Run, run, run. That is what I am doing. No, I wasn't running away from something or someone. There is no fear in my heart. In fact, I feel giddy. I feel happy, carefree and thrilled as if... as if I am a kid again.

I recognize the place I am in. It's the park, a beautiful park. I am running on a wide lush green lawn surrounded with a variety of flowers in different hues and shapes. My surroundings feel familiar as if I'd been here a lot of times.

All of sudden, I hear joyful laughter of a child that also seems familiar.

"Ahi hihi! You can't catch me, Justin. You'll nevew catch me. Ahh!" Squealed the high-pitched voice with much glee.

A girl is running in front of me as I run after her. Her long black hair swings from side to side as she runs away from me. I can't see her face. But even if that's the case, I feel like I know her very well.

I want to catch her so I run faster. Not because I want to win whatever game we are playing. But because I want to see her face. What does she look like? I want to know. I want to remember.

I am almost there. I stretch my arms out to grab her arm. I can already feel her hair from my fingertips. But, I see myself tumbling down. Worst of all, I feel like my knee hit a small rock as I fall.

I pick myself from the ground and stretch my legs to see my knee.

It has scrapes and it's bleeding. As I sense the stinging pain, the tears on my eyes start to pool. Then, I go full on crying. I am about to attempt to stand up when a shadow casts upon me. I look up. But since the pooling tears blurred my vision, I can't see the face of the person in front of me.

"Oh no! Justin! There's blood!" She screeches.

"I know. And it hurts..." I cry.

"Come with me! Momma's home. She'll fix the blood. Let's go, Justin!" She says as she pulls my hand to lift me up.

I let myself get dragged by her as she leads the way back to her house.

"Thank you, Cristine."

I open my eyes as I hear my buzzing alarm clock go on. I turn it off and look at the time. I still have four more hours before my shift at the coffee shop starts. My dream flood back to my mind as I sit up.

Christine...

I remember that Christine. She was my neighbor back at my hometown in Calamba. She was the only kid apart from me in our block during that time. Our mothers are also close so she was my childhood best friend. But, she moved away with her family and never came back.

But let's put that side for a while. I have a bigger problem coming my way.

Oh, that damn date!

I can't believe Ryan set this up without consulting me first. What if Claire knows I'm one of Patrick's friends? What if she tells Patrick that we both went on a date together? Patrick will definitely flip at me.

If there's anything Patrick hates the most, it is a betrayal. He's a good and loyal friend. But once you betray or make him feel betrayed, he'll cut you off and make your life hell.

He did it once to his ex-girlfriend a year ago. His then-girlfriend preyed on him. She did it by manipulating him to follow whatever she asks. She made him buy a lot of things for her and her friends. She made him do her school work even though she didn't need any help.

Luckily, one of her friends felt bad for Patrick and told him the truth. Believe me when I say all hell broke loose. He exposed his ex in the most humiliating way. No wonder she transferred to another university after that semester ended.

As I am about to get off of my bed, my phone starts ringing. It's a call. I get my phone on the nightstand and look at the caller ID. A smile creeps on my face as I answer the call.

"Hello, Ma!" I greet

"Hello to you too! How's my favorite eldest son?" I hear my mom's cheerful voice. I scoff a little before I answer.

"Mom... but I'm your ONLY eldest son."

"Exactly! That's why your my favorite." She teases me.

Both of us laugh at each other. I love my mom's savageness. Even if there are times that I'm so done with her, it always makes me smile. As I am about to ask mom why she called, she goes down to business as soon as she recovers from laughing.

"By the way, how are you and your girlfriend, Aria?"

Oh no. Of all the things she could have asked, why this?

I had been avoiding this topic for weeks. I had been so glad that none of my parents brought it up. I was hoping they'll somehow forget that I had a girlfriend so they won't ask about her anymore. I guess I can't avoid the inevitable.

"She's doing... okay. I mean she's happier nowadays." I say giving nothing away still hoping she won't press further on the topic.

"Oh really? You two had celebrated your third year anniversary almost a month ago, right? How come you haven't posted any of your pictures yet?" My mom questions.

At this moment I know that my mom had already figured it out. I take a gulp before telling her my answer.

"It's because we had broken up the following day." I confess

I hear dead silence at the other line. I wouldn't be surprised if my mom is so shocked about this. After all, that was my longest, most serious and promising relationship. And it just ended like that.

"Oh, my poor baby! What happened?" She sympathizes.

"She was cheating on me for the past months. I found out during our date. I accidentally read a text from her other lover while she was in the restroom. I didn't confront her during our date. I went to the place where they planned to meet the following day. I did saw them, caught them red-handed and she... she confessed. I felt so hurt that I didn't want to stay there anymore. I broke up with her right there and then. We haven't talked nor have seen each other since then. I haven't opened my social media accounts too. I'm sorry. I didn't know how to tell you." I admit.

After three weeks, I was able to tell somebody about our break up. And that somebody turned out to be my mother. I feel a little better after letting that out. I should never underestimate the power of talking it out.

"Oh, my baby boy! It's okay. That's life. Sometimes you just have to fall down a hundred times just to get it right." My mom advises.

"Yes, Ma. I know."

"Just look at the bright side. If she was the best you ever had and it failed, this means you'll meet someone even better. Don't give up on love, my sweet baby."

To tell you the truth, I don't like it when Mom calls me her baby. I'm a grown man after all. But, in moments like this, I feel like I need to hear it. My mom always knows how to comfort me. I could never ask for a better mother than her.

"Thanks, Ma."

"You're welcome, my sweet baby."

I can already picture my mom smiling as she says that. I'm really fortunate to have a mom like her.

I didn't want to dwell on that topic anymore. So I decided to change the flow of our conversation with the first topic that comes to my mind.

"Ay Ma, may I ask? Do you know where's Cristine right now?" I ask.

"Cristine? Who's that?" My mom asks in confusion.

"The one I used to play with when I was a kid. They used to live in the big house in front of the subdivision park but they moved away. You're close with her Mom. I think you mentioned once that you were roommates in college."

There was a very silent pause before my mom answers.

"Oh? I haven't heard any news from her or her parents. They aren't on social media too so I really have no idea. Why did you ask so suddenly?"

"I just remembered her."

"Oh okay. Anyway, do you have work today at that coffee shop?"

"Yes, I do. I'll be preparing to go there after this."

"Well, good luck! I hope you had a great day. I have to go to work now. Take care of yourself and your brother. And remember what I told you." She reminds.

"Of course."

"You better do. I do not want to hear from Ryan that you're sulking at some corner. Just forget about it. Have fun. Enjoy life. Go on dates. Meet new peop-. Oh, your father's calling me now. Goodbye! I love you."

"Bye. I love you too."

And that's how our phone call ended.

Go on dates. Meet new people.

If only she knew the position Ryan had placed me in, I wouldn't be having fun and enjoying life this Saturday night. Just because of that dreadful date.