I understood where Blue was coming from. Our group had always been like family. We had been classmates in our major subjects for second year, and we were often in the same groups for projects. We had shared so much that our bond was undeniable. Blue and Mel were the closest ones to us, unlike our other groupmate Roy, the tallest among us, who was a rich, arrogant guy we could never quite get along with.
"Thanks for your concern. I'll be okay. Besides, I was already planning to talk to James over Christmas break so that at least there will be some time before we see each other again on campus," I finally said after a few minutes of silence. I looked directly at Blue as I explained.
"That's what I wanted to hear! I know you—you always find a way! The Lui I know is strong and fearless," he said with a smile, his lips no longer as red since he was a heavy smoker.
"Thanks for being understanding and patient with me. I don't know what I'd do without you guys," I told him. He simply patted my shoulder, as if to say, "You're welcome." He really was like an older brother—the type who wasn't sweet or expressive but someone you could always count on.
The door suddenly opened, but I didn't turn around. I knew it was Zette and Mitch coming back because I could hear their voices.
"Lui, you won't believe who's outside waiting for you!" Mitch said excitedly as she approached Blue and me.
"Huh? Who? Why?" I asked, furrowing my brows in confusion.
"Why don't you go outside and see for yourself?" Zette teased, wiggling her eyebrows playfully.
"Hey! Stop that. Why don't you just tell Lui straight up? You're making her even more nervous!" Blue scolded them.
"Relax, Grandpa! We're just messing around," Zette replied, laughing.
"Okay, so who is it? And why did they come all the way up to the fourth floor just to see me?" Blue asked, his tone strict and protective.
"Fine, I'll tell you. It's her ever-dearest Georje. He wants to talk to our princess here because apparently, he's been trying to call her, but she's never at the apartment. He's even waited outside multiple times with his friends, but they could never catch her. We almost told him that he'd never find her because she doesn't want to be found," Mitch explained dramatically, only to get smacked on the head by Blue.
The three of them just laughed like I wasn't even there, as if I hadn't just heard what Mitch said. I felt even more nervous now—I couldn't believe what I had just heard.
"But don't worry, Lui. He's already gone because we told him we were busy preparing for the program. We told him to just wait until Christmas break to talk to you. He didn't push it," Zette reassured me.
"We knew you wouldn't face him yet because, remember, you said you'd only deal with him after you've ended things with James," she added confidently. Mitch and Blue both nodded in agreement.
"Guys, we need to go downstairs now! Prof just called the landline! Hurry up and make sure no one forgets anything because they're locking up the place, and the assistant is on their way up to lock the office, too!" one of our classmates suddenly shouted from the radio booth.
We were all backstage, ready to perform. Everyone was dressed up and had their makeup done, prepared to step onto the stage. I could see the big smiles on everyone's faces. You could tell they were excited, especially those whose families had traveled from distant provinces to be here. Even the ones who lived in the city were buzzing with excitement, discussing their party plans so loudly that I couldn't help but overhear them.
Meanwhile, I was lost in thought, planning my next steps—things I should have done long ago. I was finally ready to face whatever consequences my decisions would bring.
Our performance went smoothly, just as we had rehearsed. The festival ended on a high note, and the open party began. Everyone scattered to their assigned rooms, where different clubs and organizations had decided to hold their own celebrations to save on venue costs. The school administration allowed it, as long as no alcohol was involved.
As for us, we headed to the MC Center for our own party. Laughter and games filled the room, and for a while, I managed to forget the thoughts that had been weighing on my mind. The mix of sophomores to seniors made the event lively—after all, the MC Center was where major subject classes started from the second year onward. The freshmen, who had yet to take major subjects, had their own separate party.
By 6 p.m., the party wrapped up. Some rushed home to their provinces, while others hurried off to their pre-planned drinking sessions before parting ways for the Christmas break. As for me, I decided to head straight home—I still had preparations to make for our apartment's party the next day, before we all left for the holidays.
"Hey, Lui! Good thing I caught you. Someone's been calling for you on the landline for days now—it seems important since they've been looking for you every single day. The caller's name is Georje," the helper of our apartment's landlady greeted me as soon as I arrived. Their house was right next to our unit.
"Sorry, I've just been really busy. We had so many projects to finish, plus our exposure trips have started since we'll be doing our internships next semester. I've barely been home," I explained to Manang Linda. We didn't have our own landline, so the landlady had allowed us to use theirs to save on costs.
When I stepped into our unit, it was eerily quiet. I wasn't sure if my housemates were asleep or hadn't come home yet—we hadn't seen each other after our performance. All the lights in the rooms were off, except for the one in the living room. I had a key to the main door, so getting in wasn't a problem, but something felt off—our bedroom door was locked, which wasn't usual.
"VM! Open the door!" I called out, knocking. I heard some shuffling inside, but no one answered right away. Feeling exhausted, I headed to the kitchen to grab a glass of water while waiting. I was beyond drained—I just wanted to collapse onto my bed. But then I realized I needed to shower first; I was sweaty and sticky from the long day.
"Lui? What happened to you? You look so haggard," a voice behind me suddenly asked. I didn't need to turn around to know it was Nika.
"Yeah, I know. I've been pulling all-nighters—schoolwork, exposure trips, plus exams right before the festival. It's exhausting," I sighed. It was true, but what was bothering me even more was my plan for VM's upcoming birthday. I was still trying to figure out how to tell everyone what I had in mind.
"Well, at least you'll finally get some rest during the Christmas break," she reassured me.
"I hope so. But next semester is going to be even crazier—we have our OJT, plus an educational tour for the Sinulog Festival," I groaned.
"But you're still enjoying what you do, right? I mean, this is the degree program you chose," she teased.
"By the way, speaking of enjoyment—you were amazing earlier! You looked so natural on stage, like performing in front of a huge crowd was nothing."
"I still get nervous. I just try to have fun so no one notices," I admitted. "And yeah, I do enjoy my course. The sleepless nights are tough, but I'm getting used to them. It's exhausting, but also exciting—we meet so many people and go to so many places, it feels like an adventure."
"Anyway, I bet you're excited to go home," I changed the topic.
"Of course! I haven't seen my parents in months. I already started packing," she said eagerly.
"Why don't you get changed and rest already?" Nika suggested, sipping her own glass of water.
"I would, but VM still hasn't opened the door. I've been knocking for a while," I grumbled.
"Huh? Hold on," she said, marching straight to our room.
"Hey, VM! Let David go home already! Lui's been here for a while now, and she's exhausted. She just wants to rest—open the door!" Nika yelled, banging on the door. I stayed quiet.
So that's why VM wasn't opening the door—David was inside. Why didn't I realize that sooner? Well, whatever. They can do whatever they want. I have my own problems to deal with.
"Hehe, sorry! I must've dozed off," VM finally said as she opened the door. Her hair was a mess, and she definitely looked like she had just woken up. David was sitting at the edge of her bed, staring blankly ahead, his own hair disheveled, looking just as groggy.
"We're good. Nika and I got caught up chatting here. It's rare for us to have time like this at home without being busy with other things," I quickly replied, setting my duffle bag down beside my bed.
I grabbed my towel and opened the closet to get some sleepwear so I could take a shower, but…
"Lui, have you eaten yet?" VM suddenly asked me. Meanwhile, Nika was heading to her room. She had gone inside because she was finishing her packing—she was going home tomorrow night after our Christmas party. Her province is far away, about eight to nine hours of travel just to get there, and another eight to nine hours back to the city where we temporarily live and study.
Nika is the youngest child in her family, with three siblings. Her two older sisters are working in Manila, having already finished their studies. Her only brother stays in the province with their parents, helping out on their farm. Her sisters are the ones supporting her education. Nika is smart—she's a Dean's Lister. Her dream is to become a CPA and eventually pursue law school. She's braver than I am and much more intimidating. Maybe that's why no one has dared to court her—everyone's scared of her sharp tongue.
"I ate earlier. Why?" I answered, holding my stuff, ready to shower.
"I was thinking we could go out for a food trip. My treat! Let's bond, since it's been a while since the four of us last hung out. And it's perfect because Nika is going home tomorrow, so it'll be a long time before we can all be together again. Just the four of us—no big brother tagging along to be a killjoy. David's heading home anyway," she said, trying to convince me.
After I showered, brushed my teeth, and changed, I went back to the room. Luckily, David was already gone—he must have gone home. So instead of putting on my sleepwear, I changed into jeans, a shirt, and sneakers. Nika, VM, and Yara were also getting ready.
We used to do this often before David entered VM's life. The four of us were always together—even on Valentine's Day, we went out as a group. When we didn't feel like going to the mall, we'd have a picnic somewhere uptown. Food trips were our usual thing. But since it was already late, we decided to hang out at a 24/7 fast food chain.
Nika doesn't drink—at most, she just takes a sip. Yara, on the other hand, completely avoids alcohol—she says she can't stand the taste of beer and insists that juice and soda suit her better. I've been to bars with them before, and unlike my classmates, VM, Nika, and Yara are much more wholesome and well-behaved. When I go out with my classmates for a night out, they're more used to the party scene, so they don't hold back. None of us are uptight—we're all easygoing. But to be fair, we're not the type to start trouble; it's just that the boys in our group can be a little too mischievous sometimes.
Among my apartment mates, Yara is the most meticulous. She never leaves the house without makeup. She's very vain—she has a whole routine before going to bed. Meanwhile, VM, Nika, and I are content with just freshening up before sleeping. Sometimes, VM and Nika put on powder, but other times, they don't bother—especially if they're running late. But Yara is different. She'd rather wake up early than rush through her makeup routine before heading to school or anywhere else.
Even when it comes to dressing up, Yara is the most stylish—she moves and dresses like the most ladylike among us. Nika and I are pretty similar in how we carry ourselves—no frills, no fuss. VM is a bit more feminine in her style, but still, she's nowhere near Yara's level.
I woke up around seven a.m. because VM shook me awake, telling me to get ready for our trip. We had agreed to hold our party at the beach instead of at the apartment. But we weren't staying overnight since Nika had to leave for home that evening. She wasn't even joining us for the party later that night with our mountaineering organization.
"Lui, wake up. We'll have breakfast when we get to the venue. Grandma and Manang Linda already went ahead with her grandkids to set up the food," VM said while brushing her hair, freshly showered.
"I thought we were going to the beach? Why did you take a shower already?" I asked, puzzled.
"I just prefer showering before we leave. Yara, after Nika showers, you can go next if you want so we can leave soon. It would be rude to keep Grandma and the others waiting too long," she explained.
I tried to stay calm and look happy at the party. I joined in on the games because, as much as possible, I wanted to avoid them noticing if I was carrying any emotional weight. The party went well—it didn't feel like I was distancing myself from them for too long. And thankfully, that was exactly my goal.
"Lui, how are things with you and James?" VM suddenly asked while we were having lunch after playing in the sea.
"Umm, we're fine, though we don't get to see or talk to each other often because, you know, my schedule is really busy. I think he understands, though. What do you think?" I asked her back.
"Of course! He's a good guy, and he really loves you. He's actually liked you for a long time but just couldn't find the courage to approach you," she said with a smile.
"Are you trying to sell him to me?" I asked sarcastically.
"Well, not exactly. I'm just saying he's a good person and that he really loves you. Look at him—despite you not having much time for him, he always understands," she explained.
"Seems like that guy really likes you a lot," Nika chimed in.
"Apparently!" VM agreed.
"Wow, you're lucky. At least someone likes you. Nika and I still don't have anyone interested in us," Yara complained.
"Oh, please! You might still have a chance, but Nika? No way—she's too tough!" AC joined in.
"Hey! Then why is it that I'm not a fighter, yet no one has ever even dared to court me? I'm about to graduate in April, you know," Yara argued.
"Oh boy…" AC said, dramatically smacking his forehead.
"You know why guys hesitate to approach you?" he asked Yara.
"Hesitate? Why?" Yara asked, confused.
"Because they probably think you're high-maintenance!" he teased, laughing.
Yara smacked AC's arm in frustration.
"Ouch!"
"You're so annoying, AC! You're never serious when we talk!" she pouted.
"Why are you hitting me?" AC asked.
"Because why would you say that's what guys think about me? Now I can't stop wondering if that's really true!" she said, still irritated.
"Well, it is true! Look at yourself! You always wear full makeup—even at school. And the way you dress, it's like you're always going to a party," he added.
VM and I exchanged glances and just shook our heads at AC's comments about Yara. We didn't join in on their banter, even though we knew there was some truth to what AC was saying.
Even though AC is a jokester, we know that when he speaks, there's usually weight to his words. He often jokes around, but when you really want to know something or ask him for advice, he'll say it in a way that might seem like a joke, but it will definitely stick in your mind because it carries meaning.
We continued enjoying the sea with Grandma and her family. She said she was happy because she already considers us like her grandchildren. We really are lucky to have her and her family in our lives.
We spent the whole day at the beach with Grandma, who owns the apartment we live in, along with her children and grandchildren. The party was fun with them. After the gift exchange, we decided to head home to prepare for our mountaineering organization's party.
When we got back to the apartment, we rested for a bit before getting ready again for the beach Christmas party with our mountaineering group. I also finished packing the things I needed to bring—just a duffle bag and a backpack. I had to bring my bedding so I could wash it at home using the washing machine. I couldn't wash it here since we only do handwashing, or we'd have to send it to a laundry service. But paying for laundry felt like a waste of money.
"VM, is David stopping by here so we can go to the venue together?" I asked while closing my backpack, having finished organizing my things.
"No, we'll just meet there. He knows we had a party here at the apartment first, so I didn't ask him to come," she replied, still focused on the TV.
"Oh…" was all I said.
"Why?" she asked.
"Nothing. It's just… you two are practically inseparable now," I said.
"Well, we don't even see each other when I'm on duty. You're making it sound worse than it is," she complained.
"Well, I'm just saying what I see. You two are always together, so that's why I said it," I explained.
"Well, you and James are the complete opposite of me and David. You barely spend time together because you're always busy," she countered.
"What do you expect me to do? That's just how my schedule is! Should I prioritize dating over my studies and end up failing my subjects? My parents would definitely kill me for that. Worse, they might even make me drop out. Besides, James knows the kind of life and schedule I have as a student," I ranted.
"Of course, I've never heard him complain. He just said he wonders if you ever get exhausted with everything you're doing, plus the dance troupe. It's a good thing you haven't had much to do with the dance troupe lately, except for the Christmas festival," she said.
"Well, he better not complain! First of all, he already knew what I was doing before we even got into this relationship. Didn't he always say he used to see me working on things with my groupmates in the student lounge? This shouldn't be a big deal for him because everything I do is for my studies—I'm not just out wasting my time," I said.
"That's not how I know James. He's very understanding. Honestly, real talk—David is actually more narrow-minded than him sometimes. Like, even when I tell David that we have duty at the mental health facility, he still gives it a different meaning. And when I say we have group study or group work, oh my, I have to give him a long explanation every time," she complained.
"I wouldn't like that at all. I definitely wouldn't get along with someone like that. He should understand that you have your own life. Even before you got together, you were already doing a lot of things, especially for your studies. Why would he try to limit you?" I said bluntly.
"That's why we can't avoid arguing about things like that sometimes—it really annoys me. Good thing that one time, James overheard our argument and helped me explain to David that he shouldn't be complaining if I went to a classmate's house to finish our case study. I was struggling with the two cases I was handling, so I needed help, which is why I went after our duty. But I completely forgot that he was waiting for me at school, so he got really mad. He said I prioritized my classmates over him. I really didn't mean to—I was just so preoccupied with the cases I had," she explained.
"I hate that kind of behavior. That's so difficult to deal with," was all I could say.
"Good thing I was able to explain it to him. But you know, sometimes I get really annoyed because he even insisted on tagging along just to meet my groupmates. He wouldn't take no for an answer. He actually went with me! Luckily, it only happened once and never again," she confided.
"Oh, he should be thankful I wasn't there when that happened! If I had known about it back then, he would've been in big trouble with me. That's too much—it's like he didn't trust you at all! And he didn't even consider that he was invading your personal time," I scolded. It was a good thing that VM and I finally got to talk about things like this because I had no idea what was going on in her life while I was busy with my own.
"Just let it go, sis. It's all good now. He won't do it again because he finally understood," she reassured me.
"Hey! Come on, let's go! We're leaving!" AC suddenly interrupted our conversation, peeking into VM's and my room.