Chapter 20

PAT’s POV:

Three years.

That was how long it had been since I last spent more than a day in San Juan.

Three years of university.

Three years of basketball.

Three years of chasing a future that always seemed just out of reach.

And somehow, the town looked exactly the same.

The same streets.

The same tricycles.

The same stores.

The same feeling.

Home.

I adjusted my backpack as I walked toward the Reyes residence.

Before I could even knock, the front door opened.

“There you are.”

Kat stepped outside dragging a luggage while carrying a backpack. Another luggage sat beside the door.

I stared.

Then stared again.

“That’s it?”

She frowned.

“What do you mean that’s it?”

“I expected more.”

Kat crossed her arms.

“Sorry for traveling like a normal person.”

I laughed.

“Fair.”

Just like that, it felt like no time had passed.

The moment I stepped inside their house, I was immediately greeted by familiar faces.

“Pat!”

Kat’s mom pulled me into a hug.

“Ang payat mo.”

“Auntie, sinabi niyo rin po ‘yan noong huli.”

“Mas payat ka ngayon.”

“No po.”

“Oo.”

“No po.”

“Oo.”

I sighed.

Defeated.

The entire family laughed.

For the next hour, I was practically trapped.

Her mom insisted we eat before leaving.

Her father kept asking about basketball.

Her cousins asked if I was famous now.

I wasn’t.

But apparently they disagreed.

It felt strange.

Because despite being away for years, they still welcomed me the same way.

Like family.

And honestly, that meant more than they knew.

When it was finally time to leave, Kat’s mom pointed at me.

“Patricia.”

“Po?”

“Alagaan mo si Kat.”

“Mom!”

Kat immediately protested.

Her mom ignored her.

“At siguraduhin mong kumakain.”

“Opo.”

Kat looked personally betrayed.

I couldn’t stop laughing.

After several hugs and reminders to stay safe, we finally headed to the terminal.

Before leaving, Kat stopped by the gate.

She looked around quietly.

At the house.

At the street.

At everything.

I knew that look.

The same look I had when I first left San Juan.

“You okay?” I asked.

She nodded.

“Yeah.”

But her smile was softer.

A little sad.

“I’ll miss this place.”

I looked around.

The neighborhood.

The familiar roads.

The town that raised us.

“Yeah.”

She smiled.

Then finally turned away.

“Let’s go.”

The bus terminal was crowded when we arrived.

Students.

Workers.

Families.

Everyone heading somewhere.

We loaded her two luggage underneath and found seats near the middle of the bus.

Thankfully, there weren’t many passengers yet.

Kat immediately sat beside me by the window.

For a while, neither of us spoke.

We simply watched San Juan slowly disappear outside.

“I still can’t believe this is happening.”

Kat suddenly said.

“What?”

“My duty.”

I smiled.

“Fourth year.”

She groaned dramatically.

“Don’t remind me.”

“You wanted this.”

“I know.”

“You cried when you got assigned.”

“I did not.”

“You called me while crying.”

“Those were tears of excitement.”

“Still crying.”

“Pat.”

I laughed.

God.

I missed this.

The bus continued moving.

The scenery slowly changing.

Fields becoming highways.

Small roads becoming busy streets.

The farther we got from San Juan, the quieter Kat became.

“You nervous?” I asked.

“A little.”

“About St. Aurelia?”

She nodded.

“What if I mess up?”

“You won’t.”

“What if I accidentally embarrass myself?”

“You probably will.”

“Pat!”

I laughed.

She punched my arm.

Not hard.

Just enough.

“You’re supposed to support me.”

“I am supporting you.”

“You’re making fun of me.”

“I can do both.”

Kat rolled her eyes.

Then smiled.

Eventually our conversation slowed.

The bus became quieter.

Passengers started sleeping.

The afternoon sun softened through the windows.

And Kat started yawning.

“There it is.”

She frowned.

“What?”

“You’re sleepy.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I’m not.”

Another yawn escaped.

I raised an eyebrow.

She glared at me.

Then looked away.

Five minutes later, she was asleep.

I wasn’t surprised.

She woke up early.

Packed her things.

Said goodbye to her family.

And now we were traveling for hours.

Anyone would be tired.

Slowly, her head leaned against my shoulder.

My entire body immediately froze.

Not because it was unusual.

Kat had done this before.

On jeepneys.

On buses.

During long trips.

Even back in high school.

But somehow…

It felt different now.

Maybe because we were older.

Maybe because I knew things I wished I didn’t.

Or maybe because after all these years…

She still trusted me enough to fall asleep beside me.

I looked down at her.

Peaceful.

Comfortable.

Completely unaware of what she was doing to my heart.

A small smile escaped before I could stop it.

“Sleep, Kat.”

Outside the window, San Juan was long gone.

Ahead of us was Raven.

St. Aurelia.

New responsibilities.

New routines.

A new chapter.

And for the first time in years…

We were heading toward it together.