It was a fair morning when our recollection happened. It was apparent that most of us were excited—not only because of the recollection but also for the interaction that will happen between regulars and scholars. Of 'course I'm one of those few who didn't like those interactions.
"Yieehh, I know Ramar noticed you earlier! I saw his eyes quietly gazing in our direction!", Lili squealed as she squeezed Jasi's arm. Jasi blushed and looked away in embarrassment.
"Maybe he's just looking something behind us," Jasi shyly answered, but I know better that she also wished that what Lili had said were true.
"Suuuss, don't you dare fool me, woman! You may be older than me, but I definitely know better than all of you!", Lili boasted as she pumped her fist on the air.
I smiled in amusement as she continued prattling about Ramar and Jasi. Jasi just covered her face with her palms as she continued on denying Lili's ridiculous theories.
"—days from now, he will still remember your pretty face, and that's when he will realize that he's in love... then, after realizing it, he will muster his courage to court you and—"
"Oh, please, Lili, stop... That's really embarrassing now...", Jasi pleaded. Her face was already as red as ripe tomatoes, and her lips were pressed into a thin line to prevent a smile that threatened to form in her lips.
"But Jasi, what I'm saying always comes true. I know Ramar—"
She didn't finish what she's about to say when Jasi grabbed Lili and covered forcefully her mouth. I looked around and saw Ramar had just passed by at my back.
"Mmmhm! Mhmmm!", Lili struggled as she tried to break free from Jasi's grip.
"Ouch! Lili!", Jasi almost yelled as Lili bit her hands. "Ewww...", she said while wiping her hands on Lili's shirt. Lili just laughed, and we all laughed with her.
"You're really crazy," Jasi muttered in between her laughs.
"I know right... Wait—somebody's too quiet. Hey Gette, tell me who's your crush?", she demanded while leaning closely to me.
I looked her dryly and pushed her face far from mine.
"None... I have no crush, so shooo, shooo—don't bother me," I answered irritatedly. She just smiled mischievously at me. I frowned because I know she's thinking something that's not good.
"Scram will you! I have no crush or whatsoever—"
"You have no crush for now," she said knowingly while wiggling her brows.
I just gave her a mocking smile. "Whatever... Now move, I'm going to use the water closet," I demanded as I stood up abruptly.
"Ehhh—I know you're just avoiding me, Gette! But you can't escape from the eyes of mighty Lili!", she said dramatically while posing a peace sign pose.
I jokingly rolled my eyes and walked away from our table. Despite the constant reminders that the sisters have been giving us, the dining hall remained noisy. It seems that after a sumptuous lunch they wanted to exercise—exercise their mouth.
When I stepped out of the dining hall, I was immediately greeted with a deafening silence. It was the kind of silence that I've been yearning for since that morning, and I was more than glad to experience it.
Wanting more privacy, I walked towards the empty hallway towards the main chapel. While walking, I gaze at the gloomy yard below. I noticed that someone was walking towards the empty bench near the tall frangipani tree.
I squinted to get a better view, and I almost lost balance in shock when I recognized who was approaching.
'It's him!', I exclaimed in my mind while gazing at the nearing figure.
Even though a year has passed, his gentle demeanor hasn't changed. His enthralling eyes, his kind smile, his angelic face, and even the way he talks—I admired everything about him.
The moment I saw him in the church that day, laughing carelessly with his friends, I knew that I'd fallen for him.
I continued admiring and thinking about him some times for the whole year, and when I saw him again that day—I know my admiration for him didn't diminish. The noisy thumping of my heart contrasted with the silence of the hallways. I continued gazing at him, and like a blessing from fate, he looked up and waved at me.
I know he's waving at me, but to be sure and also to save myself from the possible embarrassment if I'm mistaken, I looked around. My face heated up when I realized it's just me. I bit my lips to prevent myself from giggling, and I tried to smile demurely. He nodded and just continued walking towards a room on the ground floor.
The moment he was out of sight, I squealed silently. Even if I didn't see my face that time, I'm sure that I'm blushing furiously. To calm myself, I breathe in and out for few moments.
'This is definitely fate's working!', I thought dreamily.
"Ohh, you're just here! What took you so long, Gette? Are you constipated because it—"
I just smiled sweetly at her. After what happened earlier, I couldn't bear to be angry or at least pretend to be annoyed. All of the bad feelings seemed to have vanished when I saw him.
"Nothing, Lili... Nothing," I said cheerfully.
She eyed me curiously. She tried to intimidate me with her intense gaze, but I just laughed it off.
'No one could spoil my mood now!', I pondered happily while striding my way back towards the dining hall.
Lili followed me closely, "Hey, wait up! Wait up, Gette!"
The chapel was already packed when we arrived in it. We squeezed our way in and made ourselves comfortable with our seats at the backside of it. We practiced the songs we will sing during our mass, and after a half hour of waiting, the sisters signaled us to be silent. When the bell rang, the mass servers came in together with the mass presider. I turned around to look who was the priest, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw who it was.
'It was him.'
Tears welled inside my eyes as I gazed at him, who's smiling gently while walking towards the altar. Soon enough, the welling tears started to obstruct my vision, and everything became a blur to me.
I was able to hold back my tears at the earlier parts of the mass, but the moment he started his homily, my tears just spilled down mercilessly.
"Hey, Gette, why are you crying?", Lili whispered.
I hastily wiped my tears and smiled half-heartedly.
"Nothing—I'm just so touched with the homily," I lied as I looked away from her.
I had a hard time handling that heartbreak. I have admired him for almost a couple of years—and just when I thought I had a chance with him—I discovered that he had taken another path.
'Is the path to enlightenment really that rewarding that he was willing to abandon all of the possible good things that this world could offer?', I wondered bitterly.
It rained after the mass, but unlike the usual, I wasn't bother with its coldness at all. Our service vehicle arrived, and with one last glance I looked at the church where I saw him for the first time.
'I guess I'm not even worth it for him...'
My young mind and heart couldn't comprehend the reason why he made that decision way back then, but looking back at it now—I'm getting the gist of what he felt at that time.
For I realized that path is certainly worth sacrificing for.
Oh, I am sorry this happened to you back then. It's his loss as you have now realized you are worth much more.
You write so well by the way. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the appreciation, @rukkie! I'm really thrilled that you liked the way I wrote it. Yes, I may have lost him, but I know it opened doors not only for him but as well for me. He's really a kind man, and he deserves much better—so I guess he took the path serving Him. He's now a priest, and I'm happy that he's happy with his vocation—hope I'll find mine sooner. Thanks also for stopping by! See you around.
Thank you. I really appreciate it!