Strings of Fate

Grabe, parang ang bilis ng November 2025. Clearances week na, and everything felt like a never-ending roller coaster of assignments, deadlines, at projects. Yung mga classmates ko, lahat kami, pati ako, napapa-pressure. Parang buong araw kami nagmamadali, tapos pag-uwi, gagawa na naman ng work. Sobrang hectic. Laging may pressure, tapos sa sobrang dami ng mga deadlines, ang hirap makapagfocus sa kahit anong iba. But despite everything, ‘yung thoughts ko about Rhyler, hindi nawawala.

I didn’t really know what to expect for our first monthsary. Di naman kasi ako ‘yung tipo ng tao na sobrang umaasa na may magbabalot na rose petals and fancy surprises. Gusto ko lang sana yung sweet and meaningful. Pero deep inside, I couldn't help but wonder—may plano kaya siya? I mean, sure, official na kami, boyfriend and girlfriend na kami, pero parang ang hirap mag-assume ng kahit ano kay Rhyler. I never knew what he was thinking.

But kahit anong gawin ko, even when I was in the middle of reviewing, parang may part sa utak ko na palaging si Rhyler na lang iniisip ko. Paano ba ‘yun? Nasa relationship na kami—hindi na secret—pero kung may iniiwasan akong tanong sa sarili ko, yun yung kung may plano ba siyang i-celebrate ‘yung monthsary namin. Hindi ko talaga alam kung anong gagawin namin. Is he the type to celebrate it? Or baka mag-coffee date lang kami tapos okay na?

I tried to focus sa mga schoolworks ko, pero bawat oras, parang hindi ko maiwasang mag-isip tungkol sa kanya. I kept telling myself na hindi ako maghihintay ng malaki, kasi baka hindi niya trip. Pero minsan, kahit ganun, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang mag-expect na baka he’ll surprise me somehow.

Everyday passed by so fast and kahit may nakikita akong mga quick glances from him, or simpleng messages sa chat, we barely had time to talk. I was busy with my work, and so was he. I knew we both wanted to see each other more, pero clearances week—grabe—so stressful. But no matter what, kahit ganun, he always made sure to send a text or just let me know he’s thinking of me. Parang “Survive the week, Love. We’ll celebrate properly soon. Wait for me.” Nakakagaan sa pakiramdam.

Isa sa mga lunch breaks ko, nagtagpo kami ni Atasha sa library. Tinutulungan ko siya sa isang project, at biglang nagtanong si Atasha.

"Girl, klaro na, diba? Monthsary mo na soon!" At medyo may halong asar pa siya.

"Huh? Monthsary? Oo nga pala," sagot ko, and I immediately felt my cheeks flush. “Pero hindi ko alam kung anong plano ni Rhyler. Parang hindi siya ‘yung tipo ng guy na magse-celebrate ng mga ganung bagay, e.”

Tawa siya ng tawa. "Hala, Eli. Girl, hindi mo ba nakita? Lately, parang hindi siya makaalis sa'yo. May plano ‘yan, I’m telling you. Nako, baka may surprise ka pa."

Tumingin ako sa kanya ng medyo skeptikal. “Baka mag-coffee date lang kami or something. Hindi ko nakikita na may bonggang surprise siya.”

Atasha raised her eyebrow, may hint of amusement. "Teka lang. Lakas ng kutob ko, Eli. Alam ko na, basta—wait mo na lang. Alam ko may surprise yan."

Napaisip ako. Sabi ko nga sa sarili ko, baka nga may something siya. Pero at the same time, iniisip ko, baka sobrang overthink lang ako. It’s just one monthsary, right? Hindi naman kailangang maging grand.

Pero sa loob-loob ko, sobrang na-curious ako. Maybe she’s right. Maybe Rhyler was planning something, and maybe I was just too clueless to figure it out.

The next few days went by in a whirlwind. Projects, deadlines, and exams. Yung mental exhaustion ko grabe, pero habang nagkakasunod-sunod ang mga araw, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang mag-isip about the possibility of Rhyler having something special planned for us. Kahit na may ginagawa akong school work, may part ng utak ko na nagfo-focus kay Rhyler.

Then, one evening, habang nag-aaral ako sa kwarto ko, biglang nag-text si Rhyler. Isang message lang, pero sobrang saya ko na. “Clearance week’s almost over. I’ll see you soon. Be ready.”