Chasing Boundaries (Parallel Rhythms Series 1)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15



If there's a will, there's a way.

If you like someone, then pursue that someone. The one you like won't come to you easily, voluntarily, even if you both feel the same way for each other.

Kung mahal mo ang isang tao, gagawin mo ang lahat makuha lang siya. Hindi mo hahayaang makuha siya ng iba. Mahal mo nga, 'di ba? Could you bare seeing that someone get wrapped around by the arms of another?

That's what I realized. Ngayong ko napagtantong para kay Archein, hindi ako worth it.

Kasi kung totoo mang magseselos siya, kung totoo ang pinaparamdam niya, kung totoo nga na kahit papaano ay may gusto siya sa akin... bakit hindi niya ako pinaglaban?

Bakit nang malaman niyang nililigawan ako ng ibang tao ay pinagtulakan niya agad ako palayo? Was I really that insignificant for him to give me away so easily?

Hindi ba ako worth it ipaglaban?

Why does he always make me feel so... small?

"Huh?" I faced Archein. His eyes were furrowed, gulong gulo sa mga nangyayari. "He is courting me. But we are friends." sagot ko sa tanong niya.

Maybe it's for the better. I may be torturing myself, but I believe that letting him believe that Liam is courting me is for the better. Lagi niyang pinaparamdam sa akin na hindi ako worth it, na ang liit liit na bagay ko para sa kaniya. I don't want that to happen again.

Nasabi ko na rin sa sarili ko na kakalimutan ko na siya. Maybe this is a major step?

Nang muling mapunta ang tingin ko kay Archein ay nakita ko kung paano nawala ang pagkunot ng kaniyang noo. His furrowed brows gradually calmed down. He blinked twice as his mouth was agape. He heavily sighed before he wetted his lower lip with his tongue. Pinagmasdan ko ang bahagyang pagtaas-baba ng kaniyang adam's apple bago bumaba ang kaniyang tingin sa lamesa.

"Oh, I just thought..." he muttered lowly. "Nevermind." muli itong humarap sa akin at dahan-dahang kinalma ang sarili. His eyes were now emotionless, like all the hope that made his orbs glimmer just suddenly disappeared.

My gaze landed on Liam. He was facing me, brows furrowed, he obviously couldn't believe what I just said. Umiling pa ito ng mabilis kaya't agad ko siyang nginitian bago tuluyang inilayo ang tingin sa kaniya.

"You know them, Archein?" takang tanong ng babaeng katabi ni Archein. It was Liz.

Dahan-dahang lumapag ang tingin ni Archein kay Liz. His eyes remained emotionless. "Yeah. I know them." simpleng sagot nito. Ngunit kalauna'y bahagyang namuo ang tipid na ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi. "I know her." he added.

My eyes widened a fraction but I immediately gazed away from them. Muling tumahimik ang table namin hanggang sa tinawag na ang pangalan ng dalawa. They both stood up before walking up to the counter to receive their orders. It didn't take long until they got back to our table holding a tray of the foods they ordered.

My mouth fell agape as I watched as Archein walked towards the table. He was holding a tray with a lot of strawberry flavored food. Kahit ang drink niya ay strawberry flavored din.

So he's into strawberries now? What happened to 'I like matcha, too'?

Agad kong iniwas ang tingin nang lumapit sa akin si Liam. Inilapag na niya ang mga in-order niyang pagkain para sa aming dalawa.

He ordered a double espresso, marble cake, and a croissant for himself. He then placed the foods he ordered for me in front of me. A slice of strawberry shortcake for dessert, a small piece of strawberry jam tart, and of course, the matcha latte I ordered.