Chasing Boundaries (Parallel Rhythms Series 1)

Chapter 10

I stood in front of him. Sinalubong ko ang kaniyang mga mata. I raised a brow to persuade him. Nagtagis ang kaniyang bagang at di kalauna'y nag-iwas ng tingin.

"So you are?" tanong nito. I saw how his adam's apple bobbed up and down. I almost scoffed. Ano naman sa kaniya, huh? Why is he so affected with it when in fact, he's not even serious with me? Wala siyang karapatang magalit dahil una sa lahat, wala siyang pakialam.

"Bakit? Nagseselos ka?" matapang kong tanong.

Nakita ko ang pamimilog ng kaniyang mga mata ngunit agad niya rin iyong binawi. He frustratedly bit his lower lip as his brows furrowed more.

"Hindi naman, 'di ba?" I shook my head as I scoffed. "Bakit? Ano ba'ng karapatan mo—"

"I'm your boyfriend, Harley!" he almost shouted. He was keeping his cool but he cannot help but raise his voice a bit.

I clenched my jaw. What?! He's going to make me feel special again? Then what? Laugh and say that everything was a joke? Gano'n naman siya lagi, 'di ba?

"We both know the truth, Archein." may diing saad ko. "You are not my boyfriend." I spat.

I have to be strong. I don't want to get his words stuck on my mind, again. Alam kong ang lahat ng ito ay walang kabuluhan sa kaniya. Malamang ay nagagalit lamang siyang malaman na ini-entertain ko si Liam dahil wala na siyang mapaglalaruan.

He's just toying with me, after all.

"Okay." tumango-tango ito. "I know, I'm not your boyfriend." There was a glint of pain as he spoke.

He drew a deep breath as he gazed away from me. Ramdam ko ang inis sa kaniyang mukha, ngunit mayroong emosyon doong hindi ko nais pangalanan. Nagtiim ang bagang niya bago muling humarap sa akin.

"But fuck, Harley! Nagseselos ako! I'm freaking jealous!"

My jaws fell as to what he said. I blinked multiple times as my lips pursed themselves. My heartbeat ran faster as I stared at his eyes. His green orbs were staring at my soul, penetrating through my whole being. I swallowed hard as I shook my head.

No. All of this is just a joke.

Nais kong maniwala sa kaniya. I wanted to drop my current facade and just embrace him. Pero alam kong sa huli, malalaman kong hindi naman siya seryoso sa lahat. Su huli, tatawa siya at sasabihing biro lamang ang lahat. Sa huli, ako ang masasaktan.

Am I having trust issues? Maybe. Maybe the way he laughs and the way he makes me feel is giving me a reason not to believe him. Kasi natatakot ako. Natatakot akong malaman sa huli na ang lahat ng ito'y walang katotohanan.

"Don't toy with my feeling, Archein." halos maluha-luha kong saad. My lips were now trembling. "Hindi mo ako laruan." saad ko bago siya tuluyang tinalikuran.

"H-Harley!" he called as he saw me already running away from him.

Tumakbo ako, palayo sa kaniya. I never looked back because I know, I might stop and run back to him. My heart was thumping roughly as I ran towards somewhere. My eyes felt watery, and the next thing I know, tears started flowing from my poor eyes.

My heart was aching, and the fact that he never came to chase me made my heart clench. Ano nga ba namang ini-expect ko? Huh. I'm just his toy anyway. He would always make me feel special, but the truth is, he's just playing with my feelings.