Pagdating namin ni Carri sa cafeteria, nakita naming nakapuwesto na sa isang parihabang mesa sina Blueberry, Jasper, Janus, at pati na rin si Braylee. Dahil dito, pagkatapos bumili ng pagkain, dumiretso na kami sa kanila.

Nakita kong mabilis na kinuha ni Blueberry ang backpack na nakapatong sa bakanteng silyang nasa tabi niya. May patingin-tingin pa siya sa paligid habang may naglalarong ngiti sa labi.

Napahawak ako nang mahigpit sa tray na dala, nagpipigil ng kilig at tawa. 

Uupo sana ako sa tabi Blueberry, pero laking gulat ko nang bigla na lamang akong naunahan ni Carri. Mabilis na napalingon sa akin si Blueberry, kunot-noo at nakalobo ang butas sa mga ilong. Napakibit-balikat na lamang ako. At that point, I had to press my lips together just to stop myself from grinning like a fool.

"Carri, isasakripisyo ko na ang sarili ko. Dito ka na sa tabi ko," biglang anunsiyo ni Jasper sabay turo sa katabi niyang bakanteng upuan.

Braylee, who was sitting at Blueberry's other side, giggled. "Sige na, Ate Ca. Doon ka na kay Kuya Jas. Bawal akong umalis dito sa puwesto ko, e."

Poor Carri was left dumbfounded, while I just stood there still holding my tray, waiting for her to get the memo.

"Upo ka raw sa tabi ng kakambal ko," sabi naman ni Janus habang ngumunguya pa ng kanyang pagkain.

When Carri still didn't get it, ako na lang mismo ang naupo sa tabi ni Jasper. Nakakahiyang manatiling nakatayo habang may dalang tray. May pride pa rin naman ako kahit papaano.

As I arranged my stuff on the table, napansin kong nakatingin na sa akin si Blueberry habang nakasimangot. Napangiti ako at nagkibit-balikat na lamang. 

Blueberry pouted, trying to act all cute and annoyed. As an answer, I crinkled my nose, trying to act disgusted even if his actions made my heart flutter like crazy.

Blueberry lowered his head, trying to give me a cute little evil glare.

"Utang na loob, Bryan! Nakakawala ka ng gana! Palit na nga tayo!" Marahas na binagsak ni Jasper ang kutsara niya sa mesa at agad na tumayo.

Carri, Janus, and Braylee could only look at us. Meanwhile, Blueberry smiled brightly and quickly stood up from his chair.

Nakakaisang hakbang pa lamang si Blueberry nang bigla siyang natapilok. Muntik na siyang bumagsak sa sahig kung hindi lang siya nahawakan kaagad ni Braylee. 

"Shet! Muntik akong mabilaukan don!" Singhap ni Carri.

"He need some milk!" biro naman ni Janus na ginaya pa ang isang viral audio.

Carri and Janus both laughed, Blueberry too. But when I saw the terrified look on Braylee's face . . . I realized that it wasn't a laughing matter. 

"You okay, Man?" Jasper asked. He wasn't laughing too.

"Oo naman." Blueberry chuckled, completely shrugging it off. But as he stood up properly and took another step, we were all left silent when he began to stagger. Mabuti na lang talaga at mahipit pa rin ang hawak ni Braylee sa braso niya.

"What the hell happened to your leg?" Mabilis na lumapit si Jasper at siya na ang umalalay kay Blueberry hanggang sa maupo sa tabi ko.

"Grabe si Lolo Bryan, iika-ika na nga, lalandi pa rin," Janus joked, but only Carri laughed. The rest of us were too focused on Blueberry.

"Sumemplang lang sa pagba-bike kahapon," Blueberry answered, the smile never leaving his face.

"Nag-bike? Sabi ni Braylee kahapon nagsimba ka?" tanong ni Janus, dahilan para magkatinginan kaagad sina Braylee at Blueberry. Alam kong sa pamamagitan lang ng tingin, pinagalitan na ni Blueberry ang kapatid niya.

"Teka, sabi ng mama mo nagsimba ka raw kahapon? So sabay kayong nagsimba?" Napatingin naman bigla sa akin si Carri.

The entire table went silent again, with everyone's attention shifting from one person to another. It was awkward as hell, until Blueberry spoke up, "Gusto n'yo bang mag-roadtrip? Parang ang sarap pumunta ng dagat!"

Natigilan ako, lalo na nang sumang-ayon kaagad ang kambal.

The day before, Blueberry and I already talked about the rest of his list—kung kanino siya susunod na magpapaalam at paano siya magpapalam.

The twins and Blueberry met at the beach.

Blueberry will say goodby to them at the same place where they met.

***

Habang naglalakad kami papunta sa classroom namin, pansin kong tahimik si Carri, bagay na minsan niya lang ginagawa. Siya kasi 'yong tipo ng taong hindi nauubusan ng sasabihin. Para bang manghihina siya kung hindi siya makakadaldal.

"Got the urge to poopsie again?" I playfully bumped my shoulder into hers.

"Sira! Huwag mo ngang i-mention, mamaya ma-jinx mo pa ang tiyan ko!" tugon niya naman at pabiro pa akong pinalo ng binder niya.

Carri and I continued to fool around, but I noticed that something was really bothering her. So, before we entered our classroom, I pulled her aside and sighed. "Seriously, ngayon lang ako may pake, mamaya wala na. What's up? What's bothering you?"

She chuckled and sighed, rolling her eyes as if she had no other choice. "Okay fine! But don't take this the wrong way okay?"

I nodded, laughing a little. "Talk."

Carri sighed again, this time looking a little hesitant. "Look, the way you steal glances and smile at each other, it's cute. It's really really cute. And don't get me wrong, I'm really really happy that you're finally opening up to someone. I mean, you even went to church with the guy—

"Car, just cut to the chase, it's okay." I assured her. I was smiling, but deep inside, I was worried over the next things she will say.

"Don't like him too much, so you won't get hurt if this turns out to be one of their games," Carri said, concern written all over her face. "Jasper and Janus are known womanizers, and I heard some shitty stuff about how Bryan treated his past exes too. It's just—"

"But you like them? Todo pang-aasar ka pa no'ng umpisa?" kunot-noo kong paalala sa kanya.

"That's because you looked uninterested kahit no'ng sinabi ni Bryan na nanliligaw siya sa 'yo. Akala ko magiging tropa-tropa fun lang, but now, I'm just worried." Carri sighed again. "Look, I'm not against what you and Bryan have. I'll support you kung sasagutin mo siya. Just don't fall too hard, okay? I don't want to see you crying over some dumb guy."

Tumawa na lamang ako at pabiro siyang inakbayan sabay hila sa kanya papasok ng classroom. "Anong nakain mo ngayon? Nakatapos ka na naman ng angsty kdrama, no?"

My response may have been a joke, but I completely understood what she meant. And I know she only said it because she really cared for me—for that, I am truly grateful.

***

Throughout the entire afternoon, all I could think about was Blueberry. The way he suddenly lost balanced and limped, I couldn't help but assume that those are the symptoms of the reason why needs to say goodbye.

I wanted to reach out to him by phone or email, but I was worried about breaking the rules he laid out. And so I ended up staying after my classes ended, using some lame excuse so Carri won't suspect a thing.

I felt like a total loser as I walked around the campus, trying to see if I can find Blueberry anywhere. I wanted to ask Braylee or the twins, but I was too ashamed to look like a loser in front of them. Mas okay sa akin kung ako-ako lang.

Just as I was about to give up and go home, I remembered the botanical garden. By the time I reached it, I saw it . . . I saw them.

It was Blueberry and some tall, pretty girl. They were hugging each other tenderly while standing in the middle of the botanical garden. The same botanical garden where we had lots of simple yet precious memories—at least for me, they were.

✦ ✦ ✦

"Saket?"

"Kung sapakin kaya kita?"

"I'm just kidding! Jeez!"

//