ACCORDING to a Greek philosopher named Heraclitus, change is the constant thing in life. However, a college girl from the city of Gertwood would beg to disagree. Because for her, nothing in the world is more constant than goodbye.

Now, who the heck is this college girl, and why does she have the gall to go up against some dead philosopher?

✦  ✦  ✦

"Ms. GABRIEL Falvar?" 

Parang nagpanting ang tainga ko dahil sa sinabi ng English professor ko. It was already the second month of the new semester and he still couldn't say my name right.

"Katrielle Farval, sir!" pagtatama ko na lamang sabay taas ng kamay ko.

If I received 500 pesos every time someone got my name wrong, I would probably have a stronger will to live.

"Oh sorry!" The middle-aged professor laughed and leaned his butt against the mahogany table behind him. "You have such a unique name, Ms. Falvar."

"Farval!" sabay-sabay na sambit ng mga kaklase ko at saka nagtawanan. It was a good thing our professor was a good sport and just laughed off the mistake.

"OMG! Siya 'yon 'di ba?" I heard some girl whisper to her friend. "'Yong Goodbye Girl chuchu?"

"Shhh. Baka marinig ka. Sige ka, wala kang discount kapag ikaw mangailangan?"

Napalingon ako sa dalawang nagbubulungan sa likuran ko. Parehong nanlaki ang mga mata nila sa gulat at mabilis na nagsi-iwas ng tingin.

"Ako ba ang pinag-uusapan ninyo?" tinaasan ko sila ng kilay.

The two girls hesitantly looked at me. One of them laughed nervously while the other raised a peace sign.

I rolled my eyes, but before facing forward, I grabbed two of my blue business cards from my pocket and placed it on their desks. "If you're having trouble breaking up or saying goodbye to someone, let me know. 30% discount until the end of the week. After that, back to regular price na."

I smirked as I sat back on my seat. I could still hear them whispering about me, but it didn't bother me at all. After all, words have the power to bring business. Business brings me money. And money will bring me happiness.

***

"Someone's heart will break today!"

"Come on, what if she's just here to eat? It's the cafeteria after all."

"Magtago ang mga may jowa!"

"Advance congrats sa magiging single ngayon! Tagay lang natin 'yan mamaya!"

Panay ang kantyawan ng mga estudyante nang pumasok ako sa cafeteria. Has it ever occurred to them that maybe gusto ko lang na mag-lunch? 

Palapit pa lang ako sa counter, nag-alisan na agad ang mga nasa paligid. 'Yong mga may jowa, in particular. I guess single na lang ang mga natira. Ganoon naman kasi lagi.

"Katrielle!"

Mabilis akong lumapit sa counter at isiningit ang sarili ko sa gitna ng mga estudyanteng nasa unahan. Nagsigawan sila sa inis, pero hindi ko sila pinansin at tinuro lang ang parte ng manok na gusto ko. "Ate, bigyan mo ako ng breast! Paki bilisan!"

Lumingon sa akin ang cashier at nagbaba ng tingin sa kanyang dibdib. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at para akong isang kandilang nalusaw.

"B-Breast ng manok . . . " Halos bulong kong sambit.

"Oh . . ." Tumango naman ang cashier, parang nabunutan ng tink. Pati na rin ako.

Unfortunately, my sense of relief was shattered as soon as dumating ang siraulong kiti-kiti. Bumuntonghininga na lamang ako at nagtangkang humakbang palayo.

"Hay . . . kung ang mga may jowa ang allergic sa 'yo, allergic ka na naman sa akin," sabi ni Carri sabay akbay sa akin. Tinangka ko siyang itulak palayo, pero mas lalo lang dumikit sa akin ang bruha.

"Your armpit smells like shit." I rolled my eyes.

"Siraulo ka?" Humalakhak si Carri. "Nasa kili-kili na pala ngayon ang pwet?"

I pushed her away and continued to order. Bitbit ang tray, mabilis akong naghanap ng mauupuan. Walang bakanteng mesa kaya naghanap ako agad ng may isa o dalawang tao lang.

Lumapit ako sa isang mesa kung saan may nag-iisang babae na nakaupo. Hindi ko man alam ang pangalan niya, tanda ko namang magkaklase kami sa isang subject. Ngunit bago pa man ako makapagsalita, mabilis na umalis ang babae nang makita ako. Muntik pa niyang maiwan ang bag niya dahil sa pagmamadali.

"Hoy, Joyce! Wala ka namang jowa!" sigaw ni Carri na nakasunod pala sa akin, bitbit ang tray niyang wala pang laman.

Naupo na lamang ako at inayos sa mesa ang pagkain ko. At least, I get a table of my own.

"So? Kaninong relasyon ang sisirain mo today?"

I spoke too soon.

Naupo sa tapat ko si Carri at humalumbaba, kumikislap-kislap pa ang mga mata. Or was it just because she chose to put on her glittery pink eyeshadow today?

"Hindi ba ako pwedeng kumain sa cafeteria?" I raised an eyebrow and picked up the pen from my bag's front pocket, using it to tie my long brown hair into a spiky bun.

"Puwede naman, but you rarely eat at the cafeteria." Umiling-iling siya at bumungisngis. "So, tell me. Who's the target? Is it a student? Is it a teacher? Perhaps a staff?"

"Don't you have anything else to do?" I sighed and started eating.

"Yeah! Eat lunch! Duh?" She rolled her deep-set eyes.

"Inuna mo akong sundan kaysa bumili ng pagkain. Your tray is literally empty," kaswal kong paalala sabay lamon.

"Eat lunch right after getting my food," she remarked firmly with her head held high.

She stood up with poise and grace, but I winced as soon as I noticed that the back of her tweed skirt got folded up. I stood up and reached over the table, unfolding it myself.

Carri stopped walking and giggled. "Thanks, Tree!"

"Thank me with some food," I said flatly.

"Gotchu." She winked at me and started skipping to the counter.

As soon as Carri was out of sight, I sat back on my chair and continued eating. Pasimple kong nilibot ang paningin sa mga mesa. Hindi ko masyadong maalala ang mukha ng target ko kaya naman tiningnan ko ulit ang litrato na binigay sa akin ng kliyente. I continued looking around, but I couldn't seem to find the target. I started waiting, thinking the target might get walk through the door at some point, but unfortunately she didn't show up. Natapos na lang kaming managhalian, hindi pa rin siya dumarating.

The university bell rang, signalling the end of our lunch time. I fixed my creased up band-tee and started re-applying my light make-up—the entire time, Carri won't shut up about the korean drama she's currently enjoying. Sometimes, I just want to put a tape over her mouth.

Carri clung to my arm as we started walking out of the cafeteria. I used to push her away whenever she does this, but she keeps doing it anyway kaya sa huli ay hinahayaan ko na lang siya.

We didn't have any classes together in the afternoon, so as soon as we reached the marketing building, she finally let go of my arm and started skipping happily to the education building. I still can't believe she's dead set on being a teacher. Anong ituturo niya? Mga lokohan?

I took a deep breath and sighed. Instead of heading up the marketing building where my classes are supposed to be, I went the other side of the pathway and continued looking around, hoping I'll finally come across my target.

I walked and walked until I finally found myself in the farthest corner of the campus where the high school buildings are located. Unlike us college students who can wear whatever we want as long as we dress by the rules, the high school students of our university wear baby blue skirt and vests—However, because today is Wednesday, everyone gets to wear their casual clothes.

"Hmmm . . . Could she be here?" I couldn't help but think aloud. After all, it gets pretty difficult to distinguish the college kids from the high schoolers every Wednesday.

I decided to ditch my afternoon classes and started roaming around the buildings, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. When I sensed the call of nature, that was only when I decided to check out the comfort rooms.

"Bilis! Punitin mo na!"

"Marika, I'm trying!"

"Ang sabihin mo, you're too weak!"

"Sige nga, ikaw nga!"

"Just hurry up before she starts looking for it!"

Pumasok ako sa comfort room at tuluyang nakunot ang noo ko nang madatnan ang dalawang estudyanteng may pinupunit sa notebook—Well, more like the girl with the short hair is trying to rip the notebook apart, while the tall morena beauty is just bossing her around.

"Uy, Marika Ronelio, right?" I smiled upon recognizing her. I'm not good at remembering faces, but when it comes to former clients, I make sure to. Business opportunity means cha-ching!

Napakurap-kurap si Marika at napansin ko ang dali-dali niyang pagtayo sa harapan ng kasama. Halatang ayaw niyang makita ko ang notebook na pinupunit nila. 

"Hi, Ate Tree!" She smiled sweetly. 

Her smile was obviously fake, but I couldn't care less. All I wanted was to exchange pleasantries to ensure that my client base is strong and wide.

The moment I got inside one of the cubicles, I heard papers getting ripped. The sound wasn't crisp, which could only mean that they ripped it in piles. If I were them, I'd just set it on fire or destroy it with water. Pinapapagod lang nila ang mga sarili nila.

When I got out of the cubicle, the high schoolers were nowhere to be found. I got tired from walking around so I just decided to sit on top of the sink for awhile, tutal wala namang ibang tao sa banyo. I got curious with the k-drama that Carri talked about so I decided to check it out, kahit isang episode lang.

I was already twelve minutes into the episode when a girl in a denim blue dress walked in. Our eyes met and she quickly looked away, but it was too late, I already noticed the tears pooling up her eyes.

I acted like I didn't see her, and she did the same. In fact, she started entering the cubicles one by one like she was looking for something. Nakunot ang noo ko nang mapagtantong ang mga basurahan ang sinisilip niya.

Huli niyang nilapitan ang basurahang nasa gilid ko. As she took a peek inside, hindi ko rin tuloy napigilang sumilip nang bahagya. 

Wala akong ibang napansin sa basurahan bukod sa notebook na ngayo'y punit-punit at halos hindi na mahitsura.

Wala sa sarili akong nag-angat ng tingin sa mukha ng babae at natigilan ako nang makitang nag-uunahan na sa pagpatak ang mga luha niya. She was biting her lips like she was trying hard not to cry loudly.

My throat tightened. The entire situation felt too uncomfortable kaya tumalon na lang ako pababa sa sahig at naglakad patungo sa pinto. Bago pa man ako tuluyang makalabas, lumingon ako sa direksyon ng babae at nanlumo ako nang makitang inilabas niya pa talaga ang notebook mula sa basurahan. Umiiyak niya itong kinilatis, tila ba tinitingnan kung may maayos pang pahina na natitira.

Nagpatuloy ulit ako sa paglalakad-lakad. Pilit kong winawiksi mula sa isip ang nakita sa CR pero paulit-ulit kong naalala ang umiiyak na mukha ng babae. I know high schoolers can be mean, but that was just an asshole move. And I certainly did not expect that from Marika Ronelio. I thought the girl was a sweetheart when she asked me to carefully reject the guy who was courting her.

When I reached the botanical garden, I noticed a girl sitting all alone in a bench while sipping a smoothie. She probably told her teacher that she'd go to the comfort room, but instead, dumiretso siya sa canteen para maghanap ng snacks—I know because ganyan ang galawan ko noong high school. Hanggang ngayon din, actually.

I was about to continue walking when I suddenly recalled her face. Inilabas ko ulit ang picture na pinadala ng client at hindi ko napigilang mapangisi nang mamukhaan siya.

"There you are . . ." I finally found her, my target.

I took a deep breath and raised my chin. It sucks to break a young girl's heart on behalf of a coward, but money is money.

"Hey?" I smiled as sweetly as I could, even using the customer service voice that I mastered after a year of working at a fastfood chain.

The young girl looked up at me and smiled, looking confused. 

"You're Petunia, right?" I asked.

Her eyebrows furrowed, but she still nodded. 

Lumapit na lamang ako at naupo sa tabi niya. The bench was placed exactly in the middle of the garden, surrounded by violet flowers and vines. What a beautiful place to break someone's heart. She's so gonna hate this place after this.

I didn't beat around the bush anymore. "Ako nga pala si Tree. I take up—"

"Oh my God!" Napaharap siya sa akin, namimilog ang mga mata. Marahil kilala na niya kung sino ako.

I pressed my smiling lips together and let out a pained sigh. "I'm here because your boyfriend asked me to break—"

Napapikit na lamang ako nang mariin nang biglang tumama sa mukha ko ang napakalamig niyang smoothie. Narinig ko siyang umiyak nang malakas at nang sinubukan kong dumilat ay nakita ko siyang tumatakbo palayo.

I licked the smoothie around my lips and sighed. "At least, it's my favorite flavor."

Using the spare handkerchief that I always keep inside my pants' back pocket, I wiped the smoothie around my face and eyes. It stung a bit, but I already got used to it. Besides, I've been thrown worse.

I honestly don't understand their logic of hurting the messenger. Parang mga tanga lang. Jowa nila 'yong gustong makipag-break, pero bakit ako 'yong laging minumura, binubuhusan ng kung-ano-ano, o kinakalaban? Iniisip ko na lang na baka ito ang rason ng kliyente kung bakit nila kinukuha ang serbisyo ko—kasi hindi sila tuwid kung mag-isip.

Some people just can't handle goodbyes.

"Shit." I couldn't help but grunt when I noticed that my shirt got wet. Ang malala, napakalagkit ng smoothie. Nakakainis dahil nakalimutan kong magtago ng panibagong extra'ng damit sa locker ko.

"Just use this."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakunot ang noo ko nang makita ang isang pamilyar na lalakeng nakasuot ng white oversized jacket. Nakatalukbong pa ang hoodie sa ibabaw ng ulo niya. His slanted auburn eyes and gentle smile immediately caught my eyes. 

"Tree," aniya pa at doon ko lang napansin na hawak niya ang isang denim jacket.

Napakurap-kurap ako't nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin sa mukha at denim jacket niya.

He sighed and pressed his lips together, slumping on the vacant spot beside me. "Ihahatid ko sana 'to sa kapatid ko, kaso mukhang mas kailangan mo. Buti na lang may payong din ako rito sa bulsa ko."

"Who the hell are you?" Kunot-noo akong napatingin sa kanya. Sa wakas, nagawa ko na ring nagsalita.

"Someone who needs your help." He crossed his legs as he tilted his head to look at me, the gentle smile never leaving his face.

"Help for what?" I can't count how many times my heart fluttered while staring at someone's eyes, but this is the first time I stared at someone's eyes and all I felt was sadness.

He looked up at the violet-colored flowers partly covering the blue sky. "I need your help to say goodbye."

✦ ✦ ✦

She can't count how many times she had to say goodbye. She thought she got used to it—even mastered it. Little does she know, she was heading for the hardest one yet.