And there was you (Invisible Strings #1)

Chapter 3 - Coincidences and Second Chances

Naramdaman ko namang may umupo sa tabi ko. Hindi ko na lamang pinansin kasi nasa exciting na iyong part ng movie kaya talagang tutok na ako. It was already the climax and I'm starting to tear up a little while smiling because of my heightened emotions. Naghanap ako ng panyo pero kamalasan pala ni tissue wala akong nadala sa bag ko!

Hahayaan ko na lang sana at kamay na lang ang gagamitin ko nang may makita akong panyo sa harap ko. Agad akong napalingon sa gilid at napanganga nang makita si Lucas na nasa tabi ko. His eyes were on the movie at first but when he felt my gaze on him, he looked back at me. At kahit madilim alam kung nakangiti agad siya sa'kin.

What is he doing here?

"You won't take the handkerchief?" He asked in a hushed tone.

Napakurap naman ako. "Huh? Ah,-" Sa hindi malamang dahilan, hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko sa kanya kaya napapunas na lang ako ng luha ko gamit ang mga kamay ko. I heard him chuckled. Binawi niya na ang nakalahad niyang panyo.

"You really didn't change much." I heard him say.

"What?" Anong ibig niyang sabihin?

"Shh. Just focus on the movie. Patapos na oh," He pointed at the screen. "You'll missed the best parts, sige ka."

Napatingin ulit ako sa harap, ngayon talagang distracted na. Ano na bang nangyayari?

--- 🔅

"I didn't know you watched anime." Iyan ang bungad kung tanong pagkalabas namin. At dahil maliwanag na ulit ang paligid ko, mas nakita ko na rin siya nang maayos. He's wearing a simple black hoodie over a loose denim jeans and sneakers. Nakasuot rin siya ng eye glasses at iyong cord na kwintas na nakita kung suot niya rin kahapon.

"I already told you before, I watched animes. They are cool."

Tumango ako at medyo naguluhan. Kailan niya sinabi sa'kin?

Mukhang nahalata naman niya ang pagtatanong sa itsura ko kaya natawa siya. "Acquaintance party, Grade 9? You don't remember?"

"Ah. S-sorry, I really don't have the best memory when it comes to remembering things." Hindi ko talaga matandaan na may sinabi siya. Matagal na rin kasi, pero tanda ko nga na sinayaw niya ako no'n.

"It's okay. No need to apologize, it's been years anyway."

Tumahimik muli sa pagitan namin.

Grabe, bakit ba wala akong social skills?! Receptionist ka ba talaga?

"Day-off mo pala ngayon? Akala ko ikaw rin maabutan ko kanina sa check-out."

"Uh, oo. Isang araw lang. Bukas panghapon naman ako."

He hummed in response. "Rotational nga pala ang shift niyo 'diba? Buti hindi ka napapagod sa papalit-palit na oras?" Huminto siya tapat ng standee kaya napahinto rin ako.

Ngumiti naman ako. I'm actually glad na mas palatanong siya kaysa sa'kin. At least hindi ko na p-problemahin na wala kaming mapag-uusapan na dalawa. Hindi kasi talaga ako marunong sa small talks!

"Sa una, nakakapagod. Pero nasanay na lang din ako. Kailangan e... " At wala naman kasi akong choice. Kung susuko ako agad, wala namang mangyayari. God knows how much I've struggled on my first months here in this vast City, alone and away from my mother. To try the things I've never done before and pursue the life I'm not even sure if really is for me.

Surviving alone is hard, especially if your inner demons are eating you out alive for every single day you woke up, keeping you from finding the will to continue.

And yet, I'm still trying.

"You are doing well." He commented all of a sudden kaya napatingin ulit ako sa kanya. His smiling face somehow calmed down the raging turmoils inside my head. "I know you, you are always trying your best. Even before, you've alway been like that. Na kahit mahirap, kapag gusto mo, sinusubukan mo pa rin."