Terrence's Point of View

"Hep, hep! 7PM, dinner! Don't y'all forget!" Aly reminded all of us (as what she always does because she's always strict when it comes to time) before we parted ways.

"Yes, ma'am!" Winston saluted at Aly as of she was his commander. Aly just rolled her eyes and we all laughed at Winston before finally parting ways.

Hacob and I would be at Hacob's condo unit, while the rest of them would be on their dormitories.

As far as I know, Aly and Ly will share the same dormitory, and the three rented their own dormitories as they do not want to join each other because as per the three of them, a disaster will occur if they live under the same roof. Well, that's really true.

"Let me hold my duffle bag, you already have too much in your hands..." I was about to grab my duffle back and hold it myself, but Hacob just shrugged and started walking towards his condo unit.

"What time did you sleep last night? And boss, if you could inform me, please tell me when will your mood be normal," I sarcastically said while rolling my eyes.

Because he was walking fast, I walked fast as well.

When I was finally near him, I slightly tickled him on his ribs, making him laugh a little bit. "Won't you answer me, boss?" I sarcistally said again while tickling his right rib.

He laughed and unfortunately, he caught my hand, so I had no choice but to stop. He's much stronger than me... I have no chance at winning against him.

"I tried to sleep at 7AM, but my mom kept on bugging me that time to wake up... so... I wasn't able to sleep," he finally answered my question.

My brows furrowed. "What the hell did you do?"

Please tell me you're just playing video games... or just watching some Netflix series. Please. I do not want to hear any reason besides these two.

He just nervously laughed... but he did not answer my question. "Were you playing games on your PS4? Or on your PC?"

I raised my brows at him while I was directly looking at his eyes. Whenever I do this, he just can't seem to lie to me, so I don't think he will be able to lie to me now.

I was right because he immediately shook his head while again, nervously laughing. "Were you watching a movie... some TV series?"

He shook his head once more while again, nervously laughing. He even looked away this time and he walked faster than he was doing a few seconds ago.

Well... it seems like I already know what kept him up.

I know him so well. There are only three things that keep him up— two of those things were the ones I mentioned, and the other one is his reason that I hate the most... because that other one hurts me big time.

Right now, I feel like my heart is going to be ripped apart... like there's some big rock that was thrown into it and it's now breaking.

"You spent your time again on a dating app chatting with someone? Do you have a possible date you'll meet up with?" I looked at him with disappointed eyes, and he looked back at me with puppy eyes— as if he was trying to bribe me with those eyes. But that won't work. He knows it's won't.

He knows that I get mad at him whenever he uses a dating app and tries to meet up with someone, so he walked even faster just so I won't be beside him.

I walked fast too, and I was able to keep up with him.

"I already know what you will say— that Aly was catfished by a poser, you might be victimized too, blah... blah..." He rolled his eyes and even patted my back as he laughed it off.

So he thinks I'm not serious? Okay. Whatever.

I just rolled my eyes at him and did not respond to what he said. You're being immature... well, I can be more immature, Hacob.

***

To: Mommy

Hello, mommy! I just want you to know that I just finished arranging my clothes in the drawer here at Hacob's condo, where I'll be staying every weekday. The rent was supposed to be free as Hacob offered, but Papa and I felt ashamed, so we insisted that I'll still pay him rent. Hacob wasn't able to decline as he couldn't say 'no' to Papa and Papa was really persistent. I just wish you were here with me, Mommy... you would have been so proud of me because I'm already being independent. I miss you so much, my. I really hope I'll see you soon... and if I do, please forgive me as I may not recognize you because it's been so long and Papa threw all your pictures. Please always know that I still love you... that I still treat you as my mother even if I have my Mama Helen.

I sighed deeply after I pressed the send button on my phone.

Because I kind of felt tired and my back was somehow aching, I lied my back on the side of the bed while sitting on the carpet, and then stared blankly at the white ceiling of this room.

I’ve been doing this ever since I got a phone— messaging my real mother, my Mommy Therese, all the happenings in my life through text message. I started this habit when I was in 6th grade, and up until today, I have the same phone number as when I got my first phone because I do not want to change it as Mommy may message or reach me through this number.

I started this habit because Mommy left us when I was still in 3rd grade. Back then, she just told me that she would go to the supermarket to buy some groceries, but she never came back. I asked Papa why Mommy did not come back, but Papa just said that he didn't know, and he had no plans of knowing Mommy's reason.

I was in 6th grade when Papa met Mama Helen, my stepmother, and back then I did not like her (because for me, Mommy can't be replaced by anyone). Just so I could cope up with my feelings and be able to lash out all my rants, I started messaging Mommy through text and there— I ranted everything, how much I missed her, and how much I wanted her to be here instead of Mama Helen.

I know it's impossible that Mommy still has the same number as when she left when I was still in 3rd grade (she never replied to any of my text messages ever since), but I still do it because it has been my daily habit, and I feel like my day is not complete if I do not text her. Besides that, I feel like my heart is somehow comforted every time I send a text message, specially when I feel sad and broken because of Hacob. Yup... I told Mommy through text that I love Hacob... that I have feelings for him and it hurts me every time he has a new girl that he likes.

I don't really know if Mommy's homophobic, but I guess, she's not? Papa is not... so I think she's not. I hope she's not.

And if she is, well... I just hope she did not receive all of these text messages. I do not want to ruin my relationship with her because she's my real mother after all.

"Done informing Aunt Therese about what happened to your day?" Hacob casually sat beside me and stared at the ceiling just like what I was doing, but I immediately stood up and left the room.

Yup. Hacob knows my habit. He did not meet Mommy, but he knows her name because I told him back then when he asked me about this habbit.

But... I'm still annoyed by him, so I guess, I'll still ignore him. Besides, I'm still not in the mood to talk to him.

I know this is a bit immature of me because the real reason why I'm being like this is jealousy, but I still feel like this feeling's valid because I've been warning him as his bestfriend of using dating apps, but still, he ignored my warnings and advices as I those words did not matter to him.

"Hey, Ter... are.. are you still mad?" He willingly followed me but I continued walking.

Fortunately, it's already almost 7PM, and our friends are probably waiting now on the restaurant where we will have dinner, so I guess I can leave the condo now.

Right after I left the condo unit, that's when I remembered about the Adobo that Mama gave me earlier.

I guess I'll just eat it tomorrow. It's in the fridge and will not spoil, so I think it's good. "Ter, wait for me!" Hacob exclaimed as I heard his keys fell on the floor.

I just ignored him and continued walking fast.