Chasing Boundaries (Parallel Rhythms Series 1)

Chapter 3

On the side of each example, he wrote a brief explanation that describes the examples. Each were compressed in one sentence only.

Ngumiti ako nang makitang seryoso siya habang nagsusulat. He looked hella attractive even when he's just writing something. He looked really focused to what he's doing that I bet if you distract him, he'd actually snap.

"And here are the three main purposes of the author."

Just like earlier, he wrote the word 'purpose' and connected each example with horizontal and vertical lines. The three example being 'to inform', 'to entertain', and 'to persuade'. Sinulat niya rin sa gilid ng mga example ang ibig sabihin nito.

He was organized. That's what I observed about him. His paper was neat and not messy. He uses different colored stabilos for different kind of sections. Halimbawa, kung green sa main topic or sa title ng topic, hindi niya na ulit ito gagamitin sa iba. Blue naman ang ginamit niya para sa examples ng main topic, at purple naman at underline na lang sa mga examples ng examples ng main topic.

Ang gulo i-explain. Kabaliktaran naman ng ginawa niya.

I could see that his method was simple but functional. Dahil organized ay mabilis itong maiintindihan, at mabilis ring mahahanap kung may certain example na hahanapin dahil sa highlights.

"Reviewing these would be easier now." he said as he handed me the index card where he wrote everything. The index card will serve as my review material because it already contained everything I need to review.

Kinuha ko mula sa kaniya ang index card at binasa ang laman noon.

Muli akong humarap sa kaniya at nakita siyang nakangiti. "Aalis na ako." he said and was ready to stand up. Ngunit nang makatayo siya ay hindi ko siya hinayaang makalayo dahil agad kong hinuli ang kanang kamay niya.

He froze on the spot. Mukhang natigilan siya bago niya ipinilig ang kaniyang ulo. He slowly turned to my side but he never looked at me. Instead, his eyes locked at my hand, holding his.

Mabilis ang galaw kong binawi ang aking kamay at napayuko habang kagat ang pang-ibabang labi. Gosh, that was embarrassing. I could still feel his slightly rough hand against mine.

"Bakit?" he curiously asked.

I rose my eyes and it met his. I swallowed the lump on my throat before speaking.

"N-nag-lunch ka na ba?" mahina ang boses na tanong ko.

I heard how he blew air against his nose as he plastered a wide smile. "Actually, no." he answered.

"S-sabay na tayo? My treat." makapal ang mukhang suhestiyon ko. Kinapalan ko talaga ang mukha ko dahil mas nakakahiyang hayaan siyang umalis nang hindi man lang ako nagpapasalamat.

I know a simple thank you would be enough already, but I do want to make it genuine. I want to make an effort. What he did earlier was already a big help for me. Kaya ngayon, ililibre ko na lang siya bilang kabayaran.

"Hmm." he raised his head and acted like he was thinking. He smiled before looking back at me. "Sige." he agreed.

Agad akong napangiti. I immediately took all my stuffs and slid them all back inside my backpack. Isinuot kong muli ang bag ko at nang matapos ay tumayo na ako.

I nodded at Archein before starting to walk. Nauna na akong maglakad at nasa likod ko naman siya, sinusundan ako. We walked until we got to the cafeteria. Kaunti na lang ang taong nasa loob dahil patapos na rin naman ang lunch break. Halos ten minutes na lang yata.

"Harley." napahinto ako sa paglalakad nang marinig ko ang boses ni Archein na tinawag ang pangalan ko. I bit my lower lip as I realized that it was the first time that he actually mentioned my name.