Chapter 5

People always said that time moves fast.

But no one ever tells you how painful it feels when time finally catches up.

For years, Patricia Dela Cruz and Katherine Reyes believed that nothing could separate them.

Not different classes.

Not different schedules.

Not even the small arguments they had growing up.

Because after every fight, every misunderstanding, and every bad day…

They always found their way back.

But graduation was different.

Because this time, life wasn’t asking them to go home.

It was asking them to leave.

—

The school grounds were louder than usual.

Everyone was taking pictures.

Laughing.

Making promises they hoped they could keep.

“I’ll visit you.”

“We’ll never lose touch.”

“We’ll still hang out.”

Everyone said those words.

But Pat and Kat knew something.

Promises were easy to make.

Keeping them was the hard part.

Katherine Reyes stood beside Patricia, holding her graduation cap in her hands.

She looked at Pat quietly.

Really looked at her.

The same girl she met years ago.

The same girl who waited for her when she walked too slowly.

The same girl who always carried an extra pen because Kat always forgot hers.

The same girl who became part of every memory she had.

“You know…”

Kat broke the silence.

“I thought this day would feel happier.”

Pat turned to her.

“It is happy.”

Kat smiled faintly.

“I know.”

A pause.

“It’s just…”

She looked down.

“I don’t like that my happiness means you leaving.”

Pat didn’t answer immediately.

Because she understood.

She felt the same.

—

Raven University.

The name alone felt far away.

Pat had spent years working for this.

The basketball scholarship.

The opportunity.

The future she wanted.

She should have been excited.

And she was.

But there was one thing she wished she could bring with her.

Katherine Reyes.

“You’ll be okay there, right?”

Kat asked.

Pat looked at her.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because you’re stubborn.”

Pat raised an eyebrow.

“Excuse me?”

Kat laughed.

“You don’t eat properly. You forget to rest. You pretend everything is fine.”

“I can handle myself.”

“I know.”

Kat’s smile softened.

“That’s what scares me.”

Pat became quiet.

Because Kat always did that.

She saw through her.

Even when everyone else believed her.

“You worry too much.”

“And you don’t worry enough.”

They both laughed.

A small laugh.

The kind that sounded normal.

The kind they used to share every day.

But this time…

It felt like they were trying to hold onto something slipping away.

—

A few minutes later, Kat reached into her bag.

“I have something for you.”

Pat looked confused.

“What is it?”

Kat handed her a small bracelet.

Pat stared at it.

“You kept this?”

Kat smiled.

“Of course I did.”

It was simple.

Nothing fancy.

But Pat knew exactly what it meant.

Their childhood promise.

The one they made when they were too young to understand how much they would need it.

“You still remember?”

Kat looked at her like the question surprised her.

“Pat.”

She laughed softly.

“I remember everything about you.”

And for a moment…

Pat forgot how to breathe.

Because those words meant more than Kat probably realized.

—

“Do you think we’ll still be like this?”

Kat suddenly asked.

Pat looked at her.

“Like what?”

“Us.”

The answer was quiet.

Afraid.

“Will we still be us when everything changes?”

Pat looked away.

Because that was the question she was scared to answer.

She wanted to say yes.

She wanted to promise.

But what if she was wrong?

What if distance changed them?

What if new people entered their lives?

What if Kat found someone else?

Still…

Pat smiled.

“We will.”

Kat studied her face.

“Promise?”

That word again.

The same word from years ago.

The same pinky promise.

Pat looked at her.

And this time, she hesitated.

Not because she didn’t believe it.

But because she believed it too much.

She lifted her pinky.

“Promise.”

Kat immediately linked theirs together.

Just like they always did.

—

The day came too quickly.

The car that would take Pat away was waiting.

The moment they had both tried not to think about.

Kat stood there silently.

Trying to memorize everything.

The way Pat looked.

The way she smiled.

The way she stood.

Because she didn’t know when she would see her again.

Pat opened the car door.

Then stopped.

She turned around.

“Kat.”

“Yeah?”

There were so many things she wanted to say.

So many words she kept hidden.

I love you.

I don’t want to leave.

I’m scared of losing you.

But none of them came out.

Instead…

“Don’t forget about me.”

Kat’s expression changed.

Like those words hurt.

Because how could she forget?

How could she forget the person who was part of her entire life?

“Pat…”

Her voice became softer.

“I could never.”

For the first time that day, Pat looked like she was about to break.

Kat smiled through the tears forming in her eyes.

“Go.”

Pat didn’t move.

“Kat—”

“You worked so hard for this.”

A tear finally fell.

“Don’t let me be the reason you stop.”

Pat swallowed.

“And what about you?”

Kat wiped her tears.

“I’ll be here.”

A small smile.

“Like always.”

—

The car started moving.

Kat stayed there.

Watching Pat leave.

And Pat looked back.

Watching the girl who had always been beside her slowly disappear.

Neither of them said what they wanted to say.

Neither of them confessed what their hearts had known for years.

Because sometimes…

The hardest goodbye isn’t leaving.

It’s leaving behind the person you wanted to stay with.

And sometimes…

The person you love most is the same person you are too afraid to lose.

✦ Author’s Note ✦

Reader: “UMAMIN NA KAYO!!!”

Pat & Kat: *best friends lang kami* 🙂

Me: best friends daw oh 🤨

GIRL.

Nag-iiyakan kayo sa graduation, may matching bracelet, may childhood promise, nag-aalala kayo sa isa’t isa 24/7…

Tapos friends lang?

Sige.

Maniniwala kami.

(pero hindi) 😭

Anyway, thank you for reading! Prepare niyo na feelings niyo kasi mas magiging complicated pa ang buhay ng dalawang ito.

– tatine ♡