Chasing Boundaries (Parallel Rhythms Series 1)

Chapter 8

Is it just me or he's really giving me those signals? Or talagang assuming lang ako? Nasi-sense ko naman na kapag may sinasabi siyang nakakapag-haywire ng buong sistema ko ay parang hindi naman big deal sa kaniya iyon. He would often laugh afterwards, like he wasn't serious at all, like he just didn't made the butterflies in my heart flutter. Parang para sa kaniya, walang laman ang mga sinasabi niya.

O meron ba talaga? Baka tumatawa lang siya pagkatapos para hindi siya mahalata?

Ugh! Stop overthinking, Harley! Nahihibang ka na! Assuming ka!

"Are you really sure na puwede tayong mag-bake sa bahay n'yo?" may pag-aalinlangan kong tanong kay Archein.

Suot ko pa ngayon ang uniform ko dahil hindi ako dumiretso pauwi sa bahay. I just texted my mom na may kailangan akong puntahan. Pagalabs galing sa school kanina ay dumiretso kami ni Archein sa grocery store kung saan kami nagpunta noong isang araw para mamili ulit ng mga baking ingredients.

"Hindi ka naman kakainin ni Mama." he gently laughed. Hawak niya gamit ang dalawa niyang kamay ang isang paper bag na may laman ng mga pinamili namin. "Ako, oo." mahinang bulong nito.

Nangunot ang noo ko dahil hindi iyon rumehistro sa aking pandinig. Sa ingay ba naman ng mga sasakyang napapadaan ay hindi ko na narinig ang kaniyang sinabi.

"Huh?" untag ko.

He smiled at me. "Wala. Tara na." he shrugged as he started walking again.

Nang makarating sa harap ng bahay nila ay namangha ako sa ayos ng kanilang front yard. Their house was not that big, parang kasing laki lang ng sa amin. Good then, it means he's not out of my league.

There were colorful potted flowers giving life to their front yard. The contrast between the colorful flowers and their modern painted house was well-built. Their house was modern. The white and brown paint was not an ordinary blend, but their house made it ideal.

Verdict: handa na akong maging housewife niya sa bahay na 'to.

Binuksan niya ang gate ng bahay nila at naglakad pa kami sa isang maiksing pavement patungo sa main door. Binuksan niya iyon gamit ang isang susi at talagang namangha ako sa kalinisan ng buong bahay nila nang buksan niya iyon.

His phone created a sound which caught my attention. Kinuha niya iyon at binuksan. Nangunot ang noo niya nang parang may nabasa siyang hindi maganda. He faced me, worry was evident in his green orbs.

"Bakit?" takang tanong ko.

He looked at me, almost apologetically. He heaved a breath as he spoke. "Umalis si Mama. She brought East to the vet. Sabi niya, babalik siya mamayang gabi. Wala siya rito." dahan-dahang saad nito.

I blinked multiple times as I swallowed deep. My heart was raging as I could sense what he's trying to say.

"Gusto mo na bang umuwi? I-I mean if you're uncomfortable with only us in the house, ihahatid na lang ki-"

"N-no, no!" agad akong umiling. "I mean, nandito na tayo 'di ba? Okay lang naman." sagot ko. It's true, it will be such an inconvenience if we cancel our plan for today. Nandito na kami, why not continue?

"Are you sure?" his brows were lightly furrowed as he asked.

"I mean, I can trust you naman, 'di ba?" lakas loob kong tanong. I'm sure I can trust him, and even without telling my heart to trust him, I already trust him. I may not know him well, but all I know is that he would never do anything bad to me. Or I hope.

He smiled unconsciously. "I'll earn your trust then." he spoke.

Pumasok na kami sa loob ng bahay. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin sa loob ng sala. It was a huge space. They have a big sofa set and a big flatscreen TV in front of it. I noticed na marami ring potted plants sa loob ng sala.