I ASSUMED

The sun sets. The surroundings get darker, and the noise from the
carnival started to ruin the silence of the night. Some are playing bingo,
some are betting for the stuffs toy they want to claim after, some are singing
their favourite songs in the videoke, while others are shouting and enjoying
different rides, the ferris wheel, caterpillar, and the carousel. The carnival is
now crowded. Chelsea, a 4th year Engineering student was trapped for almost
half an hour and felt like being suffocated and cannot be able to breathe.
Finally, she passed and she decided to go home. While on her way home, the
jeepney where she is riding suddenly stopped. What an unlucky day it is!
How can I go home now??! There are no jeepneys, and tricycles passing by
even buses! What will I do?! Chelsea said to herself. She sat in one edge of
the street and think of the ways to get home. It is already 11 in the evening.
She called almost all the contacts she has on her cellphone but no one is
responding, until her cellphone gets low. She has no choice. She started to
walk without knowing where to go, but still hoping that she might see any
open store, restaurant or even just a carinderia. At last, after a long walk that
she has taken, she found an open carinderia. It is the only carinderia which is
open in the midst of the night. Thanks God, she said to herself with a smile
on her face. She went to the carinderia and ordered some food for her
dinner. After she ate, she paid her order and rest for a while. Unexpectedly,
she fell asleep. Aling Lucia, the owner of the carinderia tried to wake her up
but she failed to do so. It is now 1 in the morning, so Aling Lucia decided to
carry her inside her house. With the help of her son Lawrence who is a 4 th
year Masscom student, they carried Chelsea to Aling Lucias room and let her
took a rest. She looks so tired and restless, Aling Lucia said to her son. But
you know what Mom, shes pretty, replied her son Lawrence. And they
laughed at each other softly. The two went out to close the carinderia and
they return to Lawrence room to take a sleep.
The sun rises, the cackle of the roosters and the sound of the vehicles
were started to be heard. Chelsea awakened by those noises. Oh! Where I
am? Why am I here? Am I dreaming? she asked to herself. Then suddenly,
somebody knocked on the door and said, Good morning! The breakfast is
ready. Join us! Aaaah..wait! Chelsea shouted! She quickly stood and opened
the door. Aaahhm...may I know why I am here? she asked to Lawrence.
Lets talk about that later. For now, kets have our breakfast first, answered

Lawrennce while smiling. They walked together to the dining room where
Lawrence mother is waiting. After they had their breakfast, Aling Lucia
opened a conversation. She talked about what had happened last night.
Hija, what is your name? Aling Lucia asked. I am Chelsea, she answered.
Ah..Chelsea, I know you are wondering why you are here. Do you still
remember what happened last night? Aling Lucia asked again. Ckelsea
started to think about what happened that night and all that she can
remember was she just ate in their carinderia so she answered, What I only
remember is, I ate in your carinderia. Thats it. And? asked Lawrence.
Thats only what I remember, she answered. It seems that you already
forget about it. Well, let me tell you what happened. After you ate, you
accidentally fell asleep. So we decided to bring you inside my mothers room.
That is why you are now here. Lawrence explained. Chelsea became
speechless of what she heard from Lawrence. She bowed her head and said,
Tita, Lawrence, I am so sorry for what happened. I was just so tired but I
cant go home. I am really really sorry. No no no....Its Ok. You dont have
to apologize, Aling Lucia said. And besides, everyone is welcome here,
especially a pretty girl like you, Lawrence added. Aling Lucia and Chelsea
laughed at each other. Whats funny, Mom? Chelsea? asked Lawrence.
Nothing son. Its almost 8 in the morning. I have to go to the market, Aling
Lucia said to her son. When Aling Lucia left, Lawrence asked for the cell
phone number of Chelsea and she gave it to him hesitantly. She thanked
Lawrence for the help that they had shown to her and then she went home.
While shes at home, she thinks of the reason why Lawrence gets her
number. She checked her cell phone if someone texted her. And, there is! A
message from her best friend Katy, Best Chelsea, dont forget our exam in
major later at 1 pm. God bless. She looked on her watch. Oh! Its already
11! I havent reviewed my notes! What a wonderful day again! She said to
herself while scratching her head. She grabbed her bag and gets her
notebook to review. She read her notes but nothing enters on her mind. She
read it again and again but still not effective. So she chose to take a bath
and prepare herself to school. Suddenly, her phone beeps. One more
message from her best friend Katy. Best, where are you? Our exam will
about to start in 20min. I hope that youll be here on time. Take care. Ok,
Im on my way, she replied. But shes not really on her way. In fact, she was
brushing her teeth when she replied to her best friend. Finally, shes now on
her way. She arrived in the university at 12:58 in the afternoon. She sat on
the back part of the room where only one vacant seat is left. The exam
started. She answered all the test items as if she remembered everything
she read on her notebook and she is the first one who finished answering the

exam. Her best friend Katy looked at her wonderingly. See you at the
canteen, she whispered to Katy. She went out of the room and go on to
canteen. She bought some merienda to eat. While she was eating, her
cellphone beeps. An unknown number appeared on her cell phone with a
message of: Hi. Good afternoon Ms. Pretty Girl . Who owns this
number? she asked to herself. I know that I am pretty. Who are you? she
replied. She waited for how many minutes but nothing replies, until Katy
came. Are you Ok? asked Katy. Yeah, Im Okay. Hows the exam? Chelsea
asked. I dont want to talk about the exam anymore. I didnt have a great
time answering that, Katy answered. Me, too. So I answered it as fast as I
could, Chelsea said and they laughed loudly. After they had their merienda,
they went to Girls Comfort Room but Katy said that shell go ahead to the
library, so Chelsea left alone to the CR. When she is putting make up, her
phone rang, but she ignored it. The phone rang several times and on its last
ring, Chelsea felt insulted so she picked up the call. Hello! she said angrily.
Are you playing with me? Why dont you just stop texting and calling me?
Please dont ruin my day, she added. Oh, relax! Calm down. Dont you
remember me? asked the man on the phone. Of course not! I dont even
know you and then you will ask me if I can still remember you? Wow. Dont
fool me! answered Chelsea in a high tone. Chelsea, this is me! Lawrence,
remember? he asked. Chelsea covered her mouth and did not speak.
Hello, hello. Chelsea, are you still there? asked Lawrence. Ah...ahmm..Yes!
but I have to end this call. Our class is about to start. Ill text you after. Bye,
Chelsea answered. She ended up the call just to escape from the shameful
thing she said to Lawrence. She walked quickly to the library and tells Katy
about what she did to Lawrence. She felt very shy to herself especially to
Lawrence. She cant imagine that she said those things to Lawrence, who
helped her when she fell asleep in their carinderia. What if we met
accidentally? What will I do? What will I say? Those questions bothered her
so much until she went home. Her cell phone rang, again and again but she
ignored it because of shyness. For her not to be bothered with his calls, she
shut down her cell phone and managed to sleep.
Chelsea was awakened by the sound of her alarm clock. It is already 6
in the morning and the start of her first class is 7. As usual, she is late again.
After their first class, no instructor came so she went to canteen. She had
her merienda alone because her best friend Katy is absent. When she is
about to pay her merienda, she cant find her wallet. Oh my G! Where is my
wallet?! she said. She removed all the things inside her bag but her wallet is
not there. She looked around and hoping that she might find someone whom

she can borrow money, but she found nothing. She didnt know what to do
until a guy who caught his attention go to her seat and said, Whats the
problem Chelsea? Chelsea wondered why he knows her name and when she
looked at him, Law....Lawrence?? Wha...wha..whaaat are you doing here?
she asked. To have a merienda. Why? he answered. What I mean is..are
you a student also of this institution? she asked. Yup! By the way, whats
wrong? It seems that you are looking for something that you cant find am I
right? Lawrence asked. Ahhmm..Yeah, youre right, Chelsea answered.
Then, what is it? asked Lawrence. I..I lost my wallet, answered Chelsea.
Have you paid your merienda?asked Lawrence. Ahhmm..not yet, she
answered shyly. Ill pay it for you he offered. Lawrence paid the merienda
for Chelsea. Chelsea thanked him again, for the second time he helped her
again. Chelsea went to her classroom, and Lawrence too. Shes now filled
with joy, and actively participated in class. She felt very inspired the whole
day. All the bad vibes was lost. She cant explain what she feels about
Lawrence. All that she know is she is happy, very happy to meet Lawrence in
the same institution. She almost forget her lost wallet but, how can she go
home now? It would be a long walk, Chelsea said to herself. Unexpectedly,
Lawrence, her knight in shining armour, is waiting for her near the gate. Hi
Chelsea. Dont be so problematic. Come with me, Ill drive you home, he
offered with a smile on his face. Chelsea accepted his offer. She ride on his
motorcycle while her hands rest on Lawrence shoulder. When they reached
the house of Chelsea, she thanked him again. Lawrence, you are really my
hero, she said upon seeing him drove away. I seems that Chelsea is in loved
with Lawrence. She cant forget about what happened that day. She looked
up the sky and asked the stars, Is he the one for me? and after a few
minutes, she went back to her room and sleep. Happy weekend!
It is Saturday. She made her day busy. Busy of doing household chores
than her school activities or paper works. After she washed her clothes,
Lawrence texted her saying, Hi Chelsea. Don be so busy today. Lets meet
later at 6 pm in the carnival. Ill wait you there. Thanks. Upon reading his
text message, she hurriedly replied, Yes, Ill be there. Shes very excited.
She finished all the household chores to prepare herself for their meet up.
She wore her most beautiful and mot favourite peach dress paired with pitch
wedge. She ride on a tricycle to go to the carnival. It is 6:05 pm on her watch
but she cant find Lawrence. And after a few minutes of searching, she found
Lawrence riding in a ferris wheel together with a girl. She thought that the
girl was just Lawrence cousin, best friend, or sister, so she just ignored it.
After the ride, Lawrence together with a girl walked towards Chelsea. He

tapped the shoulder of Chelsea and when she looked back, she saw
Lawrence and the girl holding each others hands. Lawrence started to
speak, Thanks for coming. Ah Danica, meet Chelsea my friend, Chelsea,
meet Danica my girlfriend. The two girls shook their hands and smiled to
each other, but before Danica utter a word, Chelsea said, Excuse me, but I
have to go. She walked away as if nobody is on her way. And when she was
trapped in the middle of the crowd, she just stood steadily, tears started to
fall and says, I assumed.