Chasing Boundaries (Parallel Rhythms Series 1)

Chapter 5

Napatingin ako sa kaniya. I breathed heavily to calm myself and to fight myself from tearing up.

'Do you want to talk about it?'

It's funny how that simple question can have a lot of effect on someone who's carrying a lot. It's funny how that question can actually take over someone's emotion and put that person on the verge of crying. It's funny how that question can actually drop someone's tough facade and easily make that person vulnerable.

It's funny how that simple question can become our comfort in the midst of our darkest moments.

Yet, I refused to embrace that comfort.

Sabi nila, it's easier to open up to a stranger than to open up to someone who's really close to you.

But, heck. I don't know which category Archein belongs. Yes, he's still a complete stranger to me. We've only known each other for days. Not even a week. Yet, everytime I reach for my heart, I can always feel him, lying there comfortably. I don't know, but at the mere days we've known each other, he already made his way to my heart. Parang may kung anong koneksyon na agad siya sa puso ko na nagsasabing hindi lang siya kung sinong estranghero. Isa siyang taong napalapit na sa puso ko.

He's a complete stranger, yet, my heart recognizes him as someone close to me.

Nakita ko kung paano siya ngumiti nang hindi ako umimik. "If you're not ready to talk about what's bothering you, I'll wait, Harley." saad nito na nagpatalon sa puso ko. "I'll wait until you become comfortable with me. Hihintayin ko, hanggang sa magkaroon ka na ng lakas ng loob na sabihin sa akin ang mga bagay na nagpapalungkot sa 'yo." he added.

My heart was frantically beating as I stared at his emerald green eyes. They were shining, shimmering. Despite the darkness covering us.

"But at the mean time, lagi mong iisipin na, nandito lang ako. Handa akong makinig, Harley." he spoke, which made my heart more vulnerable.

Nararamdaman ko ang pagtulo ng ice cream ko sa aking kamay. Natutunaw na iyon dahil hindi ko na iyon napapansin. But it didn't bother me. All I did was to stare at Archein. He smiled as he lifted his head and gazed at the stars.

"If you have no one to talk to, nandito lang ako. Handa akong makinig sa lahat ng gusto mong ilabas, Harley." he smiled while staring at the stars.

Nakatitig lamang ako sa kaniya habang malakas ang kalabog ng dibdib ko. How can this guy say those words? We barely know each other, yet, parang sobrang importante ako sa buhay niya para masabi niyang handa siyang makinig sa lahat ng mga bagay na nasa isip ko.

But somehow, my heart tells me to trust him. To trust this handsome stranger who's making my heart thump rapidly.

"Come on! Smile!" bumalik ang tingin nito sa akin at ngayon ay may malawak nang ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi. "You're too pretty to be sad." dagdag pa nito na ikina-kunot lang ng noo ko.

Bigla ay naalala ko ang mga nangyari kahapon. Archein and I haven't met and talked to each other since yesterday. Paano ba nama'y naiinis pa rin ako sa kaniya.

And I don't even know why? All I know is that... I hate seeing him with that leech wrapped around his body.

Bigla ay nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko. "Mas maganda naman 'yong girlfriend mo." may halong inis kong saad. Agad kong iniwas ang tingin sa kaniya at muling bumaling sa ice cream kong natutunaw na.

Agad kong hinawakan ang ice cream cone gamit ang kabila kong kamay, ang isa naman ay nai-iling kong inilayo sa akin.

Narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa ni Archein. I then saw how he slipped his free hand on his pocket from my peripheral vision.

Umalis siya mula sa swing at naglakad patungo sa harapan ko. He then took his hand from his pocket at ngayon ay may hawak na siyang isang maliit na panyo.

I blinked multiple times as he sat in front of me and reached for my hand. Hinawakan ng kamay niyang may hawak rin sa ice cream ang kamay kong puno ng natunaw na ice cream. Mabilis ang kalabog ng dibdib ko habang pinapanood siyang punasan ang kamay ko.

"You're so messy." saad pa nito habang ginagawa iyon.

Agad kong binawi ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakahawak niya at mukhang nagulat siya sa ginawa ko. "A-ako na." mahinang saad ko at hiningi sa kaniya ang panyo.

He just looked at me before shaking his head. Hindi siya umimik at muling hinuli ang kamay ko. Hinigpitan niya ang hawak para hindi ko iyon mabawi kaya't wala na akong nagawa kundi ang hayaan siyang punasan ang mga natunaw na ice cream sa kamay ko.

"I don't have a girlfriend." saad niya. Tumingala siya sa akin at nagpakawala ng isang tipid na ngiti.

My heart was thumping frantically as I bit my lower lip. Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin dahil dinaig ko pa ang ice cream sa mainit na panahon dahil talagang nakakatunaw ang kaniyang mga titig.

Pasimple kong iginaya ang ice cream cone sa may bibig ko at dinilaan iyon. I noticed that it was already melting again so I took action immediately.

I sighed as I faced him when he let go of my hand. Tumayo siya at bumalik na sa pagkakaupo sa swing sa tabi ko.

I gulped as I shyly looked at him. "Eh sino 'yung... Sino 'yung parang butiki kung makadikit sa 'yo kahapon?" may halong inis sa boses ko. Nais kong umirap ngunit hindi ko iyon nagawa sa harap niya.

He lightly chuckled. Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko dahil sa ginawa niya. Is there something funny? Seryoso ako rito!

"'That was just my friend." kaswal na sagot nito.

"Friend?!" singhal ko. "Friend daw pero kung maka-pulupot sa 'yo, dinaig pa ang linta." I murmured, annoyed.

Muli kong narinig ang kaniyang mahinang pagtawa. "Swear. Ganoon talaga siya sa 'min. But she's like an older sister to me. Masyado lang siyang over protective kaya kung may magtangka mang babaeng lumapit sa akin ay agad niya akong babakuran. Well, not only to me, but also to my other friends too, like Brent." paliwanag naman nito, hindi naalis ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi.

Mahina akong tumango-tango. I just pouted. I should've really calmed down. I shouldn't jump to conclusions. But still, naiinis pa rin ako.

"Bakit? Nagse-selos ka ba?" my eyes widened at his sudden question.

"H-hindi no!" singhal ko. I glared at him before rolling my eyes, trying to hide my real emotions. Because deep inside, my heart was pounding crazily. Tang ina niya!

Tumawa lang siya ngunit bigla ring sumeryoso ang kaniyang mukha.

"Eh ikaw? Sino 'yung kasama mo kahapon?" napapitla ako sa tanong niya.

I swallowed the lump on my throat as I looked away. "It was my classmate, Liam. N-nauna niya kasi akong inaya makipag-lunch. A-at saka, pumayag ako kasi... kasi tinulungan niya ako noong isang araw." I bit my lower lip as I stared back at him.

His brows were furrowed, but he slowly nodded continuously.

"Okay." he said before licking his ice cream. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at dinilaan rin ang ice cream ko. "But you don't like him in any way? Do you?" tanong nito habang nasa malayo ang tingin.

I swallowed hard as I faced him. "S-siyempre hindi!" agad ko namang pagtatanggol sa sarili ko. "I-I mean, I don't like him in any way." nahihiya kong ani.

His gaze went back to me. I felt shivers as he slowly smiled. "Good. You're mine then."
  
  
 

(⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠✧⁠*⁠。