Chasing Boundaries (Parallel Rhythms Series 1)

Chapter 14

He likes matcha and cookies and cream.

"Yieee." nagulat na lamang ako nang bigla akong kiniliti ni Liam. He teasingly touched my waist and my immediate response was to laugh. That was my tickle spot!

"Tangina mo, Liam!" sigaw ko sa kaniya at bahagyang lumayo. I was laughing earlier but I gave him a death glare. Hindi niya iyon inalintana at tinawanan lang ako.

"Kinikilig ka lang na gaga ka!" sigaw niya pabalik, humahalakhak pa.

Handa na sana akong sigawan siya pabalik ngunit narinig namin ang isang mahinang pagtikhim.

It was Archein.

"Respeto naman sa'min, guys." natatawang ani Liz. Nakangiti pa ito sa amin at mukhang natatawa rin dahil sa ginawa sa akin ni Liam.

I looked at her apologetically. But when my eyes darted to her company, his cold eyes immediately sent shivers down my spine. It was as cold as Antarctica, and I know that gaze so well. It was his cold eyes again, the cold eyes I saw when he left me behind that day.

Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin at bumalik iyon kay Liam.

He was still smiling as he looked at me. Umiling-iling pa ito at muling lumapit sa akin. I was just there, standing as I couldn't take Archein's gaze earlier out of my mind. His cold gaze that I was always afraid to face.

"Kinikilig ka na naman kasi couple dessert kayo ng crush mo." muli itong bumulong sa aking tainga.

I just pursed my lips as I stared at him, his smile never faded.

"Buwisit ka! Mayroon ba no'n? Porke pareho ang dessert, couple na agad?" asik ko sa kaniya, mahina lamang ang boses ko.

My heart was still rapidly beating as I felt a set of eyes gazing our way. It was cold, it's sending shivers down my spine. And I can't just shrug it off.

"Tsk. Kinikilig ka lang eh." pilit niya pa. Paanong kikiligin? Huh?! Inirapan ko na lamang siya dahil parang hindi talaga siya titigil.

"I thought you two weren't together?" rinig ko ang boses ni Liz. Pareho kaming napatingin sa kaniya ni Liam. Pasimple akong tumingin sa katabi niya at nakitang magkasalubong ang mga kilay nito ay nakatingin rin sa kaniya. "Pero ba't ang sweet niyo?" takang tanong ni Liz, ngunit ang ngiti sa labi niya ay naroon pa rin.

"Ah." Liam trailed off. I could feel his eyes on me kaya't humarap ako sa kaniya. "Normal lang sa'min 'yon." sagot niya nang iiwas niya ang tingin sa akin.

"Oo, normal lang sa'min 'yon bilang magkaibigan." anas ko naman nang humarap akong muli kay Liz.

"Magkaibigan lang talaga? You look good as a couple." sagot pa sa amin ni Liz. Obviously teasing us.

I could see from my peripheral vision how Archein's brows furrowed in confusion. Pabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa ni Liam.

I understand why he's doing that. Alam ko. At mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko sa hindi ko malamang dahilan. I swallowed hard as I spoke.

"We're really just friends." sagot ko, halos pinilit na lamang na hindi mautal.

"Friends?" boses iyon ni Archein.

Kabado akong humarap sa kaniya. His brows were furrowed. His green eyes shone in confusion. Parang gulong-gulo siya at hindi alam kung ano ang nangyayari.

Well, I can't blame him. Kung, and only kung, totoo ang sinabi ni Faith kanina... na nilayuan lang ako ni Archein dahil akala nito nanliligaw sa akin Liam... then he has the rights to feel this way.

"So, does that mean..." his eyes found mine, and it was enough to sent shivers down my spine. Mas bumilis ang pagtibok ng aking puso at hindi ko alam kung bakit sobra akong kinakabahan. "Liam is not courting you?" he finally asked.

Faith was right. Akala niya nililigawan ako ni Liam. Akala rin niya ini-entertain ko ito.

Is that really the reason why he shoved me away?
 

 
  
  

(⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠✧⁠*⁠。