might feel uncomfortable. But he did sent me pictures of himself and tito Ray on stage, tito Ray even got emotional. The two of them also ate for a small celebration. 

The next day, I woke up at 1am, took a shower and change into casual clothes before heading downstairs. I asked the maids if mom, tito Thiago and Theo already ate and they said they already did. So I just ate by myself while also waiting for them. By 3am we left the house and hit the road. 

I kept silent the whole ride, I never utter any word cause I never feel comfortable with my own mom. My headphones are on the whole travel and I wear the eye mask I brought incase someone decides to open the blinds at the window and light explodes inside the van. 

We arrived at Manila by 10PM, gladly there were no heavy traffic and we were able to meet tita Julieta and Tito Reynaldo earlier than expected. 

"Hello Amiga!" Tita Julieta greeted as she give mom a beso on the cheeks. 

"How was the travel? Hindi naman heavy ang traffic 'no?" Tita Julieta asked, the two continue talking while we entered the condominium building. 

"Sam, greet Lory naman oh." Tita Julieta said when we're already at the elevator off to the first condo unit.

Me and Sam look at each other and smiled, "Hey, good afternoon." he greeted and I nod once, 

"Good afternoon din." I said and tita Julieta chuckled, "Ang awkward niyo pa sa isa't-isa, don't worry, you two will get along once you start living together." tita Julieta said and I awkwardly smile and nod. 

The elevator door opens and the staff of the building guided us to the first room. As we enter the room, she begun explaining what are in the room while me and Sam are looking around. 

"It's great, 'no?" he ask me which startled me a bit. 

I gave him a nod, "Yes, yes it is. Kaso it gives me a boring aura, parang bahay lang namin." I said and I hear him hum. 

"So you don't want it?" he ask and I nod, "Yeah, I don't really like it." I said and he nods, 

"Mom, we don't like it." Sam said and my eyes widened a bit since he almost shouted it.

Tita Julieta smiled, "I'm glad you two are getting a long on small things, shall we look on the next one?" Tita asked and we need, we exited the first room and proceed to the 2nd room which is too... dark for me. 

"I think you like it." I said while we are looking arond. 

Sam hums, "Yeah, looks just like my condo." he said and I hum, 

"Then let's get this one." I said, his head snap at my direction and he put his hands inside his pockets. 

"Well... do you  like it?" he ask, emphasizing on the word 'you'. 

I slight tilt my head and think, "Well... I personally don't, it's too dark, it's seems comfortable but with all this darkness, I feel dull." I honestly said and he nods. "Okay then, mom, can we see the next one?" he ask and my eyes widened before holding his arm, "I thought you like it?" I ask, he smiled at me and remove my hand on his arm. "But you don't like it, so lets go." he said and followed our parents outside the room, his hands on mine. 

When we entered the 3rd room, that's when I felt it. Before I tell Sam that I already like the place, I examine it more, look for other details and inclusions. When I finally got satisfied with the unit, I walk towards Sam who's looking at the decorations. 

"I like this one, let's get this, no buts." I whispered at him, he giggled and nod before looking at the adult's direction, 

"Mom, we like this." he said and tita clasped her hands together and smiled. 

"That's great! We will get this one!" Tita Julieta said, smiling at the staff. 

"Maiwan muna namin kayong dalawa dito," Tito Reynaldo said as they exit the room, I felt my phone vibrate so I search it inside my bag. 

"You have a good tastes on things talaga, this room also seems comfortable and beautiful." I hear him said, I didn't utter any respond as I open the text message that I received. 

from Inin:

PASADO AKO! NAKAPASA AKO! MAKAKAPAG COLLEGE AKO!! 

My eyes widened and I look at Sam who seems got shocked when I look at him with wide eyes. I started jumping like a kid, both of my hands on the air, my phone on my left hand. 

"What happened, Louise?!" He asked, a hint of worry in his voice. Why is he worried? It's clear that I am happy right now. 

I faced him, the smile still printed on my lips, "Inin passed the entrance exam in PUP Manila, he's gonna study here too!!" I said before continue jumping, 

"We will get to see each other often!! We won't be having a long distance relationship! We can still go on dates and see each other!!" I said while jumping, I hear Sam chuckle which made me stop jumping. 

"Why are you laughing?" I asked, he shook his head and put his hands on his waist. 

"Wala naman, ang cute mo kasi." he said and I rolled my eyes. 

Soon after our parents came back, we found out that the condo unit costs a hundred and eighty million pesos, my parents and his parents split the bill and fully paid the condo within this day. After fixing the papers and other things for the unit, Sam's parents ask us to join them in eating lunch where of course mom agreed to. 

"Kailan niyo balak mamili ng gamit para sa condo ninyo?" Tita Julieta ask while we're eating in their famous restaurant. 

I glance at Sam, asking for his answer cause I definitely won't answer that,

Sam cleared his throat, "I think Louise is a bit tired already so I think we won't be able to go shopping. Maybe they also need to head back in Tagkawayan, I can just shop by myself." Sam said and I look at tito and tita and nod. 

"No hijo, hindi naman busy si Lory, she can accompany you on shopping." Mom said and I glance back at Sam who's just beside me and widened my eyes at him. 

He smiled, "No need tita, Louise is the one who chose the unit for us, maybe I can also be the one to choose the appliances for our unit. I insist, tita, it will be easier for me to choose things by myself." Sam said, I look at the elders and nod, "We might end up arguing about the appliances tita, we don't want to cause a chaos at the mall." I said and forced a chuckle. 

Tita Julieta smiled, "Sure, if that is your decision." Tita Julieta said,  

"We will just send Sam the money for the appliances, nakakahiya naman kung siya lang ang gagatos para doon. Makikinabang din naman si Lory sa mga gamit na bibilhin." Mom said and A slight smile crept on my lips, I gave Sam a high five under the table before we proceed on eating. 

After lunch, tito Thiago brought us to his company first because he have some things to do, while Theo is enjoying to go around the building and mom letting him, I remain silent on the couch, scrolling through my social media feed and watching some random cat videos. I wonder if I'll be able to bring cats sa condo, what if pets are not allowed? Sayang pala dahil hindi ko naitanong. 

By 4PM, we leave the company and hit the road to get back to Tagkawayan. around Lucena City, we stopped by a restaurant and eat dinner. Theo even asked mom if we can get donuts and cakes we looked for a bakeshop and brought cake. With my own money, I also brought a small cake. I said it will be just for me in my room, but the truth is, its for Inin. 

It's 3 in the morning when we arrived at the house, and just like what usually happen when I just got home from a long travel, I end up sleeping right after. 

When I woke up by 4PM, I immediately checked my phone and saw Inin's messaged, he greet me a good morning and good afternoon, I didn't replied at him and instead I took a shower and change into a tanktop and short before heading down together with the cake I bought. I hop on my motorcycle and drove off, gladly I know where they live at this time. 

"Inin??" I called him, I look up at the site where I saw the construction workers, I saw tito Ray mixing the cement and I waved at him and he waved back. 

"Uy! Halika pasok ka!" Inin said as he peak from the door, a smile immediately crept on my lips and walk inside their hut. 

"Congratulations on your scholarship!!" I said and showed him the cake. 

His eyes widened and a wide smile prints on his lips, "Wow naman! Salamat!!" he said while looking at the chocolate cake. 

"Pwede ko na tikman?" he cutely ask, I giggle and nod, he started jumping like a kid and grab two forks, he handed me the other and he immediately took a piece of the cake. 

"Masarap?" I ask and he nods, "Masharap." he said which made me giggle, I saw the small sketchpad on the table. I reached for it and stare at the drawing. 

"What's this?" I asked while looking at the drawing, "Ah 'yan, pangarap ko na bahay para sa amin ni papa." he said while eating, I'm staring at the drawing when he reached for the sketchpad, "Halika, i-drawing natin pangarap mo na bahay."