Chasing Boundaries (Parallel Rhythms Series 1)

Chapter 11

"Hoy gaga! Ano 'tong nalalaman kong boyfriend mo daw si Archein, ha?!" iyon agad ang bungad sa akin ni Sid pagpasok na pagpasok ko sa room namin.

Hindi pa man ako nakasasagot ay agad niya na akong hinila at dinala sa upuan ko para i-upo. She then sat beside me.

"Inang 'yan, Harley! Ba't hindi ka na marunong mang-update ngayon, ha?! Parang 'di kaibigan since elementary eh!" reklamo agad ni Sid.

I just sighed and took my bag off from my back. Inilapag ko ito sa lamesa. I cupper the bag with my own arms before leaning my head against it. Ginawa ko itong unan habang nakaharap pa rin ako sa puwesto ni Sid.

"Walang kami, Sid." walang gana kong saad. "I hate him." dagdag ko, may halong inis ang boses.

Her face softened. Her furrowed brows calmed down a bit. She then looked at me with concern evident on her face.

"Ano'ng nangyari? Did he hurt you?" makabuluhang tanong nito. "Uupakan ko siya, Ley!" she was about to stand but I stopped her.

I heaved a deep breath before pouting. "I'm just confused, Sid." I forcefully shut my eyes as it was heating again. Naiisip ko pa lang ang lahat ay naluluha na naman ako. Why am I so shallow?! Tsk!

"You can tell me everything. Makikinig ako." Marahan nitong hinaplos ang aking likod. Worry was evident in her glowing orbs.

Mabuti naman at kakaunti pa lang ang estudyante sa loob ng room, at halata namang wala silang interes sa pinag-usapan namin ni Sid.

"N-naiinis ako sa kaniya, Sid. Hindi ko alam kung seryoso ba siya sa akin o... o kung p-pinaglalaruan niya lang ako." I shut my eyelids hard, but a tear escaped from my eyes.

Patuloy ang pag-haplos ni Sid sa likod ko habang ako naman ay mahigpit na ang kapit sa bag ko.

"I-I mean, he always makes me feel special, Sid. Kapag magkasama kami, parang... parang ang genuine niya naman. Kino-comfort niya ako. Nakikinig siya sa mga rants ko." Hindi ko na napigilan ang mahihina kong paghikbi. Ngayon ay isa-isa na ring nagsilaglagan ang mga luha sa mga mata ko.

I swallowed hard as I raised my eyes to look at Sid. My lips were trembling, I felt myself weakening. She slightly nodded to encourage me to speak. Her hand was still slowly caressing my back, trying to comfort me.

"B-but... but everytime he tells me something that makes my knees weak... that makes the butterflies in my stomach flutter in joy... lagi siyang tatawa pagkatapos. H-he always tell me that everything was a joke, Sid. Pinaparamdam niya sa akin na joke lang ang lahat, na hindi naman siya seryoso." patuloy ang aking pag-hikbi habang garalgal na ang aking boses. "His mixed signals are so confusing, Sid. H-hindi ko na alam kung ano ang dapat kong maramdaman." I cried.

"Hey." tawag nito na kumuha ng atensyon ko. I raised my face to face her. There was a slight smile curved on her lips. "You know I'm not good with words, right?"

Bahagya akong tumango sa sinabi niya. Well, Sid's words only function properly when she's on a fight or an argument. But when it comes to comforting, she's weak at it.

"But I can see where you're coming from. Nasasaktan ka sa pinaparamdam niya sa'yo, at alam ko ang pakiramdam na 'yon." she bit her lower lip as she gazed away. "But maybe... he's confused too? 'Cause I don't know what's the real score between you two, but maybe, natatakot lang din siya. I'm not siding with him Ley, but maybe he's also just afraid to show his real feelings?"

I gently furrowed my brows as I can actually see her point.

"Maybe his emotions are his vulnerability? Kaya takot siyang ipakita ang totoong nararamdaman niya? Maybe he's not toying with you after all, Ley. Sabi mo nga, tumatawa siya. But I think, maybe he's just doing that to conceal his real feeling."