Strings in the Beginning (Abrupt Series #2)

EPISODE 17

EPISODE 17

"Tigilan mo 'ko, William," singhal ko, pero natawa lang siya.

"Noon naman hinahayaan mo 'kong kurutin ka, ah?"

I didn't answer. Bigla kasi akong napaisip. Back in college, kapag dumadaan siya sa department namin ay lagi 'yan may pang kurot sa pisngi ko. Kasi naman, I had chunky cheeks.

Pero ang hindi ko agad naisip noon ay... kaya pala siya laging dumadaan, kasi may rason.

Before Randy even made a move, William did, subtle but there. Although, sabi ni Randy, he only started liking me after we got partnered sa water relay. Halos sabunutan pa ako ni Zahra no'n, sa dahilang ginagawa akong babae ng dalawa.

The difference? Si Randy ay torpe. Si William? Diretsahan.

After a few more minutes of enduring William's teasing, Dash and Zahra finally arrived. Dash sat beside me and scrolled through his phone, bago niya ito ipakita sa'kin.

"Cagsawa ruins?" I asked.

"Gusto ko subukan 'yung ATV nila," sagot niya.

Zahra, ever so quick to jump in, smirked. "Hindi mo pa nata-try? Over naman, ikaw 'yung may pinakamaraming pera sa ating tatlo tapos hindi mo pa pala nasusubukan 'yung ATV?"

Napatawa na lang kami pareho.

"Girl, bata pa ako nung last kong sakay do'n. Kasama ko pa si Papa, huwag kang sumama kung ayaw mo! Dadaan pa naman kami ng Farm Plate at Daraga Church, inamoka."

"Ayaw mong pumunta tayo sa Naga?"

Dash looked at me. "Ikaw lang naman iniisip ko, bading. Baka kasi makatulog ka sa byahe. Alam naming antukin ka kapag nasa biyahe. Kaya diyan na lang tayo sa malapit, para sunduin ka na lang namin sa apartment mo."

"May gala kayo?" William suddenly asked, cutting through the conversation.

Lahat kami napatingin sa kanya. Nang balingan ko si Zahra, ngumuso siya ng mapang-asar.

"Oo, bakit?" sagot ko.

William's lips parted slightly as if he wanted to say something more, but all he managed was a quiet smile, "Ingat... kayo."

He smiled faintly, but his eyes didn't leave me. His eyes felt heavier than his words.

I tried to read it while keeping the silence pero bago ko pa mawari, he turned away when the guy beside him started talking to him again.

I exhaled. Wala siyang hirit.

I turned back to Dash and Zahra, refocusing on our plans for Wednesday. If I didn't go, who knows when we'd have another chance like this? Dash had already laid it out yesterday bago pa sila umalis sa apartment ko. Out of all the options, he chose the one closest to me, convenient and thoughtful, but typical of him.

And I liked the nature trips. Wala nang paligoy-ligoy.

"Dash, ako na maghahatid kay Nate. Dadaan naman kasi ako sa barangay niya, para hindi ka na kumuha ng kotse mo sa garahe niyo."

Gulat akong lumingon kay William ng marinig iyon matapos kong magpaalam sa magulang ni Dash. Kagagaling ko lang sa kusina at parang gusto ko bumalik ulit at hintayin na bawiin niya ang sinabi.

Dash blinked at me before speaking. "Ah, hindi. Ayos lang, ang paalam ko kasi kay Tita ay ako ang maghahatid sa kanya. Mauna ka na. Salamat, Will."

William didn't push. He just shrugged, but his lips were quirking up at the corners. "Ang dami pang nag-iinuman sa labas, oh," he said, nodding at the window.