Part 2 : Passing By Ruby

I am currently organizing my schedule for tomorrow.

Ok! Tomorrow is a Tuesday. First, I need to pass a project to the school. Second, I have to collect the student profiles from the research group. Third, spend the rest of the day with my entrepreneurship group for the business project.

Eventful. I can't even have time for myself to recharge.

I sigh as I look around my room. It's so dark and empty.

I think I should get a plant?

A pet?

I smile at the thought. I'm pretty lonely even though I have friends. My cousins comeover from time to time but after that, it would be so quiet.

Maybe I need a noisy pet? A bird, dog perhaps?

Thinking of it gave me a rush of energy and I started searching for dog pounds, pet stores, and animal shelters nearby.

I see one animal shelter near here.

"Huh it's at...oh no...Hinundayan." It's the neighboring town. I have nothing against the place. It's just that...HE lives there.

I shook my head. It's been more than a year since I've seen him.

After I finished my work, I went straight to bed, thinking. Tomorrow is Tuesday...maybe he won't be there. He's in studying in Maasin city after all.

I took my phone from my desk beside my bed and called my aunt.

"Hello, aunt Fran"

a cheerful voice replied. "Caroline! hello! Why are you calling at this hour? Do you want food? Short on money?"

I chuckled. "No. I'm just asking if you're going somewhere tomorrow like Hinundayan."

"Actually, yes." She gasped. "How did you know? Haha"

"Aunt Fran, can I tag along with you. I wanted to get something."

She paused for a bit. "What is it? We can just get it for you. I know you're still busy with your studies and you barely have time to visit us."

I pressed my lips. That's true. "I promise I'll spend more time with you guys in summer. I just wanted to adopt a puppy or a dog."

"Oh! I know a shelter! We'll pick you up tomorrow at 4 pm."

"Alright. Thank you aunt Fran. Bye."

"Be sure to eat three times a day! Bye Caroline."

Then she hung up the phone.

I smiled. I might be getting a dog after all.

I fall asleep as I stared at the ceiling.

______________________________________________________________________

I wake up at the sound of the alarm.

I stood up quickly and did my usual morning routine.

After eating, brushing my teeth, and showering. I wore casual clothing and brushed my hair. I took my black face mask and went my way to school with the newly edited papers.

As I walked there, I see new faces on their way to the new mall. At this rate, I haven't seen any familiar faces...until now.

Ruby

The one person that I don't want to see.

She is currently at the other side of the crossroad where I'm heading.

I just pretended to not know her and just looked everywhere but at her. I successfully crossed the road and walked past her. Good thing I was wearing a hat...

or she knew that I didn't want to talk to her.

I wouldn't care.

I sighed in relief as I was farther away from her. I passed my old junior high school and saw that they took down half of the computer lab. They were gonna build a sidewalk, that's why they had to take down half of it...and it was a blind spot for many bikes, cars, and even students.

I remember one time. After school, Lauren accidentally got hit by a car when she took a turn because the car was turning. Good thing she's still alive.

I reached my senior high school and went to miss Ana's room.

I was about to walk inside when she spotted me through her window and met me at her door.

"There's a recording session for the virtual graduation." She whispered. She saw my papers and held out her hand and I gave her the papers and thanked her before she head back inside.

I turned around and exited the school. I looked both ways and crossed the road. I took a glance at the mall and the place where I met that boy.

"Heh...I wonder what he's doing right now."