Traces Of The String (Red String Series #1)

Chapter 10

Her tears fell harder now, and Kina rushed to her side, wrapping a protective arm around her shoulders.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t even cry. I was too stunned to feel.

“Seriously, Menzo?” A voice rang from the staircase. We all turned. Aeden.

“Don’t butt in, Valdez,” Loren snapped, fire in her eyes.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Aeden said, walking toward us, his jaw clenched. His eyes locked on mine. “Clementine, are you okay?”

I just looked up at him, tears starting to cloud my vision. He handed me his handkerchief with a quiet curse under his breath.

“I said don’t butt in, Valdez!”

“And I said don’t tell me what to f*cking do, Menzo!” Aeden snapped, louder this time, making all of us jump. I’ve never seen him this angry. No—he’s never been this angry.

“Ilang taon ka na ba, ha? Kinse? Grade 10 ka palang pero umiiyak ka na sa lalaking hindi ka naman binigyan ng karapatang magselos sa best friend mo! You're throwing away years of friendship dahil lang sa hindi ikaw ang pinili? Tapos isisisi mo kay Clementine? Gaano ka kababaw? Gaano ka ka-immature?!”

Loren flinched.

“Nakikisama ka pa sa grupo nila Eslado para siraan siya? Sa kaibigan mong minahal ka, pinahalagahan ka, sinamahan ka?” He took a step closer. “Okay lang sana kung nasaktan ka lang eh. Pero hindi—you're blaming her for your pain. You're blaming her for something na wala siyang kasalanan. You’re obsessing over someone who doesn’t even see you.”

I covered my mouth, overwhelmed by the truth in his voice. Loren broke down, completely this time, her sobs shaking her shoulders.

“Wag kang pakialamero, bakla!” sigaw ni Kina, desperation in her voice.

“Wag ako ang pinuputangina mo, Alonzo,” Aeden snapped back, eyes gleaming. “Tsaka ka na mag paka bidabida pag may karapatan ka na.”

Tahimik. Parang sumabog ang isang bomba ng katahimikan sa paligid namin. Walang gumalaw. Walang nagsalita. I gripped Aeden’s wrist when he looked like he was about to say more and shook my head.

“Enough...” I whispered.

His eyes softened.

“Ayoko nang marinig ang mga boses nyo na aaligid samin. Subukan nyo lang gumawa pa ng kalokohan...” His voice dipped, low and threatening. “Ako na ang kakaharap sa inyo.”

Then gently, protectively, Aeden guided me up the staircase.

Tahimik lang kami habang naglalakad, hanggang makarating kami sa classroom. Kaunti palang ang mga bumabalik. I settled on the farthest seat by the window, away from everyone. My hands were shaking. My mind? Spinning.

Aeden sat in front of me without a word. Slowly, he reached for my hand.

And I didn’t pull away.

"Mentina..." Ramdam ko ang boses nyang sinusubukang pakalmahin ako kahit sya naman dapat ang kumalma saming dalawa.

"Nasan si Ian?" Mahinang tanong ko sakanya.

"Please talk to him privately. Somewhere... Alone... I'll tell him you have something to say to him." napatingala ako sakanya. He's biting his lips while looking down at his both hands holding my hand.

"May alam ka?"

I sighed heavily as he didn't let out a single word which answered my question.