When Things Get Blurry (4k Series #1)

Chapter 3.

- Aithel Kass Ibarra -

BACK THEN, I did not believe in a thing called destiny. Or fate. Whichever it is. I did not believe that because it never happened to me. But after attending that party, I started to believe it.

It was meant to happen. It was bound to happen.

And I will always be grateful for that.

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"AKHI, COME on, no one's gonna bite you?" Says my mother, trying to hold my hands. "Halika, bebi."

"Ma, I'm eighteen?"

"Oo, I know. Now, stop acting like a kid who's afraid of a clown."

I made a face. I shook my head before heading inside. Mama called Tita Claire, and then she came from the kitchen.

It's been a while since I went here. Mga 10 years na rin, if I remember it correctly. Bago... mangyari 'yon. Bago mangyari 'yong mga bagay na sumira sa lahat. 'Yong mga araw na... kumpleto pa kami.

"Good thing you guys came!" May binulong pa si Tita Claire nang magbeso sila, bago parehas na natawa. "Akhi, Cathy's waiting for you do'n sa 'taas–"

"As well as the other o–"

"'Wag ka maingay, Aika!" Bumungisngis na naman siya. Sumunod naman si Mama, tumingala pa sa pagtawa. Tsh. Adults. "Do'n pa rin room niya, kaso baka tulog pa. Katukin mo na lang. The other two will come later."

Tumango lang ako at nagpaalam na sa kanila. I went upstairs at inalala kung saan ang room ni Cath. Malapit 'yon sa hagdan, ang alam ko. With doubt, I held the knob. But I heard it turn from the inside, at biglang bumukas ang pinto.

Sounds cliche, pero Adam's apple ang una kong nakita. Napalunok ako bago tumingala. Sumalubong sa 'kín ang singkit na mga mata. I saw how his pupil dilated as soon as our eyes met. I can see it clearly because of his honey brown eyes. Magulo pa ang kaniyang buhok at halatang bagong gising lang.

Nakita kong bumaba ang tingin niya mula sa mga mata ko papunta sa ilong... o labi ko. I subconsciously copied that gesture, at napatingin sa matangos niyang ilong at pale pink niyang labi.

Fuck.

Bigla akong napalayo at napaiwas ng tingin.

Is that... Blard? What the hell! What a giant!

Matangkad ako, oo. Hindi ako nagyayabang pero matangkad talaga ako. Pero paano nangyaring hanggang ilong niya lang ako? What's his height, by the way?

"Cathy's room is beside mine," aniya, malalim ang boses at husky pa. Napapikit ako nang mariin. Wala yata ako sa tamang pag-iisip. Hindi ako ganito. Pero, why do I find his voice so attractive? It's not too deep. It's on the right note. Baritone. Right. "Good morning."

Hindi ako kumibo. Parang tanga akong gumilid at humawak sa aking tainga.

Pero bigla kong naalala 'yong dati. Yes, mga bata pa kami no'n. Almost teenagers pa lang. Six years ago? Seven? The wound that he gave me will forever mark. Did it heal?

No.

Will it heal? Not sure.

Bumaba na siya kaya naman nakahinga ako nang maluwag. Pumunta ako sa kabilang kwarto at hinawakan ang door knob. I knocked using my free hand before turning the knob. It's open, but Cath's not on the bed. Then, I heard sounds from a room — probably the bathroom — at nagbukas 'yon. She's still on her pink pajamas, wearing beauty mask. I released a soft laugh.