Chapter 34
It’s already Tuesday, and wala na akong klase until next Monday.
Lola has been asking me multiple times kung kailan ako pupunta sa probinsya, but I still haven’t decided yet since Ms.
Sanchez hasn’t messaged me.
Honestly, I’ve been waiting for her text, kahit wala naman akong kasiguraduhan kung magmemessage siya.
But if she don’t want to come with me, that’s fine. I think I’ll just ask my friends to go with me instead.
Right now, I’m just here in my room, halos wala akong ginagawa kundi maglaro ng CODM at maghintay sa message niya.
I haven’t gone outside either—ang init kasi, and besides, nakakatamad lumabas.
So, I decided to play CODM again.
I was about to open the app when I suddenly remembered—pwede ko naman pala siyang i-message.
I have her number, after all.
Without thinking twice, I typed a message.
I stared at the message for a second before pressing send. Akala ko nga hindi niya ako papansinin, but to my surprise, wala pang isang minuto, naka-seen na siya.
A few seconds later, her reply popped up.
I grinned, trying to suppress a laugh as I rapidly sent those messages.
Then, after a short pause, her reply came again.
Napangiti ako. Agad akong nag-type ulit.
I don’t usually send emojis like this, or anything you’d call “pa-cute,” but damn. Ang cute ko.
Her response was quick and, as expected, cold.
I chuckled.
I was still smiling when I saw her next move.
Seen.
Grabe siya. Hindi na nag-reply. Ilang minuto na akong naghihintay, pero wala. She really just left me on read.
I sighed before deciding to send another message.
I really want her to come. I want to spend time with her. I know I’ll be bored there, but if she’s with me, boredom won’t even exist. Kahit anong gawin namin, basta kasama ko siya, I’m happy and content.
I’m really in love. Pero, sa wala pang pag-asa.
I sighed, staring at my phone screen, waiting for a reply that might never come. It had been a few minutes, and still—nothing.
"Ugh, Gomez, you're being too hopeful again," I muttered to myself, tossing my phone onto the bed.
Maybe I should just sleep again. Or maybe, I should actually decide if I'm going to the province. My grandmother had been nagging me about it, but I was waiting for Ms. Sanchez.
I grabbed my pillow and hugged it close, scrolling through my phone absentmindedly. My CODM game was still open, waiting for me to continue. But now, I wasn’t in the mood to play.
Then suddenly—
DING.
My heart practically jumped.
I snatched my phone from the bed and quickly unlocked it.
I grinned. At least she replied. Even if she sounded completely uninterested.
I imagined her rolling her eyes. She always did that whenever she got annoyed at me.
I laughed, shaking my head.
I hesitated for a second before typing—
I bit my lip, staring at the message. Should I send it? Should I not? Before I could overthink, I hit send.
A few seconds passed. Then a minute. She had seen it. But she wasn’t replying.
I exhaled sharply. "Great, now I probably sound desperate."
I dropped my phone on my chest and stared at the ceiling. What was I even doing? It wasn’t like she was obligated to come with me. She had work, and I should respect that.
DING.
I shot up, grabbing my phone immediately.
I grinned.
She took a moment to reply again. I stared at the screen, waiting, my fingers itching to send another message, but I stopped myself. I didn’t want to push too hard.
Then—
I
smirked before typing the next part.
I clutched my chest dramatically, even though she couldn’t see me.
She didn’t reply immediately this time. The three dots appeared, then disappeared. Then appeared again.
Finally—
I sat up so fast I nearly dropped my phone.
I grinned like an idiot.
Ms. Sungit
Regretting my life choices already.
Ms. Sungit
I’m coming with you. Happy now?
I punched the air in victory.
Seen.
She didn’t reply again, but that was fine—at least she already agreed! That’s all that mattered. Even though she left me on seen, it didn’t bother me. The important thing was, she said yes.
I lay there for a few more seconds, staring at the ceiling, still unable to believe it. My heart was racing a little, probably from excitement. I had expected a hard no, or at least a "I don’t have time," but she didn’t say anything like that. No excuses, no resistance. She just agreed.
I let out a deep breath before finally getting up. I couldn’t just stay in bed and wait. I needed to start getting ready.
So, I began packing my things. I grabbed my bag from the closet and started placing some clothes inside. I wasn’t planning on bringing too much—just enough for a few days, plus some essentials. But before I could continue, my stomach grumbled. I paused and chuckled to myself.
Alright, breakfast first.
I headed downstairs and, as usual, found my sister lounging on the couch. She was lying there, completely relaxed, with her phone in her hand. She was probably scrolling through social media or watching something.
The moment she saw me, she raised an eyebrow. "You're up early? How unusual," she teased before I even reached the last step.
I rolled my eyes playfully. "I’m leaving later. Going to the province," I said, still smiling.
Her eyes widened slightly. "Really?" she asked, sitting up a little. "And you seem happy about it. Very suspicious, Via."
I just grinned. "Of course, because I’ll be with her."
Her expression quickly shifted into curiosity, her gaze narrowing. "Did she say yes?" she asked, sounding skeptical.
"Of course. Ako na 'to eh" I replied confidently before heading to the kitchen.
She scoffed. "Mhm,"
I grabbed a glass from the cabinet and poured myself some water. I was about to prepare my breakfast when I faintly heard her mumble something from the living room.
"She doesn’t usually come with anyone..."
I paused for a second, my hands freezing mid-motion as I reached for the bread. My eyebrows furrowed slightly.
What did she just say?
I glanced back at her, but she was already focused on her phone again, acting as if she hadn’t said something suspicious. I considered asking her about it, but after a moment, I decided to just let it slide.
As soon as I finished eating, I placed my plate in the sink and wiped my hands on my shorts. My stomach was full, but my mind was restless. There was this buzzing excitement inside me that I couldn’t shake off.
I was really going. And more importantly, she was coming with me.
I made my way back to my room, pushing the door open with my foot as I entered. The moment I stepped inside, my eyes landed on my unzipped suitcase lying on the floor. Empty.
“Right,” I muttered. “I haven’t packed a single thing.”
I sighed and walked toward my closet, pulling the doors open. My clothes were neatly folded—well, for the most part—but I knew this wouldn’t last. The moment I started packing, my room would turn into a disaster zone.
I grabbed a few shirts, folded them quickly, and placed them inside the suitcase. Then I picked out a couple of shorts, a pair of jeans, and a hoodie. I wasn’t sure how cold it would get in the province, but it was better to be prepared.
I paused for a moment, staring at the clothes inside my suitcase. “This should be enough, right?”
But then my brain started overthinking. What if I needed an extra set? What if I spilled something on my shirt? What if—
I groaned. “Ugh, fine.”
I pulled out two more outfits and stuffed them inside, not even bothering to fold them properly this time.
Satisfied, I turned to my dresser and started gathering my essentials—my toothbrush, toothpaste, skincare, and hairbrush.
I grabbed my charger from my bedside table, shoving it into a smaller bag.
After what felt like forever, I zipped up my bag and exhaled sharply. “Okay. Done.”
I glanced at my phone. 9:30 AM. Still early.
I flopped onto my bed, grabbing my phone. My notifications were mostly game invites and random messages from my friends. No new message from her. I bit my lip, staring at our last conversation. She hadn’t replied after my overly enthusiastic texts, but that was expected.
I tapped on our chat, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. Should I send another message? No, that might be too much. She was already agreeing to come. I didn’t want to push my luck.
Instead, I opened CODM and decided to play a match to kill time. My fingers moved automatically, my character running through the battlefield, but my mind was elsewhere.
Pero sana, hindi nalang ako nag-laro. Na LS pa tuloy, kakainis talaga kakampi!
I tossed my phone onto my bed and stretched my arms, staring at the ceiling.
I couldn’t wait to see her.
---
I arrived at Ms. Sanchez’s house at 11:45 AM sharp. The sun was blazing, the streets were quiet, and for once in my life, I was on time.
I stood in front of her gate, clutching the handle of my suitcase. My heart was beating a little faster than usual, but I told myself it was just because of the heat. Not because I was excited to see her.
I pulled out my phone and quickly typed a message.
Sent.
I stared at my screen, waiting for a response. A few seconds passed. Then—Seen.
I waited, expecting to hear the gate unlock any second now.
But nothing happened.
A minute passed. Then two.
Still nothing.
I tilted my head. Maybe she was still fixing her things? That was fine. I was patient.
So, I waited.
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
I tapped my foot, glancing at my phone again. No reply.
Fifteen minutes later, I sighed and knocked softly on her gate.
No answer.
I knocked again, a little louder this time.
The gate creaked open just a little, revealing a sleepy-looking Ms. Sanchez.
Her hair was messy, her eyes were half-closed, and her voice was groggy as she mumbled, "What time is it?"
I smiled, amused. She looked adorable.
“It’s almost noon, Miss,” I said gently.
She sighed heavily, rubbing her eyes. "Oh."
Then, she fully opened the gate.
And she was still in her pajamas.
A loose, oversized gray shirt that hung off one shoulder and a pair of cotton shorts.
I had never seen her like this before. She was always so put-together, always looking professional or at least presentable. But now? She looked soft. Comfortable. Real.
And beautiful.
I shook the thought away before I started acting weird.
"Miss, you’re not ready yet?” I asked, biting back a laugh.
She yawned and stepped aside. "Give me fifteen minutes."
Fifteen?
"Okay. Can I come inside?" I asked and she nodded, leading the way inside her house.
Inside her house was quiet and a little messy. The curtains were drawn, the couch had a blanket lazily thrown over it, and on the counter sat a cup of cold coffee, untouched.
She stretched and started walking toward her bedroom. "Make yourself comfortable."
“I already am,” I muttered under my breath, watching her disappear into her room.
The door shut softly.
?I glanced around, unsure of what to do with myself.
Should I sit?
Stand?
Pretend I’m not completely thrown off by this?
?
?I sighed and set my suitcase aside before plopping down on the couch.
?
?So much for being on time.
?
?My gaze wandered to the books on the table.
Some were novels, some looked like work-related materials.
One had a bookmark peeking out from the middle.
She’s been reading this recently.
?
?Before I could think twice, I reached for it and flipped to the marked page.
Classic literature.
Of course.
?
?Then, from her room—
?
?“Don’t touch my stuff, Gomez.”
?
?I nearly dropped the book.
?
?I turned my head toward the slightly open door.
“How’d you even know?”
?
?“I just do,” she called back.
?
?I grinned and placed the book back where I found it.
“Fine, fine.”
?
?I leaned back against the couch, tapping my fingers against my knee.
Her house was quiet, save for the occasional rustling from her room.
?
?Then, after a few minutes—
?
?“I can feel you getting impatient from here,” she said.
?
?I scoffed.
“I’m not! I’m just—” I stopped myself and sighed.
“Okay, maybe a little.”
?
?“Then entertain yourself or something,” she muttered.
?
?I smirked.
“Can I go through your stuff?”
?
?“No.”
?
?“Can I see what’s in your fridge?”
?
?“No.”
?
?“Can I—”
?
?“Gomez.”
?
?I laughed.
“Okay, okay, I’ll shut up.”
I sighed and flopped onto her couch. Fifteen minutes, huh?
I didn’t believe her for a second.
Thirty Minutes Later…
I had been sitting quietly, scrolling through my phone, not rushing her, not complaining.
But thirty minutes had passed.
I bit my lip, glancing at her bedroom door. Maybe she got distracted? Maybe she was staring at her closet, trying to decide what to wear?
I stood up and walked over to the door. Gently, I knocked.
“Miss?”
No response.
I knocked again, a little louder.
Finally, I heard movement inside. Then—
"What?"
I smiled. "It’s been thirty minutes."
A pause. Then, a very guilty-sounding—
"I know."
I chuckled. "Are you actually getting ready, or are you just standing in front of the mirror questioning life?"
"...Both."
I laughed softly, resting my forehead against the door.
"It’s okay," I said gently. "Take your time."
One Hour Later…
I checked my phone again.
1:00 PM.
I exhaled through my nose, but my patience was still holding strong.
I stood up again and walked to her door, this time knocking a little firmer.
"Miss, it's been an hour."
"I know."
I smiled, shaking my head. “Are you sure you’re getting ready?"
Silence.
Then—“Yes.”
A small chuckle escaped me. "Are you lying?"
A dramatic sigh. “No.”
"You know, Miss," I teased, "I've seen snails move faster than this."
I heard a light thud, as if she had thrown something at the door.
"Shut up, Gomez."
I laughed. "I would, but I think I might actually die of old age before we leave."
She groaned. "You’re so dramatic."
I smiled, leaning against the door. "And yet, you still keep me around."
"Give me ten more minutes."
I closed my eyes and let out a long sigh. "Miss… you said that thirty minutes ago."
"15 minutes then."
One Hour and Thirty Minutes Later…
Defeated.
I wasn’t annoyed.
Okay, maybe a little.
But mostly? I just found it funny how this woman—this person who was always so strict and punctual—was making me wait over an hour and a half.
But it’s Ms. Sanchez.
I’d wait forever for her.
Still…
I stood up and walked back to her door one last time, knocking lightly.
“Miss?”
No answer.
I leaned against the doorframe, my voice softer now.
“You know…” I started, “I think I’ve already spent more time waiting for you today than I have in my entire life.”
Silence.
Then, finally—
The door opened.
And there she was.
Her hair was neatly tied back, her face looked more awake, and she was dressed in skirt and a fitted black top.
Simple. But effortlessly beautiful.
I stared for a second too long.
She raised an eyebrow. "What?"
I smiled, shaking my head. "Nothing. Just… finally."
She crossed her arms, amused. "Took me exactly fifteen minutes, right?"
I let out a soft laugh. “Yeah, Miss. Fifteen minutes.”
She sighed, grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder. "Let's go before I change my mind."
I grinned. “You won’t.”
She narrowed her eyes. "And what makes you so sure?"
I tilted my head. "Because if you really didn’t want to come, you would’ve just said no from the start."
"Whatever, Gomez," she muttered, clearly giving up on arguing with me.
I grinned, unable to hide my amusement.
"Let's go, Princess?" I teased, offering my hand dramatically like some fairytale prince.
She shot me a sharp look before rolling her eyes and stepping outside, completely ignoring my hand.
I chuckled to myself, shaking my head as I grabbed her bags. "Sungit," I murmured, but I followed her out anyway.
Like the gentlewoman I definitely was, I opened the door for her. She sighed but still got in without a word.
By the time I placed her bags in the trunk, she was already seated in the car, arms crossed like a stubborn child. I smirked before closing the trunk and walking over to the passenger side.
Satisfied, I went around to the driver’s side and got in.
"The trip is going to take a while," I said, starting the engine. "You okay with that?"
She gave a simple nod, her gaze fixed outside the window.
I was about to start driving when I noticed something.
Her seatbelt.
Still unbuckled.
I exhaled sharply, shaking my head.
"Miss, seatbelt."
She blinked, then looked down at her chest as if she had only just realized it.
Before she could reach for it, I leaned in.
The moment I did, I felt her body stiffen.
I smirked, already amused by her reaction.
"Relax, Miss," I said, my voice dropping slightly as I reached across her, grabbing the seatbelt. "I’m just buckling you in."
She didn’t move.
She didn’t even breathe.
I pulled the seatbelt across her body slowly, letting the strap glide over her chest. My arm brushed against hers, and I could feel the warmth of her skin even through the fabric of her shirt.
She was so, so still.
Too still.
Was she—holding her breath?
I bit my lip, trying not to grin.
When I clicked the seatbelt into place, I heard her exhale—as if she had been waiting the entire time to breathe again.
Oh, she was flustered.
I turned my head slightly, only to see her staring straight ahead, her jaw clenched, her fingers gripping the hem of her shirt.
I couldn’t help myself.
I leaned in just a little closer.
"Miss…" I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.
That made her snap.
She turned her head so fast our noses almost brushed. Her eyes were wide, her expression caught somewhere between irritation and—something else.
I grinned.
"I was just making sure you were safe," I said smoothly.
Her lips parted like she wanted to say something—maybe an insult, maybe a threat—but all she did was glare.
Then, as if finally realizing how close we were, she turned away abruptly, rolling her eyes.
"You're so annoying, Gomez."
I chuckled, leaning back into my seat.
"At least I'm caring."
She scoffed, still refusing to look at me.
I smirked as I started driving.
But in the corner of my eye, I saw her arms slowly uncross, her hands resting in her lap—fingers still slightly curled, as if she was still trying to calm herself down.
Cute.
This was going to be a long trip.
And I was definitely going to enjoy every second of it.
As we drove down the highway, the afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the road, making everything feel warm and lazy. The silence in the car wasn’t awkward, but I could still feel Miss Sanchez’s presence beside me—arms crossed, gaze focused outside.
I smirked. "Thinking about me, Miss?"
I held back a chuckle and focused on the road instead. We had barely been driving for thirty minutes, and I was already itching to talk to her again.
Then, it hit me.
She hadn’t eaten yet.
I frowned slightly, replaying the events of the past few hours. She barely even had time to get ready. Knowing her, she probably skipped lunch—or maybe even breakfast.
"Miss."
She hummed but didn’t turn to look at me.
I glanced at the clock on the dashboard—3:07 PM.
"You haven’t eaten yet, have you?" I asked, keeping my tone light.
She finally turned, her brow furrowing slightly. "Why do you care?"
I let out a dramatic sigh, shaking my head. "Miss, it’s literally my job to care about you."
She scoffed. "Says who?"
"Says me." I grinned, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel. "And probably common sense. You were rushing earlier, right? No time to eat?"
She looked away again, staring at the passing scenery. "I'm fine, Gomez."
I raised an eyebrow.She’s not denying it.
"Yeah, yeah, you’re ‘fine,’ but we’re still stopping at McDo," I announced casually, already switching lanes toward the nearest exit.
She shot me a glare. "Gomez, I never said I wanted McDo."
I gasped in mock horror. "Miss, how dare you reject the greatness of McDonald's?"
She exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose like she was dealing with a child. "I didn’t reject it. I just—ugh, never mind."
I grinned. Got her.
"McDo it is, then!" I said cheerfully, ignoring her exasperated sigh.
—
A few minutes later, I pulled up to the drive-thru. The bright golden arches stood tall, welcoming us like an old friend. The parking lot was half full, mostly with families grabbing mid-afternoon snacks.
I drummed my fingers on the wheel as we approached the menu. "Alright, Miss, order whatever you want. My treat."
She frowned. "I can pay for my own food, Gomez."
I clicked my tongue. "Miss, don’t be like that. Let me spoil you."
She turned to me so fast I almost laughed. "Excuse me?"
I smirked. "I mean—let me be generous."
She rolled her eyes, sighing. "Fine. Just a McChicken meal, medium fries, and Coke."
I raised an eyebrow. "That’s it? You sure you don’t want nuggets? A sundae? Maybe an apple pie?
She gave me a blank stare. "Do I look like I want an apple pie?"
I chuckled. "Okay, okay, just checking."
I rolled down the window and placed our orders, adding some extra fries for myself because, well, fries are sacred.
When we finally got our food, the car was immediately filled with the heavenly scent of fries and fried chicken. I stole a quick glance at Miss Sanchez—she was already opening the bag, her expression unreadable.
I smirked. "You can eat, you know. No one’s stopping you."
She shot me a look. "I was going to eat regardless of your permission, Gomez."
I chuckled, reaching for my own fries. "Good. I’d hate to see you starve."
She paused for a second—just a tiny second—before shaking her head and taking a bite of her burger.
I leaned back, satisfied. At least she’s eating now.
As I popped a fry into my mouth, I decided to keep the conversation going.
"So… are you excited for the trip?"
She shrugged. "Not really."
I gasped dramatically, clutching my chest. "Not even a little? Even though you’ll be spending it with me?"
She gave me a blank stare.
I sighed. "Ouch. You really like hurting my feelings, don’t you, Miss?"
She took a sip of her Coke before responding, her voice calm. "If I say yes, will you stop being dramatic?"
I grinned. "No promises."
She sighed, shaking her head.
We had been on the road for almost three hours, and when I glanced at her, she was already fast asleep. A small smile tugged at my lips as I watched her—her face looked so peaceful, as if she had no worries at all.
I wanted to keep staring, to memorize every little detail of her features, but I had to stop myself. I needed to keep my eyes on the road—I was driving, after all. Still, I couldn’t help but take a deep breath, letting out a quiet sigh.
"You’re so beautiful," I whispered, barely realizing I had spoken out loud. "and it’s driving me crazy."