Red Strings Entanglement

CHAPTER 25

"You're so stubborn."ngisi niyang sabi. "Hindi ko pa din naiintindihan kung bakit nag-oover time ka at nagtrabaho sa cafe. Diba marami kayong pera?"I laughed at his question. Marami talaga magtanong sa akin kung bakit ako nagtratrabaho na marami naman akong pera. They don't know the reason at all.

"To pass the time."I smiled.

"Jewel, working in a cafe is not the way 'to pass the time'. Pinapahirapan mo lang ang sarili mo."nag-alala niyang sabi.

"May reasons ako, Carter."Napatango na lamang siya sa sinabi ko. He knows that I couldn't say it to him. Feel ko alam niya na it's a sensitive topic.

"Sige, uuwi na ako."

"Bye Carter."I smiled and waved at him as he walked towards the door. Hours passed by and it was only I and Kylie left in the cafe. Wala nang costumers at employees, pati din si Ma'am Janice. Habang naglilinis kami ni Kylie ay napansin ko ang boyfriend niya na naghihintay sa labas. He wore a black shirt and black pants and leaned to his motorcycle as he waited for Kylie. Ang cool niya tignan.

After we finished cleaning, we decided to go home. I closed the cafe and handed Kylie the keys. Usually, she's the one who opens the cafe. Malaki ang tiwala ni Ma'am Janice sa kanya. I saw his boyfriend wear his helmet and cross his arms as Kylie accepted the keys I gave her.

"Jewel, sigurado kaba maglakad ka? Pwede ka naman namin ihatid."she worriedly said. Tinignan din niya ang daan na lalakarin ko.

"Okay lang ako, Kylie."

"Sigurado ka?"

"Oo."

"Kung may nararamdaman kang kakaiba, tawagin mo ako ha."she said and I smiled at her.

"Okay."

"Sige, aalis na kami."sabi niya at lumapit sa boyfriend niya. Sumakay na si Kylie at binigyan ako ng ngiti. Binigyan ito ng helmet na sinuot niya naman. His boyfriend gazed at me and gave me a nod, before they drove off.

I sighed and gazed at the road I would be walking. A part of me regretted that I didn't ride that motor. Ngayon ko pa naisip na madilim talaga ang lalakarin ko. May ilaw naman pero nakakatakot parin.

I sighed and hugged my books before I started walking. Napatigil lang ako ng may nagsalita sa likoran ko. "You're so stubborn." I immediately turned around and there I saw Black. His brown eyes went cold as they continued to gaze at me. I felt a shiver run down my spine.

"Black?"I said. "You scared me." Naglakad ito palapit sa akin habang nakalagay ang dalawa niyang kamay sa bulsa. As usual, itim lahat ang suot niya.

"Akala ko ba pinag-usapan na natin na hindi ka pwede maglakad ng gabi."he coldly said and my brows furrowed. We never talk about that and certainly we don't usually see each other, let alone talk.

"Hindi natin iyan pinag-usapan, Black."

"Sige sa susunod, hindi ka na pwede maglalakad sa ganitong oras."

"May trabaho ako, Black."I said and I started walking, knowing that Black would follow. He walk at my side surrounding me with protection. Isa lang siya, pero alam kong kaya niya ng maraming tao.

"Next time, if you want to work overtime, call me so I can assist you in going home."

"Kaya ko naman ang sarili ko."A scoff escape his lips.

"Look what happened last time." I don't need to relieve that, because that was the time we kissed. I cringe at the thought that somehow I enjoyed it even up until now.

"Paano kita tatawagin, wala naman akong number sayo. Pati ikaw, walang number sa akin."I told him. He took out his phone and typed something and I waited for him to ask my number when suddenly my phone started ringing. Mabilis ko itong kinuha at may tumatawag nga. Tinignan ko si Black na pinapakita sa akin na siya ang tumatawag. I declined the call and Black returned his phone into his pockets. "How did you-"

"Your brother gave it to me," he answered and I closed my eyes out of frustration. "Save my number."I nodded and saved his number before returning it to my pockets.

Nang makadating na kami sa bahay ay may ilaw parin ang sala at lumingon ako kay Black ng mapansin ko na hindi pa din ito umalis.

"Hindi kapa aalis?"

"No, I want to stay here with you."he said and I felt my heart beat fast. Nagtataka ako kung bakit parang gaan ang pakiramdam ko sa kanya at tumitibok ng malakas ang dibdib kagaya ng nararamdaman ko kay Jace. No. I should not be feeling like this. Let alone with Jace.

Black motioned the terrace upstairs and I nodded. Binuksan ko ang bahay gamit ang susi at napansin na nandon pa sila sa kusina. I put my bag and books down and went to them. Hindi pa din sila kumain at nag-usap lamang.

"Hindi pa kayo natulog?"

"Hindi pa din kami kumain."Amber stated the obvious.

"Bakit?"I asked and sat on my seat. I gaze at the stairs and realize that Black would have to wait a couple of minutes before I went upstairs. Could he be cold? Nakasira kasi iyong bintana don kaya hindi ito makapasok.

"Hinintay ka namin."

"You don't have to do that, "I told them. I felt shy that they were waiting for me. Okay lang naman sa akin na kakain na sila at matutulog na.

"Pero gusto namin," says Natasha.

"Sige na kain na tayo. Nagugutom na ako."says Sapphire and I laughed. We started eating our food and Amber opened up a conversation.

"Musta ang trabaho?"

"Okay, lang."

"Don't overwork yourself, Jewel. Masama iyan sa kalusugan mo."Sapphire worriedly said.

"Alam niyong nag-iipon ako."

"I know you really want to see tito, but you should also I think of yourself."Amber said and even held my hand. "Kung pwede lang, pagbawalan kita dito, pero alam ko na sobrang stubborn mo." Nginitian ko lang siya.

I'm so lucky that I am friends with this people. Kahit may times na hindi kami nagkasundo ay hindi pa din nila ako iniiwan. Sa aming apat ay ako lamang ang bago dito sa kanila. They met for years while I'm just a stranger in their home, but they made me feel welcome like I'm also a part of them.

Nang matapos na kaming kumain ay mabilis ako pumunta sa itaas hawak ang bag at mga libro ko. I turn on the lights and saw Black outside standing on the sliding door. Mabilis ko ito nilapitan at binuksan.

"I'm sorry." Tinignan niya ako ng masama. He looks cold as he rubs his hands together. It's good that I turn off the aircon. It's very cold today so I don't need it.

"What took you so long?"

"Kumain pa kami."Tumango lamang siya. Nilapitan niya ang side table ko at may picture don na kaming apat. We were wearing tight dresses and it was the day that I went to the bar and Jace took me to his condo. I rubbed my shoulders as I felt myself getting cold. I got the jacket on my chair and put it on.

"You, four, are close."

"Dahil magkasama kami ng iisang bahay at magkaibigan kami."I stated the obvious. "Ikaw? May kaibigan ka?"

"I have," he said. "Just a small group. Someone I could trust with everything." I nodded.

I took a sit on my bed and tap on the side so that Black would take a sit which he did. Kinuha ko ang bag ko at nilabas lahat ng pag-aaralan ko at tinitigan lamang ito ni Black.

"Tulungan mo ako sa pag-aaral."I told him and his eyes wrinkled indicating that he was smiling. I gave him the flashcards and he moved the cards and read the context.

"Flash card method?" he asked and I nodded.

"Yup."

Then, he started giving me a quiz.