Messenger
March 20

Jem
Ruuuus

Rus
Jeeeem

Jem
Kainis. 'Di ka talaga papatalo, 'no? 😂
Nasa klase ka na ba?

Rus
Nope. I only have one class today, and it's not until this afternoon.

Jem
Ay, good. So pwede tayong mag-usap?

Rus
Of course. Actually, I've been intending to talk to you too.

Jem
Tungkol naman saan?

Rus
You go first, Jem. I feel like you're about to tell me something important.

Jem
Not tell, Rus. Ask. May itatanong sana ako sa'yo.

Rus
Oh. Go ahead, then.

Jem
Shet. Ang hirap pala. I don't know how to ask you this without sounding suspicious. 😩

Rus
If you've been meaning to ask if I already found a gorgeous American girl to take your place, then the answer is no. 😛

Jem
Gagi. Hindi 'yan ang itatanong ko. 😂

Rus
Alright. But I just want to reassure you all the same.

Jem
Uhm, thanks? 🙈

Rus
You're welcome, Ms. Arbuez. 😉

Rus is typing...

What is your question, then?

Jem
Mamaya na lang, Rus. Mauna ka na. Ano 'yong gusto mong sabihin sa akin?

Rus
Remember Grandpa Richard?

Jem
Of course.

Rus
Well, he invited me over to a family dinner earlier this month. I already met some other van Acker relatives — his two living daughters, and a second cousin.

Jem
Cool! Kumusta naman? Mababait din ba sila?

Rus
Yup. 🙂

Jem
Good. 'Yan lang ba ang gusto mong sabihin sa akin?

Rus
Nope. There's something else.

Rus is typing...

Grandpa Richard encouraged me to continue my studies at Brown. They have a Literary Arts MFA program here.

Jem
So, you'll be attending graduate school?

Rus
Yes.

Jem
Which means you have to stay there for how much longer?

Rus
Two more years, at the very least.

Jem
I see.

Rus
'Yan lang ang masasabi mo, Jem?

Jem
Bakit, may iba pa ba akong pwedeng sabihin?

Rus
I don't know. Are you mad at me?

Jem
Sira. Bakit naman ako magagalit sa'yo?

Jem is typing...

Do you really want to do it, Rus?

Rus
Yes. But nothing is sure yet. It'll be really hard to get in the program. Grandpa Richard thinks I can manage it, though. He's read some of my works, and he's been hearing feedback from the professors who have had me in their classes so far. They think I'm, well... they think I'm good.

Jem
'Yon naman pala, e. Pero "good" lang ba ang feedback nila sa'yo? Baka "awesome". 😛

Jem is typing...

I'm so proud of you, Rus. If you decide to try for the MFA program, I'm right behind you in that decision. Do what will make you happy.

Rus
It might make me happy... but how about you?

Jem
What I will feel is out of the question. Don't mind me.

Rus
Hindi naman pwede 'yon. Of course I have to consider you.

Jem
Bakit naman? I'm not even your girlfriend.

Rus
But you will be.

Jem
Wow. Confident much? 😏

Rus
Of course. 😛

Rus is typing...

Seriously, though. Will you be okay with it?

Jem
I told you to go ahead and do what will make you happy.

Rus
Being with you makes me happy too, Jem.

Jem
Nandito lang naman ako, Rus. Unahin mo muna kung ano ang makakabuti para sa sarili mo. This is your career and passion that we're talking about.

Rus
But two more years of me being away? Will you be fine with that?

Jem
Siyempre naman. 🙂

Rus
I'm not entirely convinced by that smiley, Ms. Arbuez.

Jem
Para kang tanga. Relax lang! Hindi pa naman ako ngumangawa rito. 😆

Jem is typing...

One thing at a time — uuwi ka pa rin ba rito sa April?

Rus
Of course. I can't miss my graduation.

Jem
Okay. Then let's focus on that first. Ayaw kong mahawaan ang excitement ko sa pag-uwi mo ng lungkot dala ng kakaisip na aalis ka rin naman ulit kaagad.

Rus
That makes sense. Besides, like I said, nothing is fixed yet. If I don't get in the program, e 'di uuwi rin ako kaagad diyan. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Jem
Hoy, 'wag kang nega! You'll get in, Rus. I can feel it.

Rus
How can you be so sure?

Jem
Simple lang. I believe in you. Kaya ikaw, magtiwala ka rin sa sarili mo, pwede ba?

Rus
Yes, ma'am. 😛

Jem
Good. Ayokong magkajowa ng Negative Ned. Gusto mong mabasted agad? 🙄

Rus
'Wag naman po. 🙈

Rus is typing...

Jem?

Jem
Yep?

Rus
Thank you. For being so supportive.

Jem
Don't mention it, Rus. Alam ko kasing kung nabaliktad ang sitwasyon, susuportahan mo rin ako gaya ng pagsuporta ko sa'yo.

Rus
Of course. I'll never hold you back. You have your own dreams to chase, and I'll support you as you realize them. 🙂

Rus is typing...

And Jem?

Jem
Hmm?

Rus
Not holding you back also means that if I get accepted in the MFA program, and should you meet some other guy while I'm away... I'll understand.

Jem
Hoy, bakit naman ganyan ka magsalita? Bawal nga ang nega, 'di ba? 😠

Rus
Nagiging realistic lang ako, Ms. Arbuez. A lot can happen in two years.

Jem
I know. Pero kapag sinabi kong hihintayin kita, talagang gagawin ko 'yon. Kaya tigilan mo ang kakaisip ng ganyan, Mr. van Acker.

Rus
But just in case...

Jem
Walang "just in case". Hihintayin kita. Period.

Rus
Come on, Jem. Just promise me that if that happens, you'll tell me right away. Para hindi na ako umasang may babalikan ako riyan.

Jem
No. That will not happen. So there will be nothing to tell.

Rus
Okay. 🙃

Jem
Panatag ka na ba?

Rus
I didn't know I needed some form of reassurance too, but yes.

Jem
Mas malala ka pa palang mag-overthink kesa sa akin. Kalma lang, okay?

Rus
Yeah. Sorry about that.

Jem
Don't be. At least you're overthinking because of me. In a way, that's flattering. 😛

Rus
Ikaw naman talaga ang laging laman ng isip ko.

Jem
Sus, nambola pa. Save it for when you're back. 😏

Rus
Okay. I learned a handful of pick-up lines here, so be ready. 😂

Rus is typing...

Ano nga pala ang gusto mong itanong sa akin?

Jem
Ah, wala na. Napansin ko lang kasi na parang may kakaiba sa'yo noong mga nakaraan nating pag-uusap. I sensed that you've been keeping something from me. Ito 'yon, tama ba? About the MFA program?

Rus
Yup. So you've noticed.

Jem
Of course I did.

Jem is typing...

Can we stop keeping secrets this huge? Let's be honest and open with each other from now on, Rus. Lalo na at matagal-tagal pa pala na ganito ang setup natin.

Rus
What setup, exactly? 😛

Jem
Long-distance... whatever.

Rus
Okay. 😂

Jem
Bwisit ka. Baka naman kapag tinawag ko 'tong LDR, sabihin mo, feelingera ako. E hindi naman tayo. 🙄

Rus
Correction: hindi PA tayo. 😉

Jem
Pfft. K. Whatever.

Rus
So LDW na lang muna?

Jem
Pwede naman. Tsaka na natin gawing R ang W kapag nandito ka na sa Pinas. 🙈

Rus
Okay. May I remind you though, nandiyan naman na ako next month.

Jem
Hoy, gagi. I mean when you're back here for good, after you get your MFA degree!

Rus
Touch move, Ms. Arbuez. 😏

Jem
😳😳😳

Seen 09:17 AM