Deanna Cabinian - One Love

For Mom and Dad

Chapter 1

A tear dripped down my dads face and hung onto the edge of his chin before breaking free and splattering onto the collar of his T-shirt. Another tear followed. And another. They werent violent, hurricane like my-girlfriend-just-cheated-on-me tears (which I knew something about), but silent, stoic, literary-novel kind of tears, which was somehow worse. The man had named me after Hunter S. Thompson for gods sake. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other and looked at the ceiling.

Youll call us, right, Mom said. Or email? Write letters? Her cheeks were a deep pink and streaked with tears too.

Ill call and email when I can, I said. Text.

Dont worry, Mrs. L., Ronnie said.

Theyd probably forgotten he was even there. Ronnie sat on his half-made bottom bunk with his legs kicked out into the middle of the room. Hed called dibs on the bottom bunk months ago before wed even gotten our acceptance letters because it had easy access for the honeys. His parents had stayed at home, satisfied with saying a thirty-second goodbye to him in their driveway. They were pretty busy with his baby sister Ella, who was three or maybe four now, I wasnt really sure. Keeping track of kids ages wasnt high on my priority list. Suffice to say, they werent suffering from Unbearably Empty Nest Affliction.

Ill make sure T-dawg stays in touch, Ronnie said. Filipinos honor. He put his right hand over his heart.

Is that even a thing? I asked. Ronnie wasnt even one-hundred percent Filipino; he was only half. His mom was Hawaiian.

It is most definitely a thing, he said.

I rolled my eyes.

Mom shoved her hands through her light brown hair and pulled at the roots. I didnt think it would be this hard, she said.

I did , I thought. It came with the territory of being an only child. Id fully expected my parents to have an emotional breakdown and it was happening right before my eyes.

Were only fifty miles away, I said. I can come visit sometimes. Not just on breaks. Id been lucky enough to get a parking pass on campus so I was able to bring my rusty, though always reliable, even when traveling through somewhat precarious terrain, white Corolla with me.

Filipinos honor, Ronnie said.

Yeah. I put my hand over my heart, even though I was the furthest thing from Filipino. On a scale of one to Filipino, I was a negative three.

Mom crushed me in a hug one and Dad piled on top of her, nearly squeezing the last bits of oxygen out of me. Ill buh fuh-ine, I mumbled, my words garbled because of the fabric of Moms shirt that was shoved against my tongue and teeth. Mom kissed me on the cheek and Dad kissed the top of my head. I couldnt remember the last time hed kissed me. It was probably when I was a baby.

Love you so much, Mom said.

Love you, too. I eyed the door to my new room, hoping they would get the message that it was okay, preferred in fact, to leave. Mom walked backwards, and watched me until the very last second. Dad dragged her out by her shoulders. I leaned into the hallway and saw them head for the exit.

Jeez. Glad thats over, I said.

What now? Ronnie said, his brown eyes shining.

Whatever we want, my friend.

Aww, yeah. T-dubs and Ron-Ron on the prowl. What, what! He raised his hand for a high-five and I slapped it.

Our first day at Hawaii Western University had begun.

Chapter 2

T he first thing I did was fire up my computer and get on Skype.

T-dawg, Ronnie said. He put a hand on my shoulder. This is not how gangstas start their first day away from home. Forget about the computer.

Its not about the computer, I said. I looked for Gretas name in my contacts, but it said she was unavailable. Her profile photo made me smile. In it she was wearing her Super Kmart vest, the one shed tricked out with rainbow ribbons, cheesy flare, and glitter puffy-paint. I knew there was a panda patch on the back, among others shed collected. Her dark hair was pulled back into a high ponytail held together by a red ribbon. Shed been my favorite coworker at Super Kmart, but now she was my girlfriend who was away at college in Italy. The other side of the world.

Everyone had told me I was an idiot for going to college with a girlfriend, but I didnt listen.

T-dubs, Ronnie had said. I mean. That shiznit is just not recommended, you know?

Johnny had had some choice words for me as well. Thompson, hed said. You know Ive been Team Greta since the beginning of time, but, kid, come on. Youll regret this one day. Trust me. Its just not a good idea. Go off to college, single, and if you have a chance to get together with her after, do it then.

Time waits for no man, Id told him.

Ronnie rolled my desk chair away from the computer with me in it. Life is waiting, dude. Lets go.

Just give me one second. I peddled back to the desk and left Greta a quick note, saying I missed her before following Ronnie out the door.

We walked past the dorms to a large quad filled with tables, vinyl banners, and current students pitching their clubs like used car salesmen. We saw a table for the Filipino Club which Ronnie walked right by.

I already know a million Filipinos, he said. I came to college to meet new people.

There were tables for chess clubs, craft clubs, water sport enthusiast clubs. And then there was a table for intramural basketball club.

We should do this, Ronnie said.

To finally fulfill your dream of being a baller?

Well, I already am one. But yes, this would give me some street cred.

You should do it, I said. I grabbed a lime green sheet from the stack and thrust it at him. Make your dreams come true.

Ronnie stayed to chat with the tall guys manning the table while I continued on. I passed tables for swim club, surfing club, Spanish club, and glassblowing club. Then I happened onto the table for the school newspaper. The Western Star.

Are you a journalism major? the girl behind the table asked.

Me? I looked over my shoulder. No. Undecided actually. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life beyond college. I wanted a good job so I could pay the bills. And I wanted a degree because I knew it was important to my parents and probably important to getting a decent job. But when Id applied to school, Id checked undecided or liberal arts major on my applications.