Last day of finals—I was eager to leave, but we juniors still had a meeting regarding our upcoming summer classes for filming. Attending this training was necessary because it would count as part of our summer classes, preparing us for our Educational Tour. There was no other time for this training since, by the next semester, we would already be starting our OJT (On-the-Job Training).
Since our major was TRI-Media (TV, Print, and Radio), our required OJT hours were longer than usual. We had no extra time to prepare for the filming of our Sinulog Coverage, so we would be staying in Cebu for an entire month.
During the meeting, we found out that our training wouldn't be handled by our professors but by professors from Cebu who were already experienced in media coverage for Sinulog Festival. They would spend the whole summer at our school, and then in January of the following year, we would spend a month in Cebu to cover the entire Sinulog Festival—from preparation to the opening and closing ceremonies as our major project before our comprehensive exams instead of thesis.
While in the meeting, my mind wandered. Before heading to the MC Center, I ran into VM and the others. They invited me to a night out and said they would wait for me until my meeting was over. I wasn't planning on going, but it was hard to refuse. They knew my exams were already done.
And speaking of VM, she and David, her love, had made up. There had even been a teary reconciliation at the apartment one night when I got home. I let them have their moment in our room while I studied at the kitchen table.
"Psst! What's wrong? You look like you need to use the bathroom or something," Mitch whispered. We were seated next to each other, with Zette on her other side.
"I just couldn't say no when VM invited me earlier. You saw how persistent she was. She even said, 'She will take no for an answer!' I didn't really want to go because I feel awkward about James being there," I mumbled just enough for her to hear, pretending to be focused on the meeting.
"I was actually surprised. I thought you wouldn't agree to it. But now that you did, you're stuck," she pointed out.
"I know. I'll just go with the flow. I can't avoid them this time since we all live together. And I don't have any valid excuses left," I sighed.
"Then just go along with it. Just don't let pressure get to you, and don't let pride cloud your judgment. Think carefully about what's right," she advised. I nodded but kept my gaze fixed ahead.
"My only concern is Georje. What if he's waiting for me outside?" I asked worriedly.
"Oh no!" she gasped, smacking my leg—thankfully, not hard enough to startle me.
"Can you do me a favor? If you see Georje outside, tell him to wait for my call tomorrow. Just say I couldn't escape from my org mates because they were waiting for me at the lounge. Tell him it was a farewell party—even though we all know it's just an excuse to drink," I pleaded.
"No problem! If we see him. But if we don't, well… too bad. We won't wait around either—you know how impatient Kim gets with things like this," she replied. She and Kim had officially started dating two weeks after our serious talk at MC Center, right before the Christmas Festival.
After the meeting, we quickly made our way down. Zette and Mitch left together while I headed straight to the student lounge.
"There she is! The one we've been waiting for!" AC called out the moment he saw me approaching.
"Hi, Lui! How are you"" VM greeted, sitting beside David. I just smiled and waved. The others greeted me as well.
I hesitated to look at James, who was sitting behind AC. He looked nervous, shifting uneasily in his seat.
"Here, Lui—sit," David offered me his seat, saying he would move so I could sit next to VM.
"How was your meeting?" VM immediately asked when I sat down.
"It was okay. My summer is going to be packed. Aside from taking my last two minor subjects, I also have filming training all summer. We even have a few out-of-town trips lined up," I explained.
"I thought you already finished that subject? I remember because it was part of last semester, right?" she asked, confused.
"Yeah, I already took it, but we need to undergo this training as preparation for our Educational Tour," I clarified.
"You have an Educational Tour? Wow! That sounds exciting! Where to?" she asked excitedly.
"Cebu. Yeah, it sounds fun, but I'm sure it's going to be exhausting," I sighed. Truthfully, I felt both excited and anxious. Filming was already a hassle—what more when it involved full coverage/documentation? Plus, we weren't familiar with the area, which would only add to the challenge.
"That's amazing! Your program really stands out in this school," she commented.
"By the way, why haven't we left yet?" I asked.
"Oh, Angelo isn't here yet. He's on his way down. Of course, we can't leave without our President," she replied. I recognized the name, but I wasn't entirely sure if I had the right person in mind. I didn't hang out with them much.
"Hold on, I'm just going to buy some water. I've been thirsty for a while," I told VM as I stood up.
"Are you leaving, Lui? You're not coming with us?" AC immediately asked.
"No, I just need to buy something really quick. I'll be right back—we're still waiting for Angelo, anyway," I answered before walking away without waiting for his reply.
"Lui, wait! I'm coming with you," VM called out, following me.
"Are you really okay with coming along?" she asked hesitantly.
"O-of course. Why?" I asked back.
"Because I know you're uncomfortable since James is here. But I promise, I already told my brother that there shouldn't be any teasing between you two tonight," she explained.
"It's fine, don't worry about me. It's actually him I'm worried about. He specifically asked me to ignore him, so as much as possible, I'll avoid him," I said.
"I know," she simply replied.
"Do you want one?" I offered her a bottled water.
"No, thank you. David bought me juice earlier, so I'm not thirsty yet," she replied.
"Okay," I simply replied as I paid for my water, eager to leave the cafeteria and head back to the lounge where the others were waiting.
"You know, VM, don't talk to me—talk to him. He's the one you should be speaking with. I just can't figure out who set this up. They all know my situation with James, and yet here we are," I ranted before taking a long sip from my bottled water.
"I was actually planning to talk to him later. I can tell he's struggling—I've noticed he's been quiet the whole time," she said.
"I understand him. This isn't easy for him at all. I feel even worse for him, and the guilt is still there. Just thinking about him makes me feel bad—what more when I actually see him? And now, surprise! I have to spend the whole night with him. Ugh!" I groaned, rolling my eyes.
"Didn't he tell you not to feel guilty? He said the same thing to me when we talked during the first week after the Christmas break," VM reminded me, trying to ease my emotions.
"Yeah, but I can't help it. It still feels the same. I don't know how long I'll carry this," I said in frustration.
"Alright, enough of that. We're getting close—someone might hear us," she warned. I hadn't even realized we were just a few steps away, which was why VM suddenly stopped talking.
"Yara! Nika! Where have you two been? I've been looking for you!" VM quickly changed the topic so no one would notice we had been talking about something heavy.
"I just dropped off my classmate at her boarding house, and then I asked Yara to come with me since we ran into each other in the hallway," Nika explained.
"Guys! Let's go! We're all here now. If we don't all fit in one jeep, let's just meet at the same place," our org president announced.
Everyone started moving. The boys were as rowdy as ever, teasing each other, but luckily, James and I weren't part of their jokes. I could see him laughing along with them, joining in their banter. We were walking behind them, and honestly, it was better this way—less awkwardness.
As we stepped outside, I intentionally pulled Yara with me, and she, in turn, held onto Nika. We headed toward another jeepney since I knew there wouldn't be enough space in the one the others had already boarded. Our group ended up splitting into two, but then, unexpectedly…
"Move a little, there's still room for more passengers! On the left, there's space for one; on the right, we need three more," the driver called out.
I leaned back and closed my eyes—my eyes were sore and stinging. I wasn't used to wearing my glasses all the time since they made me uncomfortable, especially when I was in a rush. I often forgot them too.
I didn't bother checking who sat beside me on my left. I was sitting at the very end of the jeep, near the entrance, so I could get off easily. I wasn't paying attention to their conversations either—I was just listening to music on my CD player. I always carried it with me because I loved music. It made me feel relaxed and recharged, especially soothing instrumental pieces like piano or saxophone. My favorites were Kenny G and Cecile Licad.
As I was halfway through listening to "Forever in Love" by Kenny G, someone tapped me on the shoulder. I slowly opened my eyes and removed my earphone, and then…
"Lui, we're getting off soon," said the voice of the person whose face was unexpectedly close to mine.
"Huh?" was all I could manage to say.
My heart pounded. I was completely caught off guard. I never expected him to be sitting beside me—none other than James.
"Am I dreaming? Why is he talking to me? Weren't we supposed to avoid each other as much as possible? What happened? Why did he sit next to me?"
"I said we're almost there—you might get left behind," he repeated, smiling at me.
"Oh, okay. Thank you," I replied quickly, reaching into my backpack for my coin purse to get my fare.
"It's already paid, Lui. I paid for you earlier. I didn't want to disturb you because I knew you were tired," he said immediately. I had no idea he was watching my every move.
"Oh, here—this is my fare," I said awkwardly.
"No need. It's fine. You know you're not a stranger to me," he said, gently pushing my hand away. That only made me lower my head even more. Earlier, I felt a mix of guilt and pity. Now, I felt embarrassed on top of that.
"You should've just told me. I wasn't even asleep—I was just listening to music. And... sorry, I didn't know you were the one sitting next to me," I said hesitantly, still unable to meet his gaze. I busied myself putting away my earphones and CD player into my backpack.
"Let's go!" He got off the jeep before I could say anything else. He waited for me to step down, standing near the side.
Once we got off, we stood aside because we couldn't cross the street right away. My eyes scanned for Yara and Nika since they were the ones I rode the jeep with earlier. They were a little further back—maybe they had gotten off before us. I let it be, knowing we'd still end up sitting together for dinner.
"Lui, let's go," someone suddenly grabbed my elbow. I jumped in surprise before I finally started walking across the street.
"You must've had too much coffee—you're way too jumpy," he teased.
"Why was he talking to me so casually, as if nothing bad had happened between us? As if everything was normal? As if I hadn't wronged him?"
"N-no, I wasn't! Who wouldn't be startled if someone suddenly grabbed my elbow?" I protested.
"Well, the traffic light was already red, so we had to hurry before it turned green. And if I hadn't pulled you, you would've been pushed by the people behind us," he explained.
He had a point, so I didn't argue further. I just kept quiet, especially since he had already let go of my arm.
When we arrived at our usual go-to restaurant, known for its chicken barbecue, we headed straight to our favorite spot at the back—an outdoor area facing the seaside. It was a bit far from the city proper, but the place was beautiful, and it was always worth the trip. The breeze was refreshing, which was why we always preferred this spot.
As always, we pushed tables together so we could all sit as a group. Since everyone was here, we ended up using four tables, and instead of arranging them lengthwise, the boys made them into a square so we wouldn't be too far apart. Basically, we took up almost the entire area. The staff and manager didn't mind since they already knew us—we were regulars.
"Niks, sit here. Yara and I will sit together," I said, pulling Nika's wrist so she would pull Yara along too.
Nika sat to my right, with Yara next to her, leaving the seat to my left empty.
"Oh no. I should've sat between them instead."
"Niks, can we switch seats? I'll sit in the middle instead," I whispered.
"Huh? Why? Your seat is fine!" she said, glancing at my left side.
"Just because," I insisted.
"Lui, excuse me—has anyone taken this seat next to you?" asked the org president.
"N-no, not yet," I stammered.
It would actually be better if he sat beside me. We weren't close, but at least it wouldn't be awkward.
"Alright, thanks. The ones who came late will take the vacant chairs since they stopped by the convenience store," he said.
I just nodded, then continued chatting with Nika and Yara. VM sat a bit farther away, next to David—of course, those two were inseparable unless they weren't on good terms.
"I know why you wanted to switch seats," Nika suddenly whispered.
"Then you should just switch with me, please?" I pleaded.
"Nope. You'll be fine. Besides, didn't everything seem normal back in the jeep? He even went out of his way to pay your fare. He didn't even let Yara and me cover for you. And he said he didn't wake you because you looked exhausted, even when I told him you weren't actually asleep," she pointed out.
"That's exactly why I'm confused! I told you before, he was the one who said we should avoid each other, yet now he's acting like nothing happened. I even think he wouldn't acknowledge me at all, especially since he didn't spare me a glance earlier at the lounge," I shared.
"So what? Everything seemed fine in the jeep! Yara and I even saw him hold your elbow while crossing the street. And VM? She was giggling like an idiot when she saw you two together," Nika teased.
"Which is why I'm confused," I sighed, leaning my head against her shoulder so we could speak in hushed tones. Yara was busy chatting with the person next to her, while the rest of the table was buzzing with separate conversations. The boys, as usual, were messing around, making the whole place even louder.
A few minutes later, our food started arriving one after another. As expected, everything was grilled—grilled chicken (quarter cut), pork belly, intestines, and even fish. We also had seaweed salad, which paired perfectly with the grilled dishes. The soup? It was free.
Before all the food was served, the boys who had been sent to the convenience store finally arrived. I had no idea what they bought, but I heard our org president mention something about it. They were all gathered around an ice chest, which they borrowed from the restaurant staff—something we usually did.
So yeah, it was probably drinks.
We waited for them to finish whatever they were doing so we could pray and eat together. No matter how rowdy the boys were, we never skipped saying grace before meals. Even during our climbing trips, we always prayed before heading out or starting a hike.
Dinner was lively, with everyone sharing stories about the recently concluded semester. The seniors started saying their goodbyes since this was probably the last time, we'd all be complete before they graduated. Some of them wouldn't be able to attend our farewell climb because they'd be heading back to their provinces right after graduation. That's why this gathering was held now. Next week was for completion, clearances, and for the seniors, the start of their graduation practices.
Thankfully, throughout dinner, I sat next to the President since he was the last to take a seat and had no choice but to sit beside me.
"Okay. Since the goodbyes have started, I want to hear from someone who's also stepping back from the organization—not leaving, just lying low. This coming semester, her schedule won't allow her to be as active, but that doesn't mean she's out. A mountaineer will always be a mountaineer, one way or another," he said, standing up as we all turned to look at him. Some of us had already finished eating, while others were just about done.
"Hey! I think I know who that is!" AC chimed in.
"Shhh, shut up, Ace! Well, anyway, let's continue this talk later at our bonfire, which is already prepared. That way, others can use this space since I'm sure more people will be coming in to eat," the President said, glancing toward the restaurant.
So, we all moved to the beachside, where the bonfire had been set up earlier by the boys while we waited for our food to be served.
"Guys! Listen up! As your President, I want to thank each of you for participating in our activities, both on and off-campus. I know some of us can be a bit stubborn at times, but overall, I appreciate every single member of this organization. You've never hesitated to help whenever I needed you. I can really feel the strong bond in this org—so much so that some of you have even ended up as couples because of it," he teased, making everyone laugh. Meanwhile, I kept my head down, feeling embarrassed.
"Kidding aside, since I'm graduating, those of you who are staying must maintain the camaraderie and teamwork we've built. Continue taking care of this organization and helping protect the environment. Always remember, climbers: 'Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but wonderful memories and pictures.' And for those who will be the next batch of officers, guide the newbies and pass on what we've taught you, just as our seniors did for us," he continued.
"Now, I'll give others a chance to say their farewell speeches—no crying, okay? I don't want any drama. Seniors, this is your time to shine!" he concluded. More teasing and laughter followed since several seniors were graduating from the organization. One by one, they gave their speeches, including AC, Conrad, James, and a few others.
"Thank you, seniors! Now, there's one more person I'd like to give the chance to speak. She's not a senior, but she needs to lie low because she has something more important to focus on. Lui? Are you ready?"
Our group reacted with an "Awww" when they heard my name. The sudden silence made me even more nervous. I didn't expect this—I thought only the seniors would be giving farewell speeches.
"Good evening, everyone! I'm not graduating yet, just to be clear. But my major demands so much of my time that I have to sacrifice the org, even though I really don't want to. I'm not completely leaving—just lying low, becoming inactive for a while. I spoke to Pres about it to formally say goodbye, but I didn't expect to be included in tonight's speeches," I said, making everyone laugh. I laughed along with them.
"Guys, thank you for all the memories and lessons. I truly appreciate everything. I'm so grateful to have been a part of this organization. I may not be close to everyone, and honestly, while I remember your faces, I don't remember all of your names, especially those I don't get to talk too much. So, most of the time, I just say hi and hello. But still—thank you for everything! And Pres, thank you for understanding and supporting me!" I finished before returning to my seat beside Nika and Yara, who were now also sitting with David and VM.