invisible string

second, curious time.

"Gian, Abigail's older brother" ma awtoridad niyang pagpapakilala sa binata kaya siniko nanaman siya ni Abi while nagpipigil ng tawa si Mikha and Abi on how Gideon introduced himself, sineryoso niya siguro nung tinawag siya na dobberman ng dalawang dalaga.

"Are you and Mikha together?" River asked na nagpasamid kay Mikhaela sa sarili niyang laway, she started coughing while Abigail is laughing so hard, at least their atmosphere became lighter diba? "No, we're not together," Gian answered and gave him a smile that assures River that Gian isn't mad or anything. "As if naman, magpink muna ang uwak bago ako magkagusto dyan at balakin na jowain yan." dagdag pa ni Mikha saka inagaw ang paper bag na pinamili niya from Gian kaya pareho natawa si Abigail and River sa kanila.

If Abigail doesn't know better, iisipin niya siguro na her brother and her friend is in a secret slash private relationship, or in a no label situation, trying hard to hide their relationship. 

But they're too torpe parang siya lang. 

"Ikaw ba? Inlove ka ba?" Mikha asked River back, maybe it is her way, syempre, she had to make sure before teasing the two of them, takot lang niya makasuntok si Gian or masuntok ng binata dahil naabangan sa labas ng gate si Abigail because he already has someone special.

"No, I'm completely single" sagot naman nito that made Abigail mentally smile, her friend noticed that's why an idea suddenly pops out in her mind, "Tamang tama! Si Abigail rin, single! Maybe this time~" Mikha playfully answered na pakanta ang tono na reason why binatukan siya ni Gian, "Inaano ka ba?" daing niya sa lalaki pero binigyan lang ito ng binata ng matalim na tingin.

"So, do you have plans tonight ba? Tara, let's have dinner" River looked at the three, "Let's catch up Mikha and Abi, and Kuya Gian sama ka na rin po" he added while looking at Gian hoping him to say yes but Mikha raised her hand "Kayo nalang, It's already 9:30 eh kailangan ko na umuwi" nakangusong sambit naman ni Mikha while showing her phone's time and a message from her Mom asking her whereabouts.

"Ayan si Gian at Abi, kayo na lang mag catch up pero uuwi na ako" she added while raising up and down her eyebrows as if she had a great idea of leaving them there "It's already late, i'll chat Tita nalang so she won't be worried, hatid ka nalang namin" sambit naman ni Abi but Mikha shakes her head and pushes her back.


"Sayang naman kung di kayo matutuloy dahil sakin diba? Tsaka minsan lang kayo magkita ni River kung ako yan susulitin ko na" sagot nya pa while winking then wave her hand to say goodbye. 

Mikha was about to run but Abigail suddenly said, "Kuya Gian, hatid mo siya" Then smiled because of the idea that she was playing Cupid between her older brother and her friend to get revenge on how Mikha is playing Cupid din sakanya. "Huy wag na, ienjoy nyo na t-"

"Okay" Mikha wasn't able to finish her words when Gian cut her, he wasn't looking at her, but his eyes are fixed on River. "Give me your number" he commanded once again then reached his phone to River.

'Is he playing Cupid now' Abigail asked herself while watching his brother exchange numbers with River, 'or is he plotting something' she added while trying to read his mind. 'Or is he? Oh my god,' she cut her thoughts. "Eh pano si Abi?" Mikha asked but was ignored by them kaya sumimangot nalang siya.

"Make sure to answer my calls, and Abigail, please turn on your location so I can track you down," Gian said to his younger sister, leaving the three of them confused.


Well, Mikha and Abi, herself, knew how protective Gian is towards Abi; to the point that he never allowed any of his friends or members to take her sister out on a date, he loves to create a wall higher than China's between his sister and any guy. So what did River do to make him say yes?

"Iiwan mo talaga sila?" Mikha blinked twice, making sure that she heard him right. "Yes, and we're going home," he answered before walking past them and pulling Mikha's small bag.

It's a miracle.

Abi thought before facing River confused too with what just happened. "Shall we go?" he asked before offering his hands to guide her.

Then again, she was brought back to 2019, the first time they met. Freshman Abigail met her Senior River during their Acquaintance ball, the night when something inside her bloomed like a flower during the spring season.

The sweet and fluttering sensation gives her butterflies in her stomach. Although they never had any interaction during that night, he stands out in her eyes as if he has all the spotlight focused on him. It was an exact moment that left an imprint on her and started to become aware of his existence. Until they start to get closer, thanks to their extrovert and energetic friends, Mikhaela and Calvin,  who are eventually the reason why their school canteen has a life every lunchtime. They would always make a way to hang out every lunch, greet each other in hallways, make fun of one another during the flag ceremony, and more.

If you look at it, you'll realize that only River possesses calm energy between the four of them because she, Abigail, may look calm outside but is also hyper, and the rest of them, are energetic extroverts. 

Day by day, the tiny feelings and kicks started to develop. It became admiration, adoration, and infatuation up to liking him that leads them to where they are right now. 

"So, How's college?" River asked trying to break the silence, "Ayos lang naman, ikaw ba?" she answered trying to maintain her eyes on her food, "Doing good naman, I'm taking Multimedia Arts." River smiled while watching her, "You're still dancing pala?" she asked saka inangat ang ulo. Abigail was caught off guard when she met his eyes kaya agad din siyang umiwas and mentally cursed. She heard him chuckles kaya napatingin ulit siya sa binata. 

"Yes and in fact, I actually tried to audition for some competition." he smiled before showing his phone with a picture of him holding a trophy. "Ikaw? What course did you take? San ka nagaaral?" 

"I'm studying in Baguio and taking pharmacy." sagot naman niya without looking at the guy in front of her, not because he was a pain in her eyes, but because he looks illegally attractive to her. 

River De Jesus indeed looks like a fictional leading man who came straight out of a romance novel. Kaya nga every time na makikita niya ito, lagi siyang naiistarstruck dito. Tipong halos di na niya kayang alisin ang paningin dito kasi he shines in her eyes, lalo na pag sumasayaw ang binata o kaya hinahawi ang kanyang buhok which happens to be one of the reason why River caught her eyes. 

"Oh, you're in a med field pala. Kamusta naman? Are you happy?" he asked while looking at her with his sparkly eyes. "Oo naman, it's draining and tough but it is what I want kaya I enjoy it a lot," Abigail answered, muli niyang inangat ang ulo nya to meet his eyes then smiled at him, bahagya rin napahinto si River before smiled back at her and continued to go back to their old times.