Platonic Hearts (Compass Series #1)

Chapter Twelve

The Night

I finished all my assignments in one go when the night struck. Pilit kong binaon ang sinabi sa akin ni Ashen pero hindi ko pa rin mapigilang isipin ito. Was he going to... expect me? Or maybe he didn't mean that? Akala ko ba hindi siya gustong nakikita na ginagawa iyon?

Napailing ako sa sarili at muling nagfocus sa pagre-review ng mga natapos ko na. I reviewed all my notes as well and then highlight some. Lumipas ang mga minuto at tuluyan ko ng natapos ang lahat ng mga iyon. I secured my notes and pads in my bag before heading out my room.

I usually spend 3 to 4 hours every night for studyinga, lalo na kapag may quizzes. But tonight, it's a bit different. I want to... do something else.

Nagtungo ako sa kwarto ng mga kapatid ko para siguraduhing natutulog na nga sila. I do this every night to make sure they do what they are told. Mga bata pa sila para matulog ng late. I would understand if they are reviewing pero kapag sa ibang bagay na hindi na iyon nakakabuti, at ayoko namang lumaki silang spoiled.

"Bea?" I opened the door in Bea's room. Sinilip ko siya mula roon at napansing patay na 'yung mga ilaw niya. I gazed at the clock on her desk, ticking at exactly 10pm before sighing when I looked at her sleeping soundly. Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at sinara 'yung pintuan. I was about to head to Calli's when my phone vibrated on my pocket.

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at sinilip iyon. I gasped when I saw Ashen's name popped-up on my lockscreen.

Ashen Jayus Aphelion: Nasaan ka na?

I gulped before typing. This is the first time he messaged me. K-Kung ganun seryoso pala siya?

Aria Solace: Nasa bahay. Bakit?

I bit my lower lip. Tinitigan ko 'yung tina-type ko ng matagal. I'm still debating whether to send that or not. Should I greet him first?

Napasinghap ako bago binura iyon.

Aria Solace: Hi! Good evening. Nasa bahay lang. Bakit?

I clicked send. He immediately seen that. Binaba ko 'yung phone ko st dumiretso na muna sa kwarto ni Calli. Just like what I did to Bea, I checked on her as well.

I heard my phone notify. Hindi ko muna sinilip iyon at dahan-dahang binuksan ang kwarto ni Calli. Kumunot ang noo ko nang mapansing nakabukas pa ang ilaw. I looked for inside then sighed. As usual, she fell asleep on her desk again. Nakahilig ang ulo niya sa nakabukas niyang libro at nakakalat lang 'yung iba niyang mga papel sa sahig na mukhang lumagas na sa hawak niya.

Nilapitan ko siya at kinuha ko 'yung mga papel niya sa sahig. My brows furrowed when I noticed those weren't notes. They were sketches. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang nakabukas rin niyang libro sa desk niya. What I thought was a book was actually a compilation of notebooks with drawings. May mga sulat rin niya iyon that seemed to personal for me to read.

Napangiti nalang ako at iniwas ang tingin roon. I placed her blanket around her before turning off the lights in her room. Nang makalabas ay agad kong binuksan ang phone ko.

Ashen Jayus Aphelion: Are you busy?

I closed Calli's door before responding. Saglit akong napasandal sa pader at napatitig lang sa screen.

Aria Solace: Hindi naman. Why?

Napakagat ako sa kuko ko nang na-seen niya iyon pero natagalan bago siya nakapag-type. Should I reply something again?

Ashen Jayus Aphelion: Nothing. Akala ko pupunta ka

Kumurba ang ngiti sa labi ko. I shut my first phone then head to Dian's room. Pero hindi na ako tuluyang pumasok nang makita si Manang na papasok rin doon dala-dala ang gatas ni Dian. When she saw me, she just waved and raised her forefinger to her lips, telling me to keep quiet.