Chasing Boundaries (Parallel Rhythms Series 1)

Chapter 15

Tsk.

He made me feel so worthless. Nalaman lang niyang may ibang interesado sa'kin, ipinamigay niya na agad ako ng gano'n gano'n lang. Ano ako? Sirang laruan? Na kapag pinagsawaan na at gustong hiramin ng iba, ipamimigay niya kaagad?

"Look, Harley. You two like each other." Agad na nagsalubong ang aking mga kilay dahil sa sinabi niya.

Paano naman niya nasabi 'yon? Well, for me, totoo naman. Gusto ko si Archein. Pero si Archein, may gusto sa'kin? Tsk. Just like I said, it is highly unlikely.

"Halatang-halata para sa mga taong nasa paligid niyo, Harley. I can see the glimmer in your eyes as you look at him. At ganoon rin sa kan'ya. Kung hindi mo napapansin, puwes ako, oo. I see the longing in his eyes as he looks at you, Harley." mahinang saad nito.

It was slowly sinking in, but I just couldn't register it inside my mind. I refuse to believe that what he's saying is true. Because it cannot be, right? Longing? Longing my ass!

Nagtiim-bagang ako at muling nagsalita, wanting to prove him wrong. "Liam, he pushed me away. If he likes me, then he wouldn't do that, right?!" inis kong saad. Ngunit pinilit kong hinaan pa rin ang aking boses. I don't want to get the attention of Liz and Archein who's giggling with each other.

Liam sighed. "Maybe he was just carried away by his emotions?" he tried to deny my claimed.

"Carried away?" sarkastikong saad ko.

Liam clicked his tongue. "Harley, it is hard to control one's self when certain emotions are surging in your head. Baka pinangunahan lang siya ng galit o takot o selos niya... kaya niya nagawa ang bagay na hindi naman talaga niya gustong gawin." he explained lowly.

I just stared at him, brows still furrowed. Unti-unti kong ibinaba ang aking tingin.

I just can't lead myself to believe what he's saying. Maybe because I was already too afraid. As I said before... I slowly developed trust issues because of what Archein did. Baka nahihirapan lang akong paniwalaan ang sinasabi ni Liam dahil baka isa na naman itong kasinungalingan.

After all, there's a higher chance that was he's saying is false than it actually being true.

"You know what... just talk things out." muli akong sumulyap sa kaniya nang sabihin niya iyon. "Mag-usap kayo. Hear each others side. Communication is the key, ika nga." he added.

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita pang muli dahil agad niyang iniwas ang tingin sa akin. He stared back at his food and started eating again.

Maybe... he's right. Because I admit that I haven't really been open towards Archein that time. I never cleared things out with him. I led him to believe that Liam was courting me, hindi ko winaksi sa isip niya ang pinaniniwalaan niyang iyon.

We never had the chance to talk. Because the last time we talked... I turned my back against him and ran. Iniwan ko siya dahil... pinangunahan ako ng emosyon ko. I cried that time, the first time I cried because of a man.

Baka nga tama talaga si Liam. I think it's time for us to communicate our thoughts. It's time for us to clear things out with each other.

Pero paano? He said he never wanted to see me again. It didn't happen dahil kahit ngayon, magkaharap kami sa iisang mesa. Maybe he don't want to talk to me either.

I darted my gaze on the food and continued eating. Kanina ko pa naubos 'yung strawberry tart dahil napakasarap talaga no'n kaya't 'yung strawberry shortcake na lang ang kinakain ko. Sumisimsim rin ako sa matcha latte ko.

"Ano'ng strand mo, Liam? Liam, right?" narinig ko ang boses ni Liz. Inangat ko ang aking ulo upang tumingin sa kaniyang gawi ngunit ang mga mata ni Archein ang sumalubong sa akin. Tumikhim siya at mabilis na iniwas ang tingin. Ako naman ay binalingan na lamang si Liz.

"Yeah. GAS ang strand ko, classmates kami ni Harley." Liam answered and gave her a small smile. "Ikaw, ano pangalan mo?" he then asked.

Liz' smile widened. "Oh, I'm Analiza, but you can call me Liz for short." she giggled. "Sana all sa inyong dalawa, couples sa iisang room. Akala ko ba magkakapamilya kayo sa loob ng classroom? Bakit may nagliligawan?" natatawang anito.

Walang nagawa si Liam kundi ang ngumiti at napailing-iling.

"Ikaw Liz? I haven't seen you before. Are you a transferee?" si Liam naman ang nagtanong.

Come to think of it, I too haven't seen Liz before. Pareho silang dalawa ni Archein. I think they are both a transferee. This year ko lang sila nakita at nakilala.

"Yeah. I transferred here just last week. Our family moved here that time and I chose to study in our school because Archein was there." she answered, her smile never vanishing from her lips.

Agad na nagsalubong ang aking mga kilay. Are they childhood friends? Bakit naman niya ginustong mag-aral sa school namin dahil lang doon rin nag-aaral si Archein? Maybe they are childhood friends, right? Because that's the only reasonable answer.

"Yeah. We knew each other kaya't sinundan niya ako, 'yon lang naman." my gaze travelled to Archein as he spoke. Sa akin rin siya nakatingin, worry was evident in his green orbs. Para bang nagpapaliwanag pa siya.

"Uh-huh!" Liz exclaimed.

"Ah, kaya naman pala." Liam chuckled. Napatingin ako sa kaniya at nakitang sa akin rin siya nakatingin. I shot a brow at him but he just shook his head and shrugged it off.

Tumango naman si Liz. Matapos ay muli itong nagsalita. "Will you excuse me, I need to use the restroom." paalam nito at tumayo.

"Oh, okay lang." sagot naman ni Liam. I looked at Archein who just stared at Liz as she walked towards the restroom. "Ay, wait! May naalala ako, Harley. May bibilhin pala ako sa kabilang store. Wait for me, alright?" ito naman ang nagpaalam at kita ko ang kakaibang ngiti na sumisilay sa kaniyang mga labi.

I furrowed my brows. I stared at him and noticed that it was just an excuse. He just wanted to leave me and Archein alone. Ano na naman ba'ng pakulo ito, Liam?

Wala na akong nagawa dahil kusa na itong tumayo at naglalakad palayo. But before he could take a step further, he stopped walking.

"Oh, and by the way, Archein." saad nito na parehong kumuha ng atensyon naming dalawa ni Archein.

Tumingin muna ako kay Archein na nakatingin na kay Liam habang nakakunot ang noo bago ko tuluyang inilapag ang paningin kay Liam.

I wide grin formed across his lips as he took a glance at me. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan. Mabilis lamang siyang sumulyap sa akin bago ibinalik ang tingin kay Archein.

"I'm not courting Harley. She just said that to make you jealous." saad nito bago mabilis na umalis.

Nalaglag ang aking panga dahil sa sinabi nito. I gazed at him as he ran towards the exit, he looked at me and winked while a grin was plastered across his lips. I swallowed hard as my eyes dropped to Archein.

His brows were furrowed as he looked at me. Certain emotions were fighting for attention in his green orbs. My breathing hitched as I felt his stare on me. It felt like a dagger piercing through my whole being.

"Harley, let's talk."

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