Strings in the Beginning (Abrupt Series #2)

EPISODE 15

"'Yung kasama mo ba? Gago rin 'yon. Hindi mo ba nakita? Inunahan niya ng suntok, pero tumakbo palayo at iniwan ka."

"He was planning something!" I shot back. "I saw him from the back nung humarap na 'yung lalaki sa akin na hihilahin niya 'yon. Kaso nagulat na lang kami dahil bigla kang sumugod!"

Conrad stepped closer, his eyes darkening. "Kasi nga susuntukin ka na."

"Pero wala kang kinalaman para makisali! Ang tigas talaga ng ulo mong kinangina ka! Hindi ka nakakaintindi!"

His jaw clenched. Tumawa siya ng sarkastiko, na parang lalo niya pang ginagatungan ang bawat galit kong salita.

"Nag-aalala ka sa 'kin?"

I froze for a second and I glanced at his right fist at nakita ko ang may dugong nalipasan dito.

"What the fuck?" I spat, my forehead knotted. "Tangina ka ba?"

But he just took another step closer, so close our bodies were almost touching. His eyes bore into mine, and my chest tightened. Not from fear. From something worse.

"I get it, Nate. Kaya galit na galit ka kasi nag-aalala ka. You think of me."

Ramdam ko ang pagpintig sa tainga ko sa sobrang inis. I forced out a bitter laugh.

"Talagang 'yan pa ang unang mong inisip? Hindi mo ba naisip na posibleng balikan ka no'n kung nagkataon? Madadamay ka pa at maliit lang ang lugar natin, Conrad. Puro kasi kagaguhan 'yang nasa utak mo!"

I expected him to back off. Pero lalo lang siyang umusad palapit. Na tila sinasadya niyang itulak ako sa limitasyon ko.

"Magsama pa sila nung Dash na 'yon, baka pagbuhulin ko pa silang dalawa," he sneered. An arrogance dripping from his words.

Napapikit ako and I am trying to control myself. But I was done.

"You know what? Putangina mo! Bahala ka sa buhay mo!"

I spun around and ready to walk away. Pero ilang hakbang pa lang ang nagawa ko mula sa kanya ay naramdaman ko ang malambot niyang kamay sa pulsuhan ko. Hinila niya ako pabalik.

"Let me take you home," his voice was firm but low.

I directly pulled it away, harsh and quick, glaring at him like I wanted to burn a hole through his chest.

"Ihahatid ako ni Dash. At huwag na huwag mong hahawakan ang kamay ko."

We stared at each other, breathing heavily as if we were both holding back everything we wanted to say or do.

His jaw tightened.

"Sure. If that's what you want."

And just like that, I turned away for the last time, leaving him standing there.

But even as I walked farther, I felt the weight of his gaze burning on my back. Like he wasn't done with me yet.

Like he never would be.

I was mad, furious to be exact. May gana pa siyang laruin at biruin ang nangyari na halos ako, pakiramdam ko ay may maaaring pwedeng ibalik lahat ng suntok na ginawa niya.

And yes I am worried! Sino bang hindi?! Boss ko siya, owner siya ng restaurant na pinagtatrabahuhan ko. Ano na lang mangyayari kung isang araw papasok siya na merong pasa sa mukha?

Gosh, Conrad!

Sa hindi kalayuang agwat ay nakita ko ang dalawang hinihintay ako sa tapat ng saradong sari-sari's store. Dash asked me kung gusto pa ba namin bumalik sa Eruption but when I check the time, I decided to went home.

We should have the best night. The best bonding. But because of that homophobic asshole, masasabi kong hindi pa sapat ang saya na nangyari sa amin loob ng bar. Hindi man nga lang ako nakasayaw sa dancefloor dahil sabi ko ay salitan kaming tatlo sa pagbantay ng table.

Isinagi ko nalang sa isip ko habang pauwi kami saa partment ko ay makakasama ko naman silang dalawa ngayon sa kwarto ko. Ibabawi na lang namin sa kwentuhan at kulitan.

Tahimik akong nasa passenger seat at laking gulat ko rin na hindi sila nagtatanong tungkol kay Conrad. Dash was focused on controlling the stirring wheel, at parang wala siyang balak magtanong. Tiningnan ko rin sa back seat si Zahra at tahimik itong nagba-browse ito sa cellphone niya.

I pressed my lips together, then cleared my throat, forcing myself to break the silence.

"That was Conrad." I began and I took a deep breath when his face a while ago flashed on my mind. "He was my childhood best friend. W-we used to be friends before pero ngayon hindi na."

Dash glanced at me quickly, then gave a slight nod, a small smile forming on his lips parang alam niya na matagal ko nang gustong sabihin 'to.

Narinig ko namang nagsalita si Zahra pero hindi ko naintindihan agad, kaya nilingon ko siya.

"Akala namin ni Dash, ex mo siya pagkatapos ng break up niyo ni Randy. Siya rin kanina 'yung tumitingin sa table natin, 'yung sabi kong tinititigan ka."

I forced a chuckle, trying to downplay the knot forming in my chest. "I saw him earlier too... nagulat din ako, pero hindi ko na lang pinansin. Ayoko sanang masira 'yung gabi natin. Pero nasira niya pa."

"Hindi naman siya ang sumira, Nate," Dash spoke without looking away from the road.

"Bakit parang galit na galit ka sa kanya, Ate?" malambot na tanong ni Zahra dahilan para bumuntong hininga ako.

Before responding my eyes flew at the road beside the window pero hindi ang daan ang iniisip ko. Si Conrad.

Sana nanatili na lang siya sa table nila. Kung gusto niya akong masdan buong gabi, hindi ko siya pipigilan. Tangina, dapat tinitigan niya na lang ako hanggang sa matapos ang gabi.

"I have a rough past with him that I haven't shared with both of you." I paused to think about what should I say next. "And... I used to love him. Back then."

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