The Lead I Wrote Too Soon [Bylines Series #1]

Kabanata 16

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ 16 ˖⟡˚౨ৎ⋆

His.

"DID I DO something wrong?"

It has been three weeks since the last time Adra and I talked. I didn't know if I had said something offensive, but it felt like she'd been avoiding me ever since.

Sira ba ang calculator na pinahiram ko sa kaniya?

I puckered my lips as I stare blankly at the ceiling, the same way someone might stare at a math problem that couldn't figure out what the equation was. Come to think of it, that calculator worked perfectly fine when I lent it to her. Unless the batteries died? But would someone really not talk to me over double-A batteries?

That didn't make sense.

None of it made sense.

Adra wasn't the type to cut people off without reason. She was sharp with her words, but she was also fair. If I messed up, she would've told me bluntly, and probably with a sigh and an eye roll. Naiisip ko pa lang na tinatarayan niya ako, hindi ko na mapigilan ang pagsilay ng ngisi sa labi ko.

"Adra's not here." Bungad ni Seishiro pagkapasok pa lang sa office ng The Ecriture kung saan ako nakatambay.

It has become my routine. Every time I skipped class or I was bored enough to even consider attending a two-hour lecture, I'd find myself here.

"Hindi ba may meeting kayo ngayon?" I asked. Ibinaba ko ang dalawa kong hita nang tapikin niya 'yon paalis para ipatong ang laptop niya sa lamesa.

"She left early," he replied. "Sabi ni Vashti, Tito called her to come home."

Tito. That could only mean one person—her dad.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero bigla akong nakaramdam ng kaba. Every time her dad asks her to come home early, it usually means one of two things: either may nalaman siya tungkol sa academics ni Adra, or... something happened at home. Nevertheless, it could mean one thing in the end—Adra will receive his wrath again.

I tried not to let my expression change, but I didn't realize my fist had already curled into a tight ball on my lap.

"I know you miss her pero kung hindi ka gagalaw nang mabilis, baka tuluyan ka na niyang layuan."

I glared at him. Why does he need to say that? Gumagawa na nga ako ng paraan para malapitan at makakuha ng tamang timing para kausapin siya.

"I don't even know what I did," I muttered, still thinking of several reasons why she suddenly left me in the dark. "I don't understand the cold shoulder."

Seishiro looked up and stared at me for a few seconds. His monolid eyes narrowed like he was dissecting me, as if he was trying to figure out whether I was really clueless, or just a big fucking idiot.

"That's exactly the reason why. You don't understand." He sighed.

Napaayos ako ng upo at tinukod ang dalawang siko sa lamesa. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Sa kakaisip mo ng tamang timing, baka lalo kang mawalan ng oras. After all, wala naman talagang tamang timing bro. Ikaw ang hahanap sa timing para maging tama."

Napatulala ako sa sinabi niya. Tangina.

"Are you fucking kidding me? Saan ka ba natutong mag-Tagalog?" My brows creased.

"Sa'yo," walang pagdadalawang-isip niyang sagot bago tumawa nang malakas.

Padabog akong tumayo at kinuha ang bag. Kahit kailan, wala talaga siyang kuwentang kausap. Nakapamulsa akong naglakad sa may pintuan nang marinig ko uli siya.