Chasing Boundaries (Parallel Rhythms Series 1)

Chapter 15

Mataman ko lamang siyang tiningnan. My lips was trembling a bit but I managed to stop it. Ang kaninang nga nagbabadyang luha mula sa aking mga mata ay tuluyang nang naglaho.

"Kasi alam kong wala na talaga tayong pag-asa." I was taken aback as he spoke. "But for me, seeing you happy also makes me happy." my heart warmed with his words. "Akala ko... magiging masaya ka sa piling si Archein, kaya pinipilit kita sa kaniya. P-pero, ano 'to?" his lips trembled.

I swallowed hard as his words started to sink in. Hindi ko maintindihan sa sarili ko kung bakit... hindi na lang siya? Bakit hindi na lang si Liam? He seems genuine, he's fun to be with, he knows my worth, he prioritizes my happiness. He makes me happy... in some way. Kaya bakit... hindi na lang siya?

After all this, bakit si Archein pa rin?

"So... may I ask, Harley? Because for me, it seems unlikely that he'd push you away. Kaya bakit... bakit niya ginawa 'yon?" he slowly asked.

My eyes lids calmed as I gazed away. I made a stern expression as I looked at my food again. I gently sighed as I took a sip off my matcha latte. Matapos ay hindi sadyang napatingin ako sa dalawang taong nasa harapan ko. Liz and Archein were talking, but Archein's gaze was on me. I immediately shrugged it off and looked away. I made a click sound with my tongue before answering Liam's question.

"It's not unlikely, Liam. Because he already did." mahina kong saad, hindi pa rin naririnig ng dalawang nasa kabilang upuan.

"B-bakit nga, Harley? I-I'm just confused." tanong nitong muli.

Inilapag ko ang aking inumin sa lamesa a tumingin kay Liam. "Kasi nalaman niyang nanliligaw ka sa'kin, Liam. He kept his distance because he thought you're making a move with me." I said with a stern expression.

That was my initial thought. Sa mga araw na nawala si Archein ay napagtanto kong kaya niya siguro ako iniwasan dahil nga nalaman niyang nanliligaw na sa akin si Liam.

I recalled how he asked me if I was entertaining Liam, but I never answered. That was the first reason why he became cold towards me. Siguro nga ay tama ang mga kaibigan ko. He's jealous. But I refuse to believe that he's jealous because Liam liked me, and he must've thought that I liked Liam too since what he know was I was entertaining him.

I led myself to believe that he's just jealous because Liam and I are stepping on his ego. Dahil nakita niyang may nagkakagusto sa akin, at malamang ay hindi niya na ako mapaglalaruan pa.

But I admit, there was a part of me... hoping. Hoping that he was actually jealous because... he liked me. But I know that it was highly unlikely. Considering how he treated me before. He treated me as his toy, as a joke. Imposibleng may gusto siya sa akin.

His brows furrowed. "S-so... kasalanan ko, Harley?" may halong pangamba sa kaniyang boses.

I scoffed, gently shaking my head. "Hindi mo kasalanang duwag siya, Liam. Hindi mo kasalanang iniwasan niya ako dahil lang nalaman niyang nanliligaw ka sa'kin." I firmly said.

Totoo naman, 'di ba. Walang kasalanan si Liam. It's all Archein. Bakit, porke ba nalaman niyang may nanliligaw sa akin ay ganoon na kadali sa kaniya na ipagtulakan ako palayo. Duwag siya. He could've fought for me, if he actually like me, yet he chose to push me away.

Walang kasalanan si Liam dahil lahat ng ito, kasalanan ni Archein.

"He must've had his reasons, Harley." saad ni Liam. Taka ko siyang tiningnan. Bakit ba pinagtatanggol niya pa si Archein?

"What reason, huh?" halos bulong na lamang iyon.

Ano naman ang rason niya? Na 'ah, off limits na, maghahanap na lang ako ng iba'. Na 'ay, may nanliligaw na pala, marami pa naman diyang babae na wala akong kaagaw'. Na 'ay, 'wag na lang, 'di naman worth it 'yan, maghahanap na lang ako ng iba'.